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Getting older can be challenging.  The healthcare options available to you may seem confusing or unnecessary.  Your inexperience in this new chapter, coupled with ongoing health concerns, creates a recipe for disaster.   With age comes wisdom, and knowing how to navigate the system will demonstrate it.  Getting the coverage and protection that you need is much easier than it seems.  Here are three essential parts of enrolling in Medicare that will help guide you through the p

A Medicare Supplement plan is an excellent option for people who prefer the government-run Medicare program but want a few more of their costs covered. This article explains what a Medicare Supplement plan is, how it works, the benefits each plan offers, and mo

Both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B are 80% government-paid, with the remaining 20% borne by the beneficiary or patient. With Original Medicare, you are free to choose a Doctor or Hospital that accepts Medicare Terms for payment. (Approximately 94% of all Doctors accept Medicare.

The best way to compare Drug plans for your specific medications is to speak with your Medicare Broker. They typically can offer plans from multiple Insurance companies. Here at Braden Medicare, we are contracted with every Medicare Part D Plan in Arizona. They will compare your medications, whether you have Original Medicare with a Stand-Alone Medicare Part D Drug Plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan that includes Prescription Drugs.

However, there is a stark difference. Medicare is the National Health Insurance Program for Americans age 65 and over, as well as those with ALS or Renal Failure, or those who have been issued a Disability designation by the Social Security Administration. Medicaid operates at the state level and helps provide Health Care and other vital services to low-income individuals, seniors, single mothers, and children.

Medicare HMOs are common because of the lower premiums they often offer. In some plans, that premium may be as low as $0. However, you must remain enrolled in and pay for Medicare Part B. You usually must also use in-network providers, except in an emergency.  MEDICARE ADVANTAGE HMO PLANS = MEDICARE HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION PLANS In HMO Plans, you generally must get your care and services from providers in the plan's network, except:

Each plan that offers prescription drug coverage under Medicare Part D must provide at least the standard level of coverage set by Medicare. Plans can vary the list of prescription drugs they cover (called a formulary) and how they place drugs into different "tiers" on their formularies. (A formulary is a listing of all of the drugs/medications that a particular plan has available to its members.  All Medicare Part D Plans must have two drugs available in each category. 

Everything you need to know about Medicare starts here: there are three ways to receive Medicare coverage: Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Part D. Each option has its own benefits and costs. 

Plans F and G are the most popular Medigap plans because they take away ugly healthcare billing surprises. High-deductible F and G Medigap plans do the same thing, but choosing these plans means you have to have enough savings to pay the annual deductible upfront.

Original Medicare includes Medicare Part A  (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance).  The Government pays for 80% of all Medicare-covered and Medically Necessary procedures, while you, the Medicare Beneficiary, pa for the other 20% of health services not paid for by Medicare. You typically pay for services as you receive them. When you get services, you’ll pay a deductible at  the start of each year, and you usually pay 20% of the cost of the  Medicare-ap

What makes matters confusing to the public is that it is different from any Healthcare we have ever had, and it uses words, concepts, and acronyms we have never seen or heard of before. However, once you have a chance to work with someone who not only understands Medicare but also has the requisite skills and attributes to teach and explain it to others, it becomes much less daunting. In this article, I have tried to encapsulate Medicare in a basic but friendly format that

If you’re 65 or older, you are eligible for Medicare. You may elect employer coverage instead of Medicare if you or your spouse is actively employed and your employer offers creditable coverage. Generally, if your employer has more than 20 employees, Medicare considers its Group Health Plan creditable. If your employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare does not consider your Group Health Plan creditable coverage. In this case, you should consider dropping your plan and en

Currently, and since 2020, Medicare Supplement Plan G has been the most popular and the most purchased Medicare Supplement plan, and it is not even close. As of January 1, 2020, Medicare Supplement Plan F was the most popular plan; however, it is no longer available to anyone who was not 65 before 1/1/2020. Since then, Plan G has taken over.

The reason Special Needs Plans exist is to better serve individuals with a Team approach to their care. Having multiple "Specialists" in their networks is vital to these individuals receiving the best possible care possible. It is also an efficient way to coordinate resources for the Insurance companies. Medicare SNPs typically have specialists in the diseases or conditions that affect their members.

From this article, you’ll learn about what Medicare costs you can deduct from your taxes. We will talk in-depth about Medicare expenses that are and are not deductible, about whether and when the self-employed can deduct their health insurance premiums, and whether or not you can pay for your Medicare premiums with your HSA funds.

A Medicare PFFS Plan is a type of Medicare Advantage Plan (Medicare Part C) offered by a private insurance company. PFFS plans aren’t the same as Original Medicare or Medigap. The plan determines how much it will pay doctors, other health care providers, and hospitals, and how much you must pay when you get care.  

The Fall Opera Enrollment Period runs from October 15th to December 7th. Here is what you can do during this critical time: If you are a Medicare Advantage Member, you can choose to stay with your current Medicare Advantage Plan, as long as your plan is still available. If that is what you decide to do, then you do not need to do anything else. Your plan will automatically renew on January 1st.

CAN YOU CANCEL YOUR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN? Yes, you can cancel your Medicare Advantage plan. You need to qualify for one of the four Medicare Enrollment Periods during the Medicare Plan Year. The short answer is yes; however, you can only do this during certain times of the year, and there are a few trap doors you need to navigate. But if you are truly unhappy or dissatisfied with your Medicare Advantage Plan, this Article is definitely what you need to read.

What do we mean by Do All Doctors Accept Medicare? The Term "Accepts Medicare" refers to Doctors who have signed an agreement with the Government to see and treat patients, using the national Medicare Fee Schedule for the rates they charge for a given appointment, treatment, or service. No, not all doctors in America accept Medicare. A few do not take it, but the overwhelming majority of physicians and other Healthcare professionals accept Medicare.

Medicare uses Prior Authorization to ensure that certain medical services or prescription drugs meet specific coverage criteria before they are approved and paid for. Prior Authorization rules are implemented as cost-saving measures. Medicare wants to ensure that every Medical Procedure is medically necessary for the beneficiary's health.