Medicare as secondary payer?

November 20, 2019 11:32 AM

How can I decide if MSP (Medicare as Secondary Payer) is a good idea?

I've been on Medicare 2 years. No supplement yet, although I should have one.
I have access to employer group plans; if I enroll in one, it will be my primary insurance and Medicare will be secondary.
Any guidelines on how to weigh that option?

posted by LonnieK to Work & Money (2 answers total)

I got rid of my employer health insurance when I became eligible for Medicare. I'm a state employee in a southern (i.e. poor) state and our health insurance is so bad that I couldn't wait to get rid of it. What I do have now is a Medicare Advantage plan and I've been happy with it.

So, if your the employer group plans are great, go for it, but if they're not, stick with just Medicare. Ask people who are on the employer plans how they like them. Ask what kinds of hassles they've had.And compare them with your available Medicare Advantage plans for both cost and coverage. Make sure you can continue to see your preferred doctors. Check if they give free gym membership. I think the deadline for signing up for Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplemental plans is soon, like maybe December 7, but check it yourself.
posted by mareli at 3:38 PM on November 20, 2019

My husband’s excellent state insurance plan was primary payer to Medicare secondary until he started drawing Social Security.

This made a measurable difference the year he got $4000 hearing aids and I got a $7000 wheelchair. Medicare would have paid zero for those.
posted by Jesse the K at 4:13 PM on November 22, 2019