When it comes to planning your retirement, there is no shortage of components to consider. Making an income plan, deciding when and how to file for Social Security, and minimizing the impact taxes may have on your retirement assets are just a few of the issues you will need to address. Crafting a retirement plan that is capable of supporting your lifestyle and rewarding the years you spent in the workforce is no easy task. In fact, it may be a financial challenge unlike any you\u2019ve ever faced before.<\/p>\n
While it\u2019s easy to become entangled in the many different financial issues your plan will encompass, in my opinion, it\u2019s critical that your plan also addresses your health needs and concerns by including a comprehensive and affordable health insurance strategy.<\/p>\n
There are many different ways to accomplish this but for many retirees Medicare may be the most important. Medicare guarantees health insurance for people at age 65, after they have received Social Security disability benefits for at least 24 months, or if they have end-stage renal disease or have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig\u2019s disease). According to the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, of the nearly 51 million Americans who were Medicare recipients in 2012, about 42.1 million of them were over age 65, which I feel makes having a Medicare strategy to manage healthcare costs a crucial component of retirement planning.<\/p>\n
Think of it this way: like Social Security, Medicare is a federal social insurance program that you have paid into throughout your career. Don\u2019t you want to know how to get the most out of what you have put it in?<\/p>\n
For millions of retirees, their Medicare coverage often means the difference between either insulating their retirement savings from medical costs \u2013 or quickly depleting them. To ensure you belong to the former, let\u2019s examine the four basics of any insurance plan \u2013 coverage, eligibility, enrollment and premium cost \u2013 as they relate to Medicare.<\/p>\n
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Deciding how to get your Medicare coverage begins with first knowing what type of coverage you need.<\/p>\n
Medicare is split into four parts:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In general, a person is entitled to receive Medicare at age 65, after they have received Social Security disability benefits for at least 24 months, if they have end-stage renal disease, or if they have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig\u2019s disease).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Enrollment in Parts A and B is automatic for anyone who is 65 years old and already receiving Social Security, diagnosed with ALS, or under age 65 and receiving disability benefits. For individuals eligible for Medicare but who do not qualify for automatic enrollment, they can sign up to receive Parts A and B during an enrollment period.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t plan on filing for Social Security when you turn 65, it\u2019s important to enroll for Parts A and B during the three months prior to your 65th birthday. Failing to do so will delay your coverage and may result in late penalty fees.<\/p>\n Parts C and D, on the other hand, are offered through private insurance companies, which means if you decide you want this coverage type, you must purchase one of these policies during an enrollment period. Keep in mind that if you don\u2019t sign up for Part D when you\u2019re first eligible, your premiums may be subject to penalty.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The premiums for each part of Medicare vary according to several different factors. Many people with Part A do not pay a premium because they have already paid enough into the system. As with Social Security, a certain portion from each one of your paychecks is automatically deducted to pay for Medicare. When you\u2019ve had this Medicare tax withheld from your pay for at least 40 calendar quarters, then you will be eligible for free Part A coverage.<\/p>\n The monthly premium associated with Part B is set according to income level, although most people will pay the standard monthly premium amount of $104.90 and have a $147 yearly deductible. Individuals who have an annual income greater than $85,000 and couples who have a joint annual income greater than $170,000 will have an extra charge added to their premium due to their high income level.<\/p>\n As Parts C and D are provided via private insurance companies so the monthly premiums of these policies depend on the extent of their coverage and can vary between companies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Understanding the basic components of Medicare and how they fit together is an important step toward selecting the policy that is best for you. However, working with a financial professional will help ensure that your Medicare coverage will complement and support your retirement plan in the most beneficial manner possible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Importance of Medicare When it comes to planning your retirement, there is no shortage of components to consider. Making an income plan, deciding when and how to file for Social Security, and minimizing the impact taxes may have on your retirement assets are just a few of the issues you will need to address. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":6,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
Eligibility<\/h3>\n
Enrollment<\/h3>\n
Pricing<\/h3>\n
Bringing It All Together<\/h3>\n