ArcaMax

On April 1, I went to the local Social Security office to apply for both my Social Security check and Medicare Part B, since I am turning 70 on April 20. On April 11 I received a letter from Social Security stating that the $3,200 Social Security benefit check will be issued in May to my bank account. To my surprise, the letter states that ...Read more

In February, my husband, James, was laid off and decided to apply for an individual health insurance plan because he is 62 and could not apply for Medicare. I turned 65 in March and am having a stressful financial issue after enrolling in Medicare. Now my Medicare is costing me $518 for Medicare Part A and $185 for Medicare Part B, totaling $...Read more

I enrolled in a $0 premium Medicare Advantage plan to begin April 1st when I turn 65. I chose to disenroll from my husband's employer benefits because my monthly premium is $0, making it more cost-effective for us.

Now I am in shock because a Medicare premium of $670.50 was deducted from my Social Security check. I was told by the agent who ...Read more

In January, I was diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 60. A non-profit cancer program in my state was able to help me qualify for Medicaid to begin receiving medical treatment since I have a very low income and am uninsured. Right now, I am not paying anything for my cancer treatments. My chemotherapy will begin next week with the ...Read more

from August of 2023. It has been revised and updated.

Hello Toni:

I am a human resources manager for an oil service company and have a question about an employee. He is turning 65 and is still working full time. His situation is unusual because next month he will begin receiving chemotherapy for lung cancer. I am not sure how to advise him ...Read more

I delayed enrolling in Part B for 5 years, after I turned 70, and retired with a Jan. 1 effective date for my Medicare Supplement Plan G and Part D prescription drug plan.

Now my Medicare stress has started, because I have received a notice from CMS saying they do not have record of me having prescription drug coverage that “met Medicare’...Read more

Dear Toni,

I have been told that Medicare does not cover drugs when you are in an emergency room. My mother went in the hospital from the ER for 2 days and because it was considered “under observation,” we are now fighting the hospital because they say her drugs were not covered during her stay. She has a Part D plan, but the hospital ...Read more

I am turning 65 and retiring from my current employer and will no longer have health insurance benefits, life insurance, and dental and vision benefits. My husband will still be employed with benefits from his current employer.

I have been told that if I do not have a Power of Attorney or other legal documents in effect for both of us, we ...Read more

Note: Because Toni recently received more reader queries about creating a My Social Security account after the account is blocked, we are rerunning the following column from April of 2024.

Hi Toni:

I’m turning 65 in July and not receiving my Social Security check. Last week I tried to open a “My Social Security” account to enroll in...Read more

I retired from my employer of 20 years last June when I turned 66. I enrolled in COBRA, which began July 1, instead of enrolling in Medicare because I was told that COBRA protected me from the Medicare penalty for 18 months.

My sister informed me about Medicare’s Special Enrollment Period in the Medicare & You Handbook which explained ...Read more

Toni:

I am turning 65 on April 4, working part-time, and not eligible for my employer benefits, so I need Medicare. A friend gave me confusing information about enrolling, saying that the 7-month window is only for enrolling in Medicare Part A, and I have to prove that I qualify for Medicare Part B at the same time. If that is true, then how ...Read more

I am retiring in June when I turn 70 and my wife, Bonnie, will be 68. Our Medicare issue is that recently we applied for a long-term care plan and were both denied due to our simple health issues.

I had my prostate removed due to cancer about 5 years ago with no current issues and Bonnie has A-Fib which is under control. The agent who helped...Read more

This week, I went to see my primary care doctor, and his office manager informed me that they are no longer accepting Medicare. I recently enrolled in Medicare and will have to pay the complete bill upfront and be reimbursed by Medicare. His office is a small one, and he will be retiring soon, so I need to find a new doctor. Can you please tell...Read more

Dear Toni:

I had no problem opening the “My Social Security” account to enroll in Medicare because I knew those answers. When it came to filling out the application for Medicare that was another story.

I had a problem with some of Medicare’s personal questions. I knew my name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, etc. When ...Read more

Toni:

Last week’s Medicare Part D question was from Tonya regarding discovering that she and her husband are receiving an “extra” Part D premium, which she never knew about. You advised her to contact her local Congressional office to help appeal the Medicare issue.

I now must fight Social Security because they are under the ...Read more

Dear Toni:

In December 2016, you assisted me and my husband Gary in leaving my employer’s benefits. We enrolled into Medicare Part B with a Medicare Supplement and Part D prescription drug plan that began on January 1, 2017.

The 2024 Medicare AEP is the ONLY year that we have changed from the original Medicare Part D plan that we ...Read more

Note: Due to the continued confusion on the issue, Toni is rerunning this column from May. It has been slightly updated.

Dear Toni,

I need your help regarding my parents who are in their late 80s. My mother has been disabled with Parkinson’s for the past 3 years and my father has been her caretaker, but due to his recent heart attack, he...Read more