What Does Medicare Cost ?
What does Medicare cost? Most people think their $134 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 A (Hospital Insurance); [...]
2018 Medicare Help
Medicare help comes through two programs: 1) The Medicare Savings Program; 2) Extra Help.
People with income below certain levels can get help with their Medicare Part B premium and even their co-pays for medical care.
Medicare help is provided [...]
Medicare Advantage Enrollment Growing
Medicare Advantage enrollment is growing in many big cities to a point where half of all Medicare beneficiaries (or more) are enrolled in a Medicare replacement plan.
In case you didn’t know it, Medicare Advantage replaces your Medicare. [...]
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment is back
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is back in 2019. That means people will have more time to enroll into Medicare Advantage plans – beyond the Annual Enrollment Period of October 15 – December 7.
The Medicare Advantage [...]
Don’t Forget To Pay Your Medicare Premium !
Don’t forget to pay your Medicare premium ! Most people are paying $134 per month for Medicare Part B in 2018. Although, some people with higher income pay more because of the Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAA).
If you are [...]
Social Security Cuts
Social Security cuts come in many forms. If you’ve ever called Social Security (800-772-1213) and had to wait an hour to talk to someone, you have been affected by cuts to the Social Security operating budget.
It looks like more Social [...]
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 [...]
Medicare Open Enrollment Period
The Medicare Open Enrollment Period is October 15 – December 7. What can you do during this period?
Review your drug plan during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period.
If you have a Part D plan along with a Medicare supplement, you should [...]
Carotid Artery Screening
Would you like to get a carotid artery screening, but don’t want to pay $150 or more?
Tucson Medical Center (TMC) offers various vascular screenings for $25, but this month (SEPTEMBER), they will do the tests for $10 each. I’m [...]
Vacation is over.
I have taken a vacation from writing for my blog this summer – but that vacation is over, as it is almost time for the Annual Enrollment Period.
I have been taking online courses and tests for all of the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans [...]
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 into Medicare [...]
United and Northwest have a Contract
Good news! United and Northwest have agreed to a a new contract and 60 thousand folks in Tucson, Oro Valley and Marana will not lose their doctors.
I wonder who blinked?
I got an email this afternoon (Saturday) from a hardworking United broker [...]
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
The [...]
Medicare Help in 2017
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 in 2017, people must [...]
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, or VA [...]
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 they will [...]
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 for Rheumatoid Arthritis and a number [...]
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 of year they can make [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 increases and avoid [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
