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Part C Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage and Veterans

medicare advantage plans for veterans We often receive calls from veterans who are paying a monthly premium to be enrolled in a MAPD, a Medicare Advantage with Prescription Drug Plan while having their prescription medications filled through the VA (Veterans Affairs) These veterans are enrolled in Medicare Part A and pay the Part B premium. […]

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Part D Prescription Drug

Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Deductible – How Does It Work?

A client called this morning and asked this question: “Dan, I went to refill my prescription and was quoted almost double what I paid in 2018.“ Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plans reset each year on January 1. What that means is the prescription drug benefit levels start over at what is called the Deductible […]

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Medicare A & B Patient Health

Medicare’s Observation Status Makes Inpatients Into Outpatients (via NPR)

Beware of the “Admitted for Observation” Billing Code A daughter’s story: “An ER doctor examined her, saw that she couldn’t move her leg, couldn’t really even hold her body upright and had trouble with her memory. He said he would admit her to the hospital’s observation unit to figure out what was going on. He […]

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Part D Prescription Drug

Phase 1: The Prescription Drug Deductible

It’s early January which means Medicare Prescription Drug payment phases have just reset. And I hear this question: “Dan, I just went to refill my medication and the pharmacist quoted me a co-pay almost double what I paid in December.” Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plans reset each year on January 1. What that means […]

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Case Studies Part D Prescription Drug

“Having this EPIC plan was a miracle; an absolute miracle.”

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, […]

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Case Studies Part D Prescription Drug

“You Made it Easy.”

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 through December 7, is upon us. So Sybil, from New York’s Capital Region area, asked me to review whether her Medicare Part D prescription drug plan was the best fit for her three generic and one brand name medications.  After doing some research, I met […]

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Case Studies Part D Prescription Drug

Medicare Extra Help: “The savings are a godsend…”

Medicare Extra Help I was delighted to assist this New York based beneficiary who is on a limited income and was not aware of the Medicare Savings Program available through a New York State program for Medicare Part B premium or that Social Security offers “Extra Help” with Part D premium and prescription drug co-pay. […]

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Medicare A & B

Switching Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies

Reasons Why New Yorkers Switch Their Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Policies: You’re paying for benefits you don’t need. You need more benefits than you needed before. Your current Medigap policy has the right benefits, but you want to change your insurance company. Your current Medigap policy has the right benefits, but you want to find a […]