Category: Medicare Supplement

With age comes wear and tear to your body. Knees are especially vulnerable to damage because of how much use they get over the years. As you age, the cartilage in your knees wears down, and can become almost non-existent, causing arthritis and leaving bone to painfully rub on bone as you move. Cartilage loss…

When it is time to enroll in Medicare, change your Medicare plan, or purchase a Medicare Supplement Plan, speaking to an agent is a great idea. But before you do, make sure you have all of your information ready and available; you should also have an understanding of exactly what your needs are and what…

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finally released Medicare costs for 2021. Knowing these costs will help you decide whether to stick with Original Medicare or buy a Medicare Supplement Plan to help pay for your Part B premiums and costs. Medicare Open Enrollment is still going on, but not for long!…

For many people, turning 65 and starting to collect Social Security means being automatically enrolled into Medicare. There are exceptions to this and ways to put off enrolling into Medicare, such as if you are still working and have health insurance through your employer. But what happens when you are self-employed and you're about to…

Strokes are more common than you might think: they are one of the leading causes of death and disability in the US. According to the CDC, each year almost 800,000 people suffer a stroke. Nearly three-quarters of all strokes occur in people over the age of 65, and the risk of having a stroke more…

Allergies. Anyone can suffer from them, no matter their age. They can be seasonal, they can be food-related, they can be triggered by pets...but no matter the cause, they’re always annoying, and sometimes dangerous. Over 50 million people in the United States live with allergies, making them the sixth leading cause of chronic illness. Allergies…

Amid uncertainties about Medicare prices for 2021, Congress has taken action to provide some  relief next year for the 64 million Medicare beneficiaries in the United States. On Wednesday, September 30th, a short-term government funding bill was passed by the Senate and signed by President Trump that will cap Medicare Part B premiums for 2021.…

According to a recent study, Medicare spent $1.4 billion on drugs in 2017 and 2018 that ended up being discarded. More specifically, Medicare spent $695 million on discarded Part B drugs in 2017, and $725 million in 2018. Most of these wasted tax dollars went towards chemotherapy and cancer-treating drugs that were not used. Medicare…

If this was your first year as a Medicare beneficiary, then you are heading into your first Medicare Open Enrollment Period. When you enrolled in Medicare, you chose whether to stick with Original Medicare, add a Medicare Supplement Plan, or go with a Medicare Advantage Plan, and now is the time to evaluate your plan…

Over 18 million Americans have some form of sleep apnea, and some need a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. If you are enrolled in Medicare and are one of these millions of people with sleep apnea, you might be wondering if a CPAP machine is covered under the Durable Medical Equipment benefits of Part…

September is here, and with it will come important documents for Medicare's fall Open Enrollment. Medicare Open Enrollment, which is also referred to as the Annual Election Period (AEP), occurs every year from October 15th to December 7th. During this period, you have the option to change your Medicare plan for 2021. In order to…

Medicare Open Enrollment Period (October 15 - December 7) is right around the corner, so it’s time to start reviewing your current plan. Is it working for you? If you’re not totally satisfied with your coverage, then you might want to look for a better plan that has everything you need and saves you money.…

Breast cancer. Those two words can be terrifying, especially for older women. The median age for a breast cancer diagnosis is 61 years old, with 41% of breast cancer cases diagnosed in women age 65 and older. In addition, the median age of death from breast cancer is 68 years old. These are scary statistics…

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, over half a million people over the age of 65 suffer from a stroke every year. A stroke can be very serious, and can have long lasting effects on balance, hearing, and vision. It can also cause decreased mobility or even paralysis. Recovery after a…

In order to ensure that hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare providers are not being overpaid for Medicare services, CMS usually conducts on-going audits. However, CMS suspended most fee-for-service claim audits and medical reviews by Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) on March 30th of this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Suspension continued through most of the…

Over the past few months, many people have gotten used to seeing their doctor virtually, or being able to call them from the comfort of their own home. Access to telemedicine was greatly expanded during the recent pandemic, and this has been especially beneficial for seniors. Having access to telehealth services means that older adults…

One in three Medicare beneficiaries has diabetes, which is more than 3 million people nationwide. Unfortunately, Medicare does not provide coverage for insulin. In May, President Trump announced that his administration is going to cut the price of insulin for Medicare beneficiaries to $35 for a one month supply. This would be a drastic reduction…

Ambulance rides are not cheap, they can range anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. During a medical emergency, the last thing you want to worry about is if Medicare will cover the large ambulance bill. Thankfully, Medicare does cover ambulance rides so you don’t have to worry about anything but receiving the care you…