Medicare News

In late August and early September, three hurricanes – Harvey, Irma and Maria – swept through the southern United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands resulting in mass displacement, lost properties, loss of income and other devastation. Last month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that open enrollment would be extended this year for those

If you’re about to become eligible for Medicare, then you’ve probably done lots of research already on what to expect, how to enroll and what kind of plan you need. But Medicare can be tough to unravel. To complicate things, if you have coverage through another source already, you may be wondering what happens to that plan once you sign

While Medicare was initially designed to provide a means of healthcare that was affordable and accessible to seniors, it can still prove to be a financial burden to some, especially those who are on a low fixed income. If you or someone you love is struggling to keep up with premiums, cover out-of-pocket costs or simply afford medication each month,

Early retirement may sound like a dream, but when it comes to your post-employment healthcare, the reality is that you’re on your own for major medical insurance until you reach age 65 and qualify for Medicare. Retiring early isn’t on everyone’s radar. A survey in 2016 found that just 11 percent of the American workforce plans on retiring between ages

Choosing which Medicare plan works best for you can be overwhelming. If you are one of many seniors who also takes prescription drugs, there are added considerations. Two different options exist for prescription drug coverage in Medicare: enrolling in a Medicare Part D plan or choosing a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage. Which one is better? The

Medicare can help to cover many of your medical costs as you age, such as medically necessary doctor visits, blood tests and hospital stays, but it doesn’t cover everything. In fact, people on a fixed income, especially senior citizens, find themselves struggling to pay their prescription drug co-pays, even if they’re on Medicare. If you’re on Medicare and your prescription

How to Make the Most of Drug Plans on Medicare. Whether you’re new to Medicare or not, it can seem impossible to save money on your medical and prescription drug costs. You’re not alone. Enrollees are frequently frustrated by gaps in their policy coverage, particularly when these gaps affect their ability to get important medications at a low cost. Although

The Medicare Part D coverage gap, also known as the “donut hole,” presents a complex issue in healthcare. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010, the donut hole was set to be completely eliminated by 2020. With the new administration and the promise of healthcare reform, no one is sure what will happen to the donut hole. What is

As the payment model for healthcare services moves from a fee-for-service to a fee-for-value model, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has rolled out a number of new metrics and tools to help track patient care for healthcare service providers. Recently, the CMS unveiled the Merit-based Payment System (MIPS), an incentive program that pays providers a more positive

Medicare Advantage plans, also called Medicare Part C, are insurance plans offered by private companies approved by Medicare. These plans cover the same services and treatments as original Medicare along with different extras depending on plan type. This isn’t the same as a Medicare Supplement Insurance Policy, known as Medigap, which covers things like copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. Medicare Advantage