Introduction -- Medicare is a mystery: It doesn't have to be -- Why is Medicare so important? -- Why is Medicare so confusing? -- How to use this book -- Avoid mistake #1 -- Very brief history of Medicare -- Ignoring Medicare noise is difficult -- Chapter 1. Enrollment -- Medicare eligibility -- Signing up for Medicare -- Can I delay enrollment in Medicare? -- Late enrollment penalties -- Medicaid -- Conclusions: Thinking ahead is key -- Chapter 2. Medicare Part A -- Eligibility -- If you don't qualify -- Part A benefits -- Key term: Benefit period -- No annual out-of-pocket limit -- Chapter 3. Medicare Part B -- Premium -- Annual deductible -- Coinsurance -- Part B coverage -- Coverage details -- Sources of Part B confusion -- Canceling Medicare Part B -- No annual out-of-pocket limit -- Chapter 4. Prescription drug coverage -- The basics -- Eligibility -- Enrollment -- Prescription drug plan terms -- The standard Part D plan -- The complicated calculations involved in Part D -- Why people misunderstand the coverage gap -- How to choose -- Important hints on using the Medicare plan finder -- Preferred pharmacies and mail order -- Changing plans -- Important extras -- Chapter 5. Medicare Advantage -- The basics -- Types of Medicare Advantage plans -- Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans -- Enrollment -- Annual election period -- Medicare Advantage twelve-month trial right -- Open enrollment period -- How to choose -- How to compare Medicare Advantage plans -- Medicare Advantage has improved -- Consumers must understand networks -- Surprise medical bills -- Medicare Advantage extras -- Medicare and Medicaid -- Extra help and Medicare Advantage -- Snowbirds -- Foreign travel -- Chapter 6. Medigap -- Medigap enrollment -- Medigap Coverage -- Medigap and Medicare Part A -- Medigap and Medicare Part B -- Premiums -- Advantages of Medigap -- Switching to Medigap -- Switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap -- Special topics -- The bottom lines -- Chapter 7. Working beyond sixty-five -- People are working longer -- Small employer -- Base case: Medicare is superior -- Large employer -- Employer group plans and the coverage gap ("Donut hole") -- If you decide to cancel -- The bottom line --

Chapter 8. Retiree benefit plans

Retirement from a small employer - Retirement from a large employer

The base case

Medicare retiree and non-medicare spouse

Retiree and medicare-eligible spouse

If your employer cancels retiree health benefits

Employer-sponsored Medicare Advantage

Dental, vision, and other benefits

What employers can do

Conclusions

Chapter 9. Special groups

Veterans Administration (VA)

CHAMPA and TRICARE for life (TFL)

Disabled

Disabled and employer-sponsored plan

ESRD and COBRA or employer-sponsored plan

Federal employee health benefits (FEHB)

State and local government employees

Educators

Unions

Hospital (and other health-care employees)

Small business owners

Professional "associations"

Seriously ill

Conclusions

Chapter 10. The savvy Medicare consumer

Putting it all together isn't easy

Ignore the noise

Dealing with Medicare problems

Professionals, amateurs, and advertisements

Last tips

Experts' addendum

Insurance is an option

Health insurance is different

Options are priced using probability

Everyone is "short" an option

Sources of volatility

Changes to the Medicare system

Comparing apples to apples

Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage revisited

Our national long-term care problem

Insurance-based solutions exist

Long-term care insurance

Life insurance basics

Life insurance and living benefits

Annuity-based solutions

These options are difficult to analyze.