Today’s the Day!–Well, Sort Of (by Dana/DrLefty)

I've had April 1 on my calendar since last July. Today is the day I can apply for a July 1 retirement date from my university. It also happens to be the date I can apply for Medicare because of my 65th birthday on Aug. 1.

I knew how to sign up for Medicare and what to do because we just did so for my husband, who turns 65 in May. Last week, I reviewed the materials from the retirement webinars I attended at the university so that I'd be ready to go on April 1. I woke up early, all excited. Made myself get on the Peloton bike for 10 miles or so before settling down at the computer.

Finally, I poured my second cup of coffee and sat down to get it done. The Medicare sign-up went quickly and easily. (I was feeling a bit nervous about what I've heard about the SSA website with all the staffing and funding cuts, but it was fine.) After reading through the materials from CalPERS (our retirement system that provides our current medical care), we both applied for Medicare Parts A & B but nothing else yet. CalPERS will coordinate our benefits and we'll have the same plan we have now. My husband's already received his Medicare card and his IRMAA statement. We can upload those IRMAA forms to the CalPERS portal to be eligible for partial reimbursement.

I then started the retirement application process but sadly hit a snag. I checked a box saying I had reciprocity with another retirement system (I worked for two different state universities), and that meant that my application was automatically bounced to a manual review process by the local office. I can't proceed any further until they act on it, which should take 5-7 business days. What a letdown!

I have announcements all ready to go--my Facebook friends, the various university offices that need to know...but I'm going to wait until the application is completely submitted. Among other things, on Facebook I'm going to post a clip from the Eagles concert we went to at Sphere last fall. I love the Eagles. "Desperado" is my go-to karaoke song. "Take It to the Limit" is my absolute favorite. But at this particular stage, the third verse of "Already Gone" has been speaking to me, so I made a video of that part of the live performance and will post it along with my retirement announcement:

Well, I know it wasn't you who held me down
Heaven knows, it wasn't you who set me free
So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains
And we never even know we have the key But me, I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing this vict'ry song
'Cause I'm already gone

Oh, P.S. Today is also my "last first day"--my first day of class for spring quarter, which will be my final one. I'm sure I'll have some nostalgia.

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