If you think some of the rules and regulations we’ve gone over so far are a little confusing, you haven’t seen anything yet! For sheer dizziness, those that follow take the cake. They are best dealt with slowly; read them over several times. If they still seem confusing to you, you are not alone. When you apply for disability benefits, the best way to cut through all these rules is simply to ask the eligibility worker: “When will I actually receive my first check?”
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Before Medicare pays anything under Part B medical insurance, you have to pay the first $75 of covered medical bills each year. This is called your deductible. Although Medicare is supposed to keep track of how much of your deductible you have paid in a given year, it’s a good idea for you to keep track, too, so you can make sure you’ve been given accurate credit. Unfortunately, many people have found that the Medicare accounting practices of the private companies that administer the program are not all they should be.
