ArcaMax

Q: I am about to turn 65. I'm still working and plan to keep working until at least age 70, if not beyond. I don't want my Social Security until then and I don't need Medicare because I am fully covered by my employer's health insurance. But someone told me that I am required to file for Medicare when I reach age 65. What's that all about?

A: There are two main parts of Medicare. First, there is hospital insurance, called Part A. Then there is medical or doctor's insurance, called Part B. Most people are eligible for Medicare when they turn 65.

If you look at your pay stub, you will see a deduction labeled "Medicare Tax." That tax is what's used to fund the Part A of Medicare. In effect, you've already paid for this part of Medicare by the time you reach age 65. Because it's "free" to you from that point on, why not apply for it? Even though you have coverage through your employer, there may be situations when Medicare hospital coverage may be needed. Also, there are some insurance companies that require you to take Part A. So just go ahead and sign up for Part A.

Part B Medicare is not paid for by payroll taxes. It is funded by monthly premiums (usually around $100) normally withheld from your Social Security check, or billed quarterly if you are not yet getting benefits. But the law says if you are working and covered by your employer's insurance, then you don't need Part B Medicare. So you won't have to apply for Part B until you retire. But again, take Part A now because it's free and may come in handy.

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Q: My mother is 88 years old. I've just recently been getting involved in her financial affairs, including her Social Security. She is getting widow's benefits on my dad's account since he died 15 years ago. And I'm pretty sure she is being paid incorrectly. She get's $1,870 monthly. My dad always made good money and I heard the maximum benefit is more than $2,600. How do I get her benefit refigured?

A: You can't -- unless you can prove that the Social Security Administration made mistakes when they originally figured her widow's benefit. And that's not likely. If your mom felt her widow's benefit was figured incorrectly, the time to question it would have been 15 years ago when she first started getting benefits. It is extremely likely that your mom is being paid the proper amount. (The maximum benefit you cited is for people retiring today and has nothing to do with a guy who died 15 years ago.) But if you are going to lose sleep over this, you might be lucky enough to find an SSA agent who will sit down with you and your mother and go over your dad's Social Security record and show you how her benefits were figured.

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If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has the answer. Contact him at thomas.margenau@comcast.net. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.