Retirement is on the minds of most everybody from the day they start working, and some people have the desire to retire early so that they can spend more time with family, participate in their hobbies more often, travel more, or just relax and enjoy their time off after a long career. If you are […]
How Do You Pay for a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Policy?
If you are concerned about your out of pocket expenses that are not covered by Original Medicare, you may want to consider purchasing a Medicare Supplement policy to help cover some of your costs. A Medicare Supplement policy, also known as Medigap, helps pays for some coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles that are not included in […]
How Does Medicare Decide if My Treatment is Medically Necessary?
For Medicare beneficiaries, you may have heard the term medically necessary a time or two. But what is it, and how does it impact your Medicare benefits? We’ll go over information you may need to know about how Medicare determines a medically necessary procedure or treatment. What is Medically Necessary? When Medicare deems a service […]
Can I Take My Medigap Plan with Me When I Move?
Having a Medicare Supplement health insurance plan, also known as Medigap, means having added financial assistance to pay for out of pocket expenses that may occur with Original Medicare benefits. Over 14 million Original Medicare recipients with Parts A (hospital insurance) and B (medical insurance), rely on a Medigap plan to pay coinsurances, copayments, and […]
Can Enrolling in a Medicare Advantage Plan Save Me Money?
For those new to Medicare, the enrollment decisions required sometimes seem overwhelming. Learning the Medicare “lingo” is the first step. Before choosing among the range of options, it is important to understand Parts A, B, C and D as well as Medigap, also known as Medicare Supplement. Once you decipher the alphabet soup of Medicare […]
Can You Cancel Your Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan?
Over 14 million Original Medicare recipients in the United States also have a Medicare Supplement, or Medigap, policy. You can purchase one of several types of existing Medigap policies from participating private insurance companies across the country. The purpose of Medicare Supplement plans is to help Medicare recipients fill in the gaps that are left […]
What Vaccines are Covered by Medicare?
Vaccinations are one of the best forms of prevention for a variety of diseases. When a harmful bacteria or virus, also known as a pathogen, gets into the body, it can hide itself from your immune system and replicate. If your immune system is not able to fight off a pathogen fast enough, it can […]
Does Medicare Cover House Calls?
House calls are when a doctor comes to your home to see you for your medical checkup or appointment instead of you leaving your home and going to the office. Many people wonder if Medicare benefits cover house calls, and the short answer is yes and no. Medicare did test a house calls program, but […]
When Can I Change My Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan?
Many Americans who are receiving Original Medicare insurance benefits from both Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) find that their out-of-pocket costs are higher than they would like. For them, having a Medicare supplement, or Medigap plan, is a great solution. Medigap Supplement insurance plans are sold by private insurance companies to […]
Does Medicare Cover Treatment for High Cholesterol?
Has your doctor diagnosed you with high cholesterol? High cholesterol can put you at an elevated risk for heart disease and stroke. If you have Medicare coverage, we’ll outline what you may need to know about how Medicare insurance pays for high cholesterol treatment and testing. Defining High Cholesterol Not all cholesterol is bad, and […]
Retiring at 65? Understanding Your Medicare Benefits
When retirement finally comes, it may bring changes into your life. While you may enjoy some time to travel or spend time with family, you may find changes when it comes to your health insurance as well. If you are retiring at the age of 65, you will qualify for Medicare, so it is important […]
Does Medicare Cover a Gastric Bypass Revision?
Gastric bypass is a surgical treatment approach to help obese patients reduce their weight. However, some patients still experience significant weight gain after this surgery. Surgery for gastric bypass revision may be an option in certain cases. Weight Gain after Gastric Bypass Surgery The most common type of bariatric surgery, known as the Roux-en-Y gastric […]
Retiring at 70? Understanding Your Medicare Benefits
After looking back at your career and at all your options for the future, you may decide that retiring at the age of 70 is the best option for you. After you retire, you’ll have more time to spend with your family and friends. You also may be able to pick up an additional hobby […]
Retiring at 67? Understanding Your Medicare Benefits
For anyone born after 1960 or after, the full retirement age is 67. This is the age that you will be able to receive your full retirement benefits. However, if you are planning to retire at the age of 67, you should be aware that you may need to make some decisions about your health […]
What Are My Options If My Medigap Plan Is Discontinued?
Medigap plans, also known as Medicare Supplement plans, help cover many out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare recipients. The scope of these plans is determined in part by Medicare legislation and what private insurers want to offer. Because of this, Medigap plans are standardized to offer a select list of benefits at different price points. Changes in […]
Does Medicare Part D Cover Me in a Skilled Nursing Facility?
While many medical procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, meaning the patient receives care and returns home the same day, some treatments require additional monitoring, specialized care and access to rehabilitation services. This is often the case after an extensive surgery, but it may also be the case when someone needs care after a […]
What to Expect: Changes to Medigap Plan F in 2020
Certain Medicare Supplement plans, also known as Medigap, will no longer be offered to newly eligible enrollees after January 1, 2020. This change specifically impacts plans that pay for the Medicare Part B deductible, like Medicare Supplement Plan F. What Does Plan F Cover? Like most Medigap plans, Plan F covers many of the out-of-pocket […]
Are There Reasons to Delay Medicare Benefits?
Enrolling in Medicare is something that most people will do at some point, and the benefits of being a Medicare recipient are numerous; however, there may be some reasons to delay coverage that actually work out in your favor. Delaying enrollment can also be detrimental in some situations, so it pays to be informed as […]
How the Medicare Part D Late Enrollment Penalty May Affect My Coverage
Unlike Part A and Part B, Medicare Part D is an optional benefit that sits outside Original Medicare. When Medicare recipients first become eligible, they may think drug coverage is merely additional insurance they do not need or cannot afford. However, even if you are healthy and presently do without prescription medication, it is advantageous […]
Does Medicare Cover Medical Marijuana?
Medical marijuana is used to treat a variety of healthcare concerns, including symptoms related to cancer treatment, anxiety, insomnia and more. Currently, marijuana is still classified as a Schedule One drug by the Drug Enforcement Agency, although some states have moved to legalize or decriminalize the possession and use of small amounts, including amounts prescribed […]