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    • September 3, 2019 at 3:23 pm
    sing123
    Participant
      I apologize in advance and hope I am not hijacking this forum with a question about medicare for my future father in law. He has recently been diagnosed with Stage 3 + lung cancer. I doubt that he has any kind of supplemental prescription drug coverage. Have any of you solely used medicare as your health insurance for melanoma? Has it been pretty good in coverage? Surgery, radiation, immuno or other therapy?
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        • September 3, 2019 at 10:25 pm
        studiodad
        Participant
          I just started Opdivo with first infusion last week. I have Medicare and AARP Medicare Complete. The program is through United Health. I have been assured that immunotherapy is covered under Coverage B, not under any Coverage D prescription supplement. Therefore, when you receive any Coverge B service, your annual co-pay deductible for Coverage B is all you pay each year. All charges in excess of that are paid by your insurer. This has nothing to do with prescription coverage. Your plan May not have an annual deductible. Mine is $4200. You pay co-pays for scanning and all Coverage B procedures until you reach the deductible. Every Coverage B expense above that for the rest of the calendar year is paid by your insurer. You start over again each January 1 and pay until the annual deductible is reached. I know this is the procedure for me with United Health but call Medicare directly to confirm this is the case if no supplement is part of your plan
            • September 5, 2019 at 3:25 pm
            sing123
            Participant
              Thank you so much! Hope your Opdivo does the trick. It has so far for me!

              Very best,

              Cindy

              • September 7, 2019 at 5:34 pm
              listening
              Participant
                Medicare has several parts. Part A covers hospitalization. Part B covers doctors and all outpatient treatments, including brief overnight stays in the hospital that are not deemed admissions. (Yes). Part D covers prescription drugs. Does he have part D? If not, he needs to sign up for as soon as he can. I think the open season is in December but I’m not sure if he can sign up at any time.

                Part B generally covers about 80%. A Medicare supplemental policy covers the other 20%. Everyone who can should get a Medicare suppliemental policy as soon as he or she is eligible for Mediicare. if he didn’t sign up for Part D and has no other insurance, the only drugs that will be paid by Medicare are those administered when he is in the hospital.

                I am reasonably certain that what I am telling you is correct but you obviously should check. He can always call Mediicare to confirm.

                • September 11, 2019 at 1:42 pm
                sing123
                Participant
                  Thank you very much!
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