ArcaMax

Hi Toni,

In September I turn 65. I’m on COBRA from my job, which I retired from in May when I had heart surgery. The cardiologist informed me last week that the only thing that will improve my health is a heart transplant.

I need your guidance because I do not know what to do about enrolling in Medicare. Should I enroll in Medicare’s ...Read more

Q: My husband of 49 years died a few months ago. I filed for widow's benefits and started receiving them with no problem. But I got a letter telling me that I was not eligible for the $255 death benefit. When I called the Social Security people to ask about this, they told me that I wasn't due that one-time benefit because we were not living ...Read more

Dear Readers: This week I had my own experience with Medicare as my 92-year-old mother has reached her final stage of hospice. I feel it is important for me to explain hospice, so those with a terminally ill loved one learn the value of it. This information was given to me by the hospice provider taking care of my mother.

Dear Toni,

I ...Read more

People frequently write to me with an idea to change Social Security law in some way that they think is clever and unique. But I usually have to tell them that their proposal has been considered in the past. After all, Social Security has been around for almost 90 years now, and for those nine decades, people have constantly been coming up with ...Read more

Editor’s Note: Last week’s column about the “plastic Medicare card” scam stated that the most recent Medicare card update was in April of 2019. In fact, the rollout began in April 2018 and was completed 3 months prior to the scheduled completion date of April 2019. We apologize for any confusion.

Dear Toni,

Can you please explain ...Read more

People are always telling me that Social Security rules are so complicated. Actually, most of the basic rules are rather straightforward and simple. But to the extent that the program does get messy, there is a reason why that happens. It's because life gets messy. In other words, if our lives weren't so complicated, Social Security laws wouldn'...Read more

Editor’s Note: The previous version of this column stated that the most recent Medicare card update was in April of 2019. In fact, the rollout began in April 2018 and was completed 3 months of the scheduled completion date of April 2019.

Reader Alert: You may remember reading about this scam in the Toni Says column several months ago. Below ...Read more

I feel guilty when I repeat information in a column. But sometimes a message I delivered in an old column just demands to be repeated. And I was reminded of that this week when I got more than a few emails from readers who all said basically the same thing. It usually goes like this: "It's so hard to stay current with Social Security because the...Read more

Toni,

My Medicare began June 1, and I received my first bill about a week ago. This bill is for 4 months from June 1 to Sept. 30 and is over $700. I thought Medicare was monthly. If I pay this amount, due on July 25, then I cannot pay my rent for August.

I was wondering if Medicare allows payments for Medicare Part B premiums to be monthly....Read more

Disability benefits for senior citizens: It's a topic I've written about before. But because older folks are always asking me about getting disability benefits from Social Security, I don't mind updating the column every year or so.

First, here are some ground rules that vary depending on your age. If you are over your full retirement age, ...Read more

Hello Toni:

My question is: If I change to a Medicare Advantage plan in the fall and find out it's not working for me, what are my chances of returning to Medicare and a supplement? I have a Medicare Supplement Plan F that is over $300 monthly and am looking for something more reasonable. I am a 78-year-old female, in fairly good health.

I ...Read more