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Does Medicare Cover Heart Disease?

Does Medicare Cover Heart Disease?

February is American Heart Month - a way to bring awareness to heart disease and help spread tips on heart disease prevention. That means now is the perfect time to review some of the facts about cardiovascular disease (CVD), along with tips to combat it. Then we’ll...

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Seven Ways You Can Avoid Higher Medicare Premiums

Seven Ways You Can Avoid Higher Medicare Premiums

Changes in income, marital status, work hours and other life events can exempt enrollees from surcharges Most people who enroll in Medicare Part B, which covers doctor visits, diagnostic tests and other outpatient services, pay a standard monthly premium, $174.70 in...

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Millions on Medicare to Save Money From $2,000 Rx Cap

Millions on Medicare to Save Money From $2,000 Rx Cap

New analysis finds limiting out-of-pocket drug spending will help older Americans afford medications Had the upcoming cap on out-of-pocket spending on Medicare Part D-covered prescription drugs been in effect in 2021, 1.5 million enrollees would have saved money on...

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How to Be an Effective Advocate for Aging Parents

How to Be an Effective Advocate for Aging Parents

6 skills that will help you care for the ones you love As family caregivers, we play many roles: scheduler, money manager, house cleaner, health aide, nurse, navigator, nurturer and more. Perhaps the most important role is advocate, as we ensure the best possible care...

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10 Things to Know About Medigap Plans

10 Things to Know About Medigap Plans

Your guide to buying Medicare ​supplemental health insurance If you decide to enroll in original Medicare, one way you can help pay the extra costs the program doesn’t cover is to buy a supplemental — or Medigap — insurance policy. Here’s what you need to know if...

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CMS Projects 2024 Part D Prescription Drug Premiums

CMS Projects 2024 Part D Prescription Drug Premiums

Average premiums could go down, but some could see large increases The average monthly premium for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage is expected to fall slightly in 2024, to $55.50, a 99-cent drop from the 2023 average of $56.49, the Centers for Medicare...

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How to get prescription drug coverage

How to get prescription drug coverage

Medicare drug coverage helps pay for prescription drugs you need. It's optional and offered to everyone with Medicare. Even if you don’t take prescription drugs now, consider getting Medicare drug coverage. If you decide not to get it when you’re first eligible, and...

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7 Medicare Changes for 2024 All Seniors Should Know About

7 Medicare Changes for 2024 All Seniors Should Know About

KEY POINTS The government has made several changes to Medicare that could reduce your prescription drug costs in 2024. It has also expanded coverage for things like mental health and chronic pain treatment. Those signing up during a special enrollment period will be...

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Big Medicare Changes Coming in 2024

Big Medicare Changes Coming in 2024

The new year rings in more Rx drug savings, higher Part B premiums and new Advantage rules What’s new for Medicare beneficiaries in 2024? A lot — including changes that expand care and make coverage more affordable. For starters, Medicare’s more than 65 million...

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What’s New for Medicare in 2024?

What’s New for Medicare in 2024?

ach calendar year brings a new set of changes to Medicare, from premiums and deductibles to rules and regulations. To get the most from Medicare in 2024, it’s helpful to understand what will be different. Here’s a primer on 2024 Medicare changes: Part A costs will...

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New Medicare Benefits & Changes Starting Jan 1, 2024

New Medicare Benefits & Changes Starting Jan 1, 2024

2024 will bring some positive changes and expanded Medicare benefits. Below is a summary of some of these changes with references for more information. You can also view your 2024 Medicare & You handbook for more information. Prescription Drug Savings Starting...

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Medicare Changes In 2024: What’s New?

Medicare Changes In 2024: What’s New?

Changes are coming to Medicare costs and coverage in 2024. Announced in time for the annual open enrollment period, which continues through December 7, the adjustments affect both Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries. It’s crucial that enrollees stay...

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More Changes in Store for Medicare Advantage Plans

More Changes in Store for Medicare Advantage Plans

New proposal would standardize broker commissions, add mental health services and more The federal government is continuing its efforts to protect older Americans signing up for Medicare coverage for the first time or switching to a new health plan during open...

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7 Common Medicare Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

7 Common Medicare Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

Quality, affordable health care is crucial to aging well, and Medicare makes it possible for millions of older adults in the U.S. However, the system can be confusing and it’s easy to make mistakes. “Our messy health insurance system causes anxiety for everyone,” says...

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More Changes in Store for Medicare Advantage Plans

More Changes in Store for Medicare Advantage Plans

New proposal would standardize broker commissions, add mental health services and more The federal government is continuing its efforts to protect older Americans signing up for Medicare coverage for the first time or switching to a new health plan during open...

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10 Things You Didn’t Know About Medicare

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Medicare

How the nation’s health insurance coverage for older adults and people with disabilities works Ever since President Lyndon Baines Johnson made Medicare the law of the land in 1965, hundreds of millions of Americans have relied on this program to help them get...

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How New Medicare Law Affects Your Health

How New Medicare Law Affects Your Health

Answers to questions about how the new law affects insulin, vaccines, other Rx prices and more The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 will help millions of Americans better afford their life-sustaining medications and also help them pay for other out-of-pocket health...

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12 Things That Are Free Under Medicare

12 Things That Are Free Under Medicare

While most services come with a cost, some preventive screenings, vaccines and counseling are covered without charge We worry a lot about what Medicare beneficiaries must for pay out of pocket, such as monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and copays for doctor visits...

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Here’s What Medicare Part B Costs and Covers in 2024

Here’s What Medicare Part B Costs and Covers in 2024

Those who are 65 or older typically rely on Medicare to get the healthcare they need. Medicare has two primary types of coverage. For hospital costs and other inpatient care, Medicare Part A is the go-to standard. When you need to see a doctor or get other outpatient...

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What Is Medicare?

What Is Medicare?

How the federal insurance program helps older Americans afford the health care vital to their well-being What is Medicare? For more than 58 years, it’s been the program that older Americans and people with disabilities turn to for their health care coverage. In 2023,...

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Nursing Home Costs and How to Pay

Nursing Home Costs and How to Pay

Nursing home care is costly, but there are ways to manage without going broke. Many people grow up with grandparents who lived for years in their homes and, despite various illnesses and conditions, never saw the inside of a nursing home. That still may be true for...

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Will Original Medicare Survive the Medicare Advantage Boom?

Will Original Medicare Survive the Medicare Advantage Boom?

New enrollees increasingly opting for the private insurance alternative to the federally-run program For decades, as Americans approached their 65th birthday, all they had to do to get Medicare, the nation’s government-sponsored health insurance for older adults, was...

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Financial Health of Medicare Trust Fund Improves

Financial Health of Medicare Trust Fund Improves

Trustees project solvency until 2031, but Congress still must act for the long term For the second year in a row, the trustees who oversee Medicare’s finances say the trust fund that helps pay for inpatient hospital care for 65 million beneficiaries has gotten...

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10 Prescription Drugs Medicare Will Negotiate First

10 Prescription Drugs Medicare Will Negotiate First

Popular but pricey blood thinners, diabetes medications, cancer treatments make historic list he names of the first 10 Medicare drugs whose prices the federal government will negotiate directly with manufacturers were released Aug. 29. It marks the first time in...

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What You Need to Know About the Medicare Insulin Cost Cap

What You Need to Know About the Medicare Insulin Cost Cap

Answers to common questions, including the July 1 implementation for pumps One of the first provisions to take effect of a new law designed to cut prescription drug costs for tens of millions of Medicare enrollees is a $35-a-month cap on out-of-pocket costs for...

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The Big Choice: Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage

The Big Choice: Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage

Which path you take will determine how you get your medical care — and how much it costs As you think about how Medicare will cover your health care needs, your first major decision should be whether you want to enroll in federally run original Medicare or select...

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10 Common Medicare Mistakes to Avoid

10 Common Medicare Mistakes to Avoid

Errors can prove costly to new enrollees Missing deadlines, delaying enrollment or choosing the wrong plan can cost you a bundle when it comes to Medicare. Here’s a list of 10 common mistakes new Medicare enrollees make and how to avoid them, according to the Medicare...

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Medicare Part D Premiums to Dip Slightly in 2024

Medicare Part D Premiums to Dip Slightly in 2024

CMS projects average monthly prescription drug charge to fall nearly $1 The average monthly premium for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage is expected to fall slightly in 2024, to $55.50, a 99-cent drop from the 2023 average of $56.49, the Centers for Medicare...

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How is Social Security taxed?

How is Social Security taxed?

If your total income is more than $25,000 for an individual or $32,000 for a married couple filing jointly, you must pay federal income taxes on your Social Security benefits. Below those thresholds, your benefits are not taxed. That applies to spousal...

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Does Medicare cover hearing aids?

Does Medicare cover hearing aids?

No. Medicare covers only ear-related medical conditions, not routine hearing care, hearing aids or exams for fitting hearing aids. But with the FDA’s approval of over-the-counter hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss, you can now find lower-cost options....

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10 Things Medicare Doesn’t Cover

10 Things Medicare Doesn’t Cover

You’ll need to plan to pay for some common medical expenses Medicare covers the majority of older Americans’ health care needs, from hospital care and doctor visits to lab tests and prescription drugs. Here are some needs that aren’t part of the program — and how you...

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Your Medicare Protections

Your Medicare Protections

If you have Original Medicare, your doctor, other health care provider, or supplier may give you a written notice if they think Medicare won’t pay for the items or services you’ll get. This notice is called an “Advance Beneficiary Notice of Non-coverage,” or ABN. The...

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Saving money with the prescription drug law

Saving money with the prescription drug law

A new prescription drug law that went into effect January 1, 2023, will help save money for people with Medicare. This law improves access to affordable treatments and strengthens the Medicare program. Here’s what the law means for you: More vaccines covered People...

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What Does Medicare for All Mean?

What Does Medicare for All Mean?

Many Americans are asking themselves “How can I get free healthcare in the U.S.?”, an answer may be in the hands of legislators. One national health insurance plan for all Americans called “Medicare for All” is an idea being promoted, among others, by Vermont Senator...

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Your Medicare Protections

Your Medicare Protections

If you have Original Medicare, your doctor, other health care provider, or supplier may give you a written notice if they think Medicare won’t pay for the items or services you’ll get. This notice is called an “Advance Beneficiary Notice of Non-coverage,” or ABN. The...

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Expert Answers to Your Top 5 Medicare Questions

Expert Answers to Your Top 5 Medicare Questions

When it comes to Medicare, there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all. That’s because every person has individual health needs. Coverage varies based on where you live, which doctors and hospitals you prefer, and whether you want to pay more money upfront or pay as...

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Addressing Rural Health Inequities in Medicare

Addressing Rural Health Inequities in Medicare

Approximately 61 million Americans live in rural Tribal, and geographically isolated communities across the United States. These communities often experience significant health inequities. Compared to urban Americans, rural Americans are more likely to have heart...

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Biden Budget Would Extend Medicare Solvency by 25 Years

Biden Budget Would Extend Medicare Solvency by 25 Years

Plan includes increased taxes for high-income earners and more prescription drug negotiations President Joe Biden’s federal budget proposal will include increasing Medicare taxes for people earning more than $400,000 a year and expanding and accelerating prescription...

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Your Medicare Rights

Your Medicare Rights

You have the right to be treated fairly, understand the information you get, and keep your personal information safe. If you have Medicare You have the right to be: Treated with courtesy, dignity and respect at all times. Protected from discrimination. Every company...

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Do I qualify for a Medicare Special Enrollment Period?

Do I qualify for a Medicare Special Enrollment Period?

Medicare is a great way to get health coverage as you get older, but the timing for enrolling or changing plans can be tricky. Opportunities to sign up for Medicare or switch to a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan are usually limited to very specific and standard...

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Medicare Part B Premiums, Explained

Medicare Part B Premiums, Explained

When you enroll in Medicare Part B, the federal government picks up the tab for most of your health care costs. Most, but not all. Medicare Part B premiums can be a surprising and costly retirement expense for many people. The minimum monthly Medicare Part B premium...

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Social Security Cards Are Safer at Home

Social Security Cards Are Safer at Home

Scams to steal your personal information are at an all-time high. It’s important to continue to safeguard personal documents such as your Social Security card. A Social Security card is not an identification document. In many situations, you only need to know your...

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How are Medigap and Medicare Advantage different?

How are Medigap and Medicare Advantage different?

For starters, they’re both options for people with Medicare, but Medigap coverage supplements original Medicare, while Medicare Advantage is a private insurance alternative to federally run Medicare. They’re very different, and their unique types of coverage can’t be...

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4 Tips to Protect Yourself from Medicare Fraud

4 Tips to Protect Yourself from Medicare Fraud

Medicare fraud is widespread and is among the long list of health care fraud schemes that cost the government billions of dollars annually. Medicare scammers continue to evolve their methods, making their ploys increasingly more believable. Recently, a RetireMed...

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Understanding Medicare’s Options: Parts A, B, C and D

Understanding Medicare’s Options: Parts A, B, C and D

Making sense of the alphabet soup of health care choices Medicare is complicated and can be confusing to sort through. To make it easier, the program has been broken down into four basic parts that include coverage for everything from hospital care to doctor visits to...

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Medicare Begins to Rein In Drug Costs for Older Americans

Medicare Begins to Rein In Drug Costs for Older Americans

Reforms embedded in the Inflation Reduction Act will bring savings to seniors this year. Already some lawmakers are aiming to repeal the changes. Steve Lubin spent a lot last year on insulin to control his Type 2 diabetes. A retired nurse in Philadelphia, Mr. Lubin...

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How did the Medicare donut hole change for 2023?

How did the Medicare donut hole change for 2023?

How did the donut hole change for 2023? As has been the case in previous years, the thresholds where a person enters and exits the “donut hole” increased in 2023. We’ll explain this in more detail below, but the short story is that the initial coverage limit increased...

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What Are the Medicare Extra Help Income Limits for 2023?

What Are the Medicare Extra Help Income Limits for 2023?

With 2023 fully underway, there are new costing guidelines associated with Medicare that went into effect Jan. 1. CNBC noted that copays and deductibles for Medicare Part A (which includes hospital stays) are going up, while Part B premiums and deductibles (outpatient...

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Turning 65 checklist

Turning 65 checklist

Planning well in advance of your Medicare eligibility can help you get every dollar in Medicare benefits you have coming to you. Here, in a nutshell, is what you should do and when you should do it. 12-6 months before your 65th birthday Set up your post-retirement...

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Biggest Medicare Changes for 2023

Biggest Medicare Changes for 2023

The new year brings a cap on insulin copays, free vaccines, lower premiums and more Some of the biggest changes to Medicare in years take effect in 2023, with more than 65 million Americans paying lower premiums and deductibles and about to feel the effects of...

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What Are the Medicare Extra Help Income Limits for 2023?

What Are the Medicare Extra Help Income Limits for 2023?

With 2023 fully underway, there are new costing guidelines associated with Medicare that went into effect Jan. 1. CNBC noted that copays and deductibles for Medicare Part A (which includes hospital stays) are going up, while Part B premiums and deductibles (outpatient...

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2023 Medicare costs

2023 Medicare costs

Every year Medicare costs can change. Costs for the upcoming year are announced in the late fall, and the new costs go into effect January 1. For 2023, Medicare costs decreased for Medicare Part B, but increased for Part A. What is the Medicare Part B premium for...

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Does my income affect my monthly premiums for Medicare?

Does my income affect my monthly premiums for Medicare?

It can. If you are what Social Security considers a “higher-income beneficiary,” you pay more for Medicare Part B, the health-insurance portion of Medicare. (Most enrollees don’t pay for Medicare Part A, which covers hospitalization.) Medicare premiums are based on...

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Costs in the coverage gap

Costs in the coverage gap

Most Medicare drug plans have a coverage gap (also called the "donut hole"). This means there's a temporary limit on what the drug plan will cover for drugs. Not everyone will enter the coverage gap. The coverage gap begins after you and your drug plan have spent a...

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What does Medicare cover (and not cover)?

What does Medicare cover (and not cover)?

When it comes to Medicare, the question we hear most often after “What does it cost?” is, “What does it cover?” There are no simple answers, but you can start here to find general answers to some of the most common questions about Medicare coverage. What does Medicare...

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The truth about your Medicare Part B premium

The truth about your Medicare Part B premium

You probably know that your Medicare Part B premium can change each year. Do you know why? Or how the amount is calculated? Or why it may increase? Medicare costs, including Part B premiums, deductibles and copays, are adjusted based on the Social Security Act. And in...

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How are Medicare benefits changing for 2023?

How are Medicare benefits changing for 2023?

Changes for 2023 include premium and deductible increases for Part A, lower rates for Part B, and better Part D coverage due to the Inflation Reduction Act Key takeaways The standard Part B premium is decreasing to $164.90 for 2023. The Part B deductible is also...

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Long-Term Care Readiness: An AARP Survey of Adults 50+

Long-Term Care Readiness: An AARP Survey of Adults 50+

Uncertainty about paying for long-term care remains problematic among midlife and older adults. Long-term care is expensive.  According to Genworth's Cost of Care surveys, in 2021 the national median monthly cost of a private nursing home room was $9,034, with the...

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Big Changes Coming to Medicare Part D Plans

Big Changes Coming to Medicare Part D Plans

Inflation Reduction Act limits out-of-pocket drug costs, caps insulin copays, makes vaccines free For the first time in Medicare’s history, the amount of money that beneficiaries in drug plans will have to pay for their prescriptions each year will be capped, thanks...

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Medicare plan Annual Notice of Change: What to look for

Medicare plan Annual Notice of Change: What to look for

Over the next few months, you’re probably going to receive a lot of information about Medicare. It’s all meant to help you understand your coverage choices and make informed decisions during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7). There is one piece...

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What are Medicare Part B Excess Charges?

What are Medicare Part B Excess Charges?

If you’ve been shopping for Medigap plans, you may have discovered that a couple of them (Plan G and Plan F) cover something called “Part B Excess Charges.” If you’re not sure what excess charges are, you’re not alone. Fortunately, they’re a rather rare occurrence for...

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Where can I find answers to my Medicare questions?

Where can I find answers to my Medicare questions?

Medicare can be complicated, but several great resources can help you get answers to your Medicare questions — whether you want to know more about costs, coverage, eligibility, enrollment or how to choose supplemental policies. 1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...

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Medicare Advantage Plans Increasingly Popular

Medicare Advantage Plans Increasingly Popular

​Extra benefits attracting enrollees, but experts say plans can deliver better on their promises As Medicare Advantage plans approach their 25th birthday — the law that created the current system allowing private health care providers to offer a one-stop-shop...

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Medicare Savings Programs Can Save Enrollees Thousands

Medicare Savings Programs Can Save Enrollees Thousands

When Kristen Tyler was caring for her father, she didn’t know that the federal government had programs that could help her dad afford the thousands of dollars his health care and medications cost. Now Tyler is helping others learn about the Medicare Savings Programs...

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Medicare & Coronavirus

Medicare & Coronavirus

Get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can. Medicare covers the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost to you. Medicare covers the vaccine for anyone who has Medicare due to their age, a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease). Be...

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How do I create an online Medicare account?

How do I create an online Medicare account?

Signing up for an online Medicare account, previously called a MyMedicare account, can help you manage your Medicare information electronically. An online account is a great resource for getting personalized information about your Medicare coverage, claims and costs....

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Can my spouse get Medicare at age 63?

Can my spouse get Medicare at age 63?

You may be 65 years old and ready to enroll in Medicare, but unless your spouse has a disabling medical condition, your mate won’t qualify until age 65. That’s because Medicare doesn’t operate like health insurance that you may have through your employer. It’s not a...

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Medicare, Medicaid and Long-Term Care

Medicare, Medicaid and Long-Term Care

What the programs cover, and what they don’t What role does the federal government play in assisting Americans in need of long-term care? The answers, which lie primarily within two programs — Medicare and Medicaid — may surprise you. Here is a breakdown of the...

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What are the costs for Medicare Part A?

What are the costs for Medicare Part A?

 Medicare Part A helps pay for inpatient stays in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, some home health services and end-of-life hospice care. Even though most people don’t pay premiums for Medicare Part A, the coverage still has other out-of-pocket costs: A...

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What Is Medicare?

What Is Medicare?

How the federal insurance program helps older Americans afford the health care vital to their well-being What is Medicare? For more than 55 years, it's been the program that older Americans and people with disabilities turn to for their health care coverage. In 2022,...

read more
8 Things Medicare Doesn’t Cover

8 Things Medicare Doesn’t Cover

You’ll need to plan ahead to pay for some common medical expenses Medicare covers the majority of older Americans’ health care needs, from hospital care and doctor visits to lab tests and prescription drugs. Here are some needs that aren’t a part of the program — and...

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Medicare Updates for 2022 — What You Should Know

Medicare Updates for 2022 — What You Should Know

If you are at least 65 and aren’t covered by an employer health insurance plan, then you will probably need to enroll in Medicare. Every year, there are copays, deductibles, and premiums to be paid. These numbers usually rise slightly each year, so you don’t have to...

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Biggest Medicare Changes for 2022

Biggest Medicare Changes for 2022

Look for higher premiums and deductibles in the new year, but also more help with insulin, mental health The biggest change Medicare's nearly 64 million beneficiaries will see in the new year is higher premiums and deductibles for the medical care they'll receive...

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Medicare Part D – Plans with Prescription Drug Coverage

Medicare Part D – Plans with Prescription Drug Coverage

Wondering about Medicare Part D plans? Medicare beneficiaries across the nation have the option of enrolling in Medicare Part D to get help with their prescription drug costs. Plans offered under Medicare Part D are available in two ways. If you have Original Medicare...

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Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse

Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse

Medicare fraud and abuse  can happen anywhere, and usually results in higher health care costs and taxes for everyone. Some examples include: A provider that bills Medicare for services or supplies they never gave you, like charging you for a visit you never had, or a...

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Have any Question? Ask us anything, we’d love to answer!

Medicare Made Easy, Medicare Made Simple.

 

 

If you feel like you have been spinning your wheels wondering how to make the best decision when it comes to your Medicare plan, you are in the right place. The good news is, you don’t have to do this alone. We are in the business of helping people understand Medicare, in simple, plain terms that everyone can understand. We believe it’s important that your first understand Medicare itself. You can’t understand your Medicare options until you first understand basic Medicare benefits. Fortunately, we’ve mastered how to make it simple.

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