So, as part of my husband's impending lay-off, I've had to investigate getting medical insurance. I looked online, got the paperwork I needed, and trotted off to Social Security to get my Medicare re-started. This was near the end of March, the worker took my information and the papers, went off to talk to someone, came back and told me that I was all set, my Medicare should be back on for the first of May. Last Wednesday, I get a call from Social Security. Because I was eligible for Medicare and choose not to receive it, I must prove, by having a signed paper from my husband's employers, that I have been continuously covered since I dropped Medicare when we got married, 18 years ago. Sounds easy, right? Except that the place he worked when we got married has been sold once or twice, and the two between that one and his current employer, are out of business. The ever helpful worker I was speaking to suggested that I gather his paystubs for the last 18 years, or perhaps get all the cards for all the different insurance companies together and bring them in. Does he have that information? He says he's only worked for Social Security. I tell him that I don't have that information, everything I've ever been told says that you don't need to keep anything longer than 7 years, and that is all I have kept. He then tells me that if I can't provide the needed proof, I will have to wait until January 2016 when the next open enrollment begins, and my Medicare will start in July 2016. He totally neglects to mention a little thing about a fine of 10% per year that I cannot prove I had insurance. Since I can prove the last 10 years that Hubby has been with current employer, that means that I would have to pay an additional $80 per month above the regular Medicare premium FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. By this time I am extremely upset. I am on disability for a reason, I have significant health issues. I ask how I'm supposed to pay for my medical care until July 2016. He suggests Medicaid. He obviously knows nothing about Medicaid, lucky man that he is. By this time I'm telling him that I need to get off the phone. I am very upset and I tell him that I don't want to say anything that I will regret. He keeps talking!! I say, look, I am trying very hard to control my mouth, but I need to go. He KEEPS talking!!! I finally say I am now going to hang up. Good Bye and have a wonderful life and I hang up.
An hour later he calls back and asks if I have the W2's for the years in question. I reply "I already told you that I have no records more than 7 years old because I had always heard that you don't need to save paperwork any longer than that". He asks if we remember who the head of the HR depts for the various companies would have been, I said even if we knew them, how would they have access to records? I got him off the phone and did some research. I have requests for assistance in with one of my senators and one of my congressmen. Until I hear anything, I guess I'll have to do the COBRA and hope Hubby finds a job soon. As far as health insurance for him, that's a whole 'nother story for another day.
Moral of this story, sign up for Medicare as soon as you are eligible. If you don't, for whatever reason, keep proof of insurance for every year you are not using Medicare. If I can help one person not to have to deal with this mess, then it isn't all futile.
