Medicare & Social Security: Turning 65 and Retiring After 65 (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798998893063)

Updated for 2026 - now covering BOTH Medicare and Social Security, including the Inflation Reduction Act drug changes (the eliminated donut hole) and the new Social Security Fairness Act of 2025.

The plain-English guide to Medicare and Social Security for anyone turning 65 - written by a 20-year industry veteran with no sales pitch attached.

Turning 65 means two of the biggest decisions of your retirement arrive at the same time: Medicare and Social Security. This edition cuts through the noise and gives you straight answers - Parts A, B, C, and D explained simply, when and how to claim Social Security, the costly mistakes most people make with both, and how the two work together. Read it before you talk to any agent.

You'll get clear answers to the most common Medicare questions:

• Do you have to enroll in Medicare?
• How do I enroll, and what are the deadlines?
• Will I get penalized if I don't sign up on time?
• What if I'm still working past 65?
• How do I transition from employer coverage to Medicare?
• Are my group benefits actually better than Medicare?
• What about my spouse?
• And wasn't Medicare supposed to be free?

Plus the Social Security questions you can't afford to get wrong:

• When should I claim - at 62, my Full Retirement Age, or 70?
• How much will I lose by claiming early, or gain by waiting?
• Can I work and collect Social Security at the same time?
• How do spousal, ex-spousal, and survivor benefits work?
• What did the 2025 Social Security Fairness Act change for teachers and government workers (the WEP and GPO repeal)?
• Do I have to start Social Security to enroll in Medicare?

Why this book is different:

• Written for 2026 - covers the Inflation Reduction Act prescription drug changes (the "donut hole" was permanently eliminated in January 2025, with a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap in 2026), IRMAA income brackets, and the landmark Social Security Fairness Act of 2025. Books still discussing the old "donut hole" are outdated.
• Plain English - simple explanations, real-life examples, and easy-to-follow visuals, including a full Social Security claiming example and an employer-benefits worksheet.
• The Social Security chapter was developed with a Registered Social Security Analyst (RSSA) - so the claiming guidance is credentialed, not guesswork.
• No upselling, no pressure, no commission angle. Just the answers - drawn from trusted sources like Medicare.gov, CMS, and the Social Security Administration.

About the author

Christine Ames has spent 20 years in the Medicare industry, working her way from sales to Senior Vice President. She's helped thousands of people navigate Medicare and Social Security and now puts that same clear, no-nonsense guidance into your hands.

Whether you're approaching 65, helping a parent, or transitioning out of employer coverage - this is the guide to keep on your nightstand.