I've been in constant motion for several days, with grands on the premises! Whoo hoo! We tended the three grands on Thursday night at their AirB&B, then the grands stayed overnight here last night. One of them still seems to be on Daylight Saving Time, so I had a very early morning today. But, oh what fun and sweetness!! They are welcoe any time! 💖
On Wednesday, I turned full retirement age. For me that's 66 years and 2 months. So, naturally, I signed up for Social Security benefits and Medicare. Well, Medicare Parts A & B, so far, at least. The plan was to begin benefits at the start of January, and to get signed up for Parts D and G and Vision and Dental to begin around that same time. Well, turns out it's not a matter of signing up and waiting a week or two to be fully in the system! Turns out it takes 8 weeks for our government to process one's application, then an undetermined number of weeks to get one's Part A & B Medicare card...which one needs in hand to be able to sign up for the other parts. So, we might get our first Social Security checks in January or February, but not likely to be covered by Medicare until sometime after that. It's a really good thing that Wil retires at the end of March! We will stay on his work insurance until then, and plan to begin Medicare coverage on April 1st. Of course, Parts A & B can be retroactive to 6 months prior, so we'll be okay anyway. But what a S.L.O.W. process! With the instant communication we have, this process ought not take more than 3-14 days. Our tax dollars at work!
Add to the picture that, for reasons unknown to me, I got a message at the end of the signup process saying that I have to bring my birth certificate and marriage license in to the Social Security office. Wil never got that notice. Called to set up an appointment to do so and was told the offices are CLOSED, so I will be contacted (some day) and told how to get that information to them.
I learned most of this yesterday. Got off the phone with Social Security and saw this news. So it's going to take long and be inconvenient. But at least our Medicare premiums are going up 14.5% just as we begin!
I have seen my teen twin granddaughters only three times in their lives. Once on the day they were born, again in 2009 and again in 2014. I admit to feeling envy, listener. You are very lucky to be able to see your grands so often.
That's so hard, Susan...! It's so hard to grandparent long distance. We have managed it when necessary, mostly through photo-letters with the little ones and, now, texting with the teens. But there's nothing like a weekend without the parental units, to bond by.
Hallo All,
ReplyDeleteI've been in constant motion for several days, with grands on the premises! Whoo hoo! We tended the three grands on Thursday night at their AirB&B, then the grands stayed overnight here last night. One of them still seems to be on Daylight Saving Time, so I had a very early morning today. But, oh what fun and sweetness!! They are welcoe any time! 💖
*welcome
DeleteAustria set to place millions of unvaccinated people in lockdown, as chancellor slams 'shameful' shot uptake
ReplyDeletehttps://www.cnn.com/2021/11/12/europe/austria-unvaccinated-lockdown-europe-covid-intl/index.html
Oh, give them an option: lockdown or lockup.
DeleteAnd no government-paid health care coverage for their coronavirus infections.
Delete👍
DeleteOn Wednesday, I turned full retirement age. For me that's 66 years and 2 months. So, naturally, I signed up for Social Security benefits and Medicare. Well, Medicare Parts A & B, so far, at least. The plan was to begin benefits at the start of January, and to get signed up for Parts D and G and Vision and Dental to begin around that same time. Well, turns out it's not a matter of signing up and waiting a week or two to be fully in the system!
ReplyDeleteTurns out it takes 8 weeks for our government to process one's application, then an undetermined number of weeks to get one's Part A & B Medicare card...which one needs in hand to be able to sign up for the other parts. So, we might get our first Social Security checks in January or February, but not likely to be covered by Medicare until sometime after that. It's a really good thing that Wil retires at the end of March! We will stay on his work insurance until then, and plan to begin Medicare coverage on April 1st. Of course, Parts A & B can be retroactive to 6 months prior, so we'll be okay anyway. But what a S.L.O.W. process! With the instant communication we have, this process ought not take more than 3-14 days. Our tax dollars at work!
https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/12/health/medicare-premium-hike/index.html
Add to the picture that, for reasons unknown to me, I got a message at the end of the signup process saying that I have to bring my birth certificate and marriage license in to the Social Security office. Wil never got that notice. Called to set up an appointment to do so and was told the offices are CLOSED, so I will be contacted (some day) and told how to get that information to them.
I learned most of this yesterday. Got off the phone with Social Security and saw this news. So it's going to take long and be inconvenient. But at least our Medicare premiums are going up 14.5% just as we begin!
I have seen my teen twin granddaughters only three times in their lives. Once on the day they were born, again in 2009 and again in 2014. I admit to feeling envy, listener. You are very lucky to be able to see your grands so often.
ReplyDeleteThat's so hard, Susan...! It's so hard to grandparent long distance. We have managed it when necessary, mostly through photo-letters with the little ones and, now, texting with the teens. But there's nothing like a weekend without the parental units, to bond by.
DeleteStrike at Kaiser Permanente averted two days before deadline [Click] YAY! Joint action defeated management’s proposed two-tier pay plan.
ReplyDeleteHere’s some more background. [Click]
DeleteStill on in Northern California [Click] Large sympathy walkout in northern California (including Fresno) to support engineers. Includes my old union.
DeleteUsed to love it at Amtrak--the only times management ever got raises was shortly after the unions won a raise for its workers, lol!
ReplyDeleteThat's a good system!
Delete