Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions: Get the Most of Your Retirement and Medical Benefits (Paperback)

~ Joseph L. Matthews (Author), Dorothy Matthews Berman (Author), (Author) "Social Security is the general term that describes a number of related programs-retirement, disability, dependents, and survivors benefits..." (more)
Key Phrases: medigap policy, medigap policies, medigap plan, United States, Appeals Council, Medicare Advantage (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

...a guidebook through the maze of Social Security and Medicare options. -- Jane Glenn Hass Orange County Register

A handy reference … [this] publisher’s credentials in self-help law are impeccable. -- Michael Pellechia, Syndicated Columnist

Written with clear, complete explanations that will explain how benefits can actually be claimed, how and when to file claims. -- Senior Times --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

"For 20 years the people's source on Medicare and Social Security."

The new prescription drug plan is coming in 2006!

• Beginning January 1, 2006, Medicare beneficiaries who fail to enroll in the new Medicare prescription drug plan (known as Medicare Part D) may miss out on thousands of dollars in savings.

• Medicare beneficiaries who enroll in the wrong prescription drug plan (one that doesn’t cover their particular medications, for example) may cost themselves thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs before being permitted to switch plans.

• Most Medicare beneficiaries who do not enroll in the new drug plan by May 15, 2006 will be penalized when they later enroll -- the penalty is 1% per month in additional premium cost for every month they were not enrolled, and this higher cost is permanent.

The chapter on Medicare (Chapter 11) contains a whole new section discussing Part D prescription drug coverage. This section discusses eligibility, premiums & deductibles, restrictions on coverage, and deciding which plan is right for you.

The chapter on Medicare Procedures (Chapter 12) also has a new section about enrollment & procedures. It discusses enrolling and switching plans, exceptions for coverage (for example, getting the plan to approve a drug that's not on its formulary), and appeals of adverse coverage decisions.

Also, the new prescription drug coverage affects Medigap and managed care plans, discussed in Chapters 13 and 14.

An essential tool for everyone over 55, this book shows readers how to cut through the bureaucracy to get their slab of the pie. Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions clearly explains what the different benefits are, and shows you how to claim what you've earned, including:

- 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 managed care plans - veterans benefits = prescription drug coverage

Completely updated to provide the latest information and changes in benefits, this plain-English book is a must-have for anyone who is retired or about to be.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: NOLO; 11 edition (February 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1413304486
• ISBN-13: 978-1413304480
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,003,374 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Is A Very Important Book About Your Government Benefits, May 9, 2005

By	G. Reid (Roseland, NJ) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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

Get notified of updates at www.nolo.com/legalupdater. Check www.nolo.com/update to find recent changes in the law that affects the information in this book. Customer service support is available at 800-728-3555.

Here are some of the benefits covered in this book:

Veterans benefits - free or low cost medical care
Social Security - retirement & disability benefits
Supplemental Security Income
Federal Civil Service Retirement Benefits

How to navigate the bureaucracy
Reduce your health care costs

Prescription drug discount cards

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars VERY BASIC.... VERY DISAPPOINTED!, September 28, 2006

By	M. Heiker (Grand Rapids, MN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a government employee, I bought this book hoping it would provide some good tips on the federal retirement system. This book may help the new or very unimformed employee, but that's it. Some of the information on government benefits was just plain wrong, which is why it only gets two stars from me. As an example, it states a FERS employee can contribute a maximum of 10% to the Thrift Savings Plan each year. Wrong! An employee has been able to contribute 15% for years and I believe there is no limit in 2006. This is not good information for a book that was updated in February 2006!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource for people retiring, December 14, 2006

By	A. Lee "Amz Shopper" (West Coast, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

bought the book to figure out how to take care of my parents. great resource.