Synopses & Reviews
Learn to:
- Navigate Medicare's complexities
- Pinpoint when you need to sign up
- Choose the coverage option that's right for you
- Make smart, cost-saving decisions
The fast and easy way to get up to speed on Medicare
It's time for you (or a loved one) to enroll in Medicare, but Medicare is a maze. You must choose among many options to pick the one that's best for you personally. To do that, you need accurate information that steers you clear of bad advice and costly pitfalls. Medicare For Dummies is the friendly guide you need to navigate Medicare successfully and get the best out of the system.
- The nuts and bolts — understand how Medicare works, what it covers, and what it costs
- The hows and whens — find out how you qualify for Medicare, when you should enroll according to your personal circumstances, and how Medicare fits in with other health insurance you may have
- Make smart choices — discover the many options available in Medicare, and find out how to make confident choices that are right for you
- From the inside out — grasp how to use Medicare effectively, from managing routine costs and dealing with doctors to filling prescriptions and reducing your out-of-pocket expenses
Open the book and find:
- A plain-English explanation of how Medicare works
- What Medicare covers
- Guidance on reducing out-of-pocket expenses
- How you qualify for (and when you should enroll in) Medicare
- The scoop on using certain Medicare benefits
- Ways to switch to a different Medicare plan
- Proposed changes to Medicare you should know about
- Tips on staying healthy beyond age 65
Synopsis
The fast and easy way to get up to speed on MedicareSince the creation of Medicare in 1965, significant changes have affected the legislation. With 77 million baby boomers entering the program, questions about what Medicare is and how it affects seniors are certain to arise.
Medicare For Dummies addresses this uncertain topic and helps those eligible for Medicare benefits maneuver the complicated process. Topics include: summary of Medicare benefits; Medicare coverage options; Medicare rights and protections; updated information on changes to Medicare based on recent changes in healthcare legislation; how the economy affects Medicare; and more.
- Includes up-to-date information on the changing healthcare landscape so recipients can take advantage of the new provisions
- Helps readers make sense of Medicare in these uncertain times
If you're one of the millions of Americans looking to get the lowdown on Medicare, this hands-on, friendly guide has you covered.
Synopsis
Manage the Medicare maze — from enrollment dates to plan options!
To get the most from Medicare, you need accurate information that steers you clear of bad advice and costly pitfalls.
Medicare For Dummies is what you need to navigate Medicare successfully and get the best out of the complex system. AARP’s Medicare expert, Patricia Barry, gives you plain-language explanations of how Medicare works and what steps you need to take to make it work for you, including:
- How you qualify for Medicare and when to enroll according to your personal situation
- What Medicare covers and what it costs
- Ways to reduce out-of-pocket expenses
- Tips for dealing with doctors and switching plans
You'll even get information about proposed changes to Medicare that you should know about and tips for staying healthy. If you're one of the millions of Americans looking to get the lowdown on Medicare, this hands-on, friendly guide has you covered.
About the Author
Patricia Barry, a senior editor of the AARP Bulletin, has written extensively about Medicare from the consumer's point of view for 14 years. Since 2008, she has answered thousands of questions sent by Medicare beneficiaries across the nation to her Ask Ms. Medicare column on AARP's website.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1Part I: Getting Started with Medicare 5
Chapter 1: The Nuts and Bolts of Medicare: What It Is and How It Works 7
Chapter 2: Spelling Out What Medicare Covers (A Lot, but Not Everything) 15
Chapter 3: Understanding What You Pay Toward Your Costs in Medicare 37
Chapter 4: Reducing Your Out-of-Pocket Expenses in Medicare 51
Part II: The Hows and Whens of Medicare 77
Chapter 5: Qualifying for Medicare 79
Chapter 6: Enrolling in Medicare at the Right Time for You 93
Chapter 7: Discovering How to Sign Up for Medicare 125
Chapter 8: Understanding How Medicare Fits In with Other Health Insurance 141
Part III: Making Smart Choices among Medicare's Many Options 163
Chapter 9: Making Sense of Medicare’s Many Options 165
Chapter 10: Choosing Wisely If You Go with Traditional Medicare 181
Chapter 11: Making Smart Choices If You Opt for Medicare Advantage 205
Chapter 12: Getting Help in Making Medicare Choices 217
Part IV: Navigating Medicare from the Inside 229
Chapter 13: Starting Out as a New Medicare Beneficiary 231
Chapter 14: Getting the Inside Scoop on Using Certain Medicare Benefits 259
Chapter 15: Changing Your Medicare and Medigap Coverage 285
Chapter 16: Knowing Your Rights 303
Part V: The Part of Tens 317
Chapter 17: Ten Proposed Changes to Medicare You Should Know About 319
Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Stay Healthier Beyond Age 65 325
Part VI: Appendixes 331
Appendix A: Sources of Help and Information 333
Appendix B: Glossary 345
Index 351