Reviewed by:
The Bookwatch: June 2025
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575
Sylvia A. Gordon has created a guide that probes underlying legal processes surrounding Medicare to enlighten readers about choices, legal interpretations, and misconceptions of applying for and using these benefits.
Penalties for late Medicare applications
Take penalties for late Medicare applications, for one example. Gordon outlines the possibility of employer plan participation mitigating Medicare’s penalties, advising that “creditable coverage” “. . . is a term that’s often used incorrectly in the insurance industry, as well as by HR departments – but fortunately, it doesn’t cause any issues if we all agree to keep using it incorrectly.” She goes on to emphasize what the definition of 20 employees in a company means: “Twenty doesn’t mean the number of employees on the health plan, but total employees working at the company.”
The Medicare Part D prescription payment plan
Another common misconception is the Medicare Part D prescription payment plan. Gordon points out that: “This program doesn’t save you money. It just allows you to pay for your drugs in equal monthly payments instead of a large upfront payment.”
Simplify the Process of Retirement
The legal clarifications of terminology, benefits, coverage, application snafus and processes, and more assures that readers on the cusp of considering retirement benefits gain the most information for consideration before they apply for anything. Another benefit to this manual lies in graphic illustrations which simplify the process of retirement. An example lies in the fine chart for those born in 1960 and up which proves at-a-glance information on when one will achieve full social security benefits and beyond.
Ongoing Value
While this information may indeed change over the years to come, the book’s ongoing value lies in its strong focus on advice likely to carry over into any future incarnation of social security or Medicare (as long as they still exist). Tips such as to “never mail things to SSA unless you have no other option” may seem like no-brainers to some, but will save a huge audience a lot of headaches over “lost” documents that can include original or certified materials. A QR code with the book allows readers access to updates if the book is purchased in 2026 (a revised edition will appear in 2027).
Packed with clear instructions, outlines of pitfalls and best practices, and most of all, legal clarification of often-puzzling terminology and processes, this book is quite simply a treasure trove of stories and insights delivered in plain and simple language, without the confusing jargon that assumes too much knowledge.
Ideally, Medicare Mama’s Guide to Medicare and Social Security Retirement would be given, along with a silver watch or retirement honor, to any up-and-coming retiree. But we don’t live in ideal circumstances, so it’s more likely libraries will want to obtain this for their collections and point out its relevance to anyone seeking enlightenment about government retirement benefits.
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