A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

With the MT salaries STILL dropping to below minimum sm - SamMT

Posted: Jan 07, 2014

wage and at the same time that insurance costs & deductibles are rising, more and more MTs are now working only for some semblance of (overpriced) insurance ... There is virtually nothing left that can be called "salary".

MT Salaries - Supplement for retired

[ In Reply To ..]
This line of work is now only for MTs who are retired and are on Medicare. I would imagine the majority of MTs are getting to that point and if you need to supplement your SS, then this is the way to go, otherwise, it is not a good job any longer for employees who rely on a "salary" to live! So sad.

can't retire!! - still working

[ In Reply To ..]
Oh please, Medicare is not free. You have to purchase Part B of Medicare and also get a supplemental insurance just to see a doctor and pay for prescriptions. SS is not that much for most of us and we need to work just to exist.

Can't Retire - Still working too

[ In Reply To ..]
I had to take early retirement because I couldn't make it on just MT work. I am still pretty much working almost full time doing transcription with my SS, as it isn't enough to cover living expenses. What I do like though, even though I have to pay for it, is Medicare. No more worries about insurance or companies that provide it or that I have to make a quota to keep it. I agree with the post in the aspect that being an MT has to be a supplemental job in one form or another; not a primary job. It is hard no matter how you slice it, but I do feel a lot less pressure working than I used to. Getting old has to have some perks! Love the Silver Sneakers free pass to gyms and classes too. Hate that I am this age, but hey what are you going to do? Even Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones is 70!

Can never retire - SAME BOAT

[ In Reply To ..]
I also had to take early retirement 2 years ago, which just about covers my rent, nothing else. The recession years took whatever savings I had. I will be eligible for Medicare next year, so I'm not worried to much about insurance, since my low income also qualified me for Medicaid until then.

I started a nursing program earlier in my 30s which I did not complete. If I were younger, I might give it a stab to finish it in a year or 2 ... but WTH ... who would hire a new nurse hitting retirement age? I might get by with a NA or CNA to supplement SS ... but need to get out of MT, too. My hands are really tied (I mean "tired" ... LOL).

Still working - Still working2

[ In Reply To ..]
My SS is $1900 per month.

To cannot retire, purchase part B - I do not pay anything for it

[ In Reply To ..]
I get an increase in my SS this year of a little over $30.00 per month and that will raise it to 2,070 per month, also get $500 per month from former employer. I don't have Medicare, did not want as want to stay on my husband's insurance and do not pay anything for the part B.

Even if retired, do not have to have Medicare - or did you not know that?

[ In Reply To ..]
You can always stay on a private insurance and not accept Medicare with the exception - you have to have part B and that covers in case you are hospitalized and your insurance pays X amount, then the B part picks up what is left over.

I think you mean - xx

[ In Reply To ..]
Part A, which is the hospitalization part that you have paid for with payroll taxes all your working life and for which there is no additional cost to you once you retire/reach age 65.

Part B is the part you have to pay if you want it and which you can choose not to have if you want to continue with private insurance.

I am sure of this because I just finished signing up for Medicare Parts A and B.

I do not pay for part B, nothing - Really do not pay for any insurance

[ In Reply To ..]
I did not want Medicare. I have a PPO with my husband's job and one perk of his job is the free insurance. I had to take part B but I do not pay for it. So, nope do not have to take and nope do not pay for part B.

Medicare reply - Mugs

[ In Reply To ..]
The problem is, Medicare Part B, which costs 108/month does not cover medications. Therefore, you have to sign up for Part D, either HMO or prescription coverage. My prescription coverage went up $20/mo to $48/mo, so I opted for an HMO which is $80/m0. Total insurance is $180/mo. You have to have Part B in order to get Part D coverage. My SS is 1432/mo and I am a widow. Not much to live on.

After retirement age you have to have part B - but private insurance, no cost to you

[ In Reply To ..]
Your reply is IF you are on Medicare. I hope I never have to have it although if husband lost his job I could immediately pick it up. I have had a PPO for so long which is an extremely good insurance that I could not see being turned down for any particular thing I thought might be needed and I had heard Medicare could/would do that. So far have had part B now for about 3 years or so without a cost to me which is okay and would only apply should I be hospitalized and my private not pay all due to the hospital.

My sister gets 1000 a month and the state picks up the rest of her Medicare and supplement - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
it's covered by state Medicaid. She also gets an EBT card.

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