Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Jun 10, 2022 |
In an alarming number of instances, private Medicare Advantage plans are denying coverage for medical services that would be covered under original Medicare, according to a federal investigation. These denials are likely preventing or delaying medically necessary care for tens of thousands of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries each year.
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Jun 06, 2022 |
In recent months, phone lines at the SSA were experiencing major technical issues, preventing some individuals from being able to reach the SSA via telephone in a timely manner.
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Jan 07, 2022 |
The Biden administration is moving forward with a pilot program that would hand over the care of millions of Medicare beneficiaries to private, mostly for-profit, groups.
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Dec 17, 2021 |
Medicare premiums are rising sharply next year, cutting into the large Social Security cost-of-living increase. The basic monthly premium will jump 15.5 percent, or $21.60, from $148.50 to $170.10 a month.
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Oct 08, 2021 |
Every year Medicare gives beneficiaries a window of opportunity to shop around and determine if their current Medicare plan is still the best one for them. During Medicare's Open Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 to December 7, beneficiaries can freely enroll in or switch plans.
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Jun 02, 2021 |
Medicare is not free; there are premiums and deductibles. If you don't qualify for Medicaid and can't afford a Medigap policy, you may be able to get help paying for the costs of Medicare.
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Dec 04, 2020 |
Medicare premiums are set to rise a modest amount next year, but still cut into any Social Security gains. The basic monthly premium will increase $3.90, from $144.60 a month to $148.50.
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Oct 07, 2020 |
Medigap policies that supplement Medicare’s basic coverage can cost vastly different amounts, depending on the company selling the policy, according to a new study. The findings highlight the importance of shopping around before purchasing a policy.
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Mar 20, 2020 |
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is waiving the requirement that Medicare beneficiaries must spend at least three days in a hospital before qualifying for coverage in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) for those beneficiaries who need to be transferred as a result of a disaster or emergency.
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Nov 06, 2019 |
Medicare's Open Enrollment Period, during which you can freely enroll in or switch plans, runs from October 15 to December 7. Don't let this period slip by without shopping around to see whether your current choices are the best ones for you.
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Sep 03, 2019 |
The Center for Medicare Advocacy is partnering with the John A. Hartford Foundation to help people caught in the web of “outpatient” Observation Status. According to their infographic available here, a hospital billing classification of "outpatient", sometimes also called "observation status", can result in Medicare patients paying out of pocket for hospital stays, hospital prescriptions and even nursing home care.
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Jul 18, 2019 |
You are turning 65 and enrolling in Medicare, but as a healthy senior do you really need to also sign up for Medicare's supplemental coverage? Not signing up initially can be very costly down the road.
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Jul 17, 2019 |
Hospital patients who need additional care after being discharged from the hospital are usually sent to either an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) or a skilled nursing facility (SNF). Although these facilities may look similar from the outside, Medicare offers very different coverage for...
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Jul 12, 2019 |
If you are paying for your own insurance, you may think you do not need to sign up for Medicare when you turn 65. However, not signing up for Medicare Part B right away can cost you down the road.
You can first sign up for Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period, which is the seven-month...
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Jun 10, 2019 |
At the doctor's office and want to know if a procedure is covered by Medicare? There is an app for that. Medicare has launched a free app that gives beneficiaries a quick way to see whether the program covers a specific medical item or service.
The "What's Covered" app allows you to search or...
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | May 20, 2019 |
Medicare's hospice benefit covers any care that is reasonable and necessary for easing the course of a terminal illness. It is one of Medicare's most comprehensive benefits and can be extremely helpful to both the terminally ill individual and his or her family, but it is little understood and un...
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Mar 07, 2019 |
The 65th birthday is key when it comes to Medicare, and the deadlines are taken seriously.
Potential Medicare enrollees can face some pretty stiff late-enrollment penalties and they don't end, according to The New York Times in “If You Do Medicare Sign-Up Wrong, It Will Cost You.”
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Mar 20, 2018 |
Since a plan is required when a Medicare patient leaves a hospital, it is best if the patient and family check into their potential options and the accuracy of information they have received.
Posted by Nina Whitehurst | Dec 26, 2017 |
How you are classified in the hospital will make a big difference in Medicare coverage. Medicare considers patients who are in the hospital "under observation" as outpatients and will not be covered, no matter how long they are actually in the hospital.