Medicare For Dummies

by Patricia Barry

Weave your way through the tangled web of Medicare Medicare for Dummies, 3rd Edition will help you navigate the complicated, often confusing maze of the Medicare system. In simple language, with clear step-by-step instructions, the book helps you determine how and when to enroll, avoid costly mistakes, and find a plan that is right for you and your family.

Written byPatricia Barry, a nationally recognized authority on Medicare and Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, this invaluable resource

•    Tips on reducing out-of-pocket expenses

•    Guidance for knowing your rights and protections

•     Ways to choose the best policy for you

With this definitive guide, you’ll get answers to the most common and not so common questions about Medicare, to get the most out of your coverage.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Reference, Self Help, Medicine

432 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Medicare.gov / 1-800-633-4227 - This is the starting point to gather info & talk to someone - The Social Security Administration (SSA) agents - when retirement approaches.....

The best part Of the book is learning the definition of Medicare “supplemental” Insurance. And it’s relationship selection to Insurance companies.

Then talking with a SSA agent was good explaining overall Insurance options in the book to get started & reviewing your selection insurance companies & options.

[Kurt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retirement is great. One of the great things about it is that you have time to figure out all the complexities and intricacies and hidden traps in all the government programs that are essential to getting by in retirement in America.

Before I retired I had Social Security all figured out. I completely understood exactly how benefits were calculated, and I had downloaded all my personal earnings information into a spreadsheet in which I used that data to calculate my benefit under different retirement age and claiming age scenarios.

With a few years in between my retirement and my enrollment into Medicare, I assumed I would have plenty of time to acquire similar understanding about it. However, it turns out that Medicare is a completely different, and much more complex animal.

This book was quite helpful in educating me about Medicare and answering most (not quite all) of my questions. I had a little bit of an issue with the way it was organized. It just seemed that I was constantly jumping all over the place trying to find the information I needed. But overall, it was good, and easy to understand.

[Kate McMurry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book because AARP recommends it. If you buy only one "how to" book on Medicare, this is the book. It has absolutely everything you need to know, in a format that is easy to follow and well organized. There are some truly important deadlines that are crucial to not miss when you are signing up for Medicare or you can suffer lifetime surcharges. This book will help you to cross every "T" and dot every "I" if you read it carefully.

Highly recommended.

[Stanley Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

I pity the fool who tries to negotiate the ins and outs of Medicare without this book. So much excellent information here. Easy to follow guidance on what original Medicare means, Part B, Part D, Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans - how to figure out what you need and a systematic approach on how to select among options. You'll find tons of information when you visit medicare.gov and this book lets you know how to glean what's important there. If you are 64 or older, buy this book!

[Edwin Priest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super helpful review to get one started with this dauntingly confusing government program.

[Kevin O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone going on Medicare I wanted to make sure that I had the information needed. This book, which is recommended by AARP, is one I found helpful in making my preparations, and I think it is a pretty reasonable purchase for anyone in a similar situation. I would recommend that you start reading this when you turn 64, so that you know what you need to do.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

YOU NEED THIS!!! Start reading this about 6 months Before your 65th birthday. Make your decisions and complete ALL paperwork/online work 60-90 days BEFORE your 65th birthday. Beware, it is more complicated than you expect it to be.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of information - all explained very well. Able to tag sections like a text book you read for a class

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wonder how many people actually read material on Medicare before they sign up at 65? The state of health care in America is always being debated. Medicare is Federal Health Care for people over 65. Yet, many people reaching that age have no clue how to sign up or what the program is about. Medicare which is part of Social Security does not send you anything about its health insurance program. That responsibility lands in the hands of those that are turning 65 years old. It is the sole responsibility of the individual that is turning 65 to do his/her research on this insurance program. This book by Patricia Berry takes the guess work out of by giving the reader a handy reference guide to this complicated benefit. There is a lot of information in this book. Its informative and sometimes I found myself rereading sections to thoroughly digest the material. Make no beans about it Medicare is a boring subject and many readers will give up because it is so complicated. Yet, Berry takes all the guess work out for us "Dummies" and gives us clear, concise, well organized and readable material that will help those retiring understand the Medicare process. If your are new to Medicare or approaching the golden age of 65 this is a must read. I will be using it as a reference guide that will help me when its my time to sign up. What is nice about this book is that Medicare is always changing and Berry always updates her book for future retirees. One tip I found useful is to skip around to the topics that I needed to know and avoid those that didn't apply to me. Time to move on to my next book and review.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finished this. I had to take my time with this one as I am getting real close to my filing for Medicare date. It is very informative and I learned alot. I rated it as a 4, because there are so many places where the comment was refer to Chapter so and so. Made it very confusing to read a topic that is already confusing.

[Read Ng · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well you have to start somewhere, so this is a good place to start. I have been avoiding the subject, but it was time to start building my background. It covers the main and the majority of smaller issues.

Have a GoodReads.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fine Book To Educate and Use As A Reference

I turn 65 this year. I’ve been inundated by mail from insurance companies telling various things, but really trying to peak my interest in insurance products they sell to Medicare recipients. So I thought it wise to try to educate myself about Medicare. I’m very glad I chose this book as an educational resource. The writing style is easy to read and helps keep a somewhat boring subject from being dry and uninteresting. This book answered many of my questions and prepared me for the day (yesterday) I signed up. It’s the kind of book I plan to keep as a reference for things such as appeals, if one is ever needed. I recommend the book to all who want to know more about Medicare.

[Laurie Moreland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a helpful book for me. I wanted to get non-biased info about this transition in my life this year, something to counter all the junk mail and targeted seminars and websites that have made their appearance as I turned 65. It was easy to understand and the format made sense to me. The parts that didn't apply to me I only skimmed or skipped. I will hold on to this as a reference, knowing that annually many things change.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Medicare for Dummies, my first informative read from author Patricia Barry. “I received a Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018.

[Donna Schwartz · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book to start with as long as you did not get sucked into the myriad of details that are in it. I only read just so much of the book before I started skimming for the parts that I needed.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Patricia Barry, for taking something that scared the bejeebers out of me, and thoroughly explaining it so I don't have to lose any more sleep. Now, backed with knowledge of the Medicare system, there is nothing to fear but fear itself.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This took me awhile to get through, but only because I needed a break from all the information packed into this book!! It is well written and has so much great info!! recommended for any looking at the looming Medicare sign up date (like me)!!

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although to say you enjoyed a book about a topic as mundane as Medicare is really a reach, I thought this book was well done as far as topic coverage and can be an invaluable resource to those heading into those 65 and over years.

[Terri Palermo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has great information but honestly, the manuals mailed to me from the government would have been sufficient....I just didn't realize I'd be mailed such clear information with enough time before I had to make my decision.

[Judith McGee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good, answers a lot of questions posed by the system.

[Joseph Vinci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Well written account of what information you need to navigate through the spaghetti of process and choice for Medicare products and services.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good primer on decisions related to Medicare. Very readable.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually a couple good chapters with practical advice (ch. 11)

[Kim Zinkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful information. An important reference and resource for anyone going into retirement.

[Leslie Ferrari · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of good basic information.

[Steven Basoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Easy to understand, helpful instructions and information. Probably dated by now, but very useful.

[Ranjanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

covered in very detail, although it is tough read but given the topic I doubt it was possible to make it more interesting.

[Linda Bieze · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never really finished this book, but it has been a helpful reference in navigating the murky waters of Medicare.

[Mary Lord]

Needs to be updated. Rather good.

[LeastTorque · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely worth taking the time to read this useful book.