Imagine this: Your son is able to drive you to your doctor appointment this afternoon, but has to leave early to pick up your grandkids after school. How are you going to get home? Or let’s say a friend usually takes you to your appointments but is unable to for an upcoming important appointment. What are your options? And does Medicare help with these needs? When you are automatically [...]
During the Annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period, anyone on Medicare can make changes to their coverage. This event takes place only once a year between October 15 and December 7. During this time, beneficiaries can: Switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or vice versa Join or drop a Medicare prescription drug plan Switch from Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage to one without, or vice versa Update your [...]
Are you a planner at heart? Many of us are so busy we have calendars to keep track of all the activities going on in our lives: birthday parties, appointments, anniversaries, little league baseball games. As we get closer to reaching age 65, and even once we do, it’s important to keep a few dates in mind… the different Medicare enrollment periods. Why is this important to remember? If [...]
Medicare prescription drug coverage is an optional benefit offered to everyone who has Medicare. However, if you decide to not get Medicare drug coverage when you're first eligible, you'll likely pay a late enrollment penalty if you join later. The late enrollment penalty is an amount of money that will be added to your Medicare Part D monthly premium if you go for 63 days (or more) after your Initial [...]
You probably have many questions when it comes to Medicare. What plan is best for you? When do you apply? What do the different Medicare Parts mean? What benefits am I eligible for? One question you might not have in mind at the beginning of the process, but might come up in the future, is whether not your Medicare plan will cover home healthcare. Does Medicare cover care in [...]
When it comes to eye care, coverage under Original Medicare is pretty hit or miss. This is why it is very important to refer to your plan to know if you are covered, and if you are, what is covered. As a reminder, there are 4 parts of Medicare. Part A covers inpatient hospital coverage. When it comes to vision, Part A will only cover when the condition is considered [...]
People qualify for Medicare benefits in one of three ways: Age Disability Certain illnesses Medicare for people turning 65 Most people know that when they turn 65 they can start receiving Medicare. In general, you are eligible at 65 if you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. You can get Part A at age 65 without having to pay premiums if you: [...]
Medicare Advantage is also referred to as Medicare Part C. These are private Medicare plans where you pay copays for many routine services like doctor’s visits, lab-work, ambulance, surgeries, hospital stays, urgent care and more. Did you know you don’t have to be turning 65 to be eligible for Medicare Advantage? Certain individuals are eligible for Medicare under the age of 65, including those with disabilities. Many of the [...]
While they sound similar, Medicare and Medicaid are actually two entirely different programs. Both programs can help you pay for healthcare and medical expenses but are completely different in nature. Medicaid is a state and federal program that provides health coverage for low-income Americans regardless of their age. Medicare, on the other hand, is a federal health insurance program that guarantees coverage for individuals ages 65 and over and people [...]
As you begin to select the Medicare plan that will be best for you, questions will arise as to whether certain services are covered or not. If you are concerned about dental care, it’s important to know what is and isn’t covered. Does Medicare cover dental? Medicare Part A and Part B, also known as Original Medicare, does cover some dental care. However common dental care services such as [...]