Social Security, Medicare, & government pensions : [get the most out of your retirement and medical benefits!

Everyone wants to get the most out of their retirement benefits -- not to mention the best medical coverage and prescription drug benefits! Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions clearly explains what the different benefits are, and shows you how to claim what you've earned, including: *Social Security retirement and disability benefits *Social Security dependents and survivor benefits *Supplemental Security Income *federal, state and local government pensions *Medicare and Medicaid *Medigap managed care plans *veterans benefits *prescription drug coverage Completely updated to provide the latest information and changes in benefits, this plain-English book is a must-have for anyone who is retired or about to be. Table of Contents 10 Introduction 16 1. Social Security: The Basics 22 A. History of Social Security 23 B. Social Security Defined 25 C. Eligibility for Benefits 26 D. Earning Work Credits 31 E. Determining Your Benefit Amount 33 F. Your Social Security Earnings Record 35 G. Reading Your Social Security Statement 37 H. Correcting Your Record 41 I. U.S. Citizens’ Rights to Receive Benefits While Living Abroad 42 J. Receiving Benefits as a Noncitizen 44 2. Social Security Retirement Benefits 46 A. Work Credits Required 47 B. Timing Your Retirement 49 C. The Amount of Your Retirement Check 52 D. Working After Claiming Retirement Benefits 55 3. Social Security Disability Benefits 58 A. Who Is Eligible 60 B. What Is a Disability 63 C. Amount of Disability Benefit Payments 68 D. Collecting Additional Benefits 70 E. Review of Your Eligibility 73 F. Returning to Work 74 4. Social Security Dependents Benefits 78 A. Who Is Eligible 79 B. Calculating Dependents Benefits 81 C. Eligibility for More Than One Benefit 82 D. Working While Receiving Benefits 83 E. Public Employee Pension Offset 83 5. Social Security Survivors Benefits 86 A. Who Is Eligible 87 B. Requirements for Deceased’s Work Record 88 C. Amount of Survivors Benefits 90 D. Eligibility for More Than One Benefit 92 E. Working While Receiving Benefits 93 F. Offset for Public Employment Pension 94 6. Supplemental Security Income 96 A. Who Is Eligible 97 B. Benefit Amounts 102 C. Reductions to Benefits 104 7. Applying for Benefits 106 A. Retirement, Dependents and Survivors Benefits 107 B. Disability Benefits 113 C. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 117 D. Finding Out What Happens to Your Claim 118 8. Appealing Social Security Decisions 122 A. Reconsideration of Decision 123 B. Administrative Hearing 129 C. Appeal to the National Appeals Council 134 D. Lawsuit in Federal Court 137 E. Lawyers and Other Assistance 137 9. Federal Civil Service Retirement Benefits 142 A. Two Retirement Systems: CSRS and FERS 144 B. Retirement Benefits 144 C. Disability Benefits to Federal Workers 155 D. Payments to Surviving Family Members 157 E. Applying for CSRS or FERS Benefits 159 10. Veterans Benefits 160 A. Types of Military Service Required 161 B. Compensation for Service-Connected Disability 162 C. Pension Benefits for Financially Needy Disabled Veterans 165 D. Survivors Benefits 165 E. Medical Treatment 166 F. Getting Information and Applying for Benefits 168 11. Medicare 170 A. The Medicare Maze 173 B. Medicare: The Basics 174 C. Part A Hospital Insurance 178 D. How Much Medicare Part A Pays 187 E. Part B Medical Insurance 191 F. How Much Medicare Part B Pays 199 G. Help With Prescription Drug Costs 205 12. Medicare Procedures: Enrollment, Claims, and Appeals 212 A. Enrolling in Part A Hospital Insurance 213 B. Enrolling in Part B Medical Insurance 216 C. Medicare’s Payment of Your Medical Bills 217 D. Paying Your Share of the Bill 221 E. How to Read a Medicare Summary Notice 222 F. Appealing the Denial of a Claim 228 G. Health Insurance Counseling Programs 242 H. Medicare Part B Carriers 243 13. Medigap Insurance 248 A. Gaps in Medicare 250 B. Standard Medigap Benefit Plans 251 C. Terms and Conditions of Medigap Policies 259 D. Finding the Best Medicare Supplement 263 14. Medicare Managed Care Plans 270 A. The Structure of Managed Care 271 B. Choosing a Medicare Managed Care Plan 274 C. Comparing Medigap and Managed Care Plans 281 D. Your Rights When Joining, Leaving, or Losing Managed Care Coverage 284 15. Medicaid and State Supplements to Medicare 286 A. Medicaid Defined 288 B. Who Is Eligible 288 C. Medical Costs Covered by Medicaid 292 D. Requirements for Coverage 293 E. Cost of Medicaid Coverage 294 F. Other State Assistance 296 G. Applying for Medicaid, QMB, SLMB, or QI 297 H. What to Do If You Are Denied Coverage 299 Index 300 Related Products 322 0873379810,9780873379816 Nolo