Product Description

Get the most out of the new Medicare drug coverage!

Everyone wants to get the highest possible retirement and pension income --not to mention the best medical coverage. This book is your guide to finding retirement benefits, figuring out the best time to claim them, and then doing so quickly and easily.

Social Security benefits
Find all the latest information and instructions you need to get your retirement and disability benefits, dependents and survivors benefits, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Medicare & Medicaid
Learn the nuts and bolts of both programs, plus how to qualify and apply for them. Understand Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage what it covers, how to apply for it and how to use it with your medigap policy, managed care plan or Medicaid.

Medical coverage options
Get the latest information on Medicare and Medicaid HMOs and other managed care plans, and learn about the different types of medigap health plans.

Government pensions & veterans benefits
Discover when and how to claim the benefits you have earned.

Practical advice for anyone thinking about retirement
Find out how much your benefits will be when you plan to claim them. Time your retirement to get the best benefits. Fill out and file important benefit forms. And more!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #262374 in Books
• Published on: 2008-01-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 466 pages

Review
"Anyone who can write a readable guide to Medicare should get a medal.... Why can't the system be as straightforward as this book?" -- Pasadena Star-News

"Guide[s] you through the maze of Social Security and Medicare in simple English..." -- The Wall Street Journal

"Offers clear explanations of what to expect from a remarkable safety net that has withstood the test of time..." -- Contra Costa Times

About the Author
Joseph Matthews has been an attorney since 1971, and from 1975 to 1977 he taught at the law school of the University of California, Berkeley. He has for many years been involved in matters relating to seniors, and is the author of Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions and Long Term Care: How to Plan & Play for It, as well as How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim.

Dorothy Matthews Berman assisted her son Joseph Matthews in the writing of Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions. She began working with seniors in various capacities in 1973 and served as Program Director at a senior citizen center in the Los Angeles area for many years.

Customer Reviews

Very comprehensive
I am a little over a year from Medicare and a couple from taking Social Security so I wanted to become familiar with the programs and the application process. The book does a nice job with both - especially for Medicare.

Reviewing: "Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions"
This 466 page book (including index) takes the reader through the process for claiming Social Security, Medicare, and Government pensions. Filled with tips, charts, cautionary info and general advice, the book takes you step by step along the path to get the most one can out of the benefits one has earned. The book is divided into several sections all written with ease of use and clarity of language in mind.

The first eight chapters take the reader the complexities of the Social Security system. Topics such as "Your Social Security Record," Work Credits Required" and "Appealing A Social Security Decision" are covered and many others. Chapters on Social Security Disability rules as well as Survivor Benefits point out the simple fact that this book isn't just for retires.

Chapter 9 covers the Federal Civil Service system and explains both types in detail. As in the earlier material, beyond covering CSRS and FERS there are segments on disability and survivor benefits.

Chapter 10 covers Veteran Benefits. Not only are the types of military service covered and how that relates to benefits, there are sections on service-connected disability, survivors benefits and other helpful information.

Chapter 11 begins the Medicare explanation for the next several chapters and includes coverage of Medigap and Managed Care plans. How to enroll, file a claim, appeal and just about everything else you need to know is included.

Chapter 15 covers Medicaid and state supplements to Medicare. Not only does the reader learn how to navigate the system, other resources are briefly mentioned with information on how to proceed.

This well written and easy to understand book including index considers the subject objectively and without bias. Something very rare in so many books of this type today that are often designed to sell a product or service. Instead, this is a book written by mother and son authors who don't have any bias. Their only objective is to provide good, quality advice.

The result is a comprehensive book that will guide you not only through the pitfalls and traps of the various systems, but help you get the most of what you earned. Like any money advice book in this field, rules are subject to change so it doesn't hurt to keep up to date on the laws and pay attention to what your government is doing.

Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions-13th Edition
Joseph L. Matthews with Dorothy Matthews Berman
NOLO
http://nolo.com
ISBN#1-4133-0753-1
January 7, 2008


Kevin R. Tipple (copyright) 2008