On January 1, 2021, I became one of the millions of Americans enrolled in Medicare.

The process of joining the 44 million Americans now enrolled in our national health insurance system for seniors wasn't the hardest thing I've ever done, but it was no walk in the park, either. The Medicare system, including options like Medicare Advantage plans and Medigap policies, have lots of moving parts.

First, you have to sign up with the Social Security Administration if you have yet to start claiming Social Security benefits. You apply, then have a (virtual) meeting with a government employee. Along the way, you have to consider what's covered by Medicare, what's not covered and what's partially covered.

And if you're considering a Medicare Advantage plan or Medigap -- which are offered by private insurance companies approved by the federal Medicare program -- you have to compare features within those as well and deal with the agents selling them.

In short, there's a lot to know. Which makes this topic perfect for a podcast.

For this week's "Money!" podcast, we were lucky to secure a couple of genuine experts. The first is Rebecca Kinney, director for the Administration for Community Living's Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling. Also joining us is Maggie Flowers, the program manager for the State Health Insurance Assistance Programs.

These ladies not only provided the facts, they did it in simple terms and even made it interesting.

Want more information? Check out these resources:
"Most Seniors Are Making This Medicare Mistake"
"14 Things That Are ‘Free' With Medicare"
"How to Pick the Best Medicare Supplement Plan in 4 Steps"
"4 Pitfalls for First-Time Medicare Enrollees"
"8 Extra Benefits in Most Medicare Advantage Plans for 2021"
SHIP Technical Assistance Center: www.SHIPTACenter.org
ACL’s page: www.acl.gov
Medicare.gov
More Medicare articles from Money Talks News
The Money Talks News newsletter
Our The Only Retirement Guide You'll Ever Need course
Our Money Made Simple course

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MirandaMarquit.com

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On January 1, 2021, I became one of the millions of Americans enrolled in Medicare.
The process of joining the <a href="https://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/health/fs149_medicare.pdf">44 million Americans</a> now enrolled in our national health insurance system for seniors wasn't the hardest thing I've ever done, but it was no walk in the park, either. The Medicare system, including options like <a href="https://www.moneytalksnews.com/best-medicare-advantage-plans/">Medicare Advantage plans</a> and <a href="https://www.moneytalksnews.com/the-abcs-selecting-medicare-supplement-plan/">Medigap policies</a>, have lots of moving parts.
First, you have to sign up with the Social Security Administration if you have yet to start claiming Social Security benefits. You apply, then have a (virtual) meeting with a government employee. Along the way, you have to consider what's covered by Medicare, <a href="https://www.moneytalksnews.com/slideshows/costs-that-medicare-does-not-cover/">what's not covered</a> and what's partially covered.
And if you're considering a Medicare Advantage plan or Medigap -- which are offered by private insurance companies approved by the federal Medicare program -- you have to compare features within those as well and deal with the agents selling them.
In short, there's a lot to know. Which makes this topic perfect for a podcast.
For <a href="https://www.moneytalksnews.com/podcasts/">this week's "Money!" podcast</a>, we were lucky to secure a couple of genuine experts. The first is Rebecca Kinney, director for the <a href="https://acl.gov/">Administration for Community Living</a>'s Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling. Also joining us is Maggie Flowers, the program manager for the <a href="https://www.shiptacenter.org/">State Health Insurance Assistance Programs</a>.
These ladies not only provided the facts, they did it in simple terms and even made it interesting.
Want more information? Check out these resources:
<ul>
<li>"<a href="https://www.moneytalksnews.com/most-seniors-are-making-this-medicare-mistake/">Most Seniors Are Making This Medicare Mistake</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="https://www.moneytalksnews.com/medicare-freebies-that-seniors-often-overlook/">14 Things That Are &lsquo;Free' With Medicare</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="https://www.moneytalksnews.com/the-abcs-selecting-medicare-supplement-plan/">How to Pick the Best Medicare Supplement Plan in 4 Steps</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="https://www.moneytalksnews.com/slideshows/dangers-for-first-time-medicare-enrollees/">4 Pitfalls for First-Time Medicare Enrollees</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="https://www.moneytalksnews.com/extra-benefits-included-in-most-2020-medicare-advantage-plans/">8 Extra Benefits in Most Medicare Advantage Plans for 2021</a>"</li>
<li>SHIP Technical Assistance Center: <a href="http://www.shiptacenter.org/">www.SHIPTACenter.org</a></li>
<li>ACL&rsquo;s page: <a href="http://www.acl.gov/">www.acl.gov</a></li>
<li><a href="http://medicare.gov/">Medicare.gov</a></li>
<li>More <a href="https://www.moneytalksnews.com/tag/medicare/">Medicare articles</a> from Money Talks News</li>
<li>The <a href="https://www.moneytalksnews.com/#newsletter">Money Talks News newsletter</a></li>
<li>Our <a href="https://unb.moneytalksnews.com/retirement-guide/">The Only Retirement Guide You'll Ever Need</a> course</li>
<li>Our <a href="https://www.moneytalksnews.com/courses/money-made-simple/">Money Made Simple</a> course</li>
</ul>
Hosts:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.moneytalksnews.com/">MoneyTalksNews</a></li>
<li><a href="https://mirandamarquit.com/">MirandaMarquit.com</a></li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.moneytalksnews.com/contact/">Ask us a question</a>

Welcome to Money Talks News: The Podcast, a podcast devoted to everything money: how to get it, how to grow it and how to keep it. From the creators of MoneyTalksNews.com, a leading source of personal finance news and advice since 1991.

Welcome to Money Talks News: The Podcast, a podcast devoted to everything money: how to get it, how to grow it and how to keep it. From the creators of MoneyTalksNews.com, a leading source of personal finance news and advice since 1991.

Money Talks News: The Podcast

Everything You Need to Know About Medicare

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