Medicare Part B Is Useless Outside The USA

I just sent a letter (1 sheet) to the Social Security office in St. Louis, MO. Almost $30. Yes, 30 DOLLARS. And I thought our postal service was expensive.

My Medicare Part B insurance costs about $97. That doesn't seem like too much unless you live outside the United States. In that case, it's money down the drain because you can't use the insurance. So, I decided to disenroll. That is my decision, but may not be a good one for you.

Consider that there is a narrow enrollment window each year for Medicare Part B, so if you are out of the country for only a short time, disenrollment may not be the right choice.

Trying to disenroll from Medicare Part B Social Security Disability is a little more difficult and expensive when you don't live in the USA. There is a special form for disenrollment (CMS-1763). The form is not available as a download on the internet, but Social Security will mail you the form. Should you decide to live outside the USA, plan early about what you will do for medical insurance. An application to disenroll from Medicare Part B does not become effective until the second month after the application, form CMS-1763, or a letter requesting disenrollment is received in the office that manages this program. Here is a old link that has some relevent information about how and where to get disenrollment information. http://www.agingkansas.org/Choices/faq/faq_medicare.htm

So, once you decide to disenroll from Medicare Part B. Plan on paying at least one month for insurance that you don't use. Isn't government great. Paying for something that is useless can only be justified by dishonest businesses and governments. Hmmmm.