Medicare
Articles
THE INFO YOU NEED TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION
What You Need to Know About Texas Medicare Supplement Plans
It is not unusual for Texas Medicare enrollees to be confused about the various parts of Medicare. There are Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D as well as Medicare Supplement Plans. What are they, what do they cover, and who should have them? Original Medicare Does Not...
10 Surprising Things Medicare Can Cover
As a Medicare beneficiary, you are probably familiar with a lot of what Medicare covers. But there are some less obvious, often-overlooked benefits that could be beneficial to your health and wellbeing. In some cases, coverage and out-of-pocket costs for these...
How the Inflation Reduction Act Is Changing What You Pay for Insulin and Other Drugs
If you are one of the 37.3 million Americans who has diabetes, you are all too familiar with the high cost of insulin. In response to the rising cost of this medication, in August 2022 President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act — an expansive bill that aims,...
Beware of Medicare Call Center Tactics and Scams
Like most seniors, you were probably inundated with information about Medicare during fall Annual Enrollment Period (AEP). You may think that now AEP is over, you are in the clear for a while – unfortunately, that’s not the case. Many seniors are still being targeted...
Do I Qualify for Medicare?
If you find yourself asking this question you are not alone in trying to understand Medicare’s eligibility rules. Eligibility for Medicare is usually determined by age or by disability. In either case, there are some basic requirements that must be met. You are...
Low Income Subsidy Can Help Pay Prescription Costs
If you are like many seniors, you are finding your retirement budget is not keeping up with the cost of living. It is making it more difficult to cover expenses, including those out-of-pocket costs for your prescription drugs. There is help available to those who...
What Happens to Your Medicare Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan If You Lose Medicaid Eligibility?
The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) will expire on May 11, 2023. This could affect millions of people currently enrolled in Medicaid. If you are a Medicaid recipient currently enrolled in a Medicare Dual-Eligible Special Needs plan (D-SNP), it may impact your...
Medicare Open Enrollment vs. Medicare Annual Enrollment. What’s the Difference?
Everyone with a Medicare Advantage plan has two opportunities to change plans each year: during Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period and Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period. What’s the difference? Although they do have some things in common, the enrollment timeframes and...
Why You Should Consult with an Agent Even if You Already Have a Medicare Plan
Medicare’s annual open enrollment period ends on December 7. This is an important opportunity for Medicare enrollees. Unfortunately, many Medicare beneficiaries don’t take advantage of it, and as a result, they could be stuck in plans that cost too much or that don’t...
Understanding Medicare Drug Coverage
Most people know when they sign up for Medicare that they need Part D to cover their prescription drugs. You can add a stand-alone Part D plan to original Medicare A and B, or you can sign up for a Part C Medicare Advantage plan that includes Part D. But there are...
What Do Medicare’s Star Ratings Mean
Every fall the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) releases its Star Ratings for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. This timeline coincides with Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment period when you are making decisions about your healthcare coverage for...
Medicare Enrollment Periods and Special Circumstances
Medicare has a number of different enrollment periods, each serving a different purpose, and each with its own set of rules and timelines. You may be familiar with the enrollment period when you first turn 65, but you may not be aware of Medicare’s Special...