Medicare and Social Security advice and options

[AdoptedVOL]

Murica....

Maybe I missed something but I didn’t find it at all difficult. I think some brokers and consultants work to scare consumers into spending money with them.

SS: use the age/payout table and make a decision somewhere between you aren’t guaranteed bother day or you’ll live to 100.

Medicare: Find an honest broker and pick the plan that meets your needs.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Maybe I missed something but I didn’t find it at all difficult. I think some brokers and consultants work to scare consumers into spending money with them.

SS: use the age/payout table and make a decision somewhere between you aren’t guaranteed bother day or you’ll live to 100.

Medicare: Find an honest broker and pick the plan that meets your needs.

Those are very difficult decisions for millions of citizens.

 

[AdoptedVOL]

Those are very difficult decisions for millions of citizens.

Public Ed I guess. It’s sad how Americans have sacrificed their independence to others who make their life decisions for them.

I think it’s why I enjoy American history of the 1800s so much. We’ve lost that spirit of independence where a man and woman loaded their wagon with provisions and headed west into unknown dangers in order to stake claim to a piece if something they could call their own. Failure not an option.

 

[SmokinBob]

Medigap Seminars does youtube videos that are in-depth about all the options yet easy to follow.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Medigap Seminars does youtube videos that are in-depth about all the options yet easy to follow.

YouTube is great with the videos. But some are by biased, self serving insurance sellers. A red flag would be any that don’t immediately warn viewers about the problems with Advantage. If they go right in to the extra perks of Advantage plans I usually stop watching and don’t follow them.

Boomer Benefits seems good. I probably have Medigap Seminars on FOLLOW. There are another 5 or 10 that I have seen provide good information.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Medicare School.

Giardini Medicare.

Medicare 365.

Medicare on Video - HealthPlan65.

The Medicare Family.

Most have an office and invite enrollees to give them a call. I tried to google a local company, but they weren’t very impressive. Choosing a national agency is probably the route to take.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

New 2025 Part B costs:

$185/month (5.9% increase)(SS COLA: +2.5%)

IRMAA (income 2 years ago) Part B cost:

$106,000-$133,000: $259/month premium $133,000-$167,000: $370/month premium
$167,000-$200,000: $481/month premium
$200,000-$500,000: $592/month premium
$500,000 and above: $629/month premium

Part B Deductible: $257 annually

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Apparently Supplemental/Gap has pushed through huge premium increases.

It’s getting close to Advantage Advertising Season with all of the free stuff scams.

 

[508mikey]

Those are very difficult decisions for millions of citizens.

So if I sign up for Medicare and don't want to use it until I'm 67 do I still have to pay for it ? My company has better insurance right now

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

So if I sign up for Medicare and don't want to use it until I'm 67 do I still have to pay for it ? My company has better insurance right now

I haven’t looked into that as it doesn’t apply to anybody in my family. That might be a valid reason to wait beyond 65 years old. Medicare dot com should have an easy explanation.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Google

Do employed people have to sign up for medicare at age 65?

No, employed people are not required to sign up for Medicare at age 65 and may be able to delay enrollment in Part B without penalty, provided they have coverage through a current employer or spouse's employment. However, even with employer coverage, it's often beneficial to enroll in premium-free Part A. You should contact your benefits administrator or the Social Security Administration (SSA) for personalized guidance to confirm your eligibility for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) and avoid potential penalties.

When you can delay enrollment?
Employer Group Health Plan:
If you or your spouse are still working and covered by an employer's group health plan, you can delay enrolling in Medicare Part B without penaltY.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Working past 65

If you (or your spouse) are still working when you turn 65, Medicare works a little differently. Answer a few questions to find out when to sign up, or review some common situations.

www.medicare.gov

 

[Tin Man]

If you are still working at 65 and electing to continue with your employer health plan, when you leave employment with them, ask for a certificate/letter indicating your period of coverage. This will help if there’s any question of your eligibility for the best premium for part B when you do apply for it.