Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions: Get the Most Out of Your Retirement and Medical Benefits

Cover
Title Page
Table of Contents
Your Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions Companion
	Locating Chapters That Fit Your Needs
1. Social Security: The Basics
	History of Social Security
	Social Security Defined
	Eligibility for Benefits
	Earning Work Credits
	Determining Your Benefit Amount
	Your Social Security Earnings Record
	U.S. Citizens’ Rights to Receive Benefits While Living Abroad
	Receiving Benefits as a Noncitizen
2. Social Security Retirement Benefits
	Work Credits Required
	Timing Your Retirement Benefits Claim
	The Amount of Your Retirement Check
	Working After Claiming Early Retirement Benefits
3. Social Security Disability Benefits
	Who Is Eligible
	What Is a Disability?
	Amount of Disability Benefit Payments
	Collecting Additional Benefits
	Continuing Eligibility Review
	Returning to Work
4. Social Security Dependents Benefits
	Who Is Eligible
	Calculating Dependents Benefits
	Eligibility for More Than One Benefit
	Working While Receiving Benefits
	Government Pension Offset
5. Social Security Survivors Benefits
	Work Credits Required for Eligibility
	Who Is Eligible
	Amount of Survivors Benefits
	Eligibility for More Than One Benefit
	Working While Receiving Benefits
	Government Pension Offset
6. When to Claim Social Security Benefits and Which One to Claim
	Considerations for All Beneficiaries
	Considerations When You’re Entitled to More Than One Benefit
7. Supplemental Security Income
	Who Is Eligible
	Benefit Amounts
	Reductions to Benefits
8. Applying for Benefits
	Retirement, Dependents, and Survivors Benefits
	Disability Benefits
	Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
	Finding Out What Happens to Your Claim
9. Appealing a Social Security Decision
	Reconsideration of Decision
	Administrative Hearing
	Appeal to the National Appeals Council
	Lawsuit in Federal Court
	Lawyers and Other Assistance
10. Federal Civil Service Retirement Benefits
	Two Retirement Systems: CSRS and FERS
	Retirement Benefits
	Disability Benefits to Federal Workers
	Payments to Surviving Family Members of Workers Who Die While Employed
	Applying for CSRS or FERS Benefits
11. Veterans Benefits
	Types of Military Service Required
	Compensation for Service-Connected Disability
	Pension Benefits for Financially Needy Disabled Veterans
	Survivors Benefits
	Medical Treatment
	Getting Information and Applying for Benefits
12. Medicare
	The Medicare Maze
	Medicare: The Basics
	Part A: Hospital Insurance
	How Much Medicare Part A Pays
	Part B: Medical Insurance
	How Much Medicare Part B Pays
	Part D: Prescription Drug Coverage
	Medicare Coverage for People With End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
13. Medicare Procedures: Enrollment, Claims, and Appeals
	Enrolling in Part A: Hospital Insurance
	Enrolling in Part B: Medical Insurance
	Medicare’s Payment of Your Medical Bills
	Paying Your Share of the Bill
	Your Medicare Summary Notice
	Appealing the Denial of a Claim
	Medicare Part D: Enrollment, Exceptions, and Appeals
	Switching Part D Plans
	State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs)
14. Medigap Insurance
	Gaps in Medicare
	Standard Medigap Benefit Plans
	Terms and Conditions of Medigap Policies
	Finding the Best Medicare Supplement
15. Medicare Part C: Medicare Advantage Plans
	Medicare Advantage Managed Care Plans
	Medicare Advantage Fee-for-Service Plans
	Choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan
	Comparing Medigap and Medicare Advantage Plans
	Your Rights When Joining, Leaving, or Losing a Medicare Advantage Plan
16. Medicaid and State Supplements to Medicare
	Medicaid Defined
	Who Is Eligible
	Medical Costs Covered by Medicaid
	Requirements for Medicaid Coverage
	Cost of Medicaid Coverage
	Other State Assistance With Medical Costs
	Applying for Medicaid, QMB, SLMB, or QI
	What to Do If You’re Denied Coverage
Index
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