Part 1...Medicare
 

Part 1 of...I am preparing a paper (for lack of a better word) to submit to PAN, regarding the process of obtaining, enrollment into and use of Medicare. I need input from anyone who would provide their personal experience.

Your Medicare Experience:

1. What state do you live in?
   
2. Was the waiting period between your Social Security Disability Award and the start of Medicare a hardship with regard to medical care?
   
3. Please explain your hardship, and how long after your SSDI award did you have to wait before Medicare began? (For example, depending on your retro active SSDI date, your Medicare wait could be anywhere between one month and 24 months.)
   
4. How has your experience with Medicare been?

My answers:

1. Pennsylvania
   
2. Yes, it was a great hardship.
   
3. I had COBRA from October 1, 2000 until September 30, 2001. I filed for SSDI the first time in Florida in early 2001. I had to file again in NYS in September 2003. I received my award November 2003, retro active to April 1 2003 (I did not contest the retro active date, since I didn't want to "upset the apple cart".) SO, my Medicare began April 1, 2005. I was without medical coverage through one hospitalization and one injury/fall that required the emergency room.
   
4. I have not have any problems with Medicare, especially since I have supplemental medical coverage throgh AARP. To date, since April 1, 23005, I have paid less then $100 out of pocket, although my supplemental coverage premium is $130 a month (until 1/1/07).