Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions: Get the Most Out of Your Retirement & Medical Benefits [Paperback]

Joseph Matthews (Author), Dorothy B Matthews (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2007

Get the most out of the new Medicare drug coverage!

Everyone wants to get the most out of their retirement benefits -- not to mention the best medical coverage and prescription drug benefits. Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions clearly explains what the different benefits are, and shows you how to claim what you've earned, including:

the new Medicare prescription-drug coverage

Social Security retirement and disability benefits

Social Security dependents and survivor benefits

Supplemental Security Income

federal, state and local government pensions

Medicare and Medicaid

medigap insurance and Medicare managed-care plans

veterans benefits

The 12th edition is completely updated to provide the latest information: Learn about "Medicare Part D," which now provides coverage for outpatient prescription drug costs -- understand what it covers, how to apply for it, and how to use it. You'll also find the latest on Medicare, Medicare HMOs and other managed care plans, as well as the 12 types of medigap health plans.

This plain-English book is a must-have for anyone age 60 or over, and anyone who helps care for an elder.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A handy reference ... [this] publisher's credentials in self-help law are impeccable." -- Michael Pellechia, syndicated columnist

"Anyone who can write a readable guide to Medicare should get a medal.... Why can't the system be as straightforward as this book?" -- Pasadena Star-News

"Guide[s] you through the maze of Social Security and Medicare in simple English..." -- The Wall Street Journal

"Offers clear explanations of what to expect from a remarkable safety net that has withstood the test of time..." -- Contra Costa Times

"The inside scoop on how to get the most out of the current system..." -- Accounting Today

Review

"Anyone who can write a readable guide to Medicare should get a medal.... Why can't the system be as straightforward as this book?" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 452 pages
• Publisher: NOLO; 12 edition (April 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1413305768
• ISBN-13: 978-1413305760
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,598,456 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joseph Matthews has been an attorney since 1971, and from 1975 to 1977 he taught at the law school of the University of California, Berkeley. He has for many years been involved in matters relating to seniors, and is the author of Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions and Long Term Care: How to Plan & Play for It, as well as How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, But Not Perfect, Guide to Entitlement Programs, April 27, 2010

By 

B. Niedt (Cherry Hill, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions: Get the Most out of Your Retirement & Medical Benefits (Paperback)

(What's this?)

In my line of work, I deal with Social Security, SSI and Medicare rules and regulations every day, so I could be considered a bit of an authority on the subjects. I've always been skeptical of publications that want to "sell" you information that you could otherwise get for free, and this is no exception - nearly all the information on government benefits contained in this book can be obtained free of charge from the source. That said, this is a well-organized and clearly-written book. It will probably appeal to those who would like most or all the information they need in one handy resource, or those who - rightly or otherwise - would rather trust a third party for information that the agencies who administer them. One thing to keep in mind, though - the author of this book is NOT the final authority on the subject. Nevertheless, he does a good job presenting the basic requirements and peculiarities of Social Security, Medicare and government pensions in a clear, "For-Dummies"-style manner. (It should come as no surprise that nearly half the book is devoted to the complexities of the Medicare and Medicaid programs.)

The book gets kudos for its introductory commentary on "saving Social Security" - it criticizes the recommendation made during the Bush administration to "privatize" the system by investing SSA trust funds in the stock market (an idea that all but died with the current recession); and it suggests removing the cap on maximum social security tax (which would not impact lower- and middle-income workers), thus keeping the system solvent for another 75 years. It also offers good explanations on such topics as the so-called "notch babies" (the controversial changes that affected workers born between 1917 and 1921), and figuring out "break even points" when deciding at what point it is most advantageous to collect benefits. The author, who is an attorney, also deserves credit for an objective section on appeals and legal representation - he does not give the reader the impression that an attorney is essential at every step in the claims or appeals process, contrary to what many "social security attorneys" lead the public to believe.

The book isn't without flaws, however. First, it needs to cut or minimize a lot of the discussion of rules that are all but obsolete now, such as rules regarding earnings before 1951 - hardly anyone filing for benefits these days has worked that long ago. There are occasional factual and numerical errors, some of which may have slipped by the updated editing of the book. (For instance, it says that surviving spouses can get full benefits unreduced for age at age 65; the qualifying age is now 66. Also, the book says the SSI limit for countable resources is $5000, when in fact it is $2000 for individuals or $3000 for couples.) Overall, this is a handy reference and general guide to entitlement programs, but it's certainly not the "be-all and end-all". One should always check with the administrating agency (SSA, Medicare, OPM) for the final word on the rules governing entitlement to benefits.

36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read, December 11, 2007

By 

Robert F. Watson (Key West Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions: Get the Most Out of Your Retirement & Medical Benefits (Paperback)

I picked up the 9th edition when I got ready to retire and it saved me a lot of money and confusion and helped tremendously getting thru all the "red" tape. So a couple of years later as I get ready now to approach Medicare I need all the information I can get so I ordered the new 12 edition. Which included tons of updated information.. A recommend for anyone retiring and/or getting ready to go on Medicare

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the price, November 18, 2010

By 

Amy R. Willard - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions: Get the Most out of Your Retirement & Medical Benefits (Paperback)

This book introduced me to how to "claim and suspend" retirement benefits. A higher wager earner can claim benefits at full retirement age; the other spouse then claims dependents benefits (which are often higher than the spouse's benefits); and then the higher earning spouse suspends his/her claim. The result is more money in your pocket. This advice by itself made the book worth the price. Because the book is clearly written and contains a wealth of useful information, I recommend it.