Q & A
I stumbled onto your YouTube channel while looking at funny cat videos. Why does Social Security produce cat videos?
Answer: It’s just one of many ways for Social Security to connect to people where they already spend time. It’s important for Social Security to let everyone know about what it does for Americans, and the agency especially interested in getting the…
Social Security Trust Fund: How Does It Work?
Answer: Social Security is confusing to many people, because the program has a trust fund that is at risk of running out of money. In assessing your own benefits, it’s useful to know exactly what the Social Security Trust Fund…
What is the earliest age that I can receive Social Security disability benefits?
Answer: There is no minimum age as long as you meet the Social Security definition of disabled. You must have worked under Social Security long enough to earn the required number of work credits and some of the work must…
Do Medicare Supplemental Plans include prescription drug coverage?
Answer: No. The strategy here is simply to choose a separate stand-alone prescription plan to complement the Medicare Supplemental plan. Easy to do. Source: Penn Health Insurance Solutions, Inc., July 7, 2014 Notice: The “Read more…” link provided above connects readers to…
What are Medicare Supplemental Plans (a/k/a Medigap) ?
Answer: Medicare Supplemental plans…also known as “Medigap plans” are “secondary” insurers to Medicare because they pay the “gap” – the payment due to doctors/hospitals that Medicare doesn’t pay. When we seek medical care with a Medigap plan, we show the health…
Do Medicare Advantage plans include prescription coverage?
Answer: Medicare Advantage Plans will often bundle prescription coverage as past of the plan package, but plans are also offered without prescription coverage. Prescription co-pays vary based on the whether the prescription is a generic or a name-brand. Source: Penn Health Insurance…
What are Medicare Advantage plans?
Answer: Medicare Advantage plans are private health insurance plans that act as primary payer for Medicare. In exchange for a monthly premium paid to a health insurance company, you agree to a series of medical co-pays and you agree to use…
What is meant by Medicare “Part A” and “Part B?”
Answer: Medicare Part A is generally hospital insurance coverage. Medicare does not charge a monthly premium to most persons for Part A. During 2014, Part A co-pay per hospital stay will be $1,184 but Medicare Supplemental Plans F and G will pay…
What income levels do I need to consider when planning for my Medicare premiums?
Full Question: My long-term partner and I recently married. We are a gay couple and now are experiencing new challenges as our union is now considered “taxable” by Medicare. Specifically, because our combined earnings are above $170,000 per year, I…
Should You Get Medigap Supplemental Insurance with Your Medicare?
Answer: As I mentioned in a recent post, within three months before or after your 65th birthday, it is important that you contact the Social Security Administration to sign up for Medicare. This is true even if you already have insurancethrough an employer or…