Get What's Yours for Medicare: Maximize Your Coverage, Minimize Your Costs (The Get What's Yours Series) Hardcover – October 4, 2016

Great book--it gradually introduces one to what Medicare booklets state. Throughout this book, there are informational cues starting with "NOBODY TOLD ME" that pointedly help grasp the fact that retirees on fixed incomes and small budgets or, their representatives such as adult children, continually must ask questions of anyone involved with their health care prior to any visit or procedure to ensure Medicare will cover the expense and if not who is responsible to pay.It has terrific info on when a beneficiary can take advantage of programs, handouts and negotiating these systems for the most cost-effective appropriate procedures and health maintenance.Get What's Yours for Medicate has the benefit of many links and clarification of the meaning of acronyms and context of insurance coverage. It presents common errors and especially assumptions which are penalized unforgivingly by Medicare with extra costs and/or no coverage for the beneficiary for the remainder of their life. Its helpful news yet disquieting Medicare's appeal process so slow, many beneficiaries die before their case is reviewed, let alone processed.A pleasant read and confidence boosting relating to the selection process of the coverage, especially when it MUST begin to avoid penalties. One can feel reasonably well informed yet baffled regarding this maze of rules and procedures that no one can understand yet must try to comply with or pay the price of ignorance.

If you're approaching age 65 like I am, you MUST BUY AND READ this book. It's distills all of the Medicare bureaucratese into understandable English. Best of all, it points out all the "gotchas" built into Medicare so you know what to do and what not to do and when. Here's just one example: If you sign up late for Medicare, you'll pay a penalty in the form or a higher monthly premium, FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE! Another: Traveling to Europe? NO COVERAGE FOR YOU! Another: Medicare is PROHIBITED BY LAW from negotiating drug pricing with pharmaceutical companies. Another: If you're admitted to a hospital, you'll have a $1,288 deductible (2016 number) FOR EVERY ADMISSION. So if you have a bad year and end up in the hospital three times, you get the pleasure of paying your deductible THREE TIMES.You'll learn the ins and outs of Medicare coverage. You'll learn how Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C plans) are probably a better option for most than traditional Medicare (Medicare Parts A & B plans) and how in many cases you can buy a Medicare Advantage plan for NO ADDITIONAL COST beyond your Medicare premium.Like I said, you MUST BUY AND READ this book.

This is a good guide but must be used in conjunction with the Medicare.gov website to be truly effective. Since there are some many different situations, start here and then explore the website to reduce the clutter that gets in the way of a good decision. The charts are probably the most useful feature, for example, do you know what the difference is between Medigap Schedule F and Schedule G? There is a chart for this.In my situation, I started with this guide and then confirmed my understanding with the Medicare.gov website. You will have to do the same, The medicare website lets you drill down to your specific situation. I recommend cutting and pasting the clauses that apply to you and printing them as one document. For example, you may apply for initial benefits in the three months before...... etc. In this way, you can assemble all the rules that apply to you.The weakest point of the book is that is describes what is possible but doesn't place enough emphasis that by choosing some options you are falling into Special Enrollment Periods and that each SEP has its own enrollment windows. It really comes down to using the Medicare.gov website like a flowchart and drilling down. The .gov website is very well written, sometimes better than this guide.Again, this is worth the money and time to read it if you make the right decision. More information never hurts. Good luck to all!

Very well written and easy to read. The subject is boring by its very nature, but the author kept it interesting with some humorous candor and personal observations (the author was 70 when he wrote it, so he's one of "us"). Before I continue, I would like to address the negative comments about the quality of the binding, etc. Yeah, it's not the best and some pages are a little crooked (very few), but this isn't a collector edition it's informational text. In other words, the binding work is of no consequence to me. The contents are nicely organized with chapters that are properly sequenced and, again, well written. There are numerous footnotes that provide context, contact information, and links. The back of the book if filled with indices and definitions of terms. Most important to me was that I came away with a vastly improved understanding of how to approach Medicare, and now armed with the explanations and contacts feel confident in getting this process under way. I compare it to a lifting fog. Highly recommend it.

The book was rated in good condition. I was surprised to find some holes in the middle of a few pages. Otherwise the book met expectations and I would use this seller again.

At age 64 1/2, everyone in America should buy Get What's Yours for Medicare. It explains all the ins-and-outs of Medicare, and gives you the information you need to make the right choices in the coverage you opt for. This is your health and life we're talking about -- Get What's Yours for Medicare enables you to maximize both. Probably the best investment/value in the entire healthcare space. One of the very few things in the world you truly must buy.