Medicare & You Handbook

[jk107]

Has anyone had this problem with receiving the "Medicare & You Handbook" mailed out to them. I was originally getting the book in the mail, but in the last few years I have not. I thought maybe I mistakenly signed up on the Medicare website to view it on their website, I signed into my Medicare account to see if that was the case, but it will not say if you did or did not. There is no link to click even to have the book mailed out to you, it says one has to call 1-800-Medicare for that. I called up & explained I used to get it, but in last few years have not, did offer to explain to him that my ex-wife resides in the same house/residence address & that she does get her Medicare book in the mail addressed to her with only her name on it (which is her married last name, which is my last name). Then I was told by the agent on the phone that is why I am not getting my book because they only send out one book to one mailing address so the Government can save on publication costs, I have never heard of anything so absurd. He then says I can print it out or view it on their website or I can use & read my ex-wifes book. I told him NO, I want my own book & he said they can not make an exception. On top of all of this I am the one who began receiving Medicare first about 3-4 years before my ex-wife, secondly I have no legal connection with. And even if am supposed to use her Medicare book, what happens if that particular person takes the book with her away on vacation for weeks or leaves the country for months on end for business or vac., family matter etc. Another scenario, an address where two brothers & two sisters live at the same address & all of them are on Medicare, are all four of them expected to share the one book, I find that ridiculous. Is this why the United States Govt. is in such bad shape all the time. Our Government, Give me a break !

 

[mattspits]

jk,

I know they were sending one to everyone in the household that was eligible, but if the agent is telling you they are no longer doing it to reduce cost, i'd actually be surprised. The government actually being proactive to try to reduce cost! Anyway, that does not help your situation. I do know that you can go to the local Social Security office and you should be able to get one there. You may want to try calling Medicare again first though and ask for a copy again. I wouldn't trust what one agent tells you. Every time you call Medicare you may get a different answer in my experience.

Good luck

matt