Cost-Sharing Ministries and Medicare (plan, supplement, coverage, program)

[BillHanular]

I am currently involved in a Christian cost-sharing program called Christian Healthcare Ministries. Can you tell me if belonging to this organization instead of having an Obamacare health insurance policy prohibits me from qualifying for a Medicare Advantage Plan when I enroll in Medicare?

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

[Ariadne22]

Originally Posted by BillHanular

I am currently involved in a Christian cost-sharing program called Christian Healthcare Ministries. Can you tell me if belonging to this organization instead of having an Obamacare health insurance policy prohibits me from qualifying for a Medicare Advantage Plan when I enroll in Medicare?

Your current insurance has zero impact on your enrollment in an Advantage plan. The only thing which matters is your Medicare-eligibility. You do need to be enrolled in Medicare to qualify for an Advantage plan.

[athena53]

What if the OP is over 65? Will he be considered to have had creditable coverage between age 65 and now? DH and I had to provide proof of that when he started Medicare B, a supplement and a prescription plan when he was over 70; he'd been on my employer's plan up till then and I retired. Is a Christian Healthcare ministry creditable coverage?

[Rabrrita]

I do not belive they are considered credible coverage for the purpose of late enrollment in Medicare. There is a special carve out that allowed it to qualify only for the purpose of the tax penalty for not having coverage, but since it's not insurance and the exclusion generally fall too short of the essential coverage requirements, I don't think it will qualify.