Blog

The Medicare enrollment period is a designated time each year when beneficiaries can make changes to their Medicare coverage. This period typically runs from October 15 to December 7 annually. During this time, you can: Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan. Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another. Enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage.

How Medicare Works with Your FEHB (Federal Employee Health Benefits) Many individuals working for Governmental Agencies or Departments have Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB). This article explains how Medicare interacts with FEHB plans and what federal employees should know about aligning their benefits with Medicare.

Once you start receiving Social Security benefits or Railroad Retirement benefits, Medicare premiums will be automatically deducted from those payments. But until then, you may be better off paying Medicare online by using Medicare’s automatically deducted monthly payment system called Easy Pay If you did not work enough quarters to qualify for Premium Free Medicare Part A, or if you are a High Wage Earner who has been assessed with an IRMAA surcharge, you will be billed for

Thankfully, there are not nearly as many new concerns as last fall, but I think it's still good to share the information.  The most significant nationwide trend is that healthcare costs continue to rise rather than level off. We have seen that MOOP amounts continue to increase, along with Medicare Advantage, Part B Premiums, Part B Deductibles, Medicare Supplement Premiums, and Medicare Part D Deductibles.

What are Medicare Advantage Plans? Medicare Advantage Plans cover all Medicare services.  Some Medicare Advantage Plans also offer extra coverage, such as vision, hearing, and dental coverage.   

Perhaps the most significant benefit is choice and portability. A Medicare Supplement or Medigap plan allows you to choose ANY Doctor, go to ANY Hospital ANYWHERE in the United States, and you are covered, as long as the Doctor and Hospital both accept Medicare's Assignment/Fee Structure.

MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLANS You must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and/or Part B to be eligible to enroll in Part D. Medicare drug coverage is only available through private plans. If you have Medicare Part A and/or Part B and you do not have other drug coverage (creditable coverage), you should enroll in a Part D plan.

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. 

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

A Medicare PPO Plan is a type of Medicare Advantage Plan (Medicare Part C) offered by a private insurance company. PPO Plans have network doctors, other health care providers, and hospitals. You pay less if you use doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers that belong to the plan's network. You pay more if you use doctors, hospitals, and providers outside of the network.

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

Yes, Medicare Covers Stem Cell Therapy, but only in specific cases. The first important consideration is that Medicare stem cell therapy coverage is only available if your doctor deems the procedure medically necessary. Furthermore, Medicare coverage for stem cell therapy will only apply to services approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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.  

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.

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.

DOES MEDICARE PROVIDE FOR ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES? No, Assisted living facilities are often referred to as Long Term Care Facilities. These facilities serve individuals requiring non-medical custodial care and assist with daily activities they cannot perform on their own. These ADLs (Activities of Daily Living) include Dressing, Bathing, Medication Management, getting in and out of a Chair or a Bed, Walking Independently, going to the Restroom, and eating.

A Medicare Insurance Broker, also known as a Medicare Broker or Medicare Agent, undergoes extensive training on Medicare law and Medicaid services and is officially certified by insurance companies by CMS guidelines. They are required to adhere to stringent regulations, particularly about marketing and enrollment, ensuring full compliance with Medicare, state insurance regulations, and private insurance companies.

Did you know that the two most significant factors in a successful retirement plan are retirement income and healthcare costs? Everyone should spend some time with a Medicare Broker to get a feel for what Medicare will cost in retirement.  I know you cannot be 100% accurate in projecting premiums too far in advance, but retirees need to understand the financial implications of Healthcare once they retire.   You need to plan for and understand Medicare effectively.  

My Blog is https://www.bradenmedicareinsurance.com/blog. I know it is a unique title, right? But it does serve a purpose. This blog is geared toward Baby Boomers, Seniors, Medicare Beneficiaries, and anyone with parents or other family members on Medicare or approaching age 65. Even if you are just curious and found our site by mistake, everyone is welcome to our humble corner of the web.

You may never need to file a Medicare Claim, but if you do, we want to provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to file a Medicare Claim in the event you ever need it.