Ships from: Miamisburg, OH
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from: Martinez, CA
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from: Springfield, VA
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Everyone wants to get the highest possible retirement and pension income - not to mention the best medical coverage. Turn to Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions to discover the benefits you're entitled to and how to claim them as easily as possible.
Navigate the complex and often daunting Social Security and Medicare systems using the resources and information in this complete guide. Learn how to:
This edition includes new information on Medicare rules and how federal healthcare reform legislation may affect your coverage, updated benefit numbers for Social Security, Medicare, and SSI, and fully up-to-date resources and contact information.
Your Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions Companion 1
1 Social Security: The Basics 9
History of Social Security 11
Social Security Defined 15
Eligibility for Benefits 18
Earning Work Credits 24
Determining Your Benefit Amount 26
Your Social Security Earnings Record 29
Reading Your Social Security Statement 32
Correcting Your Record 37
U.S. Citizens' Rights to Receive Benefits While Living Abroad 40
Receiving Benefits as a Noncitizen 40
2 Social Security Retirement Benefits 45
Work Credits Required 47
Timing Your Retirement 50
The Amount of Your Retirement Check 56
Working After Claiming Early Retirement Benefits 60
3 Social Security Disability Benefits 65
Who Is Eligible 67
What Is a Disability 73
Amount of Disability Benefit Payments 80
Collecting Additional Benefits 83
Eligibility Review 86
Returning to Work 88
4 Social Security Dependents Benefits 91
Who Is Eligible 92
Calculating Dependents Benefits 95
Eligibility for More Than One Benefit 97
Working While Receiving Benefits 98
Government Pension Offset 99
5 Social Security Survivors Benefits 103
Work Credits Required for Eligibility 104
Who Is Eligible 105
Amount of Survivors Benefits 108
Eligibility for More Than One Benefit 111
Working While Receiving Benefits 113
Government Pension Offset 114
6 When to Claim Social Security Benefits, and Which One to Claim 117
Considerations for All Beneficiaries 118
Considerations for Specific Situations 123
7 Supplemental Security Income 131
Who Is Eligible 132
Benefit Amounts 141
Reductions to Benefits 143
8 Applying for Benefits 147
Retirement, Dependents, and Survivors Benefits 148
Disability Benefits 157
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 163
Finding Out What Happens to Your Claim 165
9 Appealing a Social Security Decision 171
Reconsideration of Decision 173
Administrative Hearing 182
Appeal to the National Appeals' Council 188
Lawsuit in Federal Court 190
Lawyers and Other Assistance 191
10 Federal Civil Service Retirement Benefits 199
Two Retirement Systems: CSRS and FERS 201
Retirement Benefits 202
Disability Benefits to Federal Workers 217
Payments to Surviving Family Members 221
Applying for CSRS or FERS Benefits 224
11 Veterans Benefits 225
Types of Military Service Required 226
Compensation for Service-Connected Disability 227
Pension Benefits for Financially Needy Disabled Veterans 231
Survivors Benefits 233
Medical Treatment 235
Getting Information and Applying for Benefits 237
12 Medicare 239
The Medicare Maze 243
Medicare: The Basics 245
Part A Hospital Insurance 250
How Much Medicare Part A Pays 264
Part B Medical Insurance 272
How Much Medicare Part B Pays 285
Part D Prescription Drug Coverage 294
13 Medicare Procedures: Enrollment, Claims, and Appeals 327
Enrolling in Part A Hospital Insurance 329
Enrolling in Part B Medical Insurance 333
Medicare's Payment of Your Medical Bills 335
Paying Your Share of the Bill 342
How to Read a Medicare Summary Notice 342
Appealing the Dental of a Claim 348
Medicare Part D: Enrollment, Exceptions, and Appeals 367
Switching Part D Plans 375
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) 378
14 Medigap Insurance 379
Gaps in Medicare 381
Standard Medigap Benefit Plans 383
Terms and Conditions of Medigap Policies 397
Finding the Best Medicare Supplement 404
15 Medicare Part C: Medicare Advantage Plans 411
Medicare Advantage Managed Care Plans 415
Medicare Advantage Fee-for-Service Plans 419
Choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan 421
Comparing Medigap and Medicare Advantage Plans 433
Your Rights When Joining, Leaving, or Losing a Medicare Advantage Plan 437
16 Medicaid and State Supplements to Medicare 439
Medicaid Defined 441
Who Is Eligible 442
Medical Costs Covered by Medicaid 447
Requirements for Coverage 450
Cost of Medicaid Coverage 452
Other State Assistance 453
Applying for Medicaid, QMB, SLMB, or QI 456
What to Do If You Are Denied Coverage 459
Index 461
Overview
Everyone wants to get the highest possible retirement and pension income - not to mention the best medical coverage. Turn to Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions to discover the benefits you're entitled to and how to claim them as easily as possible.
Navigate the complex and often daunting Social ...