When you're financial planning after 50, you may be faced with lots of Medicare questions. Medicare is administered and enforced by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Chances are you have questions about Medicare, and finding answers can be a challenge, especially if you don’t know where to look. Here is some advice:
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Through the Medicare office: You can ask questions and order publications by calling 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227). You can also find a wealth of information at the website medicare.gov.
Two of the best sources of information are the publications Medicare and You and Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare. You can download these, and other publications, free from the site; you can also order free copies by calling the toll-free number.
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Through your state Office of Aging (or its equivalent): States also offer help and information about Medicare. Each state has an Office on Aging, which offers free counseling, seminars, and literature. Most state agencies regulating health insurers publish a booklet listing the premiums charged on policies by different insurers in the state and offer this information on their websites. A state’s corporation commission or insurance department usually is the appropriate agency to contact. The agencies also should have information on the financial condition of insurers selling policies in the state.
