Question:
Hi Jim. I have Medicare Parts A&B, the VA, and Blue Cross Medicare supplement. Without that Medicare supplement, who pays the 20% deductible that Medicare doesn’t cover when I use the Medicare ?
Jim's Reply:
You pay it out of pocket. It's more complex than that of course but that's it in a nutshell.
Health care providers may set a charge for a given product at $100.00. If the provider accepts Medicare, Medicare may offer a payment in full of $40.00 for that product. Medicare will pay all but 20% of that and that's your out of pocket copay.
Some services covered by Medicare are provided w/o any copay. You have to ask around at your providers place of business to sort out the preventive care services that come to you at no cost but if you take the time to do that, they're there.
I have A & B as well as my VA care. I never take a supplement because it's my opinion that they aren't worth the (very expensive) premiums charged. I get my medicines through VA and I have primary care both at VA and in my home town. I pay a small copay to my civilian primary care provider and I use VA Community Care for specialty providers.
This works for me because I've put a lot of thought into how to not go bankrupt trying to stay alive. Every setting will differ depending on the location of health services, a convenience factor and your ability to pay the ever increasing toll for health insurance.
I'm a cheapskate so I do the bear minimum and keep my fingers crossed. Good luck sir.