The Thursday Ramble: Well I didn't screw this up after all

After 25 years of working on aging issues, I know most of the weird and obscure rules for Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid; and where to find the answers I don't know. 

But I found the system intimidating, at times difficult.  This is complicated by my decision to retire a few months after I became eligible for health care under Medicare.  Knowing the rules, knew I had to start Medicare part A within months of being eligible, but I could delay Medicare Part B, until my work insurance ended.  Doing this saved me about $875. 

Knowing that it can be done, and actually getting it done, are two different things.  The system is set up for the normal rules, not the exception that only a few people know about, and try to take advantage of to save a few dollars. And in person help, from someone who may or may not know the rules, is difficult or impossible.  There is a waiting list to talk to a human being.  The chat-bots were unable to help.  I feared I had screwed it up.  It would have been an expensive mistake, like $1,000 a month mistake. 

Then it arrived, the magic card, showing the effective date of Part B, the day that my office medical insurance ends.  I did it, I maneuvered through the exception to the rule.  

If I had it to do over, I would have gone with the norm, not the exception.  The $875 was not worth the stress.  

I was afraid I was going to have to "go all lawyer on them."  Back in 2015 my health care providers were waiting for pre-approval from my health insurance, I was stuck in limbo for several days while they waited.  When I finally asked and was told why we were waiting, I got on the phone, said the magic words expedited appeal, and had an approval before the phone call ended.  As I explained it to the nurse in charge, "I went all lawyer on them, it usually works."  

Glad I didn't have to do that this time.