Paul Ryan’s Budget “Would End Medicare as We Know it”.
Statement by Medicare Rights Center President Joe Baker on Representative Paul Ryan’s House Budget Proposal April 1, 2014—The budget released today by Congressman Ryan repeats on an old and tired...
View ArticleIs your doctor a Medicare participating provider?
If your doctor is not a "participating provider" you might have to pay the bill and get reimbursed by Medicare.
View ArticleObamacare: Drug coverage issues
I was just exchanging emails with a contact at CMS (Center for Medicare And Medicaid Services) which is the department responsible for overseeing the Affordable Care Act implementation. Here is what I...
View ArticleWhy Choose a Medicare Supplement?
Medicare supplements are also known as "medigap" plans because they fill the gaps in Medicare. Medicare supplements cost more than Medicare Advantage - up front.
View ArticleWhy choose a Medicare supplement?
Medicare supplements cost more than Medicare Advantage - up front. Lately, most of my clients who are turning 65 have chosen a Medicare supplement over Medicare Advantage.
View ArticleHelp For Part D Drug Costs in 2014
Help for Part D drug costs is a different program from the Medicare Savings Program that helps people with Medicare costs. Help for drug costs can be applied for at SSA.gov, while the Medicare Savings...
View ArticleHelp For Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries in 2014
People on Medicare with low income can get help paying their Medicare Part B premium and possibly their Medicare co-pays and deductibles. It all depends on how low their income is.
View ArticlePart D: Cost of the Shingles Vaccine
An article in the New York Times says that people who get Shingles are more likely to have a stroke. There is also the risk of vision damage if a person gets Shingles near their eyes. And a severe...
View ArticleMedicare Advantage Star Ratings: Who cares?
Seniors do not care about the Medicare Advantage and Part D star ratings. This is the finding of focus group research carried out by the Kaiser Family Foundation last fall. AIS Health has a good...
View ArticleHow do seniors choose their Medicare Advantage plan?
If you are so inclined, you can watch a video of experts talking about the choices Medicare beneficiaries have and how they choose a Medicare Advantage plan....
View ArticleMost Tucson Hospitals Charge Medicare Less Than National Average
Medicare has released information on how much hospitals across the country charge for the most common surgeries. Here are the results for Tucson: Tucson Medical Center: .8 of the national average...
View ArticleMedicare: How much will your hospital bill be?
How much will your bill be if you are admitted to the hospital and you only have Medicare?
View ArticleWhat is Medicare doing to address mental health issues among seniors?
20% of seniors have mental health problems and suicide is especially high among older men. Is help available for seniors?
View ArticleCNBC Medicare Advantage story uses medicareblog.org
As I read a CNBC story about Medicare Advantage, I was shocked to see my name in the first paragraph.
View ArticleHospitals Dropped from Medicare Advantage Networks
Health News Florida has an interesting story about a dispute between Humana’s Medicare Advantage plans and a Miami Hospital and doctor network. Medicare Advantage plans must control their costs, and...
View ArticleMedicare Part D: Are you paying too much for your drug plan?
Most seniors are in the wrong Part D plan. I saw a study last year that found only 5.2% of seniors chose the most economical Part D plan available to them. Yesterday, I met a person who is a good...
View ArticleWorking Overseas: Do you need to enroll in Medicare?
Here is a re-post of an article from three years ago. I received an email from an American who was working in France for Airbus, a French company. He was turning 65 and wanted to know if he needed to...
View ArticleTurning 65: Do you have your Medicare card?
I had a call the other day from a woman who is turning 65 and wanted to talk to me about her Medicare choices. She said she is working, but is self-employed. She turns 65 in September, just over one...
View ArticleMedicare is Big Business for Insurance Companies
Humana and UnitedHealthcare are the biggest players in the Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement business - and business has been quite good for them.
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