Social Securityand Medicare

Social Security

Confused about when you can get SocialSecurity? Hereis a link to an AARParticle.

Medicare

Hereis a link to the place to start forMedicare questions. Note the recommendation to sign up 3 monthsbefore your 65th birthday. A more extensive government siteis here.

On Medicare "timing":

First, here is a comment fromMark Webb:

Congress calls the enrollment period from Nov15 to Dec31 the "Annual Enrollment Period". For those of you who haven't aged into the Medicare program yet, this is not a problem. For people who haven't aged in yet, they have a 7 month enrollment period which includes their birth month, 90 days before, and 90 days after. For example: My mother turns 65 in mid March of 09. Her enrollment period to avoid a penalty runs from Dec 1,08 through June 30, 09. Many of you from this graduating class are going to have various enrollment periods that are going to overlap each other. The Nov 15 to Dec31 enrollment period is a little different. It allows those who have already come onto Medicare the opportunity to evaluate their health needs and change plans if necessary. If you ask some of the other people in your class, they will probably tell you that they are being bombarded in their mailbox with all kinds of confusing medicare material.

Second, here is a comment fromJimmie Kaye:

We had heard horror stories about not signing up for Medicare at the "correct time", etc. We have kept [Ken, my husband] on my insurance at work.

The Social Security Administration assures us that if we show proof that he was insured by my company from the time he turned 65 until the time he opts to go into the Medicare program he will not be penalized. (If you fail to sign up at the right time and cannot show proof that you were insured. I hear there are great penalties).

We have friends that have had to pay $150 per day to a nursing care facility to care for their dad as Medicare only pays the first 100 days of any type of long-term care. He is too old and sick to qualify for a Long Term Care policy.

Ken and I decided to look into Long Term Care (LTC) policies for us both. It took us almost 6 months to get us both qualified, however, I have more peace about it so as not to burden family, such as our friends experience.

The LTC policy premium is about $1000 or $1200 per year each and it is tax deductible. We are not too stoked at being "insurance-poor" however we do not regret we took this step.

[W]as there a class we all had to take someplace that was called "Growing Old Securely 101", "Maintaining your Body and Pocket Book for your Metalic Years 101". (silver hair, gold teeth and lead butt)?

Even if O.D. Wyatt had offered it, whould we have "run" for it?

Also on Medicare, here is a comment from JohnHaun including some local resources:

I have been doing Social Work for Senior Citizen Services for several years. We do have some helpful resources in Tarrant County that may help people understand their Medicare choices.

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) should have sent out the Texas version of the Medicare and You 2009 handbook to all of us turning 65. Page 43 gives a good overview of the Medicare Part: A,B,C and D options. A break down of the Medicare Advantage Plans (AKA Medicare Part C plans) is on page 54 & 55. The detail coverage and cost of the plans sold in Texas. start on page 119.

After looking at the handbook, I recommend that you call your physician's office insurance claims dept. to see if he or she accepts the Medicare plan you are interested in and if not what plans do they accept.

For direct question you may have from the Medicare and You 2009 handbook, I recommend you call:

Aging & Disability Resource Center of Tarrant County (ADRC)1300 Circle Drive, Ft. Worth, Tex. 76119 phone number (817) 569-4000 or the direct line 1-888-730-2372 is a helpful resource.

Area Agency on Aging (AAA) of Tarrant Co. Benefits Counselor phone numbers: (817) 258-8081 or 258-8125. Simular resources are in all Tex. counties & can be contacted by calling 211 locally, (817)258-8100 or 1-877-886-4833 toll free out of Tarrant county.

If out of Texas you can go on line to My Medicare.gov to access the information in your area.

I am currently working on three grants that means three different 10 hour / week jobs an I am not in the office much. I do volunteer work at the ADRC for 5 hrs/mo. and AAA of North Central Tex. and know they keep up with the Medicare changes and are available to serve the population turning 65.

Please feel free to publish any of the above information you think would be useful.

Keep sending yourcomments!