medicare
Are you stuck in your Medicare Advantage plan?
Seems like Medicare Advantage plans are all the rage these days, with their low or no additional premiums, and with coverage exceeding that provided by “original Medicare” and usually exceeding coverage offered in many Medicare Supplement plans. Fact is, the…
A guide to covering LTC expenses
Seniors aged 65 have a nearly 70 percent chance of requiring long-term care services in the future. Of the 3.9 million Americans receiving care in a skilled nursing facility, 78 percent received long-term care for 100 days or more. Unfortunately,…
Enrollment in Medicare Advantage
A recent report shows Medicare Advantage enrollment has increased by almost 2 million beneficiaries in 2023. Currently, 33 million individuals of the 65.9 million Medicare-eligible beneficiaries are members of a Medicare Advantage health plan. Victoria Bailey reports on the Medicare…
Ask Rusty – About Medicare’s Dreaded “IRMAA” Provision
Dear Rusty: My wife is on Medicare and receiving Social Security benefits each month. We built a house and used money from our investments to pay for it. We knew we would pay taxes on that withdrawal, but my wife…
Struggling financially? Here’s how to get help with your Medicare costs
Medicare is not free. Even if you qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A (inpatient hospitalization coverage), there are still copays and deductibles involved. And Medicare Part B (coverage for outpatient healthcare services) always carries a monthly premium ($174.70 for 2024),…
Surprise! Medicare doesn’t include Dental (and other) Coverage
The Medicare world can be a tough one to navigate, with so many different options available. There’s “original Medicare,” which is Part A (hospitalization coverage) and Part B (coverage for outpatient services). Original Medicare doesn’t provide dental or vision coverage,…
A Veterans guide to healthcare plans
Veterans may qualify for coverage from different healthcare plans. Some veterans may qualify for TRICARE, Medicare, and Veterans Affairs (VA) health benefits. The VA health benefits may not cover everything you need, so you should discuss with a VA representative…
H.R. 5779 – Fiscal Commission Act
A Plea for Understanding the Commission’s Mission Four key proponents of a bipartisan, bicameral fiscal commission within Congress to identify and report on policy recommendations to improve the long-term fiscal condition of the federal government recently issued an op-ed piece intended…
Medicare Advantage vs. “Original Medicare?”
Medicare Advantage is, essentially, private healthcare coverage which replaces “original Medicare” and, due to very aggressive marketing in recent years, Medicare Advantage plans now provide a majority of healthcare services to American seniors. The alternative to Medicare Advantage is, of…
Who Can You Call with Questions About Social Security and Medicare?
Social Security and Medicare are, inarguably, the two most important senior benefit programs in our nation, but they are also both exceedingly complex and difficult for the uninformed to navigate. This excellent article by Hillary Hatch, appearing at Michigan’s Pioneer…