I received a notice that my Medicare Advantage plan won't be available in 2019. What do I need to do? This year, thousands of seniors received a notice from their Medicare Advantage (MA) plan telling them that the insurance carrier will no longer be offering coverage in their area. If you received this notice, you have two options. You can join a different MA plan that's … [Read more...]
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 any other type of insurance, the more risk … [Read more...]
Medicare in 2014 vs Obamacare: Healthcare Cost Saving Strategies for Seniors
Our top Google, Yahoo and Bing search last week was "Is a Medicare Supplement Necessary/Required with Obamacare?" With 157 of you asking this same critical question, we thought we'd better get the word out and clear things up. The answer is no, but it's a good idea to have some sort of supplemental Medicare insurance (Medigap or Medicare Advantage) in 2014. Here's … [Read more...]
Good News for Medicare Supplement Buyers: Open Enrollment Is Not For You
As October approaches, like clockwork the Medicare commercials begin on TV. As if Medicare isn't confusing enough already, none of us need the bombardment of hype from insurance marketing organizations, like AARP. Nevertheless, it's here and will be with us until early December. One area of confusion for many seniors has to do with the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), which … [Read more...]
Is a Medicare Supplement Necessary Under the Obamacare Plan?
Last week I was a bit taken aback when I overheard a senior talking to a friend about her Medicare. She said something to the effect of "I can't wait until Obamacare kicks in so I can cancel my Medigap plan." With a little digging around on answer sites, I discovered that this is a common misconception. Seniors, Obamacare does not relieve you from the need to carry Medicare … [Read more...]