One in every three Medicare beneficiaries has diabetes, and over 3.3 million Medicare beneficiaries use one or more of the common forms of insulin. On January 26, Benita Lee from GoodRx Health published a detailed analysis comparing the costs of 28 brand and generic insulins. GoodRx research shows shows that the average retail price for […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has set the premium amounts for Medicare Part A and Part B for the calendar year 2022. 2022 Medicare Part B Premiums The 2022 standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B beneficiaries is $170.10, a $21.60 increase from the $148.50 standard amount for 2021. 2022 Medicare […]
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration took action this week that should make it easier to get a lower cost near-copy of a brand-name insulin, Lantus, at the pharmacy. Semglee has been approved as both biosimilar to, and interchangeable as a substitute for Lantus, a widely used long-acting insulin. Biosimilar drugs are not […]
Occasionally I receive calls from clients questioning the “facility fee” charged by their physician and, of course, why their healthcare plan did not pay for it. Earlier this week, NPR’s All Things Considered aired an informative six minute segment (click here to listen) explaining how a Cleveland Ohio Medicare beneficiary’s copayment bill was ten times […]
During the first quarter of the new year I often receive this question: “Dan, I went to refill my prescription and was quoted almost double what I paid in December.” Here’s why. Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plans reset each year on January 1 and benefit levels start again at the first of four phases. […]
I have received several inquiries these past few days as New York State followed the updated CDC guidelines and announced that anyone over the age of 65 is now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. (This was one day after announcing that those over 75 were eligible, and that the 65-74 age group was probably […]
This year’s Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 through December 7) was a busy time and we are grateful for the scores of individuals and couples who permitted our team of agent advisors to help with their 2021 Part C Medicare Advantage or Part D Prescription drug plan selection. (The December 7 deadline did not […]
[This page is best viewed in landscape mode] On November 6, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2021 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs. Medicare Part A Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, and some home health care services. […]
Are you going to be eligible for Medicare in the near future? Have you been enrolled in Medicare for awhile and want to better understand what it offers? Do you have a family member you help with Medicare issues? If you answered yes, then “Medicare 101” is for you. This no sales-pitch educational webinar, led […]
CNBC recently aired this informative segment on the history, current demand and future of telemedicine: Due to COVID19, telemedicine visits are surging with general visits projected to be 200 million this year. Before COVID19, the projection was 36 million telemedicine visits. There may be a time when you have some questions and your doctor’s office […]