General

If you’re almost eligible for Medicare and you have a Health Savings Account, it’s important to understand how your coverage will work. A Health Savings Account (HSA) is an account where money is set aside to cover qualifying medical costs. When it comes to any insurance there are guidelines you’ll need to follow, keep reading

The older you get, the more important it is that you make sure your home is a safe and secure place for spending your golden years. Statistically speaking, one in four older citizens will suffer a catastrophic fall this year — and it’s not uncommon for such falls to cause serious injury or death. Thankfully,

You may have been hearing a lot on the news lately about Medicare expansion states and might have a lot of questions about it, like which states are expanding Medicare? When is it happening? And how will it affect you? It’s a bit of a confusing subject, but it’s not all that complicated once you

Medicare beneficiaries have the right to appoint a representative of their choice to help them with their Medicare. This can be a loved one, friend, or family member. This article will discuss how to set up an authorized representative and what they can do on your behalf. Having assistance from a trustworthy representative to help

If Medicare denies you coverage on a service and you disagree with their decision, you can file a Medicare appeal. Depending on your circumstances, the appeals process may be slightly different. When you decide to file an appeal, ask your health care provider to provide you with any details that will help you present your

If you’re on Medicare and you believe your services are ending too soon or you’re receiving discharge orders prematurely, you can ask for a fast appeal to fight the hospital discharge. With a fast appeal, the independent reviewer can determine if your services should continue. You may decide to file a fast appeal if you

Medicare is a huge benefit for those who’ve earned access to it. However, there could be situations where it might be more beneficial for you to delay or eschew Medicare altogether. But you want to be sure it’s the best move, so read this comprehensive breakdown. Is Medicare Mandatory For Eligible People? Medicare is not

The thought surrounding Medicare is that it’s only for those aged 65 or older. However, that’s not always the case. In fact, Medicare Under 65 exists for those who have qualifying medical conditions. But how do you know what those conditions are, or if you can start Medicare before age 65? Keep reading for all

Those with Medicare Part B for longer than 12 months can get a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit to update a personal disease prevention plan. The prevention plan is based on your current health risk factors. For the most part, this visit is a conversation with your doctor about health risk prevention and routine measurements. What

How is Medicare funded is a funny question because there are so many answers depending on who answers your question. Some will say it’s primarily funded through general revenue, payroll taxes, and beneficiary premiums. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) says Medicare gets its funding from the Medicare Trust Fund. Well, there are

Understanding Medicare and Low-Income Subsidy programs can seem overwhelming at first. But the best thing to do is to apply for the subsidy. Those programs will sometimes approve you when your income is slightly higher than the maximum, in some cases. There are times when you must submit several applications for Extra Help before any

Medicare and COBRA can work together in certain situations, but does it make sense to have both? COBRA is the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act; this legislation helps provide medical insurance to employees that would otherwise lose health coverage during an employment loss. Medicare is insurance designed for those aged 65 and over or for

Employer Reimbursement on Medicare costs can save you from choosing between employer group coverage and Medicare. When this program is available to you, there are many options but before you choose it’s important to verify the terms of coverage with your Human Resources department. If you’re eligible, you must have so many questions about how

Part of the reason the government has enough money to offer Medicare in the first place is that working adults have their Medicare taxes withheld from their paychecks throughout their working years. It may be annoying not to have control over that money in the present, but being eligible to enroll in a fairly comprehensive

Even though Medicare is fairly comprehensive and subsidized by the federal government, you could still end up paying hundreds if not thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses every year. So you may be wondering if Medicare premiums are tax-deductible. Can I Claim Medicare Premiums As A Tax Deduction? The good news is you can deduct

When you want to change your Medicare plan, there are eligibility guidelines and enrollment periods you’ll need to follow. Switching your insurance plan is simple and can be done over the phone, but there may only be certain times of the year you’re eligible for a change. Below we’ll discuss everything you need to know

Active or retired federal employees can have Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) and Medicare. If you have or plan to have both, you may be wondering how your coverage works. FEHB plans coordinate benefits in the form of a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or Fee-for-Service (PPO). There are several health insurances routes you can take

The American Medicare health insurance program covers many of the most necessary medical benefits for recipients at a greatly reduced cost. Unfortunately, Medicare is not really free. There are certain costs that you must share with the government in order to get the health care you need. Below, we’re going to go over those costs

You might think that any treatment, drug, or medical device that your doctor recommends for you would be deemed a medical necessity to Medicare — but you may be surprised to learn how often that isn’t actually the case. There’s a lot that goes into determining what is and isn’t medically necessary. But it’s an

Medicare fraud, waste, and abuse aren’t new issues in the healthcare industry. In fact, Medicare loses billions of dollars annually because of these issues. When you report, there is an option to remain anonymous so that all information is confidential. But fraud, waste, and abuse can take many forms, and sometimes it’s harder to spot

Some Medicare deductibles are based on the calendar year, and one is based on a benefit period. Understanding the difference between a benefit period deductible and a calendar year deductible is important for you to better plan your healthcare budget. Now that you got the basics, let’s dive deeper into the details of a calendar

Once your Initial Enrollment Period comes around, you will have a very important decision to make: will you go with Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage? The answer isn’t cut and dry. Depending on factors like where you live, your specific medical needs, and what you can afford, one of these plans may be much better

Medicare — the federally funded health insurance program for those 65 years and older — is very different from health insurance which is available through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Also known as “Obamacare”, nearly one-fourth of all Americans who currently have Marketplace coverage will become eligible to enroll in Medicare this year. But should retirees

There are so many top-rated Medicare insurance companies, finding the best one for you can seem like a never-ending process. But we’re here to help you narrow your search and make your choice. Once you choose the Medigap policy you want, you need to choose the company that will give you that coverage. In the

If you’re a Medicare beneficiary, you may have heard about Medicare Easy Pay. But do you know how it works? Here, we’ll give you an overview of Easy Pay and explain how you can use it to pay your premiums. We’ll also tell you what to do if you experience problems with the system. So

Medicare program costs go up almost every year. And 2022 is no exception. There are important cost changes to both your Original Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (outpatient insurance) benefits that you need to know about. How Much will Medicare Cost in 2022 What is the Medicare Part A Premium for

It is possible to carry some Medicare coverage as well as employer coverage if you decide to work past the age of 65. But the rules aren’t the same for everybody. There are many factors involved in whether or not you decide to go one way or the other. And what’s good for you might

While many people of their generation might take for granted their access to Medicare, it hasn’t been around forever. In fact, it’s younger than those currently on it! Implemented in the latter part of the 20th century, Medicare has a rather brief history. Still, it’s important to know how Medicare has evolved over time since

The Medicare Annual Notice of Change is a letter that beneficiares who are on Medicare receive each year in September. It is often referred to in writing as the ANoC for short. It provides a clear explanation about changes to Medicare which will be happening in the upcoming new calendar year. This letter is important

Some doctors accept Medicare, but they don’t take Medicare assignment with Medicare. In those cases, they can bill the patient more than the Medicare-approved amount, called an excess charge. It is not likely that you would see excess charges. Less than 5% of healthcare providers are not-participating providers for Medicare. An excess charge is capped

Many beneficiaries have spent years pursuing a career they love and just aren’t ready to let it go. These beneficiaries may want to continue working and postpone their retirement past 65. However, healthcare options can tend to get a bit confusing if you don’t retire at the age of 65. This is the age when

If you received care that was not automatically covered by Medicare, you may need to file a Medicare reimbursement claim. A beneficiary rarely has to file a reimbursement claim with Medicare, but it can occur. This typically occurs when a Medicare beneficiary sees a medical provider that accepts Medicare but does not accept Medicare assignment.

Medicare handles more than 100,000 complaints each year. You aren’t alone if you’re unhappy with an aspect of the federal government’s health care program. If solace isn’t enough, though, you may be wondering about the best way to voice your displeasure. First, you’ll need to determine that your complaint is actually a complaint and not

Many Medicare beneficiaries decide to have residences in more than one place. They could be “snowbirds” fleeing south in the winter to avoid the cold and traveling north in the summer to avoid the heat. Some just want residences close to their kids or grandkids, while others live the RV life. Whatever the reason, some

TRICARE is fantastic coverage for retired military veterans. With all the parts of Medicare and TRICARE, it’s essential to understand how they work together and the available options. It’s also easy to wonder if supplemental insurance will get the most out of a person’s health care coverage. TRICARE and Medicare are different. Medicare is a

When a person starts Medicare, it can be pretty confusing. Knowing what all of the terms mean will help during each beneficiary’s journey under Medicare insurance. The 8-Minute Rule is one to know and understand. Some providers also have a limited understanding of these rules, leading to underbilling or delayed reimbursement errors. Service-based healthcare providers,

When you prepare for Medicare coverage, you start hearing lots of terminologies that you may not be familiar with. Creditable coverage is one of these. We’ll explain creditable coverage in a way that will leave you confident that you understand what it is and how it applies to your Medicare coverage. What is Considered Creditable

You may have Medicare, Medicaid, or in some cases both. These programs are different in several ways. Let’s compare Medicaid vs. Medicare to give you a better understanding of these two government-funded programs. What are the Differences Between Medicare vs. Medicaid? Medicare is a federally funded program and Medicaid is a state-funded program. These programs

As you are ramping up to start Medicare and Social Security, you realize that there is a ton of information on Medicare, plans, options, and how they work. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation, and people looking to take advantage of soon-to-be Medicare beneficiaries that are not educated on how Medicare works yet. Insurance

A new benefit getting a lot of attention is Medicare Flex cards. These cards allow you to buy specific items instead of using money out of your pocket. The products and services you can use the flex card on will vary according to the plan you select. These cards are debit cards typically linked to

Medicare assignment is a term used to describe how a healthcare provider agrees to accept the Medicare-approved amount. Depending on how you get your Medicare coverage, it could be essential to understand what it means and how it can affect you. Understanding the Medicare-approved Amount Medicare sets a fixed cost to pay for every benefit

Most people on Medicare pay the standard Part B and Part D premiums. However, some pay more. An income-based sliding scale is used to determine your Medicare Part B and Part D adjustments. What is Income Related Monthly Adjusted Amount? IRMAA stands for Income Related Monthly Adjusted amount. A surcharge is added to your Medicare

Medicare is a federal healthcare program designed to serve people over the age of 65, or those on SSDI. A Brief Look at the Federal Medicare Program The federal Medicare program has been around since the summer of 1965 when then President Lyndon B Johnson signed the bill into law. The original bill that is

It may come as a surprise the difference in Medicare options by zip code or state. Medicare programs vary depending on where you live. Medicare is a federal program so benefits are country-wide. But, when it comes to planning options, some areas may offer a plethora of coverage options while other, usually more rural areas,

The Medicare Savings Program (MSP) helps low-income Medicare beneficiaries with some Medicare costs. There are several types of Medicare Savings Programs depending on income, and they assist with Part B premiums, coinsurance, deductibles, and other costs associated with Medicare. Medicare Savings Programs There are several categories of MSPs. Each type of MSP is dependent on

When you’re first eligible for Medicare, it’s crucial to verify and do a few things to ensure you don’t receive a penalty for late enrollment into different parts of Medicare. How Medicare Late Enrollment Penalties Work Different parts of Medicare come with late enrollment penalties. These penalties fall under Part A & Part B. There’s

Medicare is a very stable form of health insurance. It’s meant for beneficiaries 65 or older as well as people with disabilities to use indefinitely. Yet there are several circumstances, both within your control and out, that can cause you to lose all or part of your Medicare coverage. The good news is even if

If you want all the details on Medicare for Dummies without reading a whole book, you came to the right place. We’re going to skip the introduction and get right to the point. In this text, we’ll discuss how to get started with Medicare, costs, coverage, eligibility, and enrollment. Medicare for Dummies If you’re 65

As we move into our golden years, our income usually gets lower, and sometimes we get in a situation where health care bills add up. It could be a situation where we are moving into an assisted living facility and want to keep our home to pass on to our children. When this happens, we

Fitness is an essential part of staying healthy. Staying fit as you age will help ensure you are healthier longer and live a vibrant life. When retiring, we transition to a paycheck to live off social security. Cutting costs become necessary, and gym memberships are one of the first things to go. Thankfully some options

Oh, the joy of spam calls. We all get them constantly, it seems. They call about everything, and it seems impossible to get the calls to stop. Unfortunately, there are people out there who prey on the unsuspecting, especially our Medicare beneficiaries. Avoiding Medicare scams can be easy, but you need to know what to

Are you looking to cancel your Medicare benefits? There are certainly reasons to end coverage. You may have a better insurance plan through work or a union. However, canceling Medicare benefits can have some serious repercussions. It’s very important to understand how canceling now will affect you in both the short and long term. Canceling