ArcaMax

ATLANTA -- Alan Kinder was touched last year when the strangers he encountered during his trip back to Normandy gratefully hugged and kissed him. He had returned to France with other World War II veterans so they could mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the allied invasion of Europe.

Still buoyed by that warm reception, the 100-year-old ...Read more

In February, my husband, James, was laid off and decided to apply for an individual health insurance plan because he is 62 and could not apply for Medicare. I turned 65 in March and am having a stressful financial issue after enrolling in Medicare. Now my Medicare is costing me $518 for Medicare Part A and $185 for Medicare Part B, totaling $...Read more

I recently did a couple of media interviews. One was a podcast and the other was a radio show. The hosts of both media outlets asked me essentially the same thing: "What are the most common questions people ask about Social Security?" As long as it's fresh in my mind, I thought I'd turn those questions (and the answers, of course) into a column....Read more

I enrolled in a $0 premium Medicare Advantage plan to begin April 1st when I turn 65. I chose to disenroll from my husband's employer benefits because my monthly premium is $0, making it more cost-effective for us.

Now I am in shock because a Medicare premium of $670.50 was deducted from my Social Security check. I was told by the agent who ...Read more

HENDERSON, Nev. -- He’s 102 years old and he can still do your taxes.

As a veteran, pilot and tax preparer, centenarian William Brew has stories to tell. Born in 1923 in Idaho, Brew has been to places that don’t even exist anymore, fought in World War II and lived through some of the most pivotal moments in American history, but now lives ...Read more

There are so many Social Security-bashing screeds floating around on the internet that are I could spend every one of my weekly columns just trying to set the record straight.

These things usually get passed around from one gullible and naive nitwit to the next. Today I'm addressing one that has been polluting the online world for almost a ...Read more

In January, I was diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 60. A non-profit cancer program in my state was able to help me qualify for Medicaid to begin receiving medical treatment since I have a very low income and am uninsured. Right now, I am not paying anything for my cancer treatments. My chemotherapy will begin next week with the ...Read more

There is so much misinformation about the Social Security program and the conduct of the Social Security Administration that I simply cannot keep up with it. I feel bad because I'd like to write my normal columns in which I help my readers understand the intricacies of the program so that they can make the right choices when they file for Social...Read more

from August of 2023. It has been revised and updated.

Hello Toni:

I am a human resources manager for an oil service company and have a question about an employee. He is turning 65 and is still working full time. His situation is unusual because next month he will begin receiving chemotherapy for lung cancer. I am not sure how to advise him ...Read more

I delayed enrolling in Part B for 5 years, after I turned 70, and retired with a Jan. 1 effective date for my Medicare Supplement Plan G and Part D prescription drug plan.

Now my Medicare stress has started, because I have received a notice from CMS saying they do not have record of me having prescription drug coverage that “met Medicare’...Read more

Dear Toni,

I have been told that Medicare does not cover drugs when you are in an emergency room. My mother went in the hospital from the ER for 2 days and because it was considered “under observation,” we are now fighting the hospital because they say her drugs were not covered during her stay. She has a Part D plan, but the hospital ...Read more

I am turning 65 and retiring from my current employer and will no longer have health insurance benefits, life insurance, and dental and vision benefits. My husband will still be employed with benefits from his current employer.

I have been told that if I do not have a Power of Attorney or other legal documents in effect for both of us, we ...Read more

Note: Because Toni recently received more reader queries about creating a My Social Security account after the account is blocked, we are rerunning the following column from April of 2024.

Hi Toni:

I’m turning 65 in July and not receiving my Social Security check. Last week I tried to open a “My Social Security” account to enroll in...Read more