medicare
The Inflation Reduction Act’s big vaccine changes
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 changed the vaccination coverage -plus reduced the cost of receiving those vaccines for people on Medicare. In 2023, “the IRA made adult vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices available at…
Another important date for retirees
On October 12th, the Social Security Administration will announce the 2024 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). However, there is another day that will be just as important. It is the day the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announces the 2024…
Keep these Medicare rules on your radar if you’re about to sign up
Medicare is the federal health insurance program generally for people who are 65 or older. Medicare has recent rules on when to sign up, how much you pay, and how the program works. Many people who are retiring do not…
What is Medicare Part A
What Is Medicare Part A? Medicare Part A helps cover your inpatient care in hospitals, critical access hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities (not custodial or long-term care). It also helps cover hospice care and some home health care. You must…
The Real Costs of the New Alzheimer’s Drug, Most of Which Will Fall to Taxpayers
(By Arthur Allen for KFF Health News) The first drug purporting to slow the advance of Alzheimer’s disease is likely to cost the U.S. health care system billions annually even as it remains out of reach for many of the…
Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced its new dementia care model. The model, Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience or (GUIDE), will be tested by the CMS Innovation Center as part of an initiative for Increasing Access to…
How Do Dual-Eligible Individuals Get Their Medicare Coverage?
(By Maria T. Peña, Maiss Mohamed, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Juliette Cubanski, and Tricia Neuman for Kaiser Family Foundation Published: Jul 31, 2023) Medicare and Medicaid provide health coverage to 12.5 million individuals who are enrolled in both programs, known as…
The two events that could reduce your Social Security Increase in 2024
The Social Security’s Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) is to ensure that the purchasing power of Social Security benefits does not erode by inflation. COLA calculation is based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and…
Dealing With Hypocrisy: A Rebuttal to Complaints About Medicare Premiums and WEP/GPO
Creators Syndicates’ Tom Margenau, in a post on Tucson.com, uses his extensive experience as a Social Security Administration official to address two fundamental (and frequently recurring) complaints voiced by program beneficiaries questioning rulers that, in their opinion, are unjust. Margenau…
The current Medicare Advantage payment structure results in overpayments
Current research states that the millions of beneficiaries in traditional Medicare who have switched to Medicare Advantage plans have lower spending than those with similar health risks. Why is this important? CMS bases payments to Medicare Advantage health plans on…