<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Retirement Resources for Seniors | ToniSays.com</title>
	<atom:link href="https://tonisays.com/category/retirement/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>https://tonisays.com/category/retirement/</link>
	<description>Medicare Advocate</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 13:39:24 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>
	hourly	</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>
	1	</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2</generator>
<site xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">141641657</site>	<item>
		<title>COBRA after retiring? Enroll in Medicare the right way to avoid a penalty…</title>
		<link>https://tonisays.com/cobra-after-retiring-enroll-in-medicare-right-way-to-avoid-a-penalty/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Toni King]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 13:37:53 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Retirement Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medicare enrollment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medicare Part B penalty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Special Enrollment Period]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tonisays.com/?p=25240</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>COBRA after retiring? Enroll in Medicare the right way to avoid a penalty… Dear Toni: I retired from my employer in July when I turned 67 and enrolled in COBRA, which began August 1, instead of enrolling in Medicare. I was told that COBRA protected me from the Medicare penalty for 18 months. My sister [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/cobra-after-retiring-enroll-in-medicare-right-way-to-avoid-a-penalty/">COBRA after retiring? Enroll in Medicare the right way to avoid a penalty…</a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1><strong>COBRA after retiring? Enroll in Medicare the </strong><strong>right way to avoid a penalty…</strong></h1>
<p><strong>Dear Toni:</strong></p>
<p>I retired from my employer in July when I turned 67 and enrolled in COBRA, which began August 1, instead of enrolling in Medicare. I was told that COBRA protected me from the Medicare penalty for 18 months.</p>
<p>My sister showed me a topic about Medicare’s Special Enrollment Period in her 2026 Medicare &amp; You Handbook that explained how to enroll in Medicare when leaving your employer with health benefits. The handbook states that there is an 8-month (not 18-month period) to enroll in Medicare when leaving your employer The handbook further states that COBRA doesn’t count  as current employer coverage for the Special Enrollment Period. Now I am discovering that COBRA is not a Medicare plan at all.</p>
<p>Have I missed my time to enroll in Medicare without receiving a penalty? Am I not even able to enroll at all. Can you explain what I should do?  I need Miss Medicare’s help! Thanks, Toni.</p>
<p>Eddie from Nashville, Tenn.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Hello Eddie:</strong></p>
<p>You are lucky that your sister showed you what is on page 17-19 of the Medicare handbook because you are almost at the end of your  8-month Special Enrollment Period(SEP) to apply for Medicare.  Your 8-month period began August 1 and will end March 31.</p>
<p>Page 17 of the handbook under “Special Enrollment Period” explains the Medicare rule when you are no longer employed full-time with employer health benefits. COBRA is generally an 18-month plan for those retiring and leaving employer benefits. Page 18 of the handbook notes that, whether or not you choose COBRA, you have 8 months to sign up for Part B without a late enrollment penalty.  Waiting longer than 8 months will cause a Medicare Part B penalty for as long as you have Part B.</p>
<p>Eddie, enroll before your 8-month SEP window is over on March 31. After April 1,your Medicare can be denied since you waited past your 8-month window, and you will have to wait until next year’s Medicare General Enrollment Period (GEP) which is from January1-March 31. The GEP time period is the only time one can enroll in Medicare when one has waited too long and will receive the “infamous” Part B penalty.</p>
<p>Since you are past 65, then there are Social Security forms that your employer must provide stating that you have been enrolled in employer benefits since turning 65</p>
<p>Below is the information on how to enroll in Medicare past 65 and working with employer health benefits to not receive a Part B penalty:</p>
<ul>
<li>Download 2 forms: CMS-L564 (Request for Employment Information) and CMS- 40B (Application for Enrollment in Medicare-Part B) from gov/forms. It is vital that Eddie email or take the CMS-L564 form (Request for Employment Information) to his employer’s human resources department to sign off on the form.  Then attach the signed CMS-L564 to CMS- 40B (Application for Enrolling in Medicare Part B) which is filled out and states that Eddie wants his Medicare Part B to begin April 1.</li>
<li>Before filing both forms with the local Social Security office remember to write “Special Enrollment Period”(SEP) at the top of each form for the Social Security agent finalizing the enrollment knows this filing is during a SEP time and not Medicare General Enrollment Period (GEP) to not receive a Part B penalty.</li>
<li>File forms with the local SS office before April1 or before the 8-month window will expire.  (Eddie’s SEP ends March31.) Make copies of every document given and received from the SS office and  ask for the name of the SS agent you give the forms to.</li>
</ul>
<p>Don’t forget!! With Medicare…What you don’t know WILL hurt you!! For more Medicare information, email <a href="mailto:info@tonisays.com">info@tonisays.com</a> or call 832-519-8664. Both of Toni’s books and her new “Confused about Medicare” online course and Toni Says Medicare Roadmap are available at <a href="http://www.tonisays.com">www.tonisays.com</a>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/cobra-after-retiring-enroll-in-medicare-right-way-to-avoid-a-penalty/">COBRA after retiring? Enroll in Medicare the right way to avoid a penalty…</a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">25240</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Confusion over Medicare’s Turning 65 Rule!</title>
		<link>https://tonisays.com/confusion-over-medicares-turning-65-rule/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Toni King]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jan 2024 01:55:35 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Medicare Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Retirement Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medicare Turning 65]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social security]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tonisays.com/?p=23899</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Confusion over Medicare’s Turning 65 Rule! &#160; Toni, My issue regarding how to enroll in Medicare is different than any enrollment problem that I have read in the Toni Says Medicare column. I understand from an email a friend received from Medicare.gov last year that there are new turning 65 enrollment rules in Medicare. I [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/confusion-over-medicares-turning-65-rule/">Confusion over Medicare’s Turning 65 Rule!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Confusion over Medicare’s Turning 65 Rule!</h1>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Toni,</p>
<p>My issue regarding how to enroll in Medicare is different than any enrollment problem that I have read in the Toni Says Medicare column. I understand from an email a friend received from Medicare.gov last year that there are new turning 65 enrollment rules in Medicare.</p>
<p>I have rheumatoid arthritis and turn 65 on February 20<sup>th</sup> and need my Medicare to begin May 1<sup>st</sup>. My husband is retiring and losing his company benefits effective May 1<sup>st</sup>.</p>
<p>I am a non-working spouse due to my health issues and do not have enough work quarters to receive Medicare on my own. I do not know how to apply using my husband’s Medicare benefits. What do I do? Heather from Nashville, TN</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Hi Heather:</p>
<p>It is very important that you are enrolling in Medicare correctly and since you are short the 40 quarters of working and paying taxes to qualify under your Social Security number for your Medicare, you will have to qualify under your husband’s Social Security number for your Medicare to begin if he has the 40 quarters to qualify.</p>
<p>Call your local Social Security office or Social Security at 1/800-772-1213 to arrange an appointment, either over the phone or at a local Social Security office and ask how to apply under your husband’s work record. You will need an “original” certified marriage license to show Social Security that you are currently married.</p>
<p>Set up a <a href="http://www.ssa.gov">www.ssa.gov</a> account prior to talking with a Social Security representative. Social Security may want you to enroll in Medicare online by visiting www.ssa.gov/medicare/sign-up when talking with the representative that is guiding you through this process. Heather, with you being short 40 work quarters, the process is a little bit more complicated than when someone is turning 65 and applying using their own benefits.</p>
<p>The changes that your friend mentioned regarding enrolling in Medicare when turning 65 began January 1, 2023. Medicare’s Initial Enrollment Period is the 7-month period which occurs 3 months before turning 65, the month you turn 65 and 3 months after turning 65. (Chapter 1 of my Medicare Survival Guide Advanced edition explains enrolling in Medicare in detail.)</p>
<p>Below is the Medicare Initial Enrollment Period 7-month timeline schedule:</p>
<ul>
<li>Enrolling anytime 3 months before turning 65, your Medicare begins the first day of the month you turn 65. <em>Since</em><em> Heather will turn 65 on February 20, she can enroll in Medicare Parts A and/or B in November, December, or January (3 months prior) for a February 1<sup>st</sup> effective date.</em></li>
<li>Enroll the month you turn 65, then Medicare will begin the 1<sup>st</sup> of the next month. <em>Heather enrolls in February; her Medicare will begin March 1.</em></li>
<li>Enroll 1 month after you turn 65, your Medicare will begin 1<sup>st</sup> of the next month. <em>Heather</em><em> enrolls in March; her Medicare begins April 1. </em></li>
<li>Enroll 2 months after you turn 65, your Medicare will begin the next month. <em>Heather enrolls in April; her Medicare will begin May1. </em></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Enroll 3 months after you turn 65, your Medicare will begin the next month. <em>Heather enrolls in May (3 months after the month she turns 65); her Medicare will begin June 1<sup>st</sup>.</em></li>
</ul>
<p>Heather, you want your Medicare to begin May 1, so the first of April is when you would want to schedule your appointment with your local Social Security office. Explain your enrollment situation of not having enough quarters and enroll in Medicare during that meeting. I would advise you to bring your Social Security card, driver&#8217;s license and especially your “original” marriage license. Your husband should attend the meeting since you will be using his Social Security information.</p>
<p>Merry Christmas from Toni Says® with a discount to the Toni Says® readers on the Medicare Survival Guide® bundle package at <a href="http://www.tonisays.com">www.tonisays.com</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/confusion-over-medicares-turning-65-rule/">Confusion over Medicare’s Turning 65 Rule!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">23899</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Can Beginning RMDs Raise Your Medicare Premiums? </title>
		<link>https://tonisays.com/can-beginning-rmds-raise-your-medicare-premiums-2/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Toni King]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Feb 2023 19:25:10 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Medicare Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Retirement Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medicare Premiums]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personalize Your Medicare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SSA-44]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tonisays.com/?p=23498</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Can Beginning RMDs Raise Your Medicare Premiums? &#160; Toni: I am over 73 and began taking my RMDs (required minimum distributions) from my 401K when I turned 72. Could this have had an impact on my Medicare Part B premium increase for 2023? This year my Part B and Part D monthly premiums increased to [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/can-beginning-rmds-raise-your-medicare-premiums-2/">Can Beginning RMDs Raise Your Medicare Premiums? </a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Can Beginning RMDs Raise Your Medicare Premiums?</h1>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Toni:</strong></p>
<p>I am over 73 and began taking my RMDs (required minimum distributions) from my 401K when I turned 72. Could this have had an impact on my Medicare Part B premium increase for 2023?</p>
<p>This year my Part B and Part D monthly premiums increased to $329.70 for Part B and an extra IRMAA premium of $31.50 for Part D.</p>
<p>I am married and my wife began a new job in 2021 with a higher salary. Since we are filing jointly, could this have an increased my Medicare premiums. She has recently been laid off and joint income has changed drastically. What can I do? Thank you, James from Pearland</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>James:</strong></p>
<p>Yes!! Your situations either taking your RMD at 72 and your wife starting job in 2020 could have raised your Medicare Part B and D premiums for 2022.</p>
<p>The average American does not realize that any increase in your MAGI (modified adjusted gross income) when you are filing jointly can increase your Medicare premiums. Medicare bases your premiums on both you and your spouse’s income whether one is Medicare age or under. Your RMDs combined with your wife’s increased income has raised your Medicare premiums.</p>
<p>The 2023 Part B premium of $ 329.70 and $31.50 for Part D tells me that your joint income in 2021 was from $246,001 to $306,000.</p>
<p>I have good news for you James. Since your wife is no longer employed and not earning the salary, she had in 2021, you can file an appeal with Social Security to have your Medicare Parts B and D reduced.</p>
<p>Do you want to <strong>wait</strong> 2 years for the IRS to inform Medicare that your income has decreased due a “Life Changing Event” such as you or your spouse being laid off/working part-time, death of a spouse or recently divorced <strong>or</strong> do you want to let Medicare know <strong>now</strong> that you have had a “Life Changing Event”, because you or your spouse are no longer earning that amount of income?</p>
<p>People believe that everyone pays the same amount for their Medicare Parts B and D premium. Those days are long gone!</p>
<p>If your income as an individual is over $97,000 or married over $194,000; your Medicare Parts B and D premiums will be more. Social Security explains in the letter they mail to you how they arrived at the Part B and D premiums based on your “Modified Adjusted Gross Income” (MAGI) from your last filed tax return.</p>
<p>James, your MAGI was over $246,000 and the table used in the letter you receive from Social Security shows what the Part B and Part D premium adjustment will be, whether you are filing single or married.</p>
<p>There is a special form <strong>SSA-44</strong> available at SSA.gov known as <strong>“Life Changing Event</strong>” that can lower your <strong>“IRMAA”</strong> (income related monthly adjusted amount). Examples of life changing events that can make your income go down are:</p>
<ul>
<li>You have gotten married or <strong>divorced</strong>, or your <strong>spouse has died</strong>.</li>
<li>you or your spouse have <strong>stopped working</strong>or have reduced your hours.</li>
</ul>
<p>Use form SSA-44 and attach the original documents or certified copies to verify your change in income. (Chapter 8 of my Medicare Survival Guide Advanced edition consists of the Social Security forms to enroll in Medicare properly such as CMS-L564, CMS-40B and SSA-44.)</p>
<p>Once Social Security is satisfied with the evidence, it will update its records and correct Part B and Part D premiums to what your current income is.</p>
<p>To learn how to personalize your Medicare attend the Confused about Medicare and Social Security Zoom Webinar Thursday, February 9<sup>th</sup> from 4-6pm.  Registration link at <a href="http://www.Tonisays.com">www.Tonisays.com</a>.</p>
<p>Visit <a href="http://www.seniorresource.com/medicare-moments">www.seniorresource.com/medicare-moments</a> to listen to Toni’s Medicare Moments podcast. Email Medicare questions to <a href="mailto:info@tonisays.com">info@tonisays.com</a> or call 832/519-8664.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/can-beginning-rmds-raise-your-medicare-premiums-2/">Can Beginning RMDs Raise Your Medicare Premiums? </a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">23498</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Legal Documents that America Should Not be Without When Aging</title>
		<link>https://tonisays.com/legal-documents-that-america-should-not-be-without-when-aging/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Toni King]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Dec 2022 14:28:55 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Retirement Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[living will]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medical power of Attorney]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[power of attorney]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senior Resource]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tonisays.com/?p=23449</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Legal Documents that America Should Not be Without When Aging &#160; Hi Toni: My husband is retiring at the end of the year, and we are losing so many benefits from his work such as company benefits, life insurance, dental and vision. I know I am missing something that is important for us to retire [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/legal-documents-that-america-should-not-be-without-when-aging/">Legal Documents that America Should Not be Without When Aging</a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1>Legal Documents that America Should Not be Without When Aging</h1>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Hi Toni:</p>
<p>My husband is retiring at the end of the year, and we are losing so many benefits from his work such as company benefits, life insurance, dental and vision. I know I am missing something that is important for us to retire with as little stress as possible. I do not know what other subjects that we need to explore.</p>
<p>I have been told that if we do not have a Power of Attorney in effect for both of us and me or my husband have a stroke or another disability and cannot decide for ourselves that we could have to go to court and file for guardianship.</p>
<p>I have no knowledge of this and really do not know what type of attorney we will need. I want to make sure that I get this done correctly. Thanks, Sandra from Galveston, TX</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Hello Sandra:</p>
<p>I completely understand how you feel because Americans that are enrolling in Medicare or retiring, whether healthy or with a serious health situation are struggling with what to do. During a Toni Says® Medicare consultation, the Toni Says Medicare team advise everyone to seek an attorney or legal aid to have a new or updated Power of Attorney, Medical Power of Attorney and Living Wills executed properly. These three legal documents can make your life stress-free during a trying medical time.</p>
<p>Adult children of elderly parents need to be sure that their parents also have these three legal documents in place. Elderly parents need to realize that they are not giving up their independence, but only helping their adult children when they must help their precious elderly parents during trying times.</p>
<p>It is not an easy time when an adult child must take over the parent role for the one who has been their parent all their life.</p>
<p><strong>Let us discuss the difference in these three legal documents:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Power of Attorney: </strong>is the cornerstone of a financial plan. It ensures that a person&#8217;s wishes will be respected if there comes a time when he or she is unable to act. It is a written document whereby someone is appointed to manage that person&#8217;s financial affairs in the event of illness or incapacity. Signing a power of attorney is critical to ensure a person&#8217;s future independence in the event of illness or incapacity. Without it, one risks having his or her affairs managed by a court-appointed guardian, a stranger, under court supervision and often without the ability to have any input. In other words, the person literally loses financial control.</li>
<li><strong>Medical Power of Attorney :</strong>(also known as a Health Care Power of Attorney) gives someone you trust the legal authority to act on your behalf regarding health care decisions if you ever become incapacitated or unable to communicate.</li>
<li><strong>Living Will/Advance Directive</strong>: is a written statement that details the type of care you want (or do not want) if you become incapacitated. A living will bear no relation to the conventional will or living trust used to leave property at death; it is strictly a place to spell out your health care preferences or wishes.</li>
</ul>
<p>Sandra visit www.seniorresource.com to research estate planning and elder law issues or interview attorneys or legal aids that specialize in eldercare, family law or estate planning or</p>
<p>Need additional help understanding Medicare and more Boomer/Senior information with Toni’s Medicare articles and Medicare podcasts are available at <a href="http://www.seniorresource.com/medicare-moments">www.seniorresource.com/medicare-moments</a>.</p>
<p>For answers to your Medicare questions and retiring issues call the Toni Says Medicare team at 832-519-8664 or email <a href="mailto:info@tonisays.com">info@tonisays.com</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/legal-documents-that-america-should-not-be-without-when-aging/">Legal Documents that America Should Not be Without When Aging</a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">23449</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Self Employed with Retiree Benefits…Why Do I Need Part B??</title>
		<link>https://tonisays.com/self-employed-with-retiree-benefitswhy-do-i-need-part-b/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Toni King]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Mar 2022 14:28:21 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Medicare Part B]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Retirement Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[medicare part B]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self Employed Medicare]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tonisays.com/?p=23161</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Self Employed with Retiree Benefits…Why Do I Need Part B?? &#160; Good day, Toni: We saw your answer about Medicare Part B in an article online and our situation is different. My wife and I will turn 65, me in March and Carol in May. I have signed up for Medicare Part A only and [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/self-employed-with-retiree-benefitswhy-do-i-need-part-b/">Self Employed with Retiree Benefits…Why Do I Need Part B??</a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1><strong>Self Employed with Retiree Benefits…</strong><strong>Why Do I Need Part B?? </strong></h1>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Good day, Toni:</p>
<p>We saw your answer about Medicare Part B in an article online and our situation is different. My wife and I will turn 65, me in March and Carol in May. I have signed up for Medicare Part A only and Carol will enroll for Part A soon.</p>
<p>I retired 2 years ago with fantastic retiree benefits for both me and my wife. Currently, I am self-employed and paid as a 1099 contract worker, but I do not have health benefits from that company.</p>
<p>We do not see a need to sign up for Medicare Part B because we are covered under an existing employer retiree plan. Are we correct in this assumption of not enrolling in Part B? Neither the HR department nor Medicare can give us a straight answer.</p>
<p>When do you advise us to sign up for Part B? Thanks, Richard and Carol, Memorial Examiner Reader</p>
<p>Hello Richard and Carol:</p>
<p>Great Medicare question… I would advise you to enroll in Part B <strong>NOW</strong> because both you and Carol are in your Medicare Initial Enrollment period. Not enrolling in Medicare Part B can cause you to experience a “Medicare nightmare.”</p>
<p>I did a Medicare consultation for a person that is also self-employed, but was given wrong advice from a well-meaning friend about delaying his Part B. His Medicare nightmare is now starting…</p>
<p>Medicare recognizes “true” company and union health plans with the Medicare recipient <strong>working full- time for that company</strong> for the working employee and non-working covered spouse to be able delay Part B without receiving the famous Medicare Part B penalty.</p>
<p>The <u>Medicare and You Handbook</u> states “COBRA and retiree health coverage does not count as <strong>current employer coverage</strong>.”  Individual health plans also are not considered a <strong>current employer coverage </strong>for those that are self-employed<strong>.</strong></p>
<p>The self-employed person that I consulted with is now 66 and will receive a 10% penalty for each year due to not enrolling in Part B at the right time. His penalty will be 20% (2 years 65 and 66) each month for as long as he is on Medicare. The 20% penalty will increase in cost as the Part B premium increases.</p>
<p>As I said earlier in the article that <strong>NOW</strong> is you and Carol’s “Medicare Initial Enrollment Period” which is a 7-month period that begins when you turn 65. You and your wife have 3 months before turning 65, the month you turn 65 and 3 months after to enroll in Parts A and B; keeping you and Carol from receiving the Part B 10% penalty for each 12-month period which you could have had Part B but failed to enroll.</p>
<p>I advise anyone who contacts the Toni Says® Medicare team for a personalized Medicare consultation to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B when you are <strong>“not working full-time” for a company</strong> with true employer benefits. Not working full-time with employer insurance benefits is what Medicare looks for to keep for giving the famous Medicare Part B penalty.</p>
<p>Enroll in Medicare the correct way when you are turning 65 or after 65 retiring from your company because you do not get a second chance. <strong><em>“I didn’t know?”</em></strong> is not a good excuse for Medicare and Medicare will give you a penalty!</p>
<p>New 2022<u>Medicare Survival Guide</u>®, which is a simple guide that puts Medicare in “people” terms, is on sale at <a href="http://www.tonisays.com">www.tonisays.com</a>  Email questions at <a href="mailto:info@tonisays.com">info@tonisays.com</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/self-employed-with-retiree-benefitswhy-do-i-need-part-b/">Self Employed with Retiree Benefits…Why Do I Need Part B??</a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">23161</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Why Did COBRA Cost Me $40K in Medical Expenses?</title>
		<link>https://tonisays.com/why-did-cobra-cost-me-40k-in-medical-expenses/</link>
					<comments>https://tonisays.com/why-did-cobra-cost-me-40k-in-medical-expenses/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Toni King]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jun 2021 16:47:52 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Medicare Part B]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medicare Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Retirement Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Long Term disability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medicare enrollment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[medicare part B]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toni Says®]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://abbs4u.com/?p=22795</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Why Did COBRA Cost Me $40K in Medical Expenses? &#160; Reader Alert:  Many employer benefit group plans terminate the day you are no longer working full-time.  Explore employer group medical plan rules and options with Medicare if you or your spouse are 65 or older. &#160; Toni: I need your Medicare guidance because this March, [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/why-did-cobra-cost-me-40k-in-medical-expenses/">Why Did COBRA Cost Me $40K in Medical Expenses?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h1><strong>Why Did COBRA Cost Me $40K in Medical Expenses?</strong></h1>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Reader Alert:</strong>  Many employer benefit group plans terminate the day you are no longer working full-time.  Explore employer group medical plan rules and options with Medicare if you or your spouse are 65 or older.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Toni:</p>
<p>I need your Medicare guidance because this March, I was rushed to the ER because of kidney failure caused from stage 4 of prostate cancer that has now spread to my pelvic bones.</p>
<p>Because I was working full-time, I took a leave of absence with short-term disability in January for 60 days while receiving my cancer treatment.  Short term disability ended on March 15<sup>th</sup> and so I was placed on long term disability.</p>
<p>I was informed, while in the hospital for cancer treatment, that I had qualified for long term disability and would no longer be part of the company’s health plan since I was not a full-time employee. COBRA would begin immediately.</p>
<p>My wife and I enrolled and paid for COBRA, so that I could continue with medical care where I am having cancer treatment. It took 6 weeks to get the paperwork to Social Security for me to enroll in Part B, since I was not working full-time, and my Medicare Part B began June 1<sup>st</sup>.</p>
<p>Now my Cobra nightmare begins… because COBRA is only paying the 20% of medical/doctor bills and I was billed the 80% because I was not enrolled in Medicare Part B which has totaled over $40K.</p>
<p>Please help me solve this COBRA financial nightmare…Thanks, Robert, San Diego</p>
<p>Robert:</p>
<p>The Toni Says team will do all that we can to help you solve this problem with your $40K Medicare Part B medical bill fiasco.</p>
<p>Those reading this article need to realize the seriousness of Medicare and&#8230;</p>
<p><a href="https://abbs4u.com/why-did-cobra-cost-me-40k-in-medical-expenses/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-6880" src="https://tonisays.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Screen-Shot-2019-10-01-at-12.07.40-AM-300x90.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="90" srcset="https://tonisays.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Screen-Shot-2019-10-01-at-12.07.40-AM-300x90.jpg 300w, https://tonisays.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Screen-Shot-2019-10-01-at-12.07.40-AM.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/why-did-cobra-cost-me-40k-in-medical-expenses/">Why Did COBRA Cost Me $40K in Medical Expenses?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://tonisays.com/why-did-cobra-cost-me-40k-in-medical-expenses/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">22795</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Losing Retirement Benefits…Help!!!</title>
		<link>https://tonisays.com/losing-retirement-benefitshelp/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Toni King]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Apr 2019 15:12:53 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Enrolling in Medicare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Retirement Resources]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tonisays.com/?p=6624</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Hello Toni, In May, my retiree benefits will be changing, and my husband and I will no longer be covered because we both will be 65. I am afraid that my husband and I will not be medically taken care of since we were forced to make this change and enroll in the retirement plan’s [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/losing-retirement-benefitshelp/">Losing Retirement Benefits…Help!!!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><strong><em>Hello Toni,</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><em>In May, my retiree benefits will be changing, and my husband and I will no longer be covered because we both will be 65. I am afraid that my husband and I will not be medically taken care of since we were forced to make this change and enroll in the retirement plan’s Medicare Advantage plan.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><em>Can you please explain a few rumors I have heard?   Mainly, doctors are not accepting Medicare, so that is why employers are making this change and that if you are over 75 and need care for cancer, that it will be denied.  My friends have said that these changes are because of the current healthcare reform changes.  Please tell me what is true and what is a rumor?</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><strong><em>Thanks, Anne from San Antonio, TX</em></strong></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Hello Anne,</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Never have I seen the Medicare community as concerned about their retirement Medicare benefits as they are now since corporations have let their retirees&#8230;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.abbs4u.com/losing-retirement-benefitshelp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.abbs4u.com/what-medicare-doesnt-pay-for-dental/"><img decoding="async" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/0304d9112ef671ce806385fce/images/bbdae5e6-dfc4-4522-ac08-a02016a78407.jpg" width="250" height="63" data-file-id="1447081" data-cke-saved-src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/0304d9112ef671ce806385fce/images/bbdae5e6-dfc4-4522-ac08-a02016a78407.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/losing-retirement-benefitshelp/">Losing Retirement Benefits…Help!!!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">6624</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Retiring…What is OneExchange?</title>
		<link>https://tonisays.com/retiringwhat-is-oneexchange/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Toni King]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Mar 2018 18:23:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Retirement Resources]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://tonisays.com/?p=6009</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Hi, Toni: I am employed by Baker Hughes, looking to retire either later this year or early next year.  I have a Retiree Medical Account, and the money in it will be moved to One Exchange for them to administer the funds.  I am having a difficult time looking online as to what exactly One [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/retiringwhat-is-oneexchange/">Retiring…What is OneExchange?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><strong><em>Hi, Toni:</em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><em>I am employed by Baker Hughes, looking to retire either later this year or early next year.  I have a Retiree Medical Account, and the money in it will be moved to One Exchange for them to administer the funds. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><em>I am having a difficult time looking online as to what exactly One Exchange is and how they work.  Are you familiar with them?  My wife and I will definitely want an appointment with your office to sort out our Medicare approach in retirement and be sure we are making the correct Medicare decisions since we are past 65.  We do not want to make a major mistake in what we chose. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><strong><em>Thanks, </em></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><strong><em>Gary from Kingwood, TX</em></strong></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Gary:</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;">The Toni Says® Medicare consultation team is very familiar with the OneExchange Insurance brokerage which mainly markets to large American corporations such as Baker Hughes. The Toni Says® office can help you, Gary, navigate through the OneExchange website to find which Medicare and prescription drug option meets both your and your wife’s Medicare benefit needs.  </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;">OneExchange will help a retiree who is turning 65 and has already enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B or over 65 and retiring from employment with that specific employer or when the employer is no longer providing retiree benefits and has set up a HRA to fund the retirees Medicare and Medicare Part D benefits.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;">The employee who is retiring or the current retirees from that specific OneExchange corporation such as Baker Hughes should receive their Medicare health plan and prescription benefits whether an individual Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan from OneExchange to receive the HRA reimbursement. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;">A Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) is an account that has been established for the employee (you) and funded by a company such as Baker Hughes.  You can use the funds in your HRA to receive reimbursements for eligible health care expenses up to the allocated amount.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;">The HRA is tax-free, meaning you do not owe any taxes on the money in your HRA if you meet certain requirements to qualify for the HRA funding.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Once you have enrolled in a Medicare plan through OneExchange, you will then have access to the HRA and use the HRA to reimburse your costs for:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;">All or a portion of the monthly premiums for individual Medicare Supplemental insurance, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Part D Prescription drug plan</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Medicare Part B or D premiums (if any)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Eligible medical out of pocket such as coinsurance, co-payments and deductibles</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Dental and/or vision premiums enrolled thru OneExchange</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Your HRA can be used to pay for all IRS Code Section 213 (d) expense.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Gary, be aware that OneExchange has a scoring option in their marketing information to help you evaluate which Medicare plan fits your needs, whether it is a Medicare Supplement or a Medicare Advantage plan.  The scoring option asks how your health is today, but it does not ask what your health will be like in the future.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;">The Toni Says® Medicare team is taught to always review a Medicare client’s prescriptions to determine if one will go in the donut hole.  We ask the client to discuss their Medicare options with their various medical specialists.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Remember, Gary, you do not have to make your decision on the first phone call with OneExchange. Research what Medicare option best fits your medical and financial needs.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #000000;">Toni King, the author of the “new” <u>Medicare Survival Guide® Advanced</u> edition, is offering a free Confused about Medicare workshop DVD with each bundle package at</span> <a href="http://www.tonisays.com/">www.tonisays.com</a><span style="color: #000000;">. Have any Medicare or Social Security questions, please feel free to reach out to Toni at 832-519-8664 or email info@tonisays.com.</span></span></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/retiringwhat-is-oneexchange/">Retiring…What is OneExchange?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">6009</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>AS A RETIRED TEXAS TEACHER … I AM LIVID!!</title>
		<link>https://tonisays.com/retired-texas-teacher-livid/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Toni King]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Dec 2017 14:54:42 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Retirement Resources]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://tonisays.com/?p=5699</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Dear Toni, As a retired Texas teacher &#8230;. I decided to stay on my husband&#8217;s insurance some 25 years ago when I retired. Fine, TRS said I would never be able to join again. So, I stayed with the TRS Care 2 Aetna group plan to remain on Original Medicare and use my husband’s retiree [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/retired-texas-teacher-livid/">AS A RETIRED TEXAS TEACHER … I AM LIVID!!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><em>Dear Toni,</em></strong><br />
<em>As a retired Texas teacher &#8230;. I decided to stay on my husband&#8217;s insurance some 25 years ago when I retired. Fine, TRS said I would never be able to join again. So, I stayed with the TRS Care 2 Aetna group plan to remain on Original Medicare and use my husband’s retiree insurance.</em></p>
<p><em>Well, without notification they enrolled me in TRS Medicare Advantage plan that automatically cancelling my good insurance from my husband’s company. Cannot believe that TRS changed my Medicare to a Medicare advantage plan. I have to get it changed and yes this has been a nightmare.</em></p>
<p><em>Called the TRS Medicare Advantage plan and they said I would have to be mailed a lot of forms to fill out and return to TRS.  They informed me that it would probably be February before I am disenrolled in a plan I never personally enrolled in and return to Original Medicare and use my husband’s retiree insurance.</em></p>
<p><em>I am a senior and need good doctors &#8230;. good doctors do not take this Medicare Advantage plan in Houston! I never signed anything &#8230;. where is my freedom of choice!? I am livid!!! Can you please explain what one can do to make this process simpler? </em></p>
<p><strong><em>Josie, Pearland, TX</em></strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Josie:</strong></p>
<p>To make this process simple for those wanting to leave the TRS Medicare Advantage plan, you must call TRS Health &amp; Insurance Benefits at 1-888-237-6762 and request a TRS cancellation form.  Because you did not return the cancellation form to TRS, you are now enrolled in the TRS Medicare Advantage plan.  This is what happened to you, Josie.</p>
<p>During many TRS Retiree Medicare consultations in the past few weeks, the Toni Says® Medicare team members have noticed serious discrepancies from the TRS Austin home office. Those who wish to leave the TRS Retiree Medicare plan and have already mailed their forms to TRS in Austin have been advised via information from TRS that their cancellation letters will not be mailed to the retiree until the last week in December or beginning of January</p>
<p>In the December 7<sup>th</sup> edition of “My Statesman” newspaper, reporter Julie Chang wrote about problems with leaving TRS and that “in November, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid did not receive from TRS or its vendors certain information about the thousands of teachers who want out of TRS.”</p>
<p>Toni Says® Medicare agents are helping TRS Retirees who have applied for a Medicare Supplement and standalone Medicare Part D plans only to have plans cancelled because Medicare believes that these retirees have enrolled in the TRS Medicare Advantage program <strong>because TRS did not scrub the TRS retiree list</strong> with what retirees had already mailed in their notarized cancellation form for themselves and their spouses.</p>
<p>To be honest with my readers, I, Toni King am very concerned about how TRS is disenrolling the TRS retirees because I know Medicare rules. I am not confident that if one has cancelled out of the TRS Medicare plan and is not able to enroll in a standalone Medicare Part D plan or another Medicare Advantage plan that you will not have prescription drug coverage beginning January 1, 2018.  I am advising all who have opted out of the TRS Retiree Medicare plan to now order a 90-day supply of their prescriptions to be sure you have your prescriptions for January until this problem is solved.</p>
<p>TRS Medicare Changes and How to Cancel Properly Webinar, Thursday, December 21and Wednesday December 27 at 2:00 PM CST.  To register please call 832-519-8664 or visit <a href="http://www.tonisays.com">www.tonisays.com</a> under webinar tab.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/retired-texas-teacher-livid/">AS A RETIRED TEXAS TEACHER … I AM LIVID!!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">5699</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Myth or Fact…I’m Losing My Retiree Insurance</title>
		<link>https://tonisays.com/myth-factim-losing-retiree-insurance/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Toni King]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Nov 2017 19:09:35 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Enrolling in Medicare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medicare Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Retirement Resources]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://tonisays.com/?p=5592</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Hello Toni, I am a TRS retiree and you are aware that my TRS Aetna Retiree plan was cancelled.  I am concerned that my husband and I are not going to be taken care of medically since we are forced to change to the new TRS Medicare Advantage plan. I have heard from friends that [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/myth-factim-losing-retiree-insurance/">Myth or Fact…I’m Losing My Retiree Insurance</a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><strong>Hello Toni,</strong></em></p>
<p><em>I am a TRS retiree and you are aware that my TRS Aetna Retiree plan was cancelled.  I am concerned that my husband and I are not going to be taken care of medically since we are forced to change to the new TRS Medicare Advantage plan.</em></p>
<p><em>I have heard from friends that many doctors are not accepting Medicare and that if you are over 75 and need care for cancer, that it will be denied. Is this true?</em></p>
<p><em>Also, I heard that these changes are because of Obamacare. Do you think this is the reason TRS decided to change the retiree plan because Obamacare may have made changes to Medicare?  Please tell me what is true and what is a rumor? </em></p>
<p><strong><em>Thanks, </em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Anne from Georgetown, TX</em></strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Hello Anne,</strong></p>
<p>Never have I seen the Medicare community as concerned about Medicare or their healthcare as they are now.  TRS is not the only employer to make changes to their retiree benefits. AT&amp;T, Baker Hughes, CITGO, IBM, and many other companies have changed their retiree Medicare plans and more employers may change retiree benefits in the future.</p>
<p>One thing the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare is affecting, is how your Medicare dollars are being spent.</p>
<p>In chapter 7 “Rules Not Common to Medicare” of my new book, Medicare Survival Guide® Advanced Edition, I discuss various rules, facts and myths involved with Medicare that many on Medicare or those beginning to explore the maze of Medicare are asking about.</p>
<p>Below are some of the myths and facts that are circling around the internet by bogus emails or rumors that people are concerned with:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Doctors will not be accepting Medicare because of healthcare reform?</strong> <strong><em>This is a fact</em></strong> and a tricky one. Many of your “smaller” family clinics that do not specialize in the 65 or older community and may not accepting Medicare assignment and not processing Medicare claims. There are still many primary care physicians or PCPs that are accepting Medicare patients. Larger clinics are generally still accepting Medicare as well as Medicare Advantage plans. For those turning 65, make sure to establish a relationship with a primary care physician as well as a specialist prior to turning 65.  Do not wait until the last minute to start going to the doctor because it may be hard to find one that is accepting “NEW” Medicare patients.  Many doctors are accepting current patients for Medicare with no problem, but have what is called a “closed panel” for new patients.</li>
<li><strong>The Part D “Donut Hole” is going away? <em>This is a fact</em></strong>… Medicare Part D is slowly closing the “Donut Hole” between now and the year 2020. Don’t know why it is taking so long!! I have noticed that costs of drugs are escalating causing many to go in the donut hole faster. I advise everyone to do prescription drug planning to avoid the donut hole.  Call the Toni Says® Medicare Call Center for personalized Medicare Part D planning at 1/844-250-8664.</li>
<li><strong>If you are over 75 and on Medicare, you will be denied cancer treatment!</strong> <strong><em>This is a myth.</em></strong> Medicare does not distinguish what age you are as to what treatment you will receive.  If it is “medically necessary” then Medicare will pay for it.  Medicare does not ration care because of age. Terrible rumor that is being circulated to scare those on Medicare.</li>
</ul>
<p>Toni Says®:   Many retirees are losing retiree benefits and the companies are using Medicare Advantage plans as an option such as TRS has done.  Always check with your doctor when this happens.  Email Toni at <a href="mailto:info@tonisays.com">info@tonisays.com</a> for your specific situation or call 832/519-8664 for a Toni Says® Medicare consultation. Toni King’s new Medicare Survival Guide® Advanced edition is on sale at www.tonisays.com.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://tonisays.com/myth-factim-losing-retiree-insurance/">Myth or Fact…I’m Losing My Retiree Insurance</a> appeared first on <a href="https://tonisays.com">ToniSays</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">5592</post-id>	</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
