ArcaMax

Dear Toni,

My sister Sally has been qualified for Social Security Disability for the past 24 months, due to having heart issues, and is receiving her Social Security check. Last week, she received a letter saying that she will be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B beginning Nov. 1. She is 64 and her individual health insurance plan ends when ...Read more

Sometimes I'll include something in a column about a broader topic that I think is just a small, almost insignificant piece of the puzzle. But then that nugget ends up confusing many people, causing them to write to me for clarification.

That happened recently when I wrote about the measly $255 one-time benefit that Social Security pays when ...Read more

Dear Toni,

My Medicare starts Oct. 1 and I received my first bill, due on Sept. 25, about a week ago. This bill is for 3 months (Oct. 1 - Dec. 31) and is over $525. I currently have more than $10,000 on my Health Saving Account (HSA) debit card through my past employer, and I was wondering if Medicare will accept payments made with an HSA ...Read more

I've commented many times before that Social Security is a global phenomenon. Almost every country on the planet has a Social Security system in place for its citizens. (And many countries had social insurance plans long before we got around to implementing our program in 1935.)

In our global economy, it is not uncommon for people to have lived...Read more

Reader Alert: A recent “Social Security Data Breach” has affected 2.9 billion people worldwide. Be cautious if you believe this event could have affected you.

Hello Toni:

I was watching the news and discovered that my Social Security number and personal information could have been stolen through the Social Security Data Breach. This ...Read more

There is probably nothing I am asked more often than some version of this question: "When should I file for my Social Security?" But as I've said repeatedly in this column, I am not a financial planner. So I really can't advise you about the best time to start your Social Security benefits. I can tell you that there is no magic or secret formula...Read more

Recently I enrolled in Medicare and have not received my Medicare & You Handbook. I’m concerned about what I should do during the Medicare season that happens in the fall. How do I find out which options are best for me? I have some health problems, and I’m concerned about making the wrong change.

I know that I will be bombarded by ...Read more

Every single day, more than a few of the emails I get from readers start out with this (or a similar) phrase: "I'll tell you what's wrong with Social Security!" They proceed to do just that. Sadly, their little rant is almost wrong and based on a misunderstanding of Social Security rules or misinformation they picked up -- usually off the ...Read more

You recently wrote an article explaining the hospice issues that you were experiencing regarding your mother. Please let your Toni Says Medicare column readers know other ways hospice comforts the caregiver when a loved one passes.

My mother’s hospice case manager and social worker made sure that I knew exactly what to do for her final ...Read more

As I've pointed out over and over again in this column, there are thousands of myths about Social Security benefits. Those myths are usually started online, but then they get picked up by uninformed people and spread from one nattering novice to another. I couldn't squeeze a thousand myths into a book, but I have written one called "Social ...Read more