February 7, 2018
On Friday last Dale and I headed for our local Social Security office. Since he is retiring on 2/9/18, his employer provided Blue Cross will become secondary to Medicare as our primary insurance carrier. We each signed up for Medicare Part A when we hit 65 but didn’t need Part B. Now we do.
Since starting my professional career in 1974 I’ve almost always had insurance through my employers.There was a brief time, when I was at home for three years raising young children, when my now ex-husband
provided my insurance through his work. When we separated it was very important to me to get a job with health insurance and other good benefits.
When Dale started talking with me about the possibility that he could put me on his insurance as his domestic partner, at his expense, it meant a lot to me. This was a generous offer that further and tangibly reflected the nature of our relationship. Practically speaking, it also means that after
retirement I will continue to have Blue Cross insurance. I won’t have to purchase a secondary insurance on the open market. My employer of 30 years does not offer this benefit to retirees. I still remember when, as a much younger person, I realized that fact with dismay and shock. Ironically, I am employed by a large health care system.
At the same time I registered a little anxiety at the idea of giving up my own insurance. In November, when it was time for me to select benefits for 2018, I nervously asked Dale more than once if he was sure it had gone through, that I would really be covered on his plan. Despite reassurances I didn’t relax until I saw the print out of his benefit selections. I still don’t have my own insurance card. It feels weird to be carrying a copy of a card with his name on it but it’s worked so far when I’ve had to use it.
I’ve also been surprised to realize that the idea that Medicare will be my primary insurance come March doesn’t feel very good. I’m trying to understand this. On the one hand I’m very grateful for Medicare, for myself, other older adults and for people with disabilities like many of my clients. On the other hand, I think I must have some ego wrapped up in having had excellent insurance connected with my work. I’ve never used Medicare Part A, never had to pull out that card in a doctor’s office like other senior
citizens do. I’ll be sixty nine next month but I feel far younger. I know I’m aging. I can feel it, but I guess I don’t want to be looked at as “old”. What being “old” means to me warrants lots of investigation. Medicare is challenging my denial, darn it!