When you are buying your Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) policy from an insurance company it is always good to know your rights.  Insurance companies, sometimes rightfully so, have a bad reputation for giving inaccurate information when selling insurance policies.  Remember with Medigap policies that all insurance companies must play by the same rules.
continue reading "Don’t Take Pressure Tactics from Medigap Insurance Companies"

When picking any kind of insurance policy there is a degree of stress and frustration as you try to decide how to cover all of the possibilities.  Insurance plans are there to protect you in the event of an emergency and how can they do that if you haven’t picked the right coverage?  What you have to do is lay out all of the possibilities and then think of a way to cover your bases in a most basic way.
continue reading "How to Pick a Medicare Supplement Policy"

There is a lot of talk about Medicare Supplements these days.  With the questions regarding the cost of Medicare, the co-pays involved may fluctuate at any time.  With tedious budget insecurities these days it makes sense that people are looking carefully at Medicare and Medicare Supplement plans.

They are trying to figure out what supplements are best.  What is the best cost?  What will cover the most for each individual’s situation.?  Is a Medicare Supplement actually going to help an individual in their particular situation?

In other words, if I only go to the doctor from time to time and use few prescriptions, perhaps I should stick with the basics.  After all, every year there is an open enrollment period during which anyone on Medicare and/or Medicare Supplements has the opportunity to change their coverage.  So if your circumstances change, you can change your coverage to fit your circumstances and needs.

Some of the Medicare Supplements, often called Medigap, cover different things.  In addition, Medicare Advantage covers a number of things that are not covered by basic plans.  It is important to study these plans carefully, check the financial issues such as co-pays and premiums.   While looking at these issues it is important assess your health and your health needs and make comparisons between the things you need, the things that are covered that fit your situation and that you can afford to pay.

Sooner, rather than later, take the time to make good comparisons of everything Medicare, Medigap and Medicare Advantage have to offer and determine what is best for you.  One place to start – that has the best information – is found at www.medicare.gov.  There is a tremendous amount of information, plus phone numbers to call and links to other sites.

Whether or not you end up needing Medicare Supplements, the main way to find out what you do need is checking the official Medicare site and doing your homework.

The plan was to have healthcare reform before Thanksgiving.  There were too many details to work out to appease both sides of the aisle, so the deadline was moved to Christmas.  Well, that didn’t quite work out either.

Here we are approaching Valentine’s Day and all factions seem to be doing everything they can to out shout each other, do one up on each other and stop the other groups from getting their ideas passed.

For the most part, since the beginning, it seems that the President has been appealing – almost begging – for people to work together to get this done.  You can almost hear him saying “Can’t we all just get along?”  Unfortunately, the answer has been a resounding “NO!”

With the great divide between opinions, especially between Republicans and Democrats it doesn’t seem that Healthcare Reform is the central focal point, it seems that each party’s desire to win is the focal point of a tug of war that is ripping Healthcare Reform to shreds.

It seems that in the beginning of the work toward Healthcare Reform, at least some people tried to work together.  In fact, it seemed that there was actual communication and some ideas that people agreed with – both in the public and in Washington.

The problem is that somewhere down the road things got derailed and people turned this into a tournament to see who could win and who could lose.  So far, nobody has won, the lawmakers are arguing and the public is losing.

Somehow, the tournament has to stop; the communication has to start and the concern for the public needs to begin to be reflected in the negotiations.  It’s not all about money.  Yes, money is part of the entire picture, which includes wars and education and aid to other countries.  It’s time to balance things out so that the millions of people in this country – some who make a decent living – are able to afford and keep at least basic, if not, decent healthcare.

The deadline has come and gone – more than once.  It’s time to stop the games and solve the healthcare reform problem.

These days we are hearing all sorts of comments regarding healthcare reform and Medicare reform for quite a long time.  Actually, talks started before the Presidential election, and both sides of the aisle dug in their heels and to this point have not budged.

With coaxing from the President, as well as plenty of uproar from citizens throughout the country, the roadblocks are beginning to lift a little and work is starting to begin again.

The difficult part of the whole situation is that the seniors are not making the laws.  Sure, seniors would change some things from the current system – and hopefully have some more money to make the changes.  However, it is the lawmakers who have

the task of trying to speak for the seniors who helped get the lawmakers elected to begin with.
continue reading "Most Seniors are Glad to have Medicare"

Medicare has been the center of a tremendous amount of controversy for quite a while.  Through the Bush years the economy kept getting worse and worse to the point that billions of dollars in surplus turned into much more in deficit in two terms of the Bush administration.

Now we are a year into the Obama administration and lawmakers, as well as seniors and most of the rest of the country are still going back and forth regarding Healthcare reform, including Medicare.

This is not to blame President Obama – he inherited a huge mess – which is still pretty messy, and instead of people supporting him for working so hard to try and fix things as quickly as possible, he is greeted with a slew of roadblocks, blame and negativity.
continue reading "Even with a Few Cuts, Medicare is Much Better Than Nothing"

Every year from December 15th to December3 1st there is an open enrollment period regarding Medicare.  It is important to get this done on time every year.

What if this doesn’t happen on time?  If you are 65 years old, you are eligible for Medicare.  There is a period of seven months every year to enroll for Part B of Medicare.  This part of Medicare covers doctors’ visits and services you need as an outpatient.

It is important to try to get in touch with Medicare and Social Security two or three months before your 65th birthday.  Starting with the three months before your birthday you have a total of seven months to enroll.  If you do not enroll on time, there is a general enrollment period from January through March every year.  You will have to wait, however, for your benefits to actually start in July.
continue reading "Did You Sign Up Before the Deadline?"

Anyone who has Medicare and has Medicare Part D which helps cover prescription costs is aware of the infamous a “donut hole.” That is the part of the coverage where the plan stops paying and the individual starts to pay out of their pocket.

The problem with this is that once a person can get stuck in the donut hole, there is often no way to get back out. In fact, many seniors and others who have ended up stuck in the donut hole have had to spend so much money that they were left with nothing.

When the Medicare Advantage programs were started, especially since they were and still are offered by private insurance companies, individuals – and lawmakers, who are the overseeers and guardians of the Medicare system and coverage – did not forsee the amount of problems that the donut hole has caused. If they did see the possible future problems, they certainly were quiet ablut it.

It is no longer time to be quiet about the problems that the donut hole is causing. AARP – one of the most outspoken organizations for seniors, especially those on Medicare – is now working with Congress to look at that trap for seniors on Medicare Advantage/Part D – the donut hole – and see what can be done to make the hole much smaller or close it altogether.

Of course, this is part of the bigger Heathcare Reform package and Medicare Reform, which is included in the full package. Since AARP works with and for older Americans and older Americans use more prescriptions than any other part of the population, it is essential that they get help being able to afford their prescription medications. It is not O.K. for seniors – most of whom are on fixed incomes – to choose between food and medicine or take smaller doses of medicine (or medicine every other day instead of every day) because they can’t afford to pay for their medication.

AARP plans to continue working hard to help seniors get access to their prescription medication and be able to afford it without being swallowed up by the infamous donut hole.

It’s no secret that prescription drug prices are very high, in fact, too high. They continue getting higher and until now, there has been no end in sight.

The Senate is working feverishly on Healthcare Reform and the House has had their ideas to deal with as well. Unfortunately, though they seem to be trying to get to the same end, they do not always take the same path. As a result, the Senate has its own conversation and the House has its own conversation.

The House passed its version of Heathcare Reform – nearly 2,000 pages of it – and the Senate is now working on their version. Now both are talking about how high prescription drug rates have become. The reason for the talks: AARP has been following the increases in prescription rates and has found that the drug companies had increased the wholesale prices of prescription drugs at a rate of over 9% per year. With the economy in the drastic shape it is in and drug companies making record profits – over 50 billion dollars last year – it is a crime that drug companies continue to raise wholesale prices to the point that they are annually. Again, we are talking wholesale prices.

When you look at the cost that is passed on to the pharmacies and retailers, the only conclusion is that there is a cost that is passed on to the end users – many of whome cannot afford these increases.

Five members of Congress asked for an investigation into drug prices. Along with that there was a three-hour hearing. Drug industry wholesalers disagreed with AARP, while AARP stood by what they feel are the facts. In addition, Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have the opportunity to discuss the issue.

At this time, drug companies are being asked to reduce their costs over a 10 year period, starting with 8 to 10% now. Everyone seems to be talking over one another, so there is still much to accomplish. However, at least now, everything is all out in the open and whether everyone disagrees or not does not matter. What matters will be the end result – which will hopefully lower prescription medication prices and make them more affordable to people who need them.
Discussions Regarding Drug Prices

If you have turned or are turning age 65, this is the time to examine the types of health insurance that is availabe to them and determine what is the best for their situation.

One of the major and longest available insurance is the original Medicare. Medicare helps pay if you have to go to the hospital or the doctor. It costs about $95 per month and the permiums are taken out of a person’s Social Security checks on a monthly basis.

In addition to basic Social Security, a senior can purchase a prescription drug plan. These pans are regulated by Medicare, but they are sold by private insurance companies. In many states there are anywhere from 20 to 45 different suppemental plans to choose from, which can be quite a daunting and confusing task.

The Medicare Advantage, Medigap plans can help pay for changes that would otherwise have to be paid for out of a person’s own pocket. There are over 10 Medigap plans through private insurers. They each cover various things and most cover different things. It is important to copare them all to see which covers what you need. It is also very iportnt that you research the thoroughly.

Medicare Advantage pans are not part of Medicare. They are offered by individual insurance companies. The Medicare Advntage plans can be very convenient and many seniors are drawn to them because they can pay one price price for everything they need.

More and more seniors are leaning toward Medicare Advantage pan, however it is important for them to look at all the plans offered through ALL the companies. The reason for that is that all of the plans offer the same coverage. For instance, if you purchase a particular plan, let’s say, Plan Z (there is no plan Z, we are just using the letter for example), plan Z will have the same coverage no matter what company you purchase it from, the coverage is the same. The problem is that, though the coverage is the same, the various companies will charge different prices, some charging 2 to 3 times what others charge for the exact same coverage. It is essential that you compare not only coverage, but the companies offering the coverage and the premiums they are charging.

This is the critical time to do your research. Right now it is open enrollment time for Medicare until the end of the year. This is the time to be able to make choices and changes for your Medicare and Medigap or Medicare Supplement coverage.

If you need help answering questions or choosing plans, you can contact Medicare at www.medicare.gov or www.cms.gov. You can also order the booklet “Medicare and You” at those websites. This booklet will help answer questions and help you make decisions regarding your Medicare coverage for next year.

Seniors throughout the country are dealing with the annual open enrollment period for Medicare. It is a confusing time for may and it is a time when seniors have to make a lot of difficult decisions that will affect them for at least the next year – maybe longer.

There are papers, papers and papers and some seniors say that the more they read them, the less they understand what is happening with their coverage. The one thing that many seniors are finding out is that they will have to pay much more for their Medicare Advantage plans.

Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies. Many seniors are looking
at an increase of up to 60% or more. Some companies are eliminating part of their coverage, for example, dental coverage. The individuas that had extra benefits have to now try to find other ways to get that coverage.

Many seniors are looking for answers and help. The Health Insurance Commission office in each state as well as Centers for Medicaid and Medicare are getting calls and emails with inquiries of what to do from seniors seeking advice. With all these rate increases and other changes, seniors have no idea who else to talk to.

There are examples of many seniors who are paying a particular amount, for exampled $183 per month for a high-end Medicare Advantage plan that cover prescriptions and allow individuals to see whichever physician they wish to see, as well as usually including eye and denta care. If a couple is married, each person must have their own Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans. This means that a couple paying $183 each is actually paying $366 per month for those extra benefits.

The problem right now is that even before Healthcare Reform details have been ironed out, muchless put in writing, private insurance companies who offer Medicare Advantage plans, are raising their premiums – some to the tune of between 40% to nearly 100% increases.

Individuals are now trying to decide what to do? Should they keep their current Medicare Advantage plan? Should they change companies? Should they go back to Medicare without all the extras?

These are questions that need to be answered, and they should be answered before the end of the open enrollment period on December 31st. To get those answers contact CMS at www.cms.gov or www.medicare.gov. They have comparison charts and information that can help you sort out all the information. In addition, if you type in Medicare Advantage on your search engine of your computer, and you look carefully, you will find sites – independent sites not sponsored by any insurance companies – that have comparison charts and more.

Don’t pay more than necessary for Medicare Supplements than you need to. Do your research NOW and determine what is the best plan for you with the best coverage at the best price.

This is the time of year for Medicare open enrollment; the time to decide wht is the best program for you. There are many combinations of plans that you can chose from – including basic Medicare and some of its parts, or Medicare and various supplements including Medicare Advantage.

Many seniors get along well on Basic Medicare and some of the other plans, including prescripton drug coverage. When purchasing coverage in addition to basic Medicare, you can go through Medicare and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS) to determine which parts of Medicare are best for you.

The Medicare and CMS websites have plenty of information and charts to compare information about different plans of coverage. Many of them are part of and can be purchased through Medicare. Others, including Medicare Advantage, must be purchased from independent insurance companies.

It is important to cardfully review the insurance companies and their prices. Some companies charge three times as much for particular coverage as other insurance companies charge for the exact same coverage. Many people are not aware of this, and, as a result, they pay much more for coverage than is necessary.

The most important thing to remember – especially during open enrollment – is to take the time to compare carefully and determine which plans fit you best. While taking the time to make sure ouget the correct coverage, make sure to make your decisions and let Medicare know before December 31st, when open enrollment ends.

If you have been to your doctor’s office lately, as I have, you have probably overheard various conversations regarding issues with insurance companies offering Medicare Supplements in that particular area.

During my last visit to my doctor – who treats a lot of patients on Medicare – I overheard several people talking about their Medicare Supplements, and most of the conversations were not positive. There were complaints about lack of coverage, high premiums and other not so happy issues.

One issue that came up at least twice during just a few minutes was the topic of a particular company leaving this area, which will leave thousands without coverage. Quite a number of seniors are not only scared, but worried about what will happen to them without their coverage.

If you are a senior who is losing your coverage because your insurance company will no longer be offering your Medicare Supplement, the first thing to do is look on the web at www.cms.gov or www.medicare.gov. Both sites will give Medicare information and links regarding supplements, as well as information and comparisons of the supplements that are available in your area.

Right now it is open enrollment period, so that is good news. There is plenty of information available, however, it is extremely important that you get correct information and not be fooled or tricked by misinformation that may be out there.

For instance, each Medicare Supplement plan covers the same things. Plan “F” covers the same things no matter which company you purchase it from. The only thing that is different can be the prices. Man companies inflate their prices by two or three times as much as the others. Yet the coverage for all part “F” is the same. All part “G” coverage is the same, but prices can be totally different. It is important to compare prices with every company in your area, and it is important to make sure that you purchase the Supplements, Medigap or Medicare Advantage that is best for your situation.

If your old company will not be offering the coverage you need, there will be other companies available. Check the websites above and if you cannot find what you are looking for, look up the word Medicare Supplements on your favorite search engine and you should find plenty of info. Make sure to compare coverage and prices so that you can get what you need.

It’s that time of year again. It’s the time that the birds start flying home for the winter and the leaves turn brilliant colors that even the best artists can’t capture fully.

It’s also the time when open enrollment for Medicare Supplements is in full swing. It’s the time when the insurance companies have millions of dollars at stake. It’s time when if seniors aren’t careful, it could cost them a lot.

Things that are important for seniors looking for Medicare Supplements to know include the fact that many salespeople will sometimes use pressure or unethical tactics to get their plans sold. They will tell you that their product provides more coverage than others or that other companies aren’t as good and don’t have good plans.

The truth is that if you decide to purchase plan “F”, for example, the coverage is the same no matter what company you buy it from. The problem is that the prices are extremely different from one company to another. One company might charge a very low premium and another company may charge three times as much, yet the coverage is exactly the same. Too many salespeople are not being honest about this particular fact.

Another issue is that the information is often confusing and the companies and salespeople make it more confusing. Every salesperson gets a commission on what they sell, so they want to make certain that they get the sale. The problem is that the pressure to make the sales they need, can lead to false advertising.

If you are looking for the best plan for you, it is essential that you compare all the plans available in your area. In addition, don’t just take anyone’s word as being fact. Some salespeople tell you that if you purchase their policy, it will cover all of your needs, take care of your expenses and let you stay with your current doctor. This is not always the truth.

For honest information and comparisons, check the website at www.medicare.gov or www.cms.gov and compare information so you will know what to purchase. In addition, this site will take you to other sites for comparisons that will help you make sense of it all.

It’s that time again. You know that this time of year is that confusing time when seniors have to choose what their Medigap, Medicare Supplement and/or Medicare Advantage will be for the next year.

Many seniors dread this time of year because it is hard to understand which is the right match and the right plan for them. It is also difficult to determine what plan will take care of their needs without breaking the bank. This is the time to find the coverage that Medicare doesn’t coverage to fill in the gaps.

It is important to know that Medigap policies usualy allow you to see whatever doctor you want to see. In fact, you are usually allowed to keep your own doctor. It is important to know that there are some supplements that only allow you to stay within their network, so you could have to choose one of their doctors instead of your own. Be careful to check to make sure that you choose the supplement that will cover your personal physician if that is important to you. If not, you will have to start over with a new doctor.
continue reading "Annual Open Enrollment Starts November 15th"