Medicare question

[GSOgymrat]

My partner had to go on disability when he had cancer a couple of years ago. Recently he was sent a medicare card even though he has returned to work full-time and has insurance. He is going to decline the medicare coverage because there is a cost associated with having it. Does anyone know if there could be negative repercussions down the road from declining medicare coverage? This isn't really HIV related and I'm not sure who to ask.

[Assurbanipal]

A FAQ with a help line number to call at SSA is here:

https://questions.medicare.gov/cgi-bin/medicare.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=16&p_sid=mnakM7Pj&p_lva=15

[minismom]

When Mim got her medicare card, we had private insurance also through Hubby's old job. we were told that the Medicare card would pay any deductables that we had so that our out-of-pocket would be $zero.

Not sure if there are reprocussions for declining.  I don't see how there could be, especially if his circumstances change.

Have a great weekend!
Mum

[Assurbanipal]

Note to mum

Medicare can assign a penalty premium if you don't sign up when you were first eliigible to do so.  Bascially they will raise your rates when you sign up the next time. 

The penalty was mainly targeted at people who don't sign up at age 65.  But the rules on when they do and do not assess a penalty on disability are complicated, which is why the SSA helpline  (and how it would work for pediatric care would no doubt be incomprehensible, but I don't think it applies)...

[GSOgymrat]

A FAQ with a help line number to call at SSA is here:

https://questions.medicare.gov/cgi-bin/medicare.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=16&p_sid=mnakM7Pj&p_lva=15

Thanks for the info!