My father is now in a nursing home. After finally getting Medicaid, they're now penalizing my father for not having any other insurance and deducting around $200 a month out of his check. And now because he has Humana insurance and has Medicaid too, Humana is also penalizing him. How is this even possible? We have no money left out if my father's check and have to pay for some of his bills. How long will they do this? When we signed my father up for Humana several years ago they never bothered to tell us that he would need Medicaid too.
"In most cases, if you don't sign up for Part B when you're first eligible, you'll have to pay a late enrollment penalty. You'll have to pay this penalty for as long as you have Part B. Your monthly premium for Part B may go up 10% for each full 12-month period that you could have had Part B, but didn't sign up for it. Also, you may have to wait until the General Enrollment Period (from January 1 to March 31) to enroll in Part B. Coverage will start July 1 of that year.
Usually, you don't pay a late enrollment penalty if you meet certain conditions that allow you to sign up for Part B during a Special Enrollment Period.
If you have limited income and resources, your state may help you pay for Part A, and/or Part B. You may also qualify for Extra Help to pay for your Medicare prescription drug coverage."
Check with your Medicaid social worker and see if they have signed your father up for Medicare Extra Help - maybe that will help with the expense. But the penalty for not signing up for Medicare at 65 once imposed is there as long as one is signed up for Medicare part B. The $200 is most likely the Medicare premium PLUS the penalty, not only the penalty. Currently, premiums in 2017 for Medicare are $134 per month. Even once you are eligible for Medicaid, you still must pay the Medicare premiums.
Medicare is a Federal program that workers in the US pay into so that they have Medical Insurance guaranteed when they retire, for hospitals, rehab.
Medicaid is for the indigent who have no funds to pay for care.
Medicare doesn't pay for long term care.
Medicaid DOES pay for long term care.
How long will our dad have to pay the penalties?
He has Humana health insurance and he has Medicare insurance.
Both insurances are making him pay penalties for not having a supplemental insurance at one point.
Medicare is taking a penalty fee out of his SSI check of around $200.
Humana insurance is also making him pay a penalty fee.