The Social Security and Medicare Handbook: What You Need to Know Explained Simply
- ISBN13: 9781601381323
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
The Social Security and Medicare Handbook includes the provisions of the Social Security Act, regulations issued under the Act, and recent case decisions (rulings). It is a readable, easy to understand resource for the extremely complex Social Security and Medicare programs and services. Here in this new, groundbreaking, and exhaustively researched book you will learn an overview of the Social Security and Medicare system, how Social Security benefits are current… More >>
The Social Security and Medicare Handbook: What You Need to Know Explained Simply
First, many pages of the book are just verbatim repeats of the 1935 law which is about useless unless you happen to be a history major. Second, I got so tired of the author saying “According to The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Social Security and Medicare …” I decide just to read that book instead.
Rating: 1 / 5
This book is a thorough and informative explanation of the Social Security and Medicare programs. Not only is it written with a detailed breakdown of the laws and protocols associated with the programs but it also delivers an understandable and relatable message as to the importance and implications of each. It affords a progressive description of the history and development of the systems in a logical and sometimes comical manner. The author delivers personality in the fact that she provides a combination of personal opinion, descriptive case studies, and real-life analogies which allowed me to sympathize and understand the importance of such social programs. The information provided is supported by quotations from legislative material as well as references from field experts making it arguably accurate as well. I appreciated the simple explanations, advice, instruction on how to get around problems working with government officials, and the compassion she displays as a sort of “fighting for the individual.” Star rating: 4
Rating: 4 / 5
“The Social Security and Medicare Handbook” by V.R. Leonard, is a handbook designed to educate the reader in an easy-to-read format about the Social Security and Medicare system. The author explains in great detail many aspects of this system in order to make the entire concept seem less confusing to the average person. In other words, you don’t have to be an expert to understand how Social Security and Medicare can best benefit you.
Found in the various chapters of this handbook are helpful tips on what to expect when applying for Social Security and Medicare benefits. The author guides the reader through every step of this process from initially applying for benefits to what information is required to what to do if you are rejected for benefits. It also contains a nice section on applying for benefits for handicapped children as well as other local community programs that low-income or disabled people may be eligible for; information that’s often hard to find through other sources.
The author, who is a professional researcher, gives a great deal of insight into the Social Security Administration, including the history, how the system itself operates and how to successfully work within the system to get the benefits you may need. There is also a section about the future of the Social Security Administration and how the privatization of healthcare may affect this system in coming years. Numerous other professionals, such as physicians, lawyers and advocates, who have many years of experience helping clients get Social Security benefits, offer their candid advice as well. That in and of itself is worth giving this handbook a good read.
Rating: 4 / 5
“People are more than statistics.” Government programs when explained talk a lot about numbers, financial profit or deficit and how people fit into them. By doing this, the government has already confused us. A person dealing with Social Security and Medicare can become frightened and overwhelmed.
Each chapter is divided into categories of information and makes reading about relevant information easy. If you have a situation you are dealing with or an immediate question, go directly to that chapter. You do not have to read previous chapters to understand what is being explained. Each chapter stands by itself.
This book covers all the information about these two government programs in a way everyone can understand. With aging parents and the ever-increasing baby boomer generation, this book is highly recommended and valuable. If you are dealing with the Social Security and/or Medicare agencies now or want better clarification for future use of these systems, read this book.
Government program language is at most times vague and confusing. V.R. Leonard breaks the language barrier and provides us, the reader, with relevant, and an easy to understand translation.
Rating: 4 / 5
This book is a valuable reference; especially, when trying to understand and steer your way clear through the information on Social Security and Medicare. Isn’t this what a reliable handbook is supposed to do? But it doesn’t stop here; it also helps you determine if the information you receive from other sources is accurate. So, if you do encounter difficulty in getting your benefits but you are armed with this handbook, you will be prepared to handle the issue at hand by knowing where to go and what to do.
This book covers a wide range of related topics to Social Security and Medicare, such as other dependent programs and benefits; employer/ employee responsibilities; programs outside of social security; what to do if denied and the viewpoint from professionals. All of these topics are relevant and interesting in there own right. Attending to them is worth your time and effort. The core chapters on Social Security and Medicare, however, are those mainly covered by this review.
You can’t understand social security without considering its history. Starting with that, the handbook covers the Social Security Act in great detail by not only covering its specific points, but the controversies and amendments since the initial act was passed into law and what it’s status is today. This is an excellent summary of the act and its influence in plain language. It is a valuable key in furthering your understanding about social security and what you need to know about your rights under this act.
The chapter on Retirement Benefits covers programs and eligibility as well as when and under what conditions you become eligible. It helps clarify key terms, such as “earnings record,” and “PIA” or primary insurance amount, as well as point out what to do about qualifying, submitting claims, determining earning amounts, and getting auxiliary benefits. These are all core concerns that usually confuse people. But the handbook helps you make sense of all of this in very clear and plain language.
The chapter on Disability Benefits covers programs and services that relate to this type of claim and how you qualify for such benefits. Besides disability, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is also covered in detail. What is noteworthy here and through out this handbook are the references to web sites and phone numbers to use for added information. This is especially helpful in dealing with what needs to be done and how to file claims. What is even more valuable is what should be done in the event you are denied and what you need to do to make relevant appeals.
Just as there is a historical aspect to Social Security, there is a parallel one on the history of Medicare. What is helpful (to those who either don’t know or are not familiar with the different parts of Medicare coverage, such as Parts A, B, and C along with the more recently enacted Part D relating to Drugs) is this part of the handbook which serves as your guide through the alphabet soup of medical coverage under social security –a very welcome supplement to those not in the know.
Finally, this handbook earns added value with the information it provides in the appendices by citing other resources, such as web sites, agencies and associations, telephone numbers and an extensive bibliography. So armed, any user of this handbook should have a firm grasp of what needs to be done with regard to Social Security and Medicare and by so doing avoid getting lost in the usual maze of misinformation
Rating: 5 / 5
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