[CayoKay]

I read that the SSDI COLA was going to be very nice next year...

I also read that the Medicare premium increases would eat most of it up.

since I could use the cash, I decided to cancel my Medicare Part B.

I am permanently disabled with MS, an expatriate living abroad, and there's free healthcare here, so I don't need Part B. (I'm keeping Part A in case there's some future emergency, that seems wise)

but just TRY to cancel Part B from abroad !!

you can't do it .

your choices are, to phone a toll-free number, (800 numbers don't WORK from Belize), or, have an in-person visit to a Social Security office.

I'm not going to spend $1000 bucks for a round-trip plane ticket, just to have a ten minute appointment!

apparently, Social Security MUST discuss it with you, either on the phone, or in person, to explain the "ramifications" of such a choice (disenrollment is unsafe!)

geez, Louise, I am frustrated by this.

oh, and the special form for disenrollment (CMS-1763) is "privately owned" and NOT available online:

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/...ted=1138637790

[CayoKay]

God bless this board, and one very kind member here at Neuro Talk.

she researched it, and found an International specialist at Social Security.

then, she arranged for THEM to call me, here in Belize.

a few minutes ago, a call came through...

the sweet lady at Social Security handled my address change, investigated, and goosed my transfer of my SSDI direct deposit, AND assisted my in disenrolling from Medicare Part B.

HIP HIP HOORAY!!

amazing, three birds with one stone, and the forms are in the mail for my signature TODAY.

isn't that just the coolest thing ??

[Abbie]

Isn't it amazing the power of this little forum...

I love how we can help each other in big and little ways with just the click of a button.


I'm glad you got the help you needed and the one stone took out all three problems.


Abbie

[CayoKay]

yes, Abbie, NeuroTalk is a great resource, for support, and for assistance in untangling problematic situations.

I am eternally grateful.

AND, (as my kind NT pal opined, and I agreed), we will definitely REFRAIN from saying anything negative about Social Security from now on...

the woman at SSA (Sharon) who helped was efficient, and very pro-active... I expected help with only ONE issue, and she solved all three... amazing.

[finz]

I'm glad that you were able to get it worked out !

Can I tease you and say.......I would have been unsympathetic knowing you are "stuck" in lovely and tropical Belize !

[CayoKay]

finz, my dream was to have a little farm, and raise my own food.

couldn't afford to follow my dream in the US, everything is too expensive, land, building, materials...

yes, it's lovely here.

[ewizabeth]

Originally Posted by CayoKay

finz, my dream was to have a little farm, and raise my own food.

but I couldn't afford to do it in the US, because I wanted to build a little wheelchair accessible house, and have enough land to raise geese, chickens, pigs, rabbits, turkeys, guinea pigs, goats, and ducks.

after 4 years of hard work (my husband mostly, I just designed, and photographed, and kibbitzed, lol!) we are almost there, finz.

organic gardens, orchard, daily fresh eggs and milk, homemade yoghurt, kefir, and cheese, and six acres of paradise carved out of the jungle.

we dry and the fruit, make jam and chutney, and bake bagels, and bread twice a week... it truly is a wonderful life, wish I'd done it twenty years ago.

of course, we have to deal with jaguarundis, gibnuts, tapirs, coatimundis, anteaters, possums, snakes, scorpions, tarantulas, and massive termite swarms, but hey, it's worth it!

Ok, did I say just today I would never move to Belize because of the snakes? Every time you describe your little farm I feel a twinge of envy. You're one lucky lady Kay!

I'm glad your friend helped you to fix the medicare problem too!

[CayoKay]

thanks Wiz...

but hey... you're just TOO fast for lil ol' me...

I edited my post to remove all my endless blathering about my leetle paradise slice, and WHOOPS !!

you quoted the whole darn thing... LOL !!



**************

in other news... in yesterday's mail, I got the paperwork from Social Security...



AND ........................ (ta da... diddy whoppa do BOP !!)



I ALSO received a package from my SECRET NeuroTalk pal, who assisted with the Medicare disenrollment from Part B.

in it was a lovely little book, with cartoons by Revilo, a SURE brightener for my day.

I read the whole thing in one big gulp, while resting up from our long trip to the feed mill, around the back way.

so, all in all, today's a perfect day !!

except, I have to open the SS paperwork, and fill it out, and mail it back in...

wish I had a secretary...

[chater]

I have made a permanent move out of the U.S. and I want to dis-enroll from Medicare parts A and B. I have tried the Social Security numerous times for the last month and am unable to get through. It happened again tonight (I have to stay up until after midnight to call the number). I was again told to call back later. I am on a cell phone and it is costing me a fortune. I need help. Please, anyone.

Thanks so much.