PACE, short for the Medicare and Medicaid program known as Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, provides qualifying seniors with an alternative to Medicaid nursing home facilities. For people who qualify and enroll in the program, PACE allows them to get the comprehensive care they need while staying in their own home, in the […]
Coverage
How Does Medicare Determine Reimbursement Rates?
The reimbursement rates are the monetary amounts that Medicare pays to health care providers, hospitals, laboratories, and medical equipment companies for performing certain services and providing medical supplies for individuals enrolled in Medicare insurance. To receive reimbursement payments at the current rates established by Medicare, health care professionals and service companies need to be participants […]
How Does Medicare Cover High Blood Pressure?
Roughly one in three adults in the U.S. is diagnosed with hypertension, or high blood pressure. Medicare manages coverage for high blood pressure according to the type of service, medication or piece of equipment is medically necessary for treatment. Understanding High Blood Pressure The American Heart Association considers high blood pressure a silent but deadly […]
Can Medicare Help Cover Meal Deliveries During Stay-at-Home Orders?
Due to the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, many states issued stay-at-home orders along with business closure restrictions. These emergency restrictions have meant that affected restaurants have been unable to serve dine-in patrons, and instead, they have only been able to offer take-out, drive-thru or at-home delivery of prepared foods. This has not only allowed businesses […]
Will Medicare be Around in 2050?
Medicare benefits provide access to affordable healthcare for millions of seniors and those with certain disabilities in the United States, meaning the future of this vital program is often on the minds of recipients. In recent decades, there have been a number of concerns as to the viability of Medicare in the future, both in […]
How Will Medicare Help if I’m Hospitalized for Coronavirus?
At the beginning of 2020, the novel coronavirus began spreading throughout the world, leading many countries to take extreme measures to reduce the number of people infected. The virus itself presents as a pneumonia-like disease that affects the respiratory system. Patients are have a pre-existing health condition, especially one that affects breathing, are more likely […]
Is Medicare Open During the Coronavirus Closures?
At the outset of 2020, the novel coronavirus started spreading across the world. In response, many countries, states and municipalities took swift action to mitigate this spread by issuing stay-at-home orders and closing a number of government facilities. This reaction, however, took place so quickly that many people, including in those America, were left in […]
Does Medicare Cover Treatment for MS?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that affects the nervous system through an auto-immune response that deteriorates the protective covering of the nerves. This leads to pain, mobility concerns, vision problems, balance issues and difficulty in muscle coordination. MS affects different people in different ways, allowing some with the condition to live a life relatively […]
Will I Qualify for Extra Help?
Americans of all ages spend over $1,200.00 on average for prescription drugs every year. But the elderly, and people with chronic conditions, spend even more than the national average for their medications. United States statistics show that 87 percent of the people who are between the ages of 65 and 70 take an average of […]
How Can I Contact Medicare and Social Security Offices?
The Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are both federal agencies in the United States. Social Security is responsible for retirement and disability benefits and Medicare is responsible for health care for Medicare recipients who are 65 and older or are under 65 with qualifying disabilities. While both of […]
Is Social Security a Pretax Deduction?
Sifting through Social Security information and understanding how the system works can be confusing. When you add the subject of taxes into the mix, heads can begin to spin. Getting familiar with common terminology can help you navigate the ins and outs of Social Security deductions. Pretax and post-tax deductions The most common payroll deductions […]
How Does Medicare Cover Treatment for Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is one of the most common illnesses in the United States. Every year it sends over one million people to the hospital and is the cause of death for over 50,000. Pneumonia, viral or bacterial, is a severe infection that promotes inflammation in one or both of the lungs’ alveoli. These air sacs fill […]
Will I Be Eligible for Medicaid?
Medicaid is a federally regulated, state-run health care program in the United States that provides coverage to over 72 million men, women, and children who cannot afford private health care or Medicare. Medicaid was established in 1965 and is now the largest health care provider for people of low income and with limited resources in […]
Does Social Security pay for cremation?
While reviewing “Your Social Security Statement,” the document available on the Social Security Administration (SSA) website, you may notice a section for survivors and wonder if the Social Security Administration covers any funeral expenses. The short answer is no; however, there are survivor benefits that may help. Social Security eligibility Most people are required to […]
Does 401(k) Count Against Social Security?
Individuals newly eligible for Medicare benefits and Social Security payments are in a unique situation compared to their parents’ generation. Aside from government employees and a few private corporations, many people in their 60s today joined the workforce when pensions were being phased out and replaced with 401(k) plans. The question for them is how […]
How Much Does Medicare Cost at Age 62?
Medicare was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. The program was designed to provide insurance coverage of hospital expenses through Part A, and of medical costs through Part B. Medicare covers senior citizens aged 65 and older and younger individuals with specific disabilities. Medicare is available for legal permanent residents that […]
Does Medicare Cover Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
COVID-19, commonly called coronavirus, has brought telehealth to the forefront of conversations regarding doctor appointments. This form of health care is nothing new, and, in fact, a non-profit association founded in the U.S. in 1993 has been dedicated to this type of service. American Telemedicine Association (ATA) is comprised of over 400 organizations and boasts […]
What Does Medicare Mean on my Paycheck?
When Medicare was enacted as a federal law in 1965, the funds to support the program became a payroll tax on earned income. The payroll taxes required for the Federal Insurance Compensation Act (FICA) are to support both your Social Security and Medicare benefits programs. Your employer makes a matching contribution to the Medicare program. […]
How Does Social Security Work for Married Couples?
When most people reach their 60s, they start thinking about their retirement benefits from Social Security. For married couples, there are advantages to making decisions about retirement as a couple, rather than as individuals. Taking into consideration joint life expectancy, future plans, and your household budget, you can make some decisions about retirement together. Are […]
How Does Medicare Part B Work with Private Insurance?
Though we associate Medicare with retirement, many people work past the age of eligibility for Medicare benefits. Working later is getting more common. Whether it’s for financial reasons or because you enjoy your career, working until age 70 is more common than it was for the previous generation. Retiring at age 65 may not appeal […]