From the Book - 2024-2025 edition
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
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
Chapter 9. Special groups
Veterans Administration (VA)
CHAMPA and TRICARE for life (TFL)
Disabled and employer-sponsored plan
ESRD and COBRA or employer-sponsored plan
Federal employee health benefits (FEHB)
State and local government employees
Hospital (and other health-care employees)
Professional "associations"
Chapter 10. The savvy Medicare consumer
Putting it all together isn't easy
Dealing with Medicare problems
Professionals, amateurs, and advertisements
Health insurance is different
Options are priced using probability
Everyone is "short" an option
Changes to the Medicare system
Comparing apples to apples
Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage revisited
Our national long-term care problem
Insurance-based solutions exist
Life insurance and living benefits
These options are difficult to analyze.
From the Book - Updated 2020-2021 edition.
Prescription drug coverage
Working beyond sixty-five
The savvy Medicare consumer