Medicare
Articles
THE INFO YOU NEED TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION
How to Buy Individual Health Insurance
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), sometimes known as Obamacare, was enacted in 2010 to expand access to health insurance. It created the Health Insurance Marketplace where individuals and families can buy health insurance if they don’t have access to other coverage such...
Deciphering Medicare: Original Medicare vs. Medicare Supplement vs. Medicare Advantage
When it comes to choosing your Medicare coverage you have a lot of options. But these options are often what make Medicare so confusing. When you understand the different parts of Medicare and how they work, it becomes much easier to decipher which coverage is right...
What To Do if Your Medicare Supplement Plan Has a Rate Increase
Premiums for Medicare Supplement plans can increase at any time. Most insurers raise rates once a year either on the anniversary month of the policy or your birthday month. The percentage of the increase can vary and is dependent on several factors including the rate...
How to Assess Your Medicare Plan’s Fit
Several months have passed since your Medicare coverage went into effect for 2024. This is a good time to assess your plan choice. Is everything working like you thought it would? Or have there been unexpected surprises? Here are a few things to consider when taking...
Fraud Alert! How to Protect Yourself from Medicare Scams
Medicare fraud is a growing problem, costing Medicare beneficiaries billions of dollars every year. Unscrupulous criminals posing as Medicare representatives convince unsuspecting seniors to share their personal information resulting in identity theft or fraudulent...
How to Access Your Medicare Benefits When You Turn 65
If you are turning 65 soon, you probably know you need to sign up for Medicare. But you may have a lot of questions about when to sign up and what to sign up for. Here’s what you need to know about your Medicare coverage options and your enrollment timelines. When to...
How to Control Prescription Costs
If you are like many seniors on a fixed income, you may be finding it difficult to afford your prescription medications. As drug prices continue to rise, a growing number of older adults are making tough choices on how to stretch their dollars. Some are choosing to...
Medicare and Weight Loss: What Is Covered?
As with Americans of every age, obesity rates in seniors have risen dramatically in recent years. Two in five people over the age of 65 are obese. Older adults who are overweight face higher risks of chronic disease and illness, such as diabetes, heart disease,...
What’s New for Medicare in 2024?
Every year, Medicare makes changes to its costs and covered benefits. As a Medicare beneficiary, you will be paying higher premiums and deductibles in 2024. However, there are also some positive changes, such as continued cost savings for prescription drugs as well as...
Your New Year’s Wellness Checklist
Like many seniors, your 2024 New Year’s resolutions may focus on prioritizing your health and taking better care of yourself as you age. Medicare recognizes the importance of your physical and mental well-being by covering many preventive services and wellness...
Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period and Annual Enrollment Period: What’s the Difference?
You may have taken advantage of Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) last fall to make changes to your Medicare coverage. Now, you are hearing about Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period (OEP) and are wondering if you should be participating in that, too. There are a...
What to Expect Once Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period Is Over
Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) wrapped up for another year on December 7th. The first thing you may have noticed is the mailings and TV commercials have stopped. Here’s what else you should expect now AEP is over. If You Didn’t Make Changes During AEP If...