Medicare Expert Will Answer Your Questions

As a new service to my readers, we now have an official Medicare expert who will answer your questions.  The expert is Danielle Kunkle Roberts, a recognized Medicare insurance expert and Forbes Finance Council member.  Some of you may have already read the helpful guest posts which she has written for this blog over the past few months.  Expect to see more of her posts in the coming years. Medicare is an important consideration as Baby Boomers plan their retirement. You will find  Danielle's contact information listed permanently in the sidebar of this blog, so you can reach out to her with your questions whenever you wish.

Recent Blog Posts by our Medicare Expert

Below is a list of recent posts which have been written by Danielle Kunkle Roberts.  You will find helpful information in each of them:

Medicare, Substance Abuse, Addiction and Alcoholism - This article explains what your Medicare treatment benefits would be for substance abuse problems.  Whether you or someone you love needs help getting off opioids or has a problem with other addictions, this article will give you the information you need.

Medicare Coverage of Heart Disease - Another concern for retirees is how Medicare covers heart attacks and other heart disease issues.  Find out what coverage you will get through Medicare and how to supplement Medicare to optimize your benefits.

Medicare and Cancer Benefits - Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment - A cancer diagnosis is terrifying and the last thing you want to worry about is your health insurance coverage.  This article explains what is covered by basic Medicare and how to supplement those benefits.

More Information About Danielle Kunkle Roberts

Although I have been approached by other people who have been interested in covering Medicare on this blog, I have found Danielle to be especially helpful and highly qualified to help my readers.  She is one of the founders of Boomer Benefits.

Her company is uniquely prepared to assist my readers with the many questions they have about Medicare.  Here is more information about the company from their website:

"Founded in 2005 in Fort Worth, TX, Boomer Benefits is an award-winning insurance agency for national insurance carriers such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Mutual of Omaha and many other A-rated carriers. We are licensed in 47 states. Over the years, we’ve learned just about everything there is to know about Medicare, and we’ve become known as the baby boomers insurance agency. We pass that knowledge on to you – absolutely free. There is never a charge for our services. Boomer Benefits Consulting is free."

It is my sincere hope that my readers will take advantage of the services of Danielle Kunkle Roberts and the other agents at Boomer Benefits.  I will be interested in getting your feedback about this service.  You can use the contact section on the sidebar, under my picture, to leave your comments.

If you are interested in learning more about other retirement topics, including Social Security, financial planning, where to retire in the US and abroad, common medical problems and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional articles on a wide variety of topics.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

ASR Search Engine Photo credit:  Boomer Benefits 

Social Security & Medicare Information

In the past, this blog has linked the articles that pertain to Social Security and Medicare under the Retirement Money or Medical Concerns tabs.  However, making decisions about Social Security and Medicare has become so complicated that it has become apparent they deserve a category of their own.

Many people believe that all they need to do is sign up for Social Security sometime after the age of 62 and Medicare once they turn 65 and there is very little they need to think about in making these decisions.  However, if people want to get the most money possible from Social Security and spend the least amount of money while getting the maximum benefits from their Medicare, they need to do some planning BEFORE they ever sign up for either program.

Below you will find links to a group of articles that you will want to read and think about as you get close to your retirement age.  In addition, I want to mention that the rules regarding these programs, and the costs involved with Medicare, change nearly every year.  It is important to make sure you get the latest information possible before you make any final decisions.

Article Links for Information about Social Security and Medicare

**  Our Medicare Expert Will Answer Your Questions  **

2015 Medicare Changes, Premiums and Deductibles (2015)

2016 Social Security Increase Ridiculously Low

2018 Social Security COLA and Medicare Premium Increases

Annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period 

Common Medicare Mistakes

Confusing Parts of Medicare  

Covid-19 will Lower Social Security Benefits for People Born in 1960 

Electronic Social Security Payments Only Option Since 2013

Guide for When Someone Dies (who to contact) 

How to Access Your Social Security Information Online

How to Collect Social Security and Retire Overseas 

Hopeful News for the Future of Medicare

How to Fix Medicare (read above article, as well)

How to Sign Up for Medicare

Important Medicare Tips for Boomers

Living on Social Security in the U.S. 

Maximize Your Social Security Benefits for an Easier Retirement 

Medicare Annual Election Period: Avoid Making Mistakes!

Medicare Changes Planned by Congress

Medicare Costs are Rising: How Can You Control Them?

Medicare and Cancer Benefits - Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment 

Medicare Coverage of Heart Disease 

Medicare for All - Universal Healthcare

Medicare Inpatient and Outpatient Hospital Stays - What are the Differences?

Medicare Open Enrollment - Annual Election Period - What Should You Do? 

Medicare Open Enrollment - Expert Answers Your Questions 

Medicare, Substance Abuse, Addiction and Alcoholism 

Medicare Supplements vs. Medicare Advantage Plans - What are the Differences?

New and Expanded Medicare Programs 

New Medicare Cards Coming Soon! 

No Social Security COLA in 2016 - Medicare Rates Rise for Millions

Proposed Changes to Social Security (in 2017)

Proposed Changes to Medicare (in 2017) 

Protect Yourself from Medicare Fraud

Pros and Cons of Social Security Privatization

Public Assistance for Low Income Retirees (SSI, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Housing, etc.) 

Save Social Security Now and Protect Our Retirement

Should You Change Your Medicare Plan?  What to Consider  

Should You Get a Medicare Advantage Plan with Your Medicare? 

Should You Get Medigap Supplemental Insurance with Your Medicare? 

Social Security and Remarriage

Social Security at Age 70 Maximizes Future Income 

Social Security Benefit Changes (2016) 

Social Security Changes in 2019

Social Security Cost of Living Increases Under a Chained CPI

Social Security: Facts Everyone Should Know

Social Security Myths and Misunderstandings 

 Vote to Lower Medicare Prescription Drug Prices 

What Medicare Does NOT Cover

What is the Average Amount of Social Security? 

When to Take Social Security Benefits Early 

Where to Retire in the U.S. on Social Security Alone

Women and Social Security

This article contains links only to articles that pertain to Social Security, Medicare and other assistance programs that are available to support you financially or cover your medical expenses once you reach retirement age.

In addition, you will want to read the additional articles in this blog that discuss where to retire, common medical issues, financial planning, changing family relationships and more.  Use the tabs or pull down menus at the top of this blog to find links to these blog articles.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credit:  Morguefile.com  

Important Medicare Tips for Boomers

Baby Boomers are turning age 65 at the rate of 10,000 a day.  When they do, they become eligible for Medicare.  It is extremely important that Baby Boomers prepare for this milestone and sign up for Medicare a few months BEFORE their 65th birthday.  A delay can cause them to spend extra money for Medicare premiums for the rest of their lives!  You should apply for basic Medicare, even if you are still working and you are eligible for insurance through your employer.

Here are a few additional facts that every Baby Boomer needs to know before they turn 65.

Medicare Tips for Baby Boomers

1.  Enroll in Medicare as soon as possible.  You can contact your local Social Security office for an appointment and sign up while you are there.  You may especially want to handle your application this way if you are also applying for your Social Security benefits at the same time.  However, another choice is to apply for your Medicare benefits online in about 10 minutes by using the government website at www.socialsecurity.gov/medicareonly.  You can complete the application once you are 64 years and 8 months old.  You do NOT want to wait until after your 65th birthday.

2.  If you are still working when you turn 65, and you are covered by a medical insurance plan through your employer, you still need to file for Medicare Parts A and B, even if you will not be using those benefits for a few years.  Again, you need to do this before your 65th birthday, so you can save money on premiums when you do begin to rely on Medicare.

3.  Medicare is divided into four parts:  Original Parts A and B, which help cover hospital and doctor bills; Part C, which is an extra Medicare Advantage program you purchase to cover some of the expenses not covered by A and B; and Part D, which is drug coverage.  When you choose a Medicare Advantage plan, or Part C, those plans usually also include Parts A, B and D so that everything is together in one convenient plan.

4.  There are many different Medicare Advantage plans, and most of them will offer informational meetings in your community.  However, one of my friends simply called her current doctors and asked them which Advantage programs they liked the best.  She found there was one particular plan that kept being mentioned, so that is the Advantage program she chose.  You should also know that there are different prices and benefits available for the various plans, too, so shop around.  They are all required by law to provide the same benefits as basic Medicare and most of them provide additional benefits and/or lower co-pays and deductibles than basic Medicare.

5.  Instead of a Medicare Advantage plan, you may wish to purchase a Medicare Supplement plan, instead.  In this case, you have both basic Medicare AND an additional insurance policy.  The premiums are usually higher than they are for a Medicare Advantage plan, but you may find a plan that will result in zero co-pays and your complete choice of doctors in a PPO plan.  This is very appealing to some people who feel it is worth paying extra.  However, for many people, a Medicare Advantage plan that includes their favorite doctors is an excellent choice.  Go to a few informational meetings and decide which choice is best for you ... a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Supplement plan.

6.  If you believe that you cannot afford your Medicare premiums, ask for help from your local Social Security office or through an insurance consultant with the Affordable Care Act.  Low income retirees can qualify for help and I encourage them to take advantage of the assistance programs.

If you are interested in learning more about Medicare, health issues that can arise in retirement, financial planning, where to retire, changing family relationships and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

You are reading from the blog http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo courtesy of morguefile.com/