Medicare has never been an easy program to understand (even for attorneys). Even if you keep up on the latest developments it can be tricky to sort out. The shame of it is that now more than ever – with the economy as it is – you need to fully understand how it works and how to work with it. I do NOT purport to be a Medicare expert of any type, although many of my estate planning, elder law, Medicaid planning clients receive Medicare benefits. If you need inforamtion on Medicare, you should check out Medicare Interactive (associated with the New York and Washington D.C. based Medicare Rights Center.)
If you are approaching age 65, you probably should start figuring out how to enter the Medicare program. You’ll want to learn how and when to do so, and what can go wrong if you don’t. One growing question among those nearing retirement age is how remaining employed past age 65 would affect your Medicare enrollment and benefits. For example, what happens when you remain employed and receive health insurance from your company (which becomes primary)?
I encourage you to do your own research, check out our website, and become an educated consumer. But also understand that these complex issues are extremely important, and mistakes can be costly. Sometimes there is no substitute for an expert. If you are age 64 this year, it’s probably time to sit down with both your benefits advisor at work, and with a qualified financial advisor to consider your Medicare options. As I mentioned above, although I do a lot of estate planning, elder law work, and medicaid planning, I don't advise on Medicare and don't purport to be an expert in that area--but as with other areas that don't come into my practice, I am happy to provide a referral to you of someone that can help in the Salt Lake City, Davis County, or Weber County (Ogden) areas. And of course, there are a lot of web resources available to you for free--check them out to get some background, but get an expert involved to make final decisions.
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