My mom turned 64 last year and was eligible for Medicare. She continues to work for a really small employer.
In prior years she paid around $350/mo for insurance just for herself every month through her employer. I don't know the details of her plan but in prior years had used medical benefits and even Hosiptial and only paid a small co-pay.
Recently, and possibly ill advised, she opted to use her employer's United medical plan as Part-B. She did not know this, but the plan changed and she has a really high deductable .. like $4000 now.
She had a colonoscopy and is now getting a bill for around $3500. United is saying it falls under her deductable, and Medicare is saying her employer coverage must come first... Say what??? Does this make any sense, what's the point of Part-B if coverage would be better without it?
Another stupid thing is that the company owner who is also covered has no deductible.
Medicare says if her employer has less than 20 covered they will cover the deductible or first.. and while it appears her employer has only 9 covered, many of the employers ownership and family might be covered as well.
Does this make any sense?