[boatbums]

When I became eligible for Medicare, I already had private insurance through my husband’s retirement plan. I was told that private insurance was much better than Medicare and that I should try to stay on it as long as I could. HOWEVER, the insurance company I was covered under informed me that, since I was eligible for Medicare - regardless of whether or not I had it, they would only pay secondary and I would have to pay what Medicare would have paid. They essentially FORCED me to go on Medicare and drop them!

If you notice, the Obamacare plans don’t let you even know about premiums much less sign up for them if you are over 64. You ONLY have Medicare as your insurance choice.

[kabar]

HOWEVER, the insurance company I was covered under informed me that, since I was eligible for Medicare - regardless of whether or not I had it, they would only pay secondary and I would have to pay what Medicare would have paid. They essentially FORCED me to go on Medicare and drop them!

Correct. Medicare becomes your primary insurance automatically. It makes sense from the insurance company's point of view since the government picks up most of the costs and then they can determine how much more they are willing to cover that the government doesn't. Your insurance premiums would skyrocket 65 and over.

Nine out of ten Medicare recipients carry supplemental insurance--and for good reason.

[ex-snook]

" HOWEVER, the insurance company I was covered under informed me that, since I was eligible for Medicare "

Same here under my wife's plan. The insurance company wanted to be secondary, cheaper for them. Works out OK though. Medicare is primary.

I really don't understand why people don't want good health insurance. Especially married people.