Community Chat

[151949]

Almost everything you need to make these decisions is available to you in the book sent to you EVERY YEAR from medicare called Medicare and you - and if anyone would take the time - make the effort - to read that publication when they get it , they would find out this is NOT rocket science. All it takes is for the person to read the book - make a list of questions you may still have and call the representative from the companies to ask those questions. You can call as many companies as you want and gather your information then make an informed decision. If you are not willing to put in the effort - you will most likely make some poor decisions. You can also go to an agent who reps these companies in your area - tell him/her your needs and they will advise you. However, that help is not free.It seems that many posters here prefer the DRAMA over doing the work so they make wiser decisions. Doesn't surprize me at all.

[terrier3]

On 10/22/2014 happy housewife said:

Almost everything you need to make these decisions is available to you in the book sent to you EVERY YEAR from medicare called Medicare and you - and if anyone would take the time - make the effort - to read that publication when they get it , they would find out this is NOT rocket science. All it takes is for the person to read the book - make a list of questions you may still have and call the representative from the companies to ask those questions. You can call as many companies as you want and gather your information then make an informed decision. If you are not willing to put in the effort - you will most likely make some poor decisions. You can also go to an agent who reps these companies in your area - tell him/her your needs and they will advise you. However, that help is not free.It seems that many posters here prefer the DRAMA over doing the work so they make wiser decisions. Doesn't surprize me at all.

Many senior centers have Medicare info seminars.

You can also go to a health insurance broker - they don't charge a penny to you...they get a commission from the insurance company you sign up with.

[kittymomNC]

I think it would be difficult for a lot of people to interpret the Medicare and You booklet, especially if they are new to Medicare and don't understand what it's all about and how it works. I worked in Human Resources and Benefits for many years, and even with that background, some things are difficult to understand. And since there is free help available, there is no need to flounder around not knowing what to do... it just takes some time. There is a lot of difference in how the Medicare Advantage Plans work and how it works if you have regular Medicare, plus a supplement and a Part D Prescription Plan - even though they cover the same things.

I do believe it would be beneficial for those who are having a hard time to contact their state's State Health Insurance Assistance Program. You can get the information through Medicare.gov, but following is a website where you can go directly to get your particular state's contact and assistance information, including phone number. Then they can answer your questions and help you make comparisons of different plans through the free resources they offer. They are under the Dept of Health and Human Services, so you can be comfortable with the information they give you.

www.SeniorsResourceGuide.com/National/SHIP

[Mj12]

On 10/22/2014 happy housewife said:

Almost everything you need to make these decisions is available to you in the book sent to you EVERY YEAR from medicare called Medicare and you - and if anyone would take the time - make the effort - to read that publication when they get it , they would find out this is NOT rocket science. All it takes is for the person to read the book - make a list of questions you may still have and call the representative from the companies to ask those questions. You can call as many companies as you want and gather your information then make an informed decision. If you are not willing to put in the effort - you will most likely make some poor decisions. You can also go to an agent who reps these companies in your area - tell him/her your needs and they will advise you. However, that help is not free.It seems that many posters here prefer the DRAMA over doing the work so they make wiser decisions. Doesn't surprize me at all.

But does it surprise you?

[Nancy Drew]

On 10/22/2014 occasional rain said:

Which only means that half of those collecting SS will get less than the $22 a month. They are the ones who need a raise the most and will get the least. Why not, instead of a percentage that favors those who earned more while they were working, a cross the board dollar amount raise.

If you give it any thought you'll realize that those who earned smaller paychecks were less likely to be able to save and then when they retired they get less and then the raise is a percentage which doesn't help them at all.

Where is the incentive to earn more then if we all are going to end up with the same amount in the end? Also those people PAID into SS more.

[Nancy Drew]

On 10/22/2014 tansy said:

On 10/22/2014 occasional rain said:

Which only means that half of those collecting SS will get less than the $22 a month. They are the ones who need a raise the most and will get the least. Why not, instead of a percentage that favors those who earned more while they were working, a cross the board dollar amount raise.

If you give it any thought you'll realize that those who earned smaller paychecks were less likely to be able to save and then when they retired they get less and then the raise is a percentage which doesn't help them at all.

If you are a lower income worker, SS comes closer to covering your salary percentage wise. I do think the wage cap should be lifted though.

Exactly for the smaller amount you put in you are actually getting a larger percentage that a wealthier person is getting percentage wise. Also lower income retirement income usually don't have to pay taxes on SS while a person with a higher retirement has to pay taxes on retirement income up to 85%.