Ron: “I had to cancel 4 or 5 tests at the hospital.”

Ron disenrolled from Medicare Part B (out-patient insurance) after the state stopped paying the premium. He reflected on the tough decision that he had to make: “I couldn’t afford it, and it was either have a place to live and a little bit of food on my table or keep my Medicare.” The Medicare Savings Program paid his Part B premium in the past, but he no longer qualified after the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment put him $40 over the income limit.

“I couldn’t afford it, and it was either have a place to live and a little bit of food on my table or keep my Medicare.”

Ron is younger than age 65 and is eligible for Medicare because he has a disability determination from Social Security. His mortgage payment eats up almost half of his monthly Social Security check, leaving very little money left over to pay for things like food, utilities, and medicine.

After he disenrolled from Medicare Part B, he cancelled important tests at the hospital. He also started to wean himself off medications because he wasn’t sure if they would still be covered. Even though he doesn’t like to ask for help, he had to do something. He applied for financial assistance at the hospital and was approved, but he still worries about his future. He needs major dental work that he can’t afford.

Ron reflected: “I’ve worked since I was 14 or 15 at a grocery store, A&P… I worked all my life and… you know they say when you get older, it’s good years, and I don’t see nothing good about it. You know… I’ve lived here all my life… I’ve paid my taxes, I paid what I had to, I worked, while friends were going out partying, I worked. And it just seems like we’re just thrown on the back burner.”

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