Medicare’s 2018 Annual Election Period (AEP) is upon us. As with previous years, it begins on 15 October and ends on 7 December. To help you make the best choices possible, here are seven tips that will make finding the best Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D plan easier. Tip 1: Compare and Research Annually […]
Is Your 2016 Medicare Advantage Plan Available in 2017?
After analyzing the 2016 vs. 2017 Medicare Advantage plans, MedicareWire discovered nearly 6,000 plans, by county, that will no longer be available. That’s nearly 2 plans per county. Will you be shopping for a new Medicare Advantage Plan in 2017? Scroll down the list to your county and see. RELATED: 7 Tips to Find the […]
2017 Medicare Advantage Plan Premiums Decrease while Benefits Increase
This week CMS announced the new Medicare Advantage Plans and premiums for 2017. MedicareWire has analyzed the plan data and came to the following preliminary conclusions: Premiums will remain relatively stable. Based on the number of new beneficiaries and availability of new plans, enrollment could increase to 18.5 million beneficiaries (a 60% increase over 2010). […]
NEW 2017 Medicare Advantage Plans
Here are the new 2017 Medicare Advantage plans organized by county. We’ll publish links to the complete plan information (e.g., Summary of Benefits) as soon as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services makes it available. The Medicare Annual Election Period starts 15 October, 2016 and ends 7 December, 2016. Plan Name Plan ID Type […]
Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans: Max Out-of-Pocket vs. Deductible vs. Co-Pay
If you’re about to retire or planning for your retirement, you might be considering a Medicare Advantage plan. These are private health plans offered by national and region health insurance companies and healthcare providers. They are similar to Obamacare plans and health coverage you get through your employers, but some features and terminology are a […]
What Medicare Out-of-Pocket Costs Mean to You
Out-of-pocket costs are those fees that you have to pay at the doctors office, hospital or pharmacy because they are not covered by your Medicare health insurance. Almost all healthcare plans have these expenses, but they vary according to what type of Medicare plan you choose. Your out-of-pocket costs are a financial risk. As with […]
Is a Medicare MSA Plan Right For You?
MSA stands for Medical Savings Account. It’s a type of health insurance plan that helps you set aside monies in a tax-free savings account to be used on your health care costs. If you’re familiar with Health Savings Accounts outside of Medicare, it’s a similar type of health plan. Some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans […]
Tips on Enrolling in Medicare for the First Time
About ten thousand people a day turn 65 in the United States, making them eligible for Medicare health insurance. If you are about to turn 65 you might want to know what being Medicare eligible means to you and how you can best prepare. The most important thing to be aware of is your Initial Enrollment […]
Medicare Code: Deciphering The Terminology
Flooded by a sea of acronyms, technical terms, facts and figures when you first explore Medicare, you might feel like putting up your hands and giving up. Don’t, because it isn’t as complicated as it first seems to be. In fact, once you get a handle on the basic terminology you will be well on […]
What are Air-Fluidized Beds and Who Needs One?
Anyone that has spent more than a week or two sick or injured in bed knows just how uncomfortable being bedridden can be. Fortunately, there are solutions for patients that need bed sore relief, including air-fluidized beds. Air fluidized beds are therapy beds that provide an ideal healing environment for patients with compromised skin. They […]
Does Medicare Cover Acupuncture?
Years ago I worked in a very high stress job that caused me to have severe headaches. However, the job came with a very unusual perk; We had a full-time acupuncturist on staff. Once a week I had a thirty minute session with Victor for treatments, including massage therapy, acupuncture, acupressure and electro-acupuncture. He helped […]
Does Medicare Cover Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screenings?
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a bulging, weakened area in the wall of the aorta resulting in an abnormal widening (ballooning) that’s in excess of 50 percent of the normal diameter. Most arterial aneurysms form in the abdominal aorta below the kidneys. This is called an infrarenal aneurysm. Aneurysms frequently continue to increase in size […]
When and How-to Enroll in Medicare
For most people Medicare enrollment is automatic. For some, enrollment terms vary depending on how and when you become eligible. Most people are automatically enrolled in Medicare when they reach age 65. This is when your Social Security benefits start. If you live in the continental United States the Social Security Administration (SSA) kicks off […]
How Much Does Medicare Cost?
Not everyone pays the same amount for their Medicare. If you have Medicare benefits, the amount you pay for your health insurance depends on how much you earn, the type of Medicare insurance you choose, and how much health care you require. Medicare has several parts, and each part has different costs. Plus, people earning […]
What is Medicare?
Medicare is health insurance for U.S. citizens and legal residents ages 65 and older. Benefits are also available to people with certain disabilities, and those with kidney failure (End-Stage Renal Disease) or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The federal program was created in 1965 to help seniors pay for their health care expenses. It is the most […]
