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Medicare Basics

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Medicare Basics

What is Medicare?

Medicare is a federal health insurance program that gives you access to specific coverage and benefits. Medicare is different from health insurance you may have had before. It offers you a variety of coverage options — and it has key enrollment dates and guidelines you need to follow. We’re here to help you make sense of it all.

How is Medicare Different From Other Health Insurance?

You may be surprised at the differences between Medicare and other types of health insurance. If you’ve had health coverage through your employer, your plan likely included medical and prescription drug coverage, along with other benefits. It also may have covered both you and your spouse.

Medicare only covers one person at a time. This means you and your spouse must enroll separately. In addition, Medicare gives you options that can make it possible to receive your benefits in a variety of different ways.

You can:

  • Choose hospital and medical coverage delivered through the federal government.
  • Add prescription drug coverageMedicare Part D delivered through a private company.
  • Purchase a supplemental insurance policy from a private insurer that can help cover some of the costs.
  • Choose coverage from a private insurer that combines hospital, medical and often prescription drug coverage into one plan.

In short, with Medicare you can choose coverage that fits your needs, budget and lifestyle. We can help you take full advantage of that freedom.

 

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Medigap VS Medicare Advantage

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medigap vs medicare advantage
Medigap vs Medicare advantage

Q1: What is the difference between Medigap and Medicare Advantage?

A1: Medigap is a supplemental insurance policy that helps pay for some of the out-of-pocket expenses that Original Medicare does not cover. Medicare Advantage is a type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide you with all your Part A and Part B benefits.

Q2: Does Medigap cover the same things as Medicare Advantage?

A2: No, Medigap is a supplemental insurance policy that helps pay for some of the out-of-pocket expenses that Original Medicare does not cover. Medicare Advantage is a type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that provides all your Part A and Part B benefits.

Q3: How do I know which plan is right for me?  [Read more…]

Medicare for Veterans

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Veterans who receive health care benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can also enroll in Medicare Parts A and B when they turn 65. The VA encourages veterans to consider enrolling in Medicare as soon as they are eligible to avoid paying late enrollment penalties.

For veterans enrolled in TRICARE (the military’s government-funded health insurance), there may be specific Medicare enrollment requirements to maintain TRICARE coverage.

What Are the Benefits of Having Medicare?

[Read more…]

How to Afford Healthcare

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Affording Healthcare on a Tight Budget

Many seniors are worried about rising costs and the impact it is having on their retirement budget. As inflation pushes prices higher for basics such as food, gas and housing, are you concerned how you will afford the healthcare coverage you need on your fixed income? Here are some ways you can maximize your coverage and control your costs.

Know How Your Plan Works to Avoid Higher Costs

Whether your plan is Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare with a supplemental plan (Medigap), it’s important to understand how your plan works to avoid higher out of pocket costs and denied claims. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

  • Know your in-network and out-of-network coverage costs. If you want coverage from specific providers and facilities, make sure they are considered in-network with the plan you choose. Some plans offer no out-of-network coverage.
  • Know if you need a referral for certain services. If a referral is required and you don’t get one, your claim could be denied.
  • Take advantage of preventative and routine care, usually covered with zero out-of-pocket costs. These services are important to maintaining your health, and help detect more serious issues sooner, which may ensure better health outcomes and lower costs.
  • Understand the full scope of your out-of-pocket costs (deductible, copays, etc.) for the plan you select. Plans with lower premiums may look appealing but they usually come with higher deductibles and out-of-pocket expense.
  • Know if you are at risk of entering the Medicare prescription “Donut Hole.” There are programs available that can assist with this gap in coverage if you qualify.

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Medicare in a Nutshell

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Medicare Answers

Medicare is a federal health insurance program that gives you access to specific coverage and benefits. Medicare is different from health insurance you may have had before. It offers you a variety of coverage options — and it has key enrollment dates and guidelines you need to follow. We’re here to help you make sense of it all.

1) Open Enrollment Dates

The annual election period for Medicare products is fast approaching:

Annual election period (October 15 – December 7)

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31)

Special Enrollment Periods are available when special circumstances arise.

Just a reminder; Open enrollment applies to Medicare Advantage & Prescription Drug Plans.

Medicare Supplements are secondary to Medicare and can be applied for at any time.

2) Confusion about when a current Medicare Enrollee can make plan changes

Medicare eligible consumers have many carriers, plans and plan types to choose from. It may seem overwhelming. Using an experienced, licensed agent can assist consumers to understand their options so they can elect the carrier, plan and plan type that would offer the most benefits. [Read more…]

Medicare Part A & Medicare Part B

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Medicare Part A & B What is the difference?

Summary:

When you qualify for Medicare, it’s usually Medicare Part A and Part B that you’re first
enrolled in. Medicare Part A and Part B make up Original Medicare. Medicare Part A generally helps
pay your costs as a hospital inpatient. Medicare Part B may help pay for doctor visits, preventive
services, lab tests, medical equipment and supplies, and more. [Read more…]

Medicare Advantage or Supplement??

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Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) insurance plans

Medicare Supplement insurance plans work with Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, and may help pay for certain costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. These plans don’t provide stand-alone coverage; you need to remain enrolled in Part A and Part B for your hospital and medical coverage. If you need prescription drug coverage, you’d need to enroll in a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

When you buy a Medicare Supplement insurance plan, you are still enrolled in Original Medicare, Part A and Part B. Medicare pays for your health-care bills primarily, while the Medigap plan simply covers certain cost-sharing expenses required by Medicare, such as copayments or deductibles. In addition, Medigap insurance plans may help with other costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, such as Medicare Part B excess charges or emergency medical coverage when you’re traveling outside of the country. Keep in mind that Medicare Supplement insurance plans can only be used to pay for Original Medicare costs; they can’t be used with Medicare Advantage plans. [Read more…]

Is Medicare Advantage free?

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Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part C 

is a plan that combines the services of Medicare Part A and Part B, as well as some additional services, such as prescription drug coverage. Some plans also cover vision and dental services. Medicare Advantage is available through private health insurance companies.

When a person is shopping for Medicare Advantage plans, they may find that some offer free monthly premiums. The exact price will vary depending on the Advantage plans available in a certain area.

Medicare Advantage CostHowever, a person will still pay a premium for Medicare Part B. People may also find that the plans offering free premiums have higher out-of-pocket costs.

Private health insurance companies can offer premium-free services in some instances because they receive money from Medicare.  [Read more…]

Eat Nutritiously at Home

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Eat Nutritiously

Senior-Healthy-Eating
Senior-Healthy-Eating

A healthy diet is important at any age. Fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, healthy fats, and plenty of water are keys to nourishing your body and mind. A well-balanced diet helps you maintain a healthy weight, strengthen your teeth and bones, and reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Of course, as you age, your dietary needs change. For example, the older you get, the fewer calories you need. That’s because you move less and you lose muscle mass at a more rapid rate than when you were younger, which can slow your metabolism. The calories you do consume should be high in fiber and nutrients to help your body’s natural cycle and to avoid malnutrition and other health problems. Furthermore, many seniors also deal with chronic health conditions, like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, that require special dietary accommodations, including reduced red meat consumption and/or salt intake. [Read more…]

Tips for Senior Fitness

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Fitness Tips for Getting and Staying Healthy

Incorporating daily exercise into your life can be simple and fun. There are many ways to improve and maintain your health. But it’s important to find the approaches that work best for you. So, check out the tips below and you can also view publisher site in this post. They can help you start achieving your health and fitness goals. Also, to maintain mental health for senior citizens, it is best if they get in touch with attorneys handling wills.

tips for senior fitness
Senior Health Tips

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30 Retirement Quotes

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Enjoy and laugh

retiement quotes
retirement quotes

Retirement is not just a case of not setting an alarm anymore to go to work. It’s a major life-changing decision. That’s why it’s often celebrated and marked by friends and family as a special occasion.

Retirement parties and gifts are common ways for people to recognize retirement. A special card with heartfelt words is also a gift that can be greatly treasured.

If you’re looking for some words of inspiration beyond “congratulations”, take a look at these well-known retirement quotes to add to your card or gift. You can choose something serious or something more comical.  [Read more…]

Finding Home HealthCare

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Tips to Finding Home HealthCare

Home HealthCare
Home HealthCare

Home healthcare can provide you with services in the comfort of your own home, these services are generally coordinated by a home health care agency. Some services offered are skilled nursing care, physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology services, and medical social services as advised and ordered by your doctor. A home health aide can administer additional home health care services. These may include personal care, some housekeeping, meal preparation, and general health management. Home health care can help facilitate staying in the home for senior citizens and disabled individuals.

In order to determine the services, you will need, health care professionals from a Medicare-certified home health care agency will work with you and your doctor in evaluating your needs and writing your care plan. Home health care agency staff will teach you and your caregivers to continue care such as wound care, therapy, and disease management. Reaching and maintaining your best physical, mental, and social well-being is the ultimate goal of in-home care.

If you are leaving a hospital or skilled nursing facility, the discharge planner can help you to set up in-home care. You can choose the specific agency you will use, but your choice may be limited by the services an agency offers, your insurance coverage, and the availability of the agency. [Read more…]

Medicare Options Explained

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Medicare part A provides coverage for inpatient care and Part B for outpatient services.  There are options available to help with the costs not covered

MEDICARE options  Medicare Options available to Beneficiaries

 Medicare Part A which covers inpatient treatment for Medicare Beneficiaries and Medicare Part B which provides for outpatient services are both available to seniors and some people on disability under age 65 and is referred to as original Medicare.  You can also get attorneys for disability claims from here. However, original Medicare by itself can leave the senior with significant out of pocket expense. You can check out SSDI claim denial attorney here for disability cases.

“As an Independent Insurance Broker in Arizona” states Ralph Bredahl with Arizona Medicare Advisors, “I find a lot of confusion among seniors on what is available to them to help with medical costs. I trust this list will help to answer some of the questions that I hear” [Read more…]

Seniors move to Protect Medicare Plans

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 Growing Movement to protect Medicare Plans

Washington, D.C. –The Coalition for Medicare Choices (CMC) -a national grassroots organization of more than 1.6 million individuals who receive their health care coverage through a Medicare Advantage health plan – today announced the launch of a new website as part of a growing effort to promote the value of Medicare Advantage and protect the benefits it provides to millions of American seniors. The new site includes enhanced tools to allow seniors in Medicare Advantage to engage with their members of Congress, take action to protect their health care benefits, and tell their personal Medicare Advantage stories. [Read more…]

Medicare Screening

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Medicare Screening for Prostate Cancer

Men with Medicare.

Are you the type of guy who puts off doing a task and later wishes he’d just done it? If you’re a man with Medicare, now’s the time to talk with your doctor about whether you should get screened for prostate, for colorectal cancer, or for both. Even if you’re feeling fine, Medicare approved screening tests can find cancer early, when treatment works best. [Read more…]

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