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Post by guido2 on Oct 19, 2018 10:36:00 GMT -5
Having just turned 65 I was introduced to the pleasures of signing up for Social Security and Medicare. Which is still on going.
I thought it would be a good idea to create a OP where questions, experiences, tips, shortcuts and such could be shared and addressed. Because what is in print or video's is more screwed up than a frog in a blender.
To get the ball rolling.
BEWARE: Of what you read on the various web pages be they AARP for example of the private sector and also the Fed and States pages. In summary; I guess I went to probably 6 different pages and got 6 different versions as to when you MUST take Medicare or MUST take Social Security. That is not including printed articles and books.
I can go into more detail if anyone wishes.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 10:38:30 GMT -5
Nothing done for me yet. I’m 62 and been advised to sign up? Not sure how the system works. Good thread.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 11:12:00 GMT -5
Couple years ago I was royally PISSED OFF they jammed medicare down my throat for what $104.00 a month because I was fine with my other insurance. Now in retrospect it's worked out pretty well for me. After the two of them pay off Drs. visits and even hospital stays cost me pretty much notta.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 11:27:24 GMT -5
Nothing done for me yet. I’m 62 and been advised to sign up? Not sure how the system works. Good thread. Taking you off ignore for this forum. I'm not aware of a sign up option for medicare at 62, so I assume you're talking SS? If so, there is a pretty hefty reduction in payments between 62 and your full retirement age. I retire in 4 weeks, having reached the full retirement age - and being sick of working.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 11:35:15 GMT -5
Nothing done for me yet. I’m 62 and been advised to sign up? Not sure how the system works. Good thread. Taking you off ignore for this forum. I'm not aware of a sign up option for medicare at 62, so I assume you're talking SS? If so, there is a pretty hefty reduction in payments between 62 and your full retirement age. I retire in 4 weeks, having reached the full retirement age - and being sick of working. I’m just learning!!! Not eager to admit that I’m getting old! 😄 My better half has been advising me.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 11:36:47 GMT -5
I would encourage those hitting the Medicare roles to begin looking for a doctor who takes it - the trend is away from taking new Medicare patients.
Be prepared for a ton of paperwork - rarely did a day go by when we did not get something from CMS
Be prepared for different invoices for your basic bill, It just takes a bit of time for them to sort it out.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 11:37:33 GMT -5
Couple years ago I was royally PISSED OFF they jammed medicare down my throat for what $104.00 a month because I was fine with my other insurance. Now in retrospect it's worked out pretty well for me. After the two of them pay off Drs. visits and even hospital stays cost me pretty much notta. My experience as well. Between Medicare and Tricare Retired, costs are barely there.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 11:38:41 GMT -5
Taking you off ignore for this forum. I'm not aware of a sign up option for medicare at 62, so I assume you're talking SS? If so, there is a pretty hefty reduction in payments between 62 and your full retirement age. I retire in 4 weeks, having reached the full retirement age - and being sick of working. I’m just learning!!! Not eager to admit that I’m getting old! 😄 My better half has been advising me. Getting old beats NOT getting old...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 11:39:16 GMT -5
I would encourage those hitting the Medicare roles to begin looking for a doctor who takes it - the trend is away from taking new Medicare patients. Be prepared for a ton of paperwork - rarely did a day go by when we did not get something from CMS Be prepared for different invoices for your basic bill, It just takes a bit of time for them to sort it out. The best healthcare is really taking care of yourself. I guess I’m lucky in that fact. Knocks on wood
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Post by guido2 on Oct 19, 2018 11:58:19 GMT -5
Nothing done for me yet. I’m 62 and been advised to sign up? Not sure how the system works. Good thread. One thing that maybe I should put in at the beginning this is a disclaimer. This is advise and experiences...not law. First off SS is your portal to Medicare in most situations. Be it signing up for either the first time or doing stuff later. Although (and here we go with 'whos on first') sometimes you need to go to Medicare directly.😡 So ...if you haven't already done so...be sure you sign up for an account with SS I think it is called MySocialSecurity. The link to do so is in the upper left hand corner of the main SS page. Unless they moved it again. 😡 Through it is your access to SS and Medicare 'stuff' at a personnel level. TIP: when creating the account....BE SURE....even if you type with one finger to do so and check that cap lock...to make sure your ID and p/w are correct. AND write it down immediately. TIP: when entering your password look in the box and on the right in the box is what looks like an eyeball...HIT it to confirm what you thought you typed in is REALLY what it sees. At 62 you are eligible to collect SS but at a reduced rate. You can also sign up at that time but defer Medicare till 65 but you don't have to sign up at all. TILL YOU ARE 65. But if at 62 and you don't have coverage already....you may/must have to join Medicare. Sort of a backdoor Obamacare if you will. I can add a lot more about turning 65,wanting to wait to 66 for SS and what happens with Medicare in that case. Baby steps....small bites. I think is the best way to go.
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Post by guido2 on Oct 19, 2018 12:03:52 GMT -5
Couple years ago I was royally PISSED OFF they jammed medicare down my throat for what $104.00 a month because I was fine with my other insurance. Now in retrospect it's worked out pretty well for me. After the two of them pay off Drs. visits and even hospital stays cost me pretty much notta. Jammed? If that happened if you were younger than 65 yeah it got jammed. Over 65 you must join Medicare Part A which is free. It is the Part B that has to be paid for. As is true with C & D. Which are all another can of worms Now, if you were forced to take it at 62 even if you have coverage. My bet is; that due to the Obamacare provider requirements maybe your policy didn't meet them? Think about the timeframe when that happened. I am sure others might be curious to fill in information about this. BTW as I understand it...depending on the insurance provider....you can get Part B from them or a private insurer. I am still looking at that myself. As private vendors do provided different packages for B, C and D. That roll all of them into one bill at a lower rate overall. Very similar to having both home and vehicle insurance with one company. Hmmmm this thread may work 😊
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 12:06:06 GMT -5
Nothing done for me yet. I’m 62 and been advised to sign up? Not sure how the system works. Good thread. One thing that maybe I should put in at the beginning this is a disclaimer. This is advise and experiences...not law. First off SS is your portal to Medicare in most situations. Be it signing up for either the first time or doing stuff later. Although (and here we go with 'whos on first') sometimes you need to go to Medicare directly.😡 So ...if you haven't already done so...be sure you sign up for an account with SS I think it is called MySocialSecurity. The link to do so is in the upper left hand corner of the main SS page. Unless they moved it again. 😡 Through it is your access to SS and Medicare 'stuff' at a personnel level. TIP: when creating the account....BE SURE....even if you type with one finger to do so and check that cap lock...to make sure your ID and p/w are correct. AND write it down immediately. TIP: when entering your password look in the box and on the right in the box is what looks like an eyeball...HIT it to confirm what you thought you typed in is REALLY what it sees. At 62 you are eligible to collect SS but at a reduced rate. You can also sign up at that time but defer Medicare till 65 but you don't have to sign up at all. TILL YOU ARE 65. But if at 62 and you don't have coverage already....you may/must have to join Medicare. Sort of a backdoor Obamacare if you will. I can add a lot more about turning 65,wanting to wait to 66 for SS and what happens with Medicare in that case. Baby steps....small bites. I think is the best way to go. Thanks. You’d be surprised how helpful it is just to sit here and read this again. So it starts becoming part of my thought process. I’m not real good at these kind of things.
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Post by baltimatt on Oct 19, 2018 12:08:06 GMT -5
I turn 65 next June. Already on SS Disability. Aren't you supposed to sign up for Medicare three months before your 65th birthday?
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Post by guido2 on Oct 19, 2018 12:16:17 GMT -5
I would encourage those hitting the Medicare roles to begin looking for a doctor who takes it - the trend is away from taking new Medicare patients. Be prepared for a ton of paperwork - rarely did a day go by when we did not get something from CMS Be prepared for different invoices for your basic bill, It just takes a bit of time for them to sort it out. Yes ...so much for a paperless society. 😱 Another suggestion: Go to Staples and get you self one of these portable filing boxes. meade.armymwr.com/programs/burba-park-recreation-area for example. And put all that stuff there. Not on the table....not on the desk....THERE. Even if you don't want to read it or deal with it then....PUT IT THERE!!! Not with your other bills....not with the other stuff....THERE. Personal experience. I had all sorts of hassles dealing with BCPS and my health insurance during this transition. They claim that then sent me a notification in Sept. I claim I didn't. So problems. I suspect either the USPS never delivered it. Or somehow...that letter never got to THERE. 😱 And got mixed in somehow with the recyclables. Key is to stay organized...and make it a routine...'ahhhhh a letter from Medicaid' it goes THERE....make it a habit.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 12:21:40 GMT -5
I would encourage those hitting the Medicare roles to begin looking for a doctor who takes it - the trend is away from taking new Medicare patients. Be prepared for a ton of paperwork - rarely did a day go by when we did not get something from CMS Be prepared for different invoices for your basic bill, It just takes a bit of time for them to sort it out. Yes ...so much for a paperless society. 😱 Another suggestion: Go to Staples and get you self one of these portable filing boxes. meade.armymwr.com/programs/burba-park-recreation-area for example. And put all that stuff there. Not on the table....not on the desk....THERE. Even if you don't want to read it or deal with it then....PUT IT THERE!!! Not with your other bills....not with the other stuff....THERE. Personal experience. I had all sorts of hassles dealing with BCPS and my health insurance during this transition. They claim that then sent me a notification in Sept. I claim I didn't. So problems. I suspect either the USPS never delivered it. Or somehow...that letter never got to THERE. 😱 And got mixed in somehow with the recyclables. Key is to stay organized...and make it a routine...'ahhhhh a letter from Medicaid' it goes THERE....make it a habit. That is the first thing you learn. Keep all records. And trust paper...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 12:22:16 GMT -5
This is where I really appreciate having a better half. We do this together
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Post by guido2 on Oct 19, 2018 12:27:19 GMT -5
I turn 65 next June. Already on SS Disability. Aren't you supposed to sign up for Medicare three months before your 65th birthday? ohhhh ggeeezzzz…..that was one of the big 'but it said' things. And the main reason for my starting this thread. Depending where you look SS/Medicare/Sublinks-pages within them. You could get multiple answers. - like you said some say 3 months before -some said you have a window of 2months before and after your birthday -some even said 'well if you are not collecting social security you don't have to worry about anything. As long as you have private insurance. - others say don't worry be happy....you will all the docs in a timely fashion in the mail. Relax. 😡 I am not kidding or making this up. Bottom line: 2months before and after is OKEY DOKEE with that time frame. However, your private insurer ….who is anxious to get you off there books wants it 2 months before. And will give you all sorts of grief is you hadn't....as I found out. TIP: If you have any questions you want answered on the phone.....make some coffee and a sandwich … you wait to talk to a human being averaged about an hour. TIP: AND THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT!!! If you 'think' you may have problems or you 'think' you may have a need for a sit down with someone in SS. MAKE THE APPOINTMENT NOW...ASPA....IMMEDICATELY. I made one to 'be sure' and run all this through a reps.....wait time...FIVE WEEKS! I repeat not 5 days....5 WEEKS. After midterms I am writing a few letters to people on that one.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 12:47:42 GMT -5
Couple years ago I was royally PISSED OFF they jammed medicare down my throat for what $104.00 a month because I was fine with my other insurance. Now in retrospect it's worked out pretty well for me. After the two of them pay off Drs. visits and even hospital stays cost me pretty much notta. My experience as well. Between Medicare and Tricare Retired, costs are barely there. We have Tricare Prime (Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan). They pay for everything and Medicare is our secondary insurance and haven't used it at all since joining.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 12:57:44 GMT -5
I turn 65 next June. Already on SS Disability. Aren't you supposed to sign up for Medicare three months before your 65th birthday? ohhhh ggeeezzzz…..that was one of the big 'but it said' things. And the main reason for my starting this thread. Depending where you look SS/Medicare/Sublinks-pages within them. You could get multiple answers. - like you said some say 3 months before -some said you have a window of 2months before and after your birthday -some even said 'well if you are not collecting social security you don't have to worry about anything. As long as you have private insurance. - others say don't worry be happy....you will all the docs in a timely fashion in the mail. Relax. 😡 I am not kidding or making this up. Bottom line: 2months before and after is OKEY DOKEE with that time frame. However, your private insurer ….who is anxious to get you off there books wants it 2 months before. And will give you all sorts of grief is you hadn't....as I found out. TIP: If you have any questions you want answered on the phone.....make some coffee and a sandwich … you wait to talk to a human being averaged about an hour. TIP: AND THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT!!! If you 'think' you may have problems or you 'think' you may have a need for a sit down with someone in SS. MAKE THE APPOINTMENT NOW...ASPA....IMMEDICATELY. I made one to 'be sure' and run all this through a reps.....wait time...FIVE WEEKS! I repeat not 5 days....5 WEEKS. After midterms I am writing a few letters to people on that one. A little over six years ago when my husband and I applied for Medicare there was no wait time to sit down with someone at SS. I think wait times are only going to get worse at more baby boomers reach retirement age. They say to apply 3 months before your 65th birthday because it can take that long for them to process it and get you covered is what we were told back in 2010.
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Post by guido2 on Oct 19, 2018 13:56:37 GMT -5
ohhhh ggeeezzzz…..that was one of the big 'but it said' things. And the main reason for my starting this thread. Depending where you look SS/Medicare/Sublinks-pages within them. You could get multiple answers. - like you said some say 3 months before -some said you have a window of 2months before and after your birthday -some even said 'well if you are not collecting social security you don't have to worry about anything. As long as you have private insurance. - others say don't worry be happy....you will all the docs in a timely fashion in the mail. Relax. 😡 I am not kidding or making this up. Bottom line: 2months before and after is OKEY DOKEE with that time frame. However, your private insurer ….who is anxious to get you off there books wants it 2 months before. And will give you all sorts of grief is you hadn't....as I found out. TIP: If you have any questions you want answered on the phone.....make some coffee and a sandwich … you wait to talk to a human being averaged about an hour. TIP: AND THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT!!! If you 'think' you may have problems or you 'think' you may have a need for a sit down with someone in SS. MAKE THE APPOINTMENT NOW...ASPA....IMMEDICATELY. I made one to 'be sure' and run all this through a reps.....wait time...FIVE WEEKS! I repeat not 5 days....5 WEEKS. After midterms I am writing a few letters to people on that one. A little over six years ago when my husband and I applied for Medicare there was no wait time to sit down with someone at SS. I think wait times are only going to get worse at more baby boomers reach retirement age. They say to apply 3 months before your 65th birthday because it can take that long for them to process it and get you covered is what we were told back in 2010. With hine sight being 20/20 I would have also. But...as I said silly me....I thought I was OK. But again that was based on mis-information. That is why I suggest that anyone playing this game read up as much as possible and make and appointment. And let them earn their paycheck. Yes you 'might' be able to get through the process without a glitch. But in my way of thinking...if you have a sit down...and you say to them I want to do X.Y and Z...and they agree...and they process it....it is on them...NOT YOU. At this point I 'think' I got things right. However, I still had an appointment when I thought it was all buggered up. I still plan to keep it. They can pull my records, demonstrate where I am and thus will be recorded. Just in case the hamster wheel starts turning again. 😱 But that is me.
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Post by guido2 on Oct 19, 2018 13:59:25 GMT -5
My experience as well. Between Medicare and Tricare Retired, costs are barely there. We have Tricare Prime (Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan). They pay for everything and Medicare is our secondary insurance and haven't used it at all since joining. And people say that serving in the military is silly. Who is silly now? 😉 Glad to hear that your health is good and you don't have to tap into it.
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Post by guido2 on Oct 19, 2018 14:06:03 GMT -5
Yes ...so much for a paperless society. 😱 Another suggestion: Go to Staples and get you self one of these portable filing boxes. meade.armymwr.com/programs/burba-park-recreation-area for example. And put all that stuff there. Not on the table....not on the desk....THERE. Even if you don't want to read it or deal with it then....PUT IT THERE!!! Not with your other bills....not with the other stuff....THERE. Personal experience. I had all sorts of hassles dealing with BCPS and my health insurance during this transition. They claim that then sent me a notification in Sept. I claim I didn't. So problems. I suspect either the USPS never delivered it. Or somehow...that letter never got to THERE. 😱 And got mixed in somehow with the recyclables. Key is to stay organized...and make it a routine...'ahhhhh a letter from Medicaid' it goes THERE....make it a habit. That is the first thing you learn. Keep all records. And trust paper...OOOhhhhh definitely. I can't begin to tell you how many times in my life (not just this) that some pin head says 'well we have no record in our database'....and the pride and joy of slapping down a form with there letterhead on it that said....ahhhhh no ...you said this. Or produced a thumbdrive with a scan of it. Of course numb nut(s) brains nearly exploded. Like this
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 17:45:07 GMT -5
Couple years ago I was royally PISSED OFF they jammed medicare down my throat for what $104.00 a month because I was fine with my other insurance. Now in retrospect it's worked out pretty well for me. After the two of them pay off Drs. visits and even hospital stays cost me pretty much notta. Jammed? If that happened if you were younger than 65 yeah it got jammed. Over 65 you must join Medicare Part A which is free. It is the Part B that has to be paid for. As is true with C & D. Which are all another can of worms Now, if you were forced to take it at 62 even if you have coverage. My bet is; that due to the Obamacare provider requirements maybe your policy didn't meet them? Think about the timeframe when that happened. I am sure others might be curious to fill in information about this. BTW as I understand it...depending on the insurance provider....you can get Part B from them or a private insurer. I am still looking at that myself. As private vendors do provided different packages for B, C and D. That roll all of them into one bill at a lower rate overall. Very similar to having both home and vehicle insurance with one company. Hmmmm this thread may work 😊 No I took it at 65 but didn't really want to. In retrospect it was good for me, well worth the 105 bucks a month taken directly out of the SS. SS at 62, any later doesn't make sense. At least not for me, I quit work at 54 and flew under the radar for another 11 years.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 18:00:32 GMT -5
We have Tricare Prime (Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan). They pay for everything and Medicare is our secondary insurance and haven't used it at all since joining. And people say that serving in the military is silly. Who is silly now? 😉 Glad to hear that your health is good and you don't have to tap into it. Most of us "lifers" weighed the situation... even as a young REBELLIOUS asswipe that liked to live hard and drink even harder could see that this might be the way to go. Motorcycle accidents, football and rugby injuries and just pure stupidity... covered. First wife (between all the good times) was a juvenile diabetic so I knew I best have good medical. Yes, we worked hard and had a LOT of skin in the game but the rewards if one lived through it was well worth it. Where else could I have gone, flown airplanes as a FE, drink like a fish at some city or obscure air station that I might never see again so didn't worry about making an ass out of myself, chase a different woman whenever it suited, get paid and laid and still see light at the end of the tunnel when I was like 40 years old?
Still young enough to start a family and raise kids afterwards, no complaints other that I should have self corrected more often.
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Post by Bartman on Oct 19, 2018 19:55:57 GMT -5
You have to Register with SS at 65 but I'm still working and have my Work Aetna coverage so I'm not using the Medicare yet.
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Post by rocketwolf on Oct 19, 2018 20:36:28 GMT -5
They told me you are to sign up for medicare, I did, then in the next 10 months I cost them almost 1/4 of a million $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 23:21:19 GMT -5
They told me you are to sign up for medicare, I did, then in the next 10 months I cost them almost 1/4 of a million $$$$$$$$$$$$$$. I would take any money I could get from the government considering all the rich people that get tons and tons of welfare and money from the government. Might as well go for it
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Post by guido2 on Oct 20, 2018 10:05:27 GMT -5
Jammed? If that happened if you were younger than 65 yeah it got jammed. Over 65 you must join Medicare Part A which is free. It is the Part B that has to be paid for. As is true with C & D. Which are all another can of worms Now, if you were forced to take it at 62 even if you have coverage. My bet is; that due to the Obamacare provider requirements maybe your policy didn't meet them? Think about the timeframe when that happened. I am sure others might be curious to fill in information about this. BTW as I understand it...depending on the insurance provider....you can get Part B from them or a private insurer. I am still looking at that myself. As private vendors do provided different packages for B, C and D. That roll all of them into one bill at a lower rate overall. Very similar to having both home and vehicle insurance with one company. Hmmmm this thread may work 😊 No I took it at 65 but didn't really want to. In retrospect it was good for me, well worth the 105 bucks a month taken directly out of the SS. SS at 62, any later doesn't make sense. At least not for me, I quit work at 54 and flew under the radar for another 11 years. Again I am no expert. You say that there made no worthwhile difference between waiting till 65. That maybe do to the fact that you stopped paying into the system at 54. And again assuming you looked at the SS payout tables based on age and your 'pay in' to that point. However in my case, by not taking SS at 62 and waiting till I was 66 (full vesting) I increased by return to around an extra 280 per month. I am drawing from memory but the numbers are close. Just waiting till 65 would have added another 120. Now don't ask me how waiting one extra year should logically add that much more money. It is what it is. Also since you mentione (I think) doing things as a team with your wife. In my case ...if I should pass she will get my better payout. In lieu of hers. TIP TO ALL: If you are not yet collecting and even if you are. BE SURE to get a print out of you SS payout. And study it keeping in mind if you are getting by OK now...it might be better to wait and collect a bigger check. One may need it to cover the medical expenses and such ...yeah like hospice 😒...down the road. Overlooked fact TIP: Believe it or not there is a rule ….a 'I changed my mind' rule. And you can stop collecting. This allows your account to start accruing what they call 'credits' again. So even if you started at 62 and collected, and lets say you got some cash windfall you can live on for a few years say till 66. You could stop getting checks at 63...the account grows....and you will get a higher payout when you start collecting again at say 66 or 70. It's tricky but do-able. A definite face to face meeting I think. Again I am no SS expert...but this is a summary of what I have read and studied.
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Post by guido2 on Oct 20, 2018 10:17:41 GMT -5
I turn 65 next June. Already on SS Disability. Aren't you supposed to sign up for Medicare three months before your 65th birthday? It's a weird rule but can enroll three months prior to, and three months following, your birthdate. But your month of birth counts in that. So if your b-day is in March, you can enroll in January, February or March. Or, March, April or May. Like I said earlier.... there are lots a weird rules....many of which are in accurate or conflicting or have many well if this that and the other things associated with them. And the reason I started this OP. Hopefully it will help someone avoid the pain and angst I went through. I know some here may not think I am too bright. But I think I am enough to realize that this is a messy cats' cradle if you want to work the 'system' to your advantage and not the goooberments. After this... I can see why people with less fortitude or 'smarts' just throw in the towel and say 'yeah sure whatever' just to be done with it all at 62. And you are on glide path to Medicare at 65. But you can possibly lose a lot of SS dollars. I am frugal...not stupid. 😂
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Post by guido2 on Oct 20, 2018 10:21:53 GMT -5
You have to Register with SS at 65 but I'm still working and have my Work Aetna coverage so I'm not using the Medicare yet. Well you are registered with SS when you get 'the card'. Now signing up for benefits a lot earlier than 62...I think 55...but YOU CAN DEFER COLLECTION to an age of your choosing. Well you MUST TAKE IT at 70. So in affect you can prefill out everything ...just not submit it. Again all this stuff is tricky and convoluted. TIP: You mentioned Aetna. I would recommend that anyone on a private program contact them regarding all this. As I said earlier, Cigna/BCPS got real twitchy about getting me off their roles ASAP ...as I found out. And with little warning. Even thought 'the web' said I had nothing to concern myself with. I told them... but the SS/Medicare said this....they said we don't care....do this NOW or you will likely pay penalties. So you are in a scrum with SS, Medicare and your present provider. Each doing the 'whos on first' thing.
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