Termination of COBRA coverage because of "automatic" enrollment in Medicare Part A

[Guest HelpINeedSomeBody]

It is my understanding that receipt of Social Security Disability Income payments automically enrolls the individual in Medicare Part A coverage. Part B coverage may be waived, but Part A coverage cannot be waived by individuals that are eligible for coverage due to age and disability. Thus, if a Plan so provides, would it be appropriate to terminate COBRA coverage to an individual that is receiving SSDI because the are "entitled" (actually automically enrolled) to Medicare? All thoughts appreciated.

[Guest b2kates]

no, a disabled individual is not eligible for Medicare until 29 months of disability; ergo the 29 month COBRA disability extension.

[Kirk Maldonado]

While that is correct, the trouble is that the person automatically becomes entitled to Medicare at the end of the 29 months and cannot stop that from occurring (with the resultant loss of COBRA coverage) unless he or she repays all of the monthly disability benefits that he or she already received. In virtually all cases, that repayment is impossible.

[Guest HelpINeedSomeBody]

Doesn't the automtic enrollment in Part A occur after receiving SSDI for 24 months? I realize the disability COBRA extension coverage period is 29 months. I always thought that these time periods were coordinated and was a little confused when I read this, and thus, my posting of the question.

[Guest b2kates]

remember that SSDI will not start until after 5 months of disability

5 month wait plus 24 months = 29 months

[Guest HelpINeedSomeBody]

Ah, didn't realize the 5 month wait....now what I thought I knew all makes sense again.

[Don Levit]

I have a client who had an individual BCBS policy. When she was officially declared "disabled," by Medicare, after 2 years of disability, she enrolled in Medicare, including Part B.

I received a letter from BCBS that Medicare was the primary payer.

From that experience, I reasoned that one could indeed have Medicare and another policy in force.

What really upset me was that even though BCBS acknowledged in writing that Medicare was primary, they would not lower my client's premium, due to their lower amount at risk.

Don Levit

[Guest b2kates]

Don, your situation may have been because it was an individual policy. For group policies Medicare is, with certain exceptions, always secondary.