If you are receiving Medicare benefits but even with prescription coverage do not have enough money for drugs or premium, there is help available through the Social Security Administration.

Many people are not aware of this assistance.  The assistance is $3,600 that can go toward your prescriptions or your premiums.  This assistance is available once every year.  This year, if you log onto the Social Security website at www.ssa.gov, you will be able to find the assistance by clicking on the box that says “I helped my mother today.”

There are a few limitations to this assistance.  You must be receiving Medicare benefits.  If you are single, you must make $15,600 or less annually.  If you are married, you must make $21,000 or less as a couple annually.  However; the Social Security Administration suggests that even if you are close to those numbers, you should check into receiving this benefit.  You can apply on line on the Social Security Website, which is available 24 hours every day.

In addition to the information above, there is another plus to the program.  The individual who is applying for this extra help does not need to be the one filling out the application.  For instance, if the individual has a caregiver or spouse that could do the paperwork for them, especially if the individual has a disability that prevents them from doing the paperwork themselves, Social Security permits the caregiver, family member, friend or spouse to file on the individual’s behalf.

Since prescription drugs and extra premiums are of extreme concern to many people receiving Medicare, this program will provide relief for a great number of people.  The program has been available, but has not been heavily marketed by the Social Security Administration.

If you are a Medicare recipient and need extra financial assistance for your premiums, prescriptions or other Medicare-related issues, be sure to go to www.ssa.gov, the official Social Security Website and explore this little-known option for help.

The cost of medical care has risen enormously during the past few years.  We hear that Congress will do this or that to help offset these costs and that Medicare will be bolstered in order to help seniors or individuals with disabilities cope with the situation.

Unfortunately, the debate rages on while Medicare recipients are often choosing between medical care, medicine and basic needs of life such as food and gasoline.

There can be some relief, however, in the form of Medicare Supplemental Insurance.  This insurance is designed to pay for some of the things that basic Medicare does not pay for.

It is important to do your homework when trying to decide which Supplemental Insurance is right for you.  There are various plans and various organizations that offer Medicare Supplemental Plans, and though many of the plans are similar – and some are exactly the same – the price for them varies greatly from company to company.
The same exact plan can cost twice as much from one company as it does from another.

What can you do to be sure you are getting accurate information?  First, check the Medicare website at www.medicare.gov.  This will give you accurate information about the basic coverage you have and possible supplemental coverage.  Another place to check is the Medicaid website at www.medicaid.gov.  There are circumstances under which you may qualify for coverage from Medicare and Medicaid, which is called “dual coverage.” 

From there, enlist the help of family or friends who you feel could be knowledgeable about Medicare and Supplemental Insurance.  You can also call the phone numbers on the websites listed above and get your questions answered, as well as a list of policies, companies and coverage.

The main thing to remember is that Supplemental Insurance is designed to fill in the gaps that Medicare does not pay.  Take the time to explore your options so that if you ever end up in a situation where you encounter a high medical expense, you will have something to fall back on and you will understand and feel confident about how all of your coverage works.

There is a lot of confusion about Medicare and what it does and does not cover.  In addition, let’s just add the confusion of trying to figure out all the questions and answers regarding Medicare Supplemental Insurance, also known as Medigap Insurance.

There are questions as to which policy is right for you, what the different plans cover and how to get accurate and fair information about this type of coverage.

Here are a few answers to those inquiries. 

To find information about Medigap or Medicare Supplemental Insurance, it is a good idea if you are able to go onto the internet, to start at www.medicare.gov and go from there.  This website is the official website and will explain all about Medicare and Medigap and how they work.  You can also browse other websites for additional information.  One excellent website is AARP’s website.  It has quite a bit of accurate and understandable information to help sort out some of the questions or issues you have.

AARP’s site has listing of Medigap plans, and the listing shows plan by plan the premiums, the coverage and other important facts.  The site also has an interactive counselor and talks about the steps you should take before buying a Medicare Supplement/Medigap policy.

Since Medigap, Medicare Supplemental Insurance is an important part of your medical portfolio and could possibly save you thousands of dollars, it is important to research and ask questions.

In addition to this information, you can call Medicare administration directly for information. 

Regardless of how you do your research, make sure to look around and compare so that you end up with a policy that will serve your needs.

As individuals get closer to the point where they are eligible for Medicare benefits, it is easy for them to get confused about what types of coverage are available and what covers which things.

One point of confusion is the difference between Supplemental Medicare Insurance and Long Term Care Insurance.  The basic difference is that Supplemental Medicare Insurance covers some of the things that basic Medicare does not cover, including prescriptions, certain treatments and other medical needs.  There is a great deal of information regarding supplemental plans on the Medicare website at www.medicare.gov or www.cms.gov. 

Long Term Care Insurance, on the other hand, covers care not covered by Medicare.  Since Medicare is limited in Long Term Care Coverage, it only pays up to 100 days of care.  This care must be medically necessary skilled care and follow at least a three-day hospital stay.  It must be provided in a Medicare approved facility.  Long Term Care can also be provided at home, but has strict limitations.

There are a number of places that you can obtain coverage about Long Term Care Coverage.  We have mentioned the Medicare website above, and in addition, the booklet “A Shoppers Guide to Long Term Care Insurance” is available by calling 1-800-492-6116.  This booklet was created by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and provides invaluable information about how to purchase this type of insurance.  It also lists reputable insurance companies who sell Long Term Care Insurance.

It is important for you to research and compare, no matter what kind of supplement or other insurance you need in addition to your basic Medicare benefits.  Talk to the Medicare Administration or one of the agents listed in the “Shoppers Guide”.  Make comparisons and decide what is right for you.  There is accurate and reliable information that is easily available to end confusion for Medicare recipients.  Do your research so that you will have peace of mind.

If you are a senior on Medicare, no doubt you have heard a lot about Supplemental Insurance and either bought or considered buying a supplemental plan. 

The good news is that there are many plans available.  The bad news is that with so many plans available, there is a lot of confusion about what each plan covers and which plans are best for you.

Once you start researching the supplemental plans, if you call the individual companies or organizations who sell these plans, you will often find double-talk and a great deal of pressure to coerce you into buying particular policies.  This practice has become so common that state officials in a number of states are looking to congress to grant them more power to regulate the marketing of these plans. 

Many states feel that not only have seniors received pressure, they have also been pushed into unsuitable plans that will not cover them in ways that these individuals will need.  This proposal would be unusual, however the states feel that it will protect seniors and eliminate confusion about coverage.

Current federal regulations do not protect consumers from marketing and sales abuses.  In addition, consumers are usually left on their own with no support or assistance in dealing with these issues.

One situation that has been a critical issue needing to be addressed is that individuals have been bounced back and forth between the Center for Medicare Services (CMS) and the state insurance commissioner’s office in various states.  Instead of getting assistance individuals have often lost in a maze of non-answers held together by red tape.

In addition, the states feel that agents who sell these supplemental policies should not be allowed to sell life insurance, long term care and other products that earn them commissions.  The states feel that the agents selling supplemental plans should have to disclose their commission amounts, as well.

It is a positive thing that the states are looking to reign in the sale of supplemental policies.  It is important to keep your eyes on this issue and for you to take your time to research supplemental policies, feel comfortable with the information and the policy, and don’t allow yourself to be pushed or coerced into buying any coverage that you need.

Managed integrated care has had its proponents for at least the last decade.  It came to the fore after advocates worked hard to try to create a more seamless Medicare system.  The current system has been fragmented and confusing for a long time, and has long been overdue for an overhaul, or at least some better organization.

The time has come.  Managed Integrated Care is a vehicle to strengthen a weakened system and create a system that is no longer held together like a jigsaw puzzle. 

Florida’s system is designed mainly for individuals over the age of 60, or those that are 21 and older and eligible for dual benefits – Medicare and Medicaid.  All of these individuals can receive coordinated benefits that are delivered through one organization rather than working through the system that takes a person from place to place, program to program and a fragmented, divided system that is cumbersome and confusing.

At this time, the program, called the Florida Senior Care Program, is a pilot program that will be introduced in Central Florida (Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Brevard Counties) and in the Miami area (Dade and Monroe Counties).

In order to make sure that individuals get the right information easily, Florida has set up the Florida Senior Care website and also set up meetings throughout the counties they are piloting with.  The website gives specific, yet, easy to understand information.  This site answers frequently asked questions, and gives updates and new information. 

Florida has managed to creatively set up a system that will encourage individuals to research Medicaid and Medicare, and they should be applauded for it.  By making the information seamless and easy to use, they will help get people who need – and qualify – for benefits figure out how to receive.

Many Medicare Recipients know that Medicare cannot and does not cover everything that a person needs to take care of medically.  Sometimes those things don’t add up to a lot of out of pocket expense.  However; there are times that they do add up to a great deal of out of pocket expenses.  What can help a person that finds themselves in that position?

There are policies available that can help with those expenses.  They are called Medigap insurance or Supplemental Policies.  They are necessary – especially during times that there is a major health issue that is happening in your life.  They will help pay for medical bills – precisely when you are trying to find out what is happening to you and what is wrong.

Often, the tests end up being more expensive than the treatment.  If you end up dealing with a serious situation such as a blood clot or just a mild stroke, the costs can be staggering.  Fortunately, there are some excellent supplemental policies available.

Medigap or supplemental insurance is usually sold by private insurance companies.  They were designed to fill in the gaps that original Medicare does not cover.  The amount that a policy pays will be determined by the policy you buy. 

Most Medigap policies are very similar, if not the same.  Insurance companies have regulations regarding what their policies must include.  The coverage is standard across the spectrum of companies in order to make it easier for a person to compare. 

There are twelve different Medigap policies – A through L – and they each have basic coverage and extra benefits available.  These policies must follow state and federal laws and regulations so that seniors who need them and have to buy them are protected from confusion and, essentially, fraud.  An example of this is that a Medigap policy must be identified on the cover as Medicare Supplement Insurance.  

It is extremely important that you compare rates before you purchase a Medigap policy.  The rates vary by a lot in some cases.  Some companies overcharge a great deal for the exact coverage that another company might sell for half or a third of the price – for the exact same coverage.

Take the time to research and ask questions about Supplemental Insurance.  It may or may not be something you feel you need, but it is important that you at least become familiar with the information that is available so that you can make an informed choice.

There are a lot of questions swirling around about what Supplemental Medicare Insurance, also called Medigap, is and what it isn’t.  People want to know how it works and whether it is right for them or not.

Especially if you are in a situation where you are looking at retirement now or in the near future, Medigap or Medicare Supplemental Insurance is important to investigate. 

As you approach retirement, there are a lot of decisions to make regarding how to handle the cost of medical expenses that Medicare does not cover, and whether it is worth it or not to purchase supplemental insurance.

Some individuals have the option to take a portion of their insurance with them as they retire, however, there can be drawbacks.  In the short term, the premiums for the coverage you keep from your employer when you retire may be affordable; however, they will most likely continue to increase, along with your co-payments and deductibles, so that they may become a burden.

It is also important for most individuals to choose Medicare Part B when they are eligible because if they wait, there are several ramifications if you choose to enroll later.  The main issue is that if you decide to enroll in Part B later, you will be charged a penalty for every year (or part of a year) that you have not enrolled since you became eligible.  That cost, in and of itself, should be a great incentive for you to at least do the research about Part B and supplemental policies, and get your questions answered.

No matter whether you decide to purchase Medigap or Supplemental Medicare Insurance, it is important to become familiar with what plans are available and what costs are involved.  If you need help understanding the information you can call 1-800-MEDICARE or go on line to www.cms.gov or www.medicare.gov and you will be able to start your search for the coverage that is right for you.

It’s hard to believe that the Baby Boomer generation has made it all the way to retirement age.  Most boomers don’t look it and don’t act it, but in actuality, many boomers will pass into retirement in 2008. 

There are a lot of plusses about retiring, but there are some troubling aspects, too.  For one thing, when a person retires, he or she usually loses their medical benefits from their employer.  If a person retires too early they are not qualified for Medicare. 

A lot has changed during the past decade, and there are many things that most boomers don’t realize.  For instance, did you know that even though you can retire at age 62, the actual retirement age is now 66?  Did you also know that if you retire at age 62 and start receiving benefits, you could lose up to 75% of your Social Security payments?  Payments in full don’t start until age 66, and Medicare does not start until age 65.

Those are just some of the facts regarding benefits and retirement.  But there’s more.  There are a number of facts, a lot of plans and many Supplemental Medicare Policies called Medigap available and trying to figure out what is right for you can be very confusing.  There are also costs associated with many plans, and though most supplemental policies are similar or the same, as dictated by laws and regulations, their premiums can vary widely – even for the exact same coverage – depending upon the company that is offering the policies.

It is difficult to break down all of the plans and choices.  It is also somewhat confusing to figure out what is right for you.  One important point no matter what Medicare plan you choose is that Supplemental Medicare Insurance/Medigap is important component of complete coverage, since Medicare does not cover a lot of things, which can leave you vulnerable to many medical expenses.  The right supplemental plan can help defray those costs and make sure that you will get all the services you need. 

To find information and get questions answered, talk to your employer and get the information on your current policy.  In addition, call 1-800-MEDICARE or go online to www.cms.gov and you will be able to find the information that will help you begin to make sense of the coverage that is available and determine what’s right for you.

Medicare Part D – Prescription Drug Benefits – is one of the newer programs available with Medicare, having come out in 2006.  Part D covers some of your prescription medications, both brand name and generic.

There are a lot of choices when it comes to Part D.  You can buy a pan that simply covers drugs and nothing more.  You can select a Medicare Advantage plan that has drug benefits included.  You can keep a Medigap (supplemental) plan that covers prescriptions and will continue to cover prescriptions as long as you don’t enroll in Part D.  One other option that many people are not aware of is that they can keep the prescription drug benefits that they had through their employer instead of getting your drug benefits from Medicare.
continue reading "Prescription Drug Benefits or Part D"

Supplemental Insurance policies – also called Medigap plans – were designed to help cover expenses that original Medicare does not cover.  There are 12 policies – A through L.  Plan A has the least benefits and the lowest premiums while Plan J offers the most benefits with the highest premiums.  You can compare these plans on various websites and/or Google Medigap Plans.

All 12 plans are not available in every state and they are called by different names in various states.  How can you tell when to purchase a Supplemental Plan and which plan is the best for you?
continue reading "Supplemental Insurance for Medicare Recipients"

Most individuals who are eligible for Medicare coverage are automatically covered under Part A, federally funded hospital benefits.  Many of these individuals purchase Part B, which covers physicians’ costs.  Part B costs the individual $45.50 per month.

What happens with the expenses that aren’t covered by Part A and Part B?  Many Medicare recipients purchase private supplemental insurance policies to provide benefits not covered.  These benefits cover long-term hospital stays, deductibles, preventative care and pharmaceutical expenses.  These supplemental plans charge various rates depending upon what services they cover.  The plans can cost anywhere from about $50 to $500 per month.
continue reading "About Supplemental Insurance"

Due to an increase in managed care plans in Medicaid and Medicare there has been a rise in complex health care frauds according to a Wall Street Journal Report. The article examined how new kinds of fraud is being committed as the private sector is providing more Medicare and Medicaid services.

These frauds are more difficult to notice, more complicated as well as difficult to prosecute and can cause more harm to patients. This has prompted the federal government to increase scrutiny. In the 1990’s both states and the federal government began shifting Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries to managed care plans.

continue reading "Complex Health Care Fraud"

2008 and first quarter earning estimates have been toned down by Humana. There has been some concern about the effects of increasing health care costs on insurer profits. The 2008 earnings of Humana are expected to be in the range of $4 to $4.25 per share.

On February 4 the estimate was $5.35 to $5.55 per share. First quarter earnings of 44 to 46 cents per share are estimated down from the earlier estimate of 80 to 85 cents a share. The share price of Humana, meanwhile has decreased.

continue reading "Medicare Prescription Drug Plans Affect Humana First Quarter Earnings"

On Wednesday CMS announced that CT scans to detect heart disease will still be covered by Medicare. The Times reported that there was concern that CT scans were being done more and more on patients who did not show signs of heart ailments. This needlessly subjected them to radiation risks.

The CT scan is a substitute for angiography wherein a catheter is inserted into blood vessel. Angiography is performed only on patients who have showed signs of heart ailment. There were “misgivings over whether there was enough evidence to justify paying for the tests under Medicare” earlier.

continue reading "Medicare Heart Scan Coverage To Continue"