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Category: INFO
2025 Medicare Choices
Here is an introduction to your Medicare choices for 2025. The video explains how Medicare works, Medicare supplements, Part D, and Medicare Advantage.
2024: Help with Medicare Costs
People with income below certain limits can get help with their drug costs, their Part B premium, and even their co-pays for medical care.
Call me for help getting enrolled in the Medicare Savings Program.
What Does Medicare Cost ?
What does Medicare cost? Most people think their $175 Medicare Part B premium covers the cost of their Medicare – but they are very wrong. You can see from the charts below that there are three parts to Medicare: Part…
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment is back
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP) is back – but it’s kind of a secret. The Medicare Advantage OEP is for people already enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans and it allows them to drop their plan to return to…
Don’t Forget To Pay Your Medicare Premium !
Don’t forget to pay your Medicare premium ! Most people are paying $170 per month for Medicare Part B in 2022. Although, some people with higher income pay more because of the Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAA). If you…
Your Medicare at 65
If you’re turning 65 and thinking about your Medicare, here is what you need to know: How you enroll in your Medicare depends on your current situation related to Social Security. If you are receiving Social Security payments, you will automatically…
Turning 65 and have Obamacare
If you are turning 65 and have Obamacare health insurance, BE SURE TO CANCEL YOUR OBAMACARE PLAN! I was talking to a woman today who turned 65 in May. She was already collecting Social Security so she was automatically enrolled…
Healthcare Costs in Tucson
When it comes to healthcare costs in Tucson, we are a low-cost healthcare market compared to the rest of the country – according to a report by the Healthcare cost Institute. You can read the report summary here: Healthy Marketplace Index…
Medicare Help in 2017
2019 information can be found here: https://medicareblog.org/help-with-medicare-costs-5/ The income requirements for getting Medicare help in 2017 have been announced by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid). People in Arizona can use an online application at www.healthearizonaplus.gov To get Medicare help…
UnitedHealthcare and Northwest Healthcare
UnitedHealthcare and Northwest Healthcare are in contract negotiations – and it may not be going well. They have until May 1st to come to an agreement on their contract and United is sending letters about this to everyone enrolled in…
Medicare Coverage Mistake
Thousands of people make a serious Medicare coverage mistake because they don’t know the rules. They think they don’t need to sign up for Part B of Medicare (and pay a premium) because they have COBRA, or a retiree plan,…
Big Changes To Medicare Coming Soon
Big changes to Medicare are coming soon – now that Republicans are in charge. And Social Security is certainly on the table because it makes up 25% of the federal budget. Most voters over 55 favored Donald Trump – and…
What is wrong with Medicare Part D
What is wrong with Medicare Part D? Let me give you an example. I got a call yesterday from a man who is 66 years old. He is still working and has employer health insurance. He takes Enbrel, a drug…
Checking in on my Medicare clients
I’m checking in on my Medicare clients because the Medicare Open Enrollment Period is coming up. I try to call many of my clients to see if they are happy with their Medicare Advantage plan because this is the time…
Medicare Open Enrollment
Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15th to December 7th. During the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, people can change their Medicare Advantage plan or their Part D plan. Their new plan begins on January 1, 2017. There are some important changes to…
How much a knee replacement costs
Do you know how much a knee replacement costs? I received this infographic from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. It looks like Blue Cross Blue Shield negotiates different prices with different providers – and negotiated prices can be a lot…
Politics and Medicare
Politics and Medicare are featured in a recent NPR story. Here are highlights from the NPR story on politics and Medicare: The challenge for Medicare is not to expand benefits, but to figure out a way to control future cost…
Medicare Advantage Auto Enrollment
If you are turning 65 and transferring from an individual health plan to Medicare, BEWARE! You might find yourself the victim of Medicare Advantage auto enrollment. I just read an article in Kaiser Health News that says: With Medicare’s specific…
Ryan Plan for Medicare is Terrible
The Ryan plan for Medicare is terrible. Let me count the ways: As a health insurance broker, I meet people every month who are desperate for Medicare and good health insurance. These are self-employed people, or unemployed people, or people…
Senior Health Insurance Program Funding Cut
It looks like a nationwide senior health insurance program could be killed by budget cuts in Washington. Kaiser Health News headline reads: Panel Kills Medicare Program That Offers Help On Enrollment, Billing Issues. The State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or “SHIP,” is…
Medicare Does Not Cover Long Term Care
Medicare does not cover long term care. Yet 38% of Americans in a recent survey thought Medicare would help with nursing home care or home care. An article from McKnight’s reported: Thirty-eight percent of people surveyed as part of the…
Medicare Advantage Report
A Medicare Advantage report by the Kaiser Family Foundation examines the enrollment growth in Medicare Advantage plans around the country. Enrollment in the private plans reached 17.6 million in 2016 and is increased in almost all states over the past year.…
Diabetes Rose 400 Per Cent in 25 Years
The world has seen a nearly fourfold increase in diabetes cases over the last quarter-century, driven by excessive weight, obesity, aging, and population growth. In 2014 422 million people were affected by diabetes worldwide. Nearly 10% of Americans have some…
See your claims at mymedicare.gov
If you use your Medicare card when you see your doctor (you are not enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan), you can set up an account on mymedicare.gov. This account will allow you to see what Medicare has paid for…
Medicare costs for 2016
Medicare Part B premium in 2016: Most people on Medicare will not see an increase in their Part B premium. But… people who are new to Medicare in 2016, or who are not collecting Social Security, will pay a higher…