October 15 through December 7 (Annual Enrollment Period) is when individuals enrolled in Medicare may change their Medicare Advantage or Part D Prescription drug plan selection. This is a good time to share some of the questions I have been receiving in case you, a neighbor or family member missed that deadline: Q: I missed […]
This spring I received calls for help from several veterans who were paying a monthly premium to be enrolled in a MAPD, a Medicare Advantage with Prescription Drug Plan. These veterans are not eligible for CHAMP or TRICARE, are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B and pay the Part B premium. Since these veterans […]
On January 4, 2019 the Wall Street Journal published a powerful article written by Joseph Walker and Christopher Weaver describing how Medicare Part D insurers kept $9.1 billion more in taxpayer funds than they would have had their estimates been accurate from 2006 to 2015. In the WSJ article, the writers do a deep dive […]
What is the Medigap High F Plan? This plan provides the same benefits as standard Plan F after a $2,300 (2019) deductible has been met. The standard Plan F is a Medigap policy that pays the Medicare hospital and medical Parts A and B deductible and co-insurance – the dollars not paid by Original Medicare. Plan F […]
On October 12, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2019 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs. Medicare Part A Deductible Medicare Part A covers covers inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, and some home health care services. The annual inpatient hospital deductible that […]
This year’s Medicare October 15 through December 7 AEP (Annual Enrollment Period) was a busy time for me and I’m grateful for the scores of individuals and couples who permitted me to help with their 2018 Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage or Part D Prescription drug plan selection. Still, as I am fielding calls for help […]
On November 17, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2018 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs. [Link to press release.] Medicare Part B Premiums The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $134 for 2018, the same amount […]
Only a fraction of the nearly 3 million New York State residents aged 65 and older are enrolled in the state’s pharmaceutical assistance program known as New York EPIC. When I meet with New York Medicare Part D clients, I ask if their individual income is below the $75,000 threshold, $100,000 if married. If so, […]
A few months ago Argie, my Medicare client, called asking whether her Medicare Advantage plan with $0 copay for preventative screening included a recent alternative to a colonoscopy. I hadn’t heard of this procedure and don’t like to guess so we both did some research. We learned, yes, since Medicare recognized this new screening as […]
With a middle schooler at home, retirement remains a few years away for me. Still, I am looking forward to when the schedule may be a little less hectic and there’s more free time to travel and explore. (And with cell coverage and internet access I will still be serving clients like you, perhaps with […]