Customer Reviews

Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions: Get the Most out of Your Retirement & Medical Benefits

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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

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.

Nolo does a great job with their books. This is no exception. It is the latest edition and helps you learn and prepare for what you need to do as you approach those golden years.

A word of caution...don't rely on just one book to prepare or learn what needs to be done. The Social Security Administration sends out some useful info when they mail you those earnings statements. That's a start. Also go to their webpage for more useful resources. [...]
And check other books as well.

This book does a great job at giving you clear insights, suggestions and helps you lay out a plan of action. Applying for Medicare before you turn 65 is a key suggestion, even if you are still working and under your employer's insurance. Those tips can save you a lot down the road.

I found this book to be filled with easy-to-understand tips, insights and suggestions for anyone to be able to create of plan of action.

Again, don't rely on just one publication or book. Check out others. But this is a great resource to have in your library. And make sure you get the updated versions the closer you get to retirement.

Bought this book for my husband (the accountant) since we are approaching Social Security age and weren't that familiar with SS benefits or Medicare. He has found this book very helpful in understanding the system. We would recommend.

Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions explains all the new Medicare rules for 2011 and explores how to get the most out of retirement and medical benefits. From the latest rules and Medigap insurance choices to federal healthcare reform changes and how they affect Medicare, this latest update is key to understanding the latest legal ins and outs of the system and should be on the shelves of any lending library!

If you've ever tried to get information on Social Security, Medicare or Government Pensions from one of the government's websites or from a government publication, you're going to really appreciate using this book as an alternative. Everything is laid out in an easy to understand manner, in common everyday language and the nice thing is that it not only tells you about the laws concerning these programs but it gives advice on such things as when is the best time to retire for your situation. It is well organized so it's easy to find the information that you need quickly. It is actually interesting to read, not a dry publication like some of the government pamphlets I've read. There are so many things that I didn't know before reading this book. The laws regarding Social Security and Medicare aren't as daunting as I once thought they were.

Of course laws change, so they provide online updates and resources such as legal forms, and updates. But this book will give you all the basics so you have a clear understanding and can create your own plan of action for the future. After reading this guide I wouldn't hesitate to buy other Nolo guides as needed. If you do an Amazon search for "Nolo guides" you can see the large number of different subjects they cover.

My parents are now getting Social Security, and this book ahas hepl them and me a lot. It's full of great information on Social Security, Medicare and Government pansions. I got alots of good facts from reading this book as well, even though I'm younger than my parents, I will be getting Social Security one day, welll I can hope it will be there for me when I need it...

If you've ever tried to navigate a government website or talk with folks at various government offices about benefits and programs available for retirement or medical needs, then you know it can be laborious and confusing especially if you are a newbie and don't know what questions to even start asking!

Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions: Get the Most out of Your Retirement & Medical Benefits will help you get the most out of your retirement and medical benefits (and that is taken right from the cover).

Inside you'll find chapters that will help you navigate social security, medical benefits, Veterans benefits and more. A lot of the information is basic and you may find you have to go to various websites or telephone for additional clarification, but you have a starting point and you have information that is concise and relevant.

Here's a glance at the various chapters:

Chapter 1 Social Security: The Basics (history, definitions, eligibility etc)
Chapter 2 Social Security Retirement Benefits
Chapter 3 Social Security Disability Benefits
Chapter 4 Social Security Dependents Benefits
Chapter 5 Social Security Survivors Benefits
Chapter 6 When to Claim Social Security Benefits, and Which Ones to Claim
Chapter 7 Supplemental Security Income
Chapter 8 Applying for Benefits
Chapter 9 Appealing a Social Security Decision
Chapter 10 Federal Civil Service Retirement Benefits
Chapter 11 Veterans Benefits
Chapter 12 Medicare
Chapter 13 Medicare Procedures: Enrollment, Claims and Appeals
Chapter 14 Medigap Insurance
Chapter 15 Medicare Part C: Medicare Advantage Plans
Chapter 15 Medicaid and State Supplements to Medicare

The book also include a handy index that is easy to use. The index gives you specific page numbers for websites under "Online resources" so you are able to have the information in one place and don't have to thumb back through chapters to find where the URL was mentioned. Phone numbers and major mailing addresses are also included.

This is an excellent basic resource for the beginner and a handy reference for those in the system already navigating the ends and outs of retirement and medical benefits.

As much as I'd like not to think about it, I am of the age where I need to start contemplating retirement and doing more planning for it. This book really comes in handy because it puts all of the information all in one place, rather than having to search all over for bits and pieces or, what is even worse, having to read any government publications about it.

As with other Nolo guides, this is a pretty comprehensive, well-organized and easy to read book that provides you with a wealth of useful information. I think someone pointed out that all of what is in this book can be found elsewhere for free, but if you ask me, if you can find it all in one place it is well worth the price of this book to be able to have it handy in one reference. Don't be cheap! This book is not that expensive and what you will save in time and headaches (especially when having to try and interpret government language) will be well worth the expenditure.

This is a handy guide and if you will be needing to avail yourself of any of the services it covers, I highly recommend it.