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But as with anything, life becomes more complex and more complicated over time and the world continues to grow and evolve.  Nowadays, Final Expense Insurance can cover Credit Card Debt, be used to pay off Mortgages,,Automobile Loans, Student Loans, Medical Bills all in addition to just "Funeral Expenses".

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

MA and MA/PD (Medicare Advantage Plans) were created as alternatives to Original Medicare and Medicare Supplement/Medigap insurance.  By joining one of these plans, you direct Medicare to pay the Advantage Plan a set monthly amount for your care.  In return, the plan will deliver all of your Part A & Part B benefits and services.

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.

One of the interesting aspects of enrolling in Medicare is the fact that you apply for Medicare benefits through the Social Security Administration.  The SSA processes each Medicare enrollment application because it has access to all of your personal information, and it is more efficient for them to vet each prospective Medicare beneficiary first.  Once your application is approved, you will receive a letter confirming your enrollment and that your Medicare Card will arrive b

All Medicare Advantage plans offer their own summary of benefits, and these benefits, as well as the plan’s formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, premium, and/or co-payments/coinsurance, may change on January 1 of each year.

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.

When you are new to Medicare and Enrolling in Medicare, your first chance to sign up for Medicare is during your Initial Enrollment Period, which we’ll discuss a bit further in the next section.

The best available rate may depend on factors such as your age, gender, smoking status, marital status, and location. To ensure that you are getting the best available rate, you may want to check with your SHIP. If you purchase a Medigap during your open enrollment period, policies are limited in their ability to exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions, meaning conditions you had before you enrolled.

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:

Most Americans do not realize that you apply for your Medicare Card through the Social Security website. Then, once you have received your card, all of your Medicare questions and inquiries will go through the Medicare website at www.medicare.gov or by calling Medicare 24/7 at 1-800-MEDICARE. This is the easiest and best way to apply for Medicare. You can do it online at www.ssa.gov. It is straightforward and takes about 10 minutes to complete.Look for the Blue Tab that say

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.

MEDICARE DOESN'T COVER ROUTINE VISION INSURANCE There are a few things that Medicare does not cover.  The top 4 of these are Vision, Hearing, Routine Dental, and Feet.

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.

Did you know that over 14 million adults needed long-term care services in 2020? Purchasing Long-Term Care Insurance can give you peace of mind and protect the nest egg you worked so hard to build. You’ll know that if you become ill, you can afford the care you need and still have enough money in your nest egg for you and your spouse to eat. Plus, your kids won’t be burdened with huge payments for your care. 

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