medicare
Social Security Customer Service Update: Actions You Can Take Online
Facing continued staffing shortages and a growing need for improved customer contact, the Social Security Administration is making strides in its online “self-help” features. Tasks that previously were handled through on-site, in-person contact are steadily being made available for website…
Reaching Age 65 Typically Creates Some Questions
In terms of life cycles, arriving at age 65 for many marks the beginning of a new phase. Whether you plan to retire from the workforce at that point or not (and lately, the trend is to continue employment either…
What are the Medicare Part D changes in 2025?
On July 30, 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the bill that led to the creation of the Medicare and Medicaid program, the programs changed. One of the biggest changes to the Medicare program was to include an optional…
Is Social Security Impacted by the Federal Grants Pause?
Within days of taking office, President Trump ordered a pause on all grants and loans already approved by the government. What does this mean to Social Security and Medicare? According to the memo, the pause does not include “assistance provided…
This 2025 Medicare Change could reduce out-of-pocket expenses
Medicare changes every year, and 2025 was no exception. Although those changes usually involve higher premiums and deductibles for recipients, these two changes may reduce some seniors’ out-of-pocket expenses. How will seniors benefit from these changes? Kailey Hagen explains the…
The Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program updated
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 included several provisions to lower Medicare drug costs by requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate prices with drug companies for certain drugs covered under Medicare Part D. Juliette Cubanski…
Medicare Advantage enrollment has increased
Of the Medicare-eligible individuals, 54 percent are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. Why has Medicare Advantage plan enrollment increased as rapidly as it has? According to new research, the Medicare Advantage plan’s ability to cover extra benefits, reduce premiums, and…
How Does the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Impact Health and Health Care?
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s nominee to be the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and his nomination hearings will spotlight a range of HHS activities but may not touch on the full scope of…
How Many Physicians Have Opted Out of the Medicare Program?
Medicare provides health insurance coverage to 67 million adults—20% of the U.S population—and is a major source of revenue for physicians and other health providers. In 2024, Medicare spending on Part B services (including physician services, outpatient services, and physician-administered…
Does Medicare Advantage have better access to extra services?
A study by researchers at Mass General Brigham found that despite Medicare Advantage plans offering enhanced dental, vision, and hearing services, Medicare Advantage beneficiaries did not outperform their traditional Medicare counterparts in utilizing these benefits. Todd Shryock asks whether Medicare…