Category: Medicare Supplement

Every year, from October 15 to December 7, the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period takes place. This is a good time to look over your present Medicare coverage. Does it cover the medicines you need? Are you able to pay for the plan? Are you able to see your favorite doctor through the plan? The Medicare…

Fibromyalgia, a medical illness that causes musculoskeletal pain throughout the body, affects approximately 4 million people in the United States. While it is not an age-related disease, the symptoms are more severe in seniors. It can cause severe pain and make daily tasks difficult. There is still a lot of mystery surrounding this condition, but…

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has begun covering genetic sequencing in 2018. It began when the FDA approved FoundationOne CDx, a test that can detect over 300 types of gene mutations. While Medicare does cover genetic testing to help detect possible health conditions it only covers a few types of genetic testing, and…

If this is your first year participating in the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), you may be confused about what you need to do. Getting the information you need is crucial if you want to make sure your Medicare plan is ready for the upcoming year. You could lose hundreds of dollars if you don't…

When you think of Medicare you likely think of the health insurance system designed for people over 65, but there are some cases where younger people are also on Medicare. Some people with disabilities who are younger than 65 can get Medicare. These people must have been getting disability payments from Social Security for at…

While shopping for Medicare Supplement Plans you might see something called a Part B excess charge. You’ll specifically see this term in the discontinued Medicare Supplement Plans C and F. Providers who take Medicare usually also take Medicare assignment, which is the amount Medicare will pay for certain services. So, thankfully, excess charges don't happen…

Even if you have Medicare Parts A and B coverage, you may still need extra coverage for your prescription drugs. So, like a lot of people with Medicare, you might be looking at Medicare Part D, especially Medicare Silverscript, which is the cheapest way to cover prescription drugs on the market. It's not surprising that…

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is a set period of time where you can change your Medicare benefits. Every year, the AEP lasts from October 15 to December 7. If you didn't sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare prescription drug plan when you first became eligible for Medicare (during your…

Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is here, so don’t worry if you missed your initial enrollment period, you’ve got time! You’ve probably seen all the ads urging anyone eligible to enroll or make changes, but what is the AEP, and how can you make sure you’re enrolling in the right plan? Well, you’re in the…

If you have Medicare or will soon have it, you probably know what it covers on a basic level. But do you know about the less common perks that come with Medicare coverage? These perks aren’t technically free, since Medicare itself isn’t free. However, many Medicare recipients don’t have to pay anything out of their…

Does Medicare cover assisted living? The simple answer is no. Medicare does not fund assisted living, which provides housing and custodial services including laundry, cooking, medication management, and other daily living activities for older people or those with disabilities eligible for Medicare. However, it will cover some services such as skilled nursing facilities and some…

As you age, you’ll start to face new health problems, and old ones become harder to treat. Thankfully, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seniors today can expect to live longer and healthier than ever before. That doesn’t mean you don’t have to be careful with your health though. Taking steps…

Medicare enrollees are generally more likely to experience mental health issues. In fact, about 1 in 5 elderly citizens suffer from some form of mental disorder. Thankfully, Medicare provides coverage for counseling which can make support more accessible. Mental health programs and services exist to diagnose and treat mental health needs. As a Medicare beneficiary,…

The National Cancer Institute defines gynecology as a field of medicine that focuses on diagnosing and treating diseases of the female reproductive organs. It is often grouped with obstetrics. Gynecology also focuses on other issues related to women's health, like menopause, hormone problems, birth control, and infertility. Gynecology is not just for younger women, you…

Original Medicare does not have an annual limit on out-of-pocket costs, and 4.5 million Medicare recipients are expected to spend more than $5,000 each on out-of-pocket health care costs in 2023. This lack of financial protection, combined with the fact that Original Medicare doesn’t cover all medical costs, has led to a lot of people…

Medicare tax is a federal payroll tax that contributes to Medicare funding. All U.S.-based workers are required to pay Medicare tax on their wages. In accordance with the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), the tax is grouped together. When reviewing your paycheck, the Medicare tax and Social Security tax may appear as a single deduction…

If you are a Medicare recipient or are about to become one, you may have noticed that Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover all of your medical costs. Therefore, you will likely need a Medicare Supplement Plan to help cover out-of-pocket expenses. The good news is, you have plenty to choose from,…

Medicare Supplement Insurance fills in the "gaps" left by Original Medicare by paying for things such as copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance. A high deductible choice is available with some Medicare Supplement policies. The premiums for high-deductible Medicare Supplement Plans are lower than those for regular plans, but the coverage threshold is higher. If the premium…