Your number one resource for Medicare information and healthy lifestyle tips.
Do You Know How to Apply for Medicare?
For most of your life, people didn’t have to apply for Medicare. They were automatically enrolled when they turned 65 and became eligible for Social Security. That all changed in 1983, when President Reagan signed legislation to raise the retirement...
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Take Advantage of Medicare Preventive Screenings
In recent years, most health insurance companies began covering a variety of preventive screenings and services, often at no cost to the beneficiary. The reason is simple: Preventive healthcare is much cheaper than treatment. Medicare and other insurers joined with...
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Does Medicare Cover Coronavirus Testing?
For the first time in a century, the world faces a new pandemic. In recent weeks, every headline seems to be about the coronavirus. Unfortunately, with the situation changing daily – and sometimes hourly – there is a lot of...
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How to Compare Plans Using the Medicare 5 Star Rating System
Trying to choose between Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D drug plans can feel overwhelming. Private insurers offer these plans, which means that costs and coverage differ, sometimes dramatically, for each plan. It’s also difficult to know how well...
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CMS and MIPPA Rules
After going through another Medicare Annual Enrollment season, it is hard to believe just how many rules are listed and enforced by CMS.
Avoiding Medicare Insolvency in 2016
The recent Senate bill entitled “The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” is intended to bring insurance to many uninsured Americans and to help the Medicare program avoid insolvency, which is projected to happen in 6 years. Unfortunately, the bill will probably have just the opposite effect.
Senator Baucus and CMS Slam Humana
In light of the recent letters sent out to their Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, insurance company Humana now faces the possibility of heavy fines and may even be kicked out of the Medicare Advantage market by federal healthcare agency, CMS. This seems like a pretty harsh penalty for a one page letter informing seniors that “health reform proposals being considered in Washington, D.C., this summer include billions in Medicare Advantage funding cuts” and that “millions of seniors and disabled individuals could lose many of the important benefits and services that make Medicare Advantage health plans so valuable.” So why is CMS so up in arms?
A Cup of Coffee a Day Keeps the Alzheimer’s Away
Alzheimer’s is one of the most feared human diseases. It robs your memory and then your life. As many as 2.3 to 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s, according to the
Americans Spending on Alternative Medicine
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced that Americans spent $33.9 billion on complementary and alternative medicines in 2007. These results come from a study which surveyed more than
Workers Delaying Retirement
Many workers aged 65 and older are delaying retirement due to the economic state of our country, approximately 430,000 to be exact. This is a 45% increase from last year
Increased Risk of Skin Cancer for Men Over 50
Recent studies have found that men are almost twice more likely to develop skin cancer than women. Skin cancer is actually more prominent than prostate, lung and colon cancer in
Proposal Suggests Formation of A New Agency To Set Medicare Pay Rates
The White House has recently been circulating draft legislation that would create an executive agency for the purpose of overseeing Medicare reimbursement rates and policy changes. Under the proposal, there
Madoff Victims May Be Able to Get Part B Premiums Reduced
Many people were victims of Bernard Madoff’s fraud and have lost a considerable amount of income due to this scheme. Originally, Madoff victims were not included in the above categories of life changing events. As of June 9, Social Security determined that “if someone had a reduction of income as the result of criminal theft or an investment scam, they can qualify as having a life-changing event.” Just like the above instances, you need to provide documentation to Social Security. Documentation would include an account statement from Madoff’s firm or a court document stating you as an alleged victim.