Medicare Help Archives - Page 25 of 28

Is Medicare Possible Without Social Security?

Many seniors think that they have to collect their Social Security benefits in order to enroll in Medicare. While yes, Medicare and Social Security go hand in hand in some ways, it does not necessarily mean you have to collect your SS benefits quite yet. They are separate. A person is able to collect Social Security benefits as early as age 62, and the latest you can begin collecting is age 70. Full retirement age is 66 years old. What all of this means is the earlier you collect benefits, then the lower your monthly benefits will be. Medicare benefits work differently. You must enroll in Medicare when you turn 65, or there are penalties, and you do not have to collect Social Security in order to begin Medicare. The following section provides an in-depth explanation of how it all works.

When To Sign Up For Medicare

While it pays to wait to collect Social Security benefits at a later age, this is not the case for Medicare. If you do not sign up for Medicare during your initial enrollment period (3 months before you turn 65, the month of your 65th birthday, and the following 3 months), it will cost you. You will have to pay a 10% increase in your Part B premiums for every year you do not sign up.

If you are still working and covered through your employer’s health benefits, then you will receive a special enrollment period once you leave your job. The job must have at least 20 or more employees, and if they do not, then you will need to sign up for Medicare during the initial enrollment period, or you will face the fine.

Auto-Enrollment

Auto-enrollment into Medicare happens when you are collecting Social Security benefits. If you decide to collect your Social Security benefits before age 65, the government will assume you have retired. So when you turn 65, you will automatically be enrolled into Medicare Parts A and B. You cannot enroll into Medicare before the age of 65, even if you are collecting SS benefits.

If you are working, then you can opt out of Medicare Part B, as long as the employer has 20 or more employees. But, you must keep Part A because you cannot have Social Security without Part A.

Social Security Sets off Part A

As mentioned above, Social Security benefits are essentially linked with Medicare Part A. The reason you do not pay for Part A is that you have paid taxes during your working career towards these benefits.

Medicare Is Possible Without Social Security

notebook opened up with the word "planning" written on the page. — *Plan ahead in order to make sure you are collecting the collecting the optimum amount of your benefits.*

You can certainly enroll in Medicare without collecting Social Security benefits. You have the option of waiting until you are 70 years old to start collecting these SS benefits. The longer you wait to start collecting SS, the more benefits you will receive monthly. However, you cannot afford to wait to sign up for Medicare. The longer you wait past your 65-year-old initial enrollment period, the heftier the repercussions may be on your Part B premiums.

If you do sign up for Social Security benefits before the age of 65, then when you turn 65 years old, you will automatically be enrolled at least into Medicare Part A. No exceptions. Most people choose to have their Medicare Part B premiums automatically withheld from their checks. So, if you do decide to hold off on collecting your Social Security benefits, know that you will have to pay the Part B premiums out of pocket. This is about $135.50 a month.

If you have questions or need Medicare help, our agents are ready to help. EZ.Insure offers highly trained Medicare agents in your region. They will assist you with any questions you have regarding Medicare, and help you save money by looking into Medicare Supplement plans. They will provide you with quotes and guide you in the best direction for your situation. Get started by entering your zip code in the bar above, or to connect with an agent email replies@ez.insure or call 855-220-1144.

Medication Not Covered Anymore? There’s a Transition Refill!

Imagine walking up to the pharmacy and hearing that your medication is no longer covered by Medicare, followed by the price of the drug. This happens often, and it can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there is something that can help: transition refills. A transition refill is a one-time, 30 day supply of the drug that Medicare no longer covers. This will ensure that you receive your medication for at least a month more.

Transition Refills Are Provided When:

Older caucasian man's hand dropping a pill onto his palm from a pill bottle. — *Transition refills will provide you with at leat 30 days more of your mediction that is no longer covered by your plan.*

You recently switched plans and your medication is not covered under your new plan. The plan will give you a 30-day transition refill within the first 90 days of enrollment.
Your plan dropped your medication/s from its formulary, or added coverage restrictions for the calendar year. Your plan will give you a 30-day transition refill within the first 90 days of the calendar year. They will also provide you with a notice about the new coverage policy.

Transition refills are not for new prescriptions, only for drugs you were taking before losing coverage or switching plans. The refills are not free, and you will have to pay the cost-sharing associated with the medication. This means you will have to pay as a Tier 4 or 5 Specialty Drug with 25% or more of the retail value.

Options After Using A Transition Refill

Switch Medications– Speak with your doctor immediately and ask if there is a drug on the plan’s formulary that will work for you. The doctor will write a new prescription for you, with a generic form, or a different brand name.
File for a formulary exception– If the prescription you are taking is absolutely necessary, then your doctor can contact your plan to request an exception. If denied, then you can file an appeal. If the exception is not processed by the end of your 90-day transition refill period, then your plan must provide more refills until the exception is answered.

Caucasian hands holding a wallet, with one hand holding hundred dollar bills out of it. — *You will still have to pay for your transition refills. A Medicare agent can look over all plans to save you money on your medications.*

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) stated “The purpose of providing a transition supply is to promote continuity of care and avoid interruptions in drug therapy while a switch to a therapeutically equivalent drug or the completion of an exception request to maintain coverage of an existing drug based on medical necessity reasons can be effectuated.”

When signing up for a new Medicare Supplement Plan, you should ask your Medicare agent if all of your medication is covered. EZ.Insure offers you your own Medicare agent that will search the best plan options based on your medication list. We will provide you with your own personal Medicare agent that will do all the research and provide you with plan options reflecting your interests. To get an instant quote, simply enter your zip code in the bar above. To speak to an agent directly, call 855-220-1144, or email replies @ez.insure.

You’ve Retired, Now What? Go Travel!

Now that you have retired, you are probably sitting around wondering what you should do with all of your free time. Save up some money, and go travel! Traveling has so many positive health benefits that promote social, mental, and physical well being. It’s a large world out there, go explore it! First, here are some tips, and ideas you can use before you hop on a plane!

*Traveling boosts your mood, mental health, cognitive health, and physical health.*

Boost Your Brain & Mood

When you travel, whether alone or with a group, you will meet new people. Talking and socializing with people has been proven to actually lower your blood pressure, and minimize serious health risks like Alzheimer’s, cancers, mental health issues, and so much more! Experiencing new places allows your brain to challenge itself, which boosts your cognitive health. Your physical health obviously improves because you are up, moving around, such as walking, or hiking while sightseeing in a new place. Just be careful when hiking, so that you do not get injured. Traveling boosts your mental mood, making you feel happier and even offer better sleep at night.

Plan Ahead

Packing

If you are like me, then you tend to pack a lot of outfits and clothes for a short trip. It would be wise to sit down and plan it all out before you start packing. All that extra luggage can be annoying to lug around, and you may not have room for the essentials. Plan ahead, and make a list of medications you need and any other medical necessities. Have your doctor fill out a letter regarding your medications and why they are needed, just in case there is an issue with the airport. Once you have all of the important essentials packed, then you can worry about which outfits to pack, depending on the climate you are traveling to, of course.

Make sure to optimize your travels with doing a lot of research on prices, and best time to travel to places.

Research, research, research!

Research is the most important thing you must do when you consider traveling, especially if you are going outside of the country. Research costs and the best time to go to your desired destination. Make sure it is not peak times during the year so that it is not overly crowded.

Better To Be Insured Than Not

It is easy to accidentally get hurt when hiking or exploring a new place. Accidents happen. This is why it is important to be insured while traveling. If not, it can end up costing you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in medical bills. Some Medicare Supplement Plans offer coverage while traveling outside of the U.S. Something to consider if you do not have it already.

Estimate Costs

Budgeting can be hard. Once you do all your research on the places you want to go, with hotels, flights, cruises, etc. then you can create a budget. The budget will have to focus on spending money on food, souvenirs (if you want), and extra just in case costs are higher than expected.

Go RVing!

Ever wanted to travel across the U.S. visiting all the national parks? Then an RV is the perfect choice for you. Visit all the towns, cities, and parks that you want to in an RV. In the beginning, renting out one may sound expensive, but it is less expensive as the trip goes on. Nothing but you, your spouse or a group of friends going on a cross-country journey together. Road trip!

Make sure to optimize your travels with doing a lot of research on prices, and best time to travel to places. — *You can travel by train, and enjoy the scenic routes to different destinations.*

Travel By Train

If you enjoy the scenic route, then train travel is the way to go. There are trains that travel cross country, and around the world. Other countries such as Europe offer journeys via train travel. You can go to different cities around and see all their beauty, both scenic and cultural.

Make Memories

After all the important safety, planning, and budgeting tips are out of the way, the next significant thing to do is have fun and make some valuable memories. Go visit the Taj Mahal in India, the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Colosseum in Rome, or even Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil. The possibilities are endless. You have the time, so start saving (if you haven’t been already), and make the most out of it!

Make sure you are covered when traveling outside of the U.S. with a Medicare Supplement Plan. If you would like help on how to get started, and which plan will work best for you, contact EZ.Insure. We offer Medicare agents that can explain your options and sign you up with a plan for free. Simple enter your zip code in the bar above, or speak with an agent through email at replies@ez.insure, or phone at 888-753-7207.

New Medicare Scam Alert!

Just when you think that you are aware of all the scams going around and feel educated and safe, another one is created. Unfortunately, scammers never stop trying to take your money and get your information. Just recently a new scam has surfaced with the promise of a free back, neck, or knee brace. While the idea of a free brace, that may be much needed, is enticing, you may pay more than just money. Medicare does not usually cover the costs of braces, except for some cases, where it is approved and ordered by your doctor. If you want to see what is covered within your Medicare plan, then you should call Medicare, or check your explanation of benefits.

*Scammers are now calling pretending to be from a hospital or medical supply company, offering free neck/back/knee braces.*

How It Works

These scammers call claiming to be from a local hospital or a Medicare representative from a medical supply company. They then ask you if you have any back, neck, or knee pain. Next, they state you can get a free brace called in by your doctor. If you answer yes to these questions, the scammers will ask for your Medicare information and Social Security number. Once you give them your information, they will steal hundreds to thousands of dollars from you.

If you say no to the scammers, they will call multiple times a day, harassing you until they hear a “yes”. Or the scammers will convince you to give them your personal information in order to be removed from their calling list.

What To Do

The first thing to know is that Medicare will never call you regarding any sort of brace, or any other products, or services. Scammers now have technology that changes their number to make it look like a local number or a 1-800 number. If an unknown number is calling, avoid answering it. Let it go to voicemail.

If you were approved for any sort of brace by your doctor, then make sure to call Medicare yourself and question the process. Make sure to ask them if it is covered, if they will pay for it, and when it will arrive. You can also read your Medicare Summary of Notice or Explanation of Benefits to make sure you were not charged for anything you didn’t order or didn’t receive.

A delivery may come to your door, if you did not order anything, then refuse the delivery. If you did order something, make sure it is the product before accepting it. Make sure to write down the senders name and address, so you can report it. To report suspected Medicare fraud, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or 1-800-633-4227.

Be Aware

*If you receive a call about a brace, then immediately hang up. Call Medicare and report the call, and call your agent to make sure you are protected and covered.*

Scammers are always looking for new ways every day to steal your information and money from you. They will never stop trying. In order to beat them at their own game, make sure that you are well informed to all the latest scams. And if you do not know, or just to be sure, never give out your information over the phone. Call Medicare directly and ask them any questions. The saying “nothing is free” is true, and if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

It is important to have a Medicare agent that you trust. One that you can call at any time with benefit questions, or just to make sure you are not being scammed. EZ.Insure is a trusted company that offers these exact agents. With EZ.Insure, you will receive your very own personal Medicare agent to help you with all your needs, explain your benefits, and steer you in the right direction towards saving money. Your agent will protect your information and make sure you are taken care of. To connect with one of our agents call 855-220-1144, or email replies@ez.insure. Or if you would like an instant quote, just enter your zip code in the bar above.

Plan F & Other Popular Medicare Supplement Plans Disappearing in 2020

Medicare has major coverage gaps, most notably that Part B pays only 80 percent of covered expenses, and the other 20 percent must be paid by the consumer. When you purchase a Medicare Supplement plan from a private insurer, you close that gap. These supplement plans have been growing in popularity over the years, mainly plans C and F. Congress has ruled to eliminate these two plans in the year 2020.

*As of January 1, 2020, some popular Medicare Supplement Plans will no longer be available.*

The legislation called the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), ruled that as of January 1, 2020, all newly eligible Medicare recipients cannot sign up for a supplemental plan that covers the Medicare Part B deductible. This means that Medicare Supplement Plans (also called Medigap Plans) C and F will be eliminated. However, those who are enrolled in Plan C or F as of December 31, 2019 will be “grandfathered” and continue with the plan as long as they want.

Why the changes?

Medicare is experiencing a growing financial strain from the ongoing enrollment of the Baby Boomer generation. This created a non stop increase of costs of health insurance. In an attempt to control costs by reducing claims, Congress decided it made sense to have Medicare recipients be responsible for more of their out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Medicare covers 80% of your outpatient benefits and Plan F covers both your Part A and B deductibles as well as the other 20%. Medicare Supplement Plan F is considered the Cadillac of all the supplement plans because it provides first dollar coverage, covering all the gaps in Medicare, leaving you with $0 out of pocket. People with Plan F have no copays for services that are Medicare-covered including copays at the doctor. Medicare Supplement Plan C is similar but does not include Medicare excess charge coverage

Lawmakers want to reduce medical misuse because they believe having this type of coverage leads to overuse of healthcare services. They fear that the people who have these plans will utilize it for every little thing like a cough, and run to the doctor because once the deductible is paid off, there are no co-pays, deductibles, or network of doctors to follow you. However, if you paid for your own deductible then you would reconsider doctor visits for minor things.

How will this affect policyholders?

*Now would be the best time to start planning and consider your options. Discuss the differences of plans with an agent and choose which best suits your needs.*

People who are grandfathered can continue to hold onto Plan F indefinitely. When the new change occurs in 2020, we will expect Medicare Supplement Plan F premiums to rise annually due to less people being enrolled.You can switch insurers, so if someone offers a better price, then you can apply to change to that insurance company’s policy.

If you are not grandfathered in and you cannot purchase plans F or C after January 1, 2020, you will want to consider plan G. Medicare Supplement Plan G is commonly known as the plan with the best value plan. Plan G has the same exact benefits as Plan F, but Plan G requires you to pay the annual Medicare Part B Deductible.

There are some concerns with the elimination of these plans. This could lead to consumers to not seeking treatment, which could lead to missing an early diagnosis and advanced health conditions. Essentially this will be more difficult and costly to treat, which defeats the money saving purpose Medicare began covering more preventative benefits.

With these changes ahead, you should plan for the financial impact it will have on you. If you need to compare, or would like to switch Medicare Supplement plans, contact EZ.Insure. A trained agent is always ready to help guide you. We can be contacted through email at Replies@ez.insure or by phone, 888-753-7207. Our agents will walk you through your options and help you find a plan with the right coverage within your budget. No hassle & no obligation, do it the easy way.

Medicare AEP Is Over, What If You Missed It?

Every year from October 15 to December 7 is Medicare’s Annual Enrollment. This is the time you can switch from Medicare to Medicare Advantage, and vice versa. You can also change your Medicare Advantage or Part D plans.

*Just because Medicare OEP is over, does not mean you do not have other options to help you save money.*

Time flies and things happen, and before you know it, open enrollment has ended. You may have not gotten the chance to look over plans, change plans to meet your needs, or did not have enough time to research your options. But luckily if you missed open enrollment, there are still some options for you to choose from.

Medicare Advantage OEP

Beginning 2019, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from January 1 to March 31 every year. During this period, you can switch Medicare Advantage plans, or disenroll from their Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare. If you choose to switch back to Original Medicare, then you can enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan. Do some research to make sure whichever way to choose to go that the network covers your doctors.

Medicare Special Enrollment Period, SEP

If you missed the open enrollment period, you can qualify for Medicare Special Enrollment Period. Here are the circumstances to qualify for SEP:

- Moved out of plan’s service area

- Lost employer-based health insurance

- Used to be eligible for Medicaid and now you are not

- Your plan is ending its contract with Medicare

Moving back to US after living outside of the US

5 Star Plans

In 2010, the Health care Reform Law created a star rating system for Medicare Plans. One star being poor, and 5 stars being the best. Every fall the ratings are updated for these plans. Beneficiaries can enroll in a Medicare Advantage 5-star plan once a year from December 8 to November 30th.

Medicare Supplement Plans

Medicare Supplement Plans can help you pay for Medicare Part B bills that may be hard for you to pay. These plans are sold by private insurance companies, and you can always consider buying one as long as you are 65 years old. There are 10 different supplement plans to choose from, some covering more than others. If you consider buying one outside of the Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period (the 6 month period beginning the month you turn 65), then you may be subject to paying more for pre-existing conditions.

Another option you can take is to ask your doctor for the generic, cheaper brand of the precritions you take.

Change Your Drugs

If you missed the chance to find a better plan to cover your prescriptions, then you can always talk to your doctor about cheaper drug options. The Medicare Modernization Act requires that Medicare offer at least two drugs in each category class. What this means is that you can talk with your doctor and ask to take the alternative drug that costs lower.

Missing the Medicare open enrollment period can cause a lot of stress. EZ.Insure offers agents within your region to help you and answer any questions you may have. Our agents are highly trained to provide you the best option for your needs. The agents will provide you with Medicare Supplement quotes from top carriers in your area, and even help you sign up at no cost. To get quotes, enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to an agent directly, email replies@ez.insure, or call 888-753-7207. Do not worry if you missed the OEP, we can help you get on the right track.

Tag: Medicare Help