Maximize your Medicare: qualify for benefits, protect your health, and minimize your costs

Introduction

Enrollment

Medicare Part A

Medicare Part B

Prescription drug coverage

Medicare Advantage

Medigap

Working beyond sixty-five

Retiree benefit plans

Special groups

The savvy Medicare consumer

Experts' addendums.

Introduction Medicare is a mystery: It doesn't have to be Why is Medicare so important? Why is Medicare so confusing? How to use this book Avoid mistake #1 Very brief history of Medicare Ignoring Medicare noise is difficult Chapter 1. Enrollment Medicare eligibility Signing up for Medicare Can I delay enrollment in Medicare? Late enrollment penalties Medicaid Conclusions: Thinking ahead is key Chapter 2. Medicare Part A Eligibility If you don't qualify Part A benefits Key term: Benefit period No annual out-of-pocket limit Chapter 3. Medicare Part B Premium Annual deductible Coinsurance Part B coverage Coverage details Sources of Part B confusion Canceling Medicare Part B No annual out-of-pocket limit Chapter 4. Prescription drug coverage The basics Eligibility Enrollment Prescription drug plan terms The standard Part D plan The complicated calculations involved in Part D Why people misunderstand the coverage gap How to choose Important hints on using the Medicare plan finder Preferred pharmacies and mail order Changing plans Important extras Chapter 5. Medicare Advantage The basics Types of Medicare Advantage plans Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans Enrollment Annual election period Medicare Advantage twelve-month trial right Open enrollment period How to choose How to compare Medicare Advantage plans Medicare Advantage has improved Consumers must understand networks Surprise medical bills Medicare Advantage extras Medicare and Medicaid Extra help and Medicare Advantage Snowbirds Foreign travel Chapter 6. Medigap Medigap enrollment Medigap Coverage Medigap and Medicare Part A Medigap and Medicare Part B Premiums Advantages of Medigap Switching to Medigap Switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap Special topics The bottom lines Chapter 7. Working beyond sixty-five People are working longer Small employer Base case: Medicare is superior Large employer Employer group plans and the coverage gap ("Donut hole") If you decide to cancel The bottom line

Chapter 8. Retiree benefit plans

Retirement from a small employer - Retirement from a large employer

The base case

Medicare retiree and non-medicare spouse

Retiree and medicare-eligible spouse

If your employer cancels retiree health benefits

Employer-sponsored Medicare Advantage

Dental, vision, and other benefits

What employers can do

Conclusions

Chapter 9. Special groups

Veterans Administration (VA)

CHAMPA and TRICARE for life (TFL)

Disabled

Disabled and employer-sponsored plan

ESRD and COBRA or employer-sponsored plan

Federal employee health benefits (FEHB)

State and local government employees

Educators

Unions

Hospital (and other health-care employees)

Small business owners

Professional "associations"

Seriously ill

Conclusions

Chapter 10. The savvy Medicare consumer

Putting it all together isn't easy

Ignore the noise

Dealing with Medicare problems

Professionals, amateurs, and advertisements

Last tips

Experts' addendum

Insurance is an option

Health insurance is different

Options are priced using probability

Everyone is "short" an option

Sources of volatility

Changes to the Medicare system

Comparing apples to apples

Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage revisited

Our national long-term care problem

Insurance-based solutions exist

Long-term care insurance

Life insurance basics

Life insurance and living benefits

Annuity-based solutions

These options are difficult to analyze.