Don’t Make the Mistake of Not Signing up for Medicare Supplemental Coverage
You’ve just turned 65, but you feel 20 years younger. You’re at the age where people enroll in Medicare, but you’re also pretty healthy. Do you really need to sign up for Medicare’s supplemental coverage? You might not realize it, but not signing up can have a negative effect on your financial health regardless of […]
New Medicare Cards Are Coming. That Means New Medicare Scams
Last month, the U.S. government began issuing new Medicare cards to every Medicare recipient in the country. The roll-out is happening in phases, going state-by-state, with all new cards expected to be distributed by April of 2019. Residents in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland are among the first getting the new cards.
Medicare Launches Hospice Compare Website
Medicare launched its new Hospice Compare website last year in an effort to help patients find and evaluate hospice providers. The only problem, medical experts say, is that the site may not be all that helpful. Medicare covers any reasonable care that helps ease the course of a terminal illness through its comprehensive hospice benefit. […]
Medicare’s Part B Premium Will Be Unchanged in 2018, But Many Will Pay More. Got That?
When it comes to the 2018 Medicare premium, there’s good news and bad news. The good news? The standard monthly Part B premium, which is what roughly 30 percent of Medicare beneficiaries pay, will stay at 2017’s rate of $134 next year.
Time is Running Out: Review Your Medicare Options
There is Medicare’s open enrollment period, in which you can enroll or even switch plans if you need to. During this period you may enroll in a Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan or, if you currently have a plan, you may change plans.
Avoid This New Medicare ‘Trap’
When Judy Hanttula came home from the hospital after surgery last November, her doctor’s office called with bad news: records showed that even though Judy had signed up for original Medicare, she was nevertheless enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. Original Medicare would not pay for the surgery because she now had an Advantage plan, […]
Has Medicare Dropped Coverage of Your Drugs?
Your Medicare prescription drug plans can change and directly impact the drugs covered under the plan. This could leave you without coverage for a drug you need and leave you with the full cost. If you switched plans, you might find that your new plan doesn’t cover your medication. In these circumstances, it’s good to […]
What To Do If You Have An Affordable Care Act Plan And Become Eligible For Medicare
If you or someone you know has a marketplace health care plan under the Affordable Care Act (an ACA plan), and you have reached the age of 65 or are close to it, it is important to look carefully at your options. Not making the right decision could be costly. In the vast majority of […]
Congress Limits Insurance For Medicare Deductibles
Medicare beneficiaries often buy “Medigap” insurance policies that pay for many of regular Medicare’s deductibles and copayments. But as a result of a new law passed by Congress, starting in 2020 Medigap plans will no longer be allowed to offer coverage of the Medicare Part B deductible, which is currently $147. However, current Medigap policyholders […]
A Quick Look at Medicare, Medicaid, and Nursing Homes
Many people are surprised to discover that Medicare actually provides very limited coverage for nursing homes. In theory, Medicare Part A covers up to 100 days of care in a skilled nursing facility for each spell of illness. However, this is true only if the nursing-home care follows at least a three-day admission to a […]