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Lint Head

(15,064 posts)
Fri May 9, 2014, 12:05 PM May 2014

A question about Medicare and secondary coverage.

I'm needing a knee replacement. I've heard so many different takes on how Medicare works for major surgery. Has anyone here had experience positive or negative getting Medicare to pay or the secondary insurance to pay? I do know of some folks who had coverage for major surgeries but were left with big co pays and other charges. I'm for single payer because I know there are still many kinks in the system that leave people out even though we now have ACA in effect.

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A question about Medicare and secondary coverage. (Original Post) Lint Head May 2014 OP
Both my mother and mother-in-law MineralMan May 2014 #1
You might want to post this in the "Seniors" group DURHAM D May 2014 #2
Thanks! I will. Lint Head May 2014 #4
Medicare Part A will cover 100% of in-patient care / surgery. pinto May 2014 #3
Thank you for your reply. Lint Head May 2014 #5
I had cataract surgery in March RebelOne May 2014 #6
We have Medicare with an AARP supplement. broiles May 2014 #7

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
1. Both my mother and mother-in-law
Fri May 9, 2014, 12:14 PM
May 2014

have had knee replacements while on Medicare. Both have standard-style supplements. Out of pocket costs were zero.

DURHAM D

(32,596 posts)
2. You might want to post this in the "Seniors" group
Fri May 9, 2014, 12:14 PM
May 2014

as well.

jftr - Do you have regular Medicare with a Medigap/Supplemental or do you have Medicare Advantage? Please be specific regarding your coverage because the answers will be all over the map and keep in mind that many, many people that have Medicare Advantage don't know they don't have regular Medicare.

pinto

(106,886 posts)
3. Medicare Part A will cover 100% of in-patient care / surgery.
Fri May 9, 2014, 12:18 PM
May 2014

Follow up care @ 80%. You may be able to pre-negotiate with providers to accept that as payment in full. It's called accepting "assignment" in Medicare speak. Best of luck.

RebelOne

(30,947 posts)
6. I had cataract surgery in March
Fri May 9, 2014, 12:49 PM
May 2014

and Medicare paid 80% of the cost. I don't have the Advantage, and since I don't have supplemental insurance, I had to pay the balance which was about $600. Thank goodness for Medicare because if I didn't have it, there was no way I could have paid for the surgery.

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