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The easiest way to avoid excess charges is to use physicians who accept Medicare assignment. You will never be billed more than Medicare allows for your healthcare services. It’s always a good idea to ask your doctor if they accept assignment before you make an appointment. Don’t forget to ask the same question of any Medicare provider, such as lab facilities and home health care companies. You can also find providers in your area that participate with Medicare using the Med

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

Looking for the Best Medicare Supplement Plan? The best plan for you is not always the cheapest plan. However, working with a Certified Medicare Planner like Michael Braden at Braden Medicare Insurance is a great start,

Please keep an open mind when evaluating quotes from each carrier. There are well-known insurance companies and those that are less well-known; however, all Medigap plans are standardized, and carriers must offer the same coverage. To compare insurance carriers, consider their financial rating to assess their reliability. Work with an Independent Medicare Broker in your area to ensure you are maximizing your discounts.

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.

Once you’re enrolled in Parts A and B, the next step is determining how you want to receive your benefits. You have two primary options: stick with Original Medicare, which allows you to visit any provider and any hospital in the US, or choose Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, which bundles hospital, medical, and often drug coverage into one plan.

Medicare is the most widely used health insurance program for individuals aged 65 and older. If you are nearing eligibility, it is essential to understand what Medicare is and how its four parts work. However, Medicare does not cover everything. You may need to enroll in additional plans to obtain full coverage.

However, some differences between the G and N can impact your healthcare expenses and decision about which is more suitable for you. In this article, we’ll compare Medigap Plan G vs Medigap Plan N to help you decide what best suits your needs. 

When your Medicare card arrives, the first thing to do is verify your Part A and Part B effective dates. These dates are essential because they determine when your coverage begins. Mistakes, although rare, can still occur, so be sure to double-check your Medicare Card for accuracy.

Short-Term Care Insurance (STC) is an essential financial tool that provides coverage for individuals who require temporary care services. Also known as recovery or post-hospitalization insurance, short-term care insurance protects against the high costs associated with short-term care needs. Here, we will delve into the details of short-term care insurance, including its purpose, cost, benefits, and other key aspects.  

Vaccines play a crucial role in preventing several serious infectious diseases. Luckily, Medicare covers the cost of most vaccines. However, Medicare itself is comprised of four different parts, so it's helpful to know which parts cover which vaccines.

There can be consequences and penalties if a new Medicare Beneficiary does not enroll in Medicare within their IEP, provided they have no other "Creditable Medical Coverage", such as a Group Employer Health Plan from a company with more than 20 Employees, or FEHB Members.

Everything you need to know about Medicare Supplement Insurance plans, including how to change plans and keep your premiums as low as possible which is very important as we age.

With congressional approval of the Biden Administration's Inflation Reduction Act, significant changes are coming to Medicare. Most of these changes are fantastic and long overdue for many Medicare Beneficiaries. However, these rapid changes have a cause-and-effect relationship that needs to be explained.

Last Month, Amazon announced the expansion of eligibility for its RxPass prescription medication program. This new program is the Amazon RxPass Prescription Plan. This program allows Medicare beneficiaries to receive unlimited popular, generic (Tier 1 & Tier 2) prescription medications for just a $5.00 Subscription Fee Per Month.

Some of you may remember the Article we wrote last year after it was announced that Medicare would start negotiating Prescription Drug Prices in 2024. Medicare will deal directly with drug manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies. Initially, they would select the 10 most-prescribed (Non-Generic) Medications for 2024. Then they would continue to negotiate 10 per year. Although the new pricing will not go into effect until January 1, 2026, I wanted to  show you their progress

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.

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