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.
Summary:
A guide to help understand how and what to choose when deciding on Medicare options for 2022-2023.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.