Q. I am turning 65 this year and will qualify for Medicare. I want to make sure I do things properly when it comes to applying. For instance, do I have to wait until I’m actually 65 to start the process, or can I start ahead of time? Also, long-term care is so expensive. Is […]
Telehealth Scams are on the Rise: How Not to Fall Prey
This past winter, John Ernest got a call that showed up on his caller ID as being from “Medicare,” asking if his father, Dean, who lived in a nursing home at the time, needed a free orthotic brace for pain. John knew that Medicare would not be calling him and that the call was fishy, […]
Open Enrollment is Now Much Easier
Nancy had been counting down the days to her retirement for a couple of years now. As the day got closer, she turned in her retirement paperwork to human resources, enjoyed the party her co-workers threw for her, and envisioned all of the lovely things she was going to do now that she no […]
Is There Any Recourse for Hefty Observation Status Bills?
Q. In the past, you answered questions about hospitalized people who were too sick to go home but not sick enough to be admitted. Many of them were in the hospital for a week, thinking it would be covered by Medicare. They were surprised when they received a huge bill from the hospital and an […]
New “What’s Covered” App for Medicare
Dear Ernie and Jannette, I am often uncertain about what’s covered by Medicare. I really dislike being put on hold forever when I call CMS with questions. Are there any easy ways to see what’s covered and what’s not? Thanks! Izzy Tacovert-Ornott — Dear Izzy, You’re in luck. When it comes to seeing what’s covered […]
Does Medicare Cover Annual Physicals?
Q. My sister Amy, 66, recently called her primary care doctor’s office to schedule an annual checkup. She naturally assumed her Medicare coverage would pick up most, if not all, of the tab for the exam. After all, an annual visit is supposed to be covered. To Amy, the appointment seemed like a routine physical. […]
Disabled Adult Child (DAC) Benefits
People receiving SSI benefits (and anyone else, for that matter) can qualify for Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits if: they became disabled prior to age 22; one of their parents paid into the Social Security system for the required number of quarters; and that parent dies, retires or becomes disabled. When the parent retires or […]
Two Popular Medigap Plans are Being Shuttered — What It Means for You!
Q. A couple of years ago, my aunt Linda applied for a Plan F Medigap plan and the insurance company approved her. The following year, she saw a specialist about some hip problems she was experiencing, went for an MRI, and ended up needing hip replacement surgery. Medicare paid 80% of the cost of her […]
The Secret to Well-Being for Seniors?
Ellie has become increasingly lonely since her husband passed away, and it was beginning to take a toll on her well-being. She began questioning the meaning of life and became depressed. She also found herself to be increasingly unfocused and began forgetting things easily. These symptoms were impacting her life, until a neighbor helped her […]
Watch Out for These Scams During Medicare Open Enrollment!
Joanna received a call last week from a man claiming to be from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Joanna was told that she was entitled to money back because of “changes” that were made by Medicare. The man on the phone asked for not only Joanna’s Medicare number, but also her bank […]
Simplifying the Medicare Process
Q. I am a few months away from my 65th birthday, and I am aware that it is time to begin thinking about enrolling in Medicare. I started researching Medicare online, and I realized that enrollment is much more confusing than I anticipated. I’m not sure where to begin, who to contact, and which plan is best, […]
How Does Medicare Work When You Have Existing Coverage?
Q. I love my job, and don’t have any plans to retire anytime soon, unless my wife insists on me doing so, so we can travel. We are both turning 65 this year, and will be eligible for Medicare soon. Since Medicare is health insurance, and I already have health insurance through my job for […]
Medicare Doesn’t Care About Home Care
Jane’s mother, Anne, suffered a stroke and a broken pelvis, and will be leaving the rehabilitation center she was staying in this week. When she returns home, she desperately needs a health aide to assist with bathing, transferring from bed to chair with a lift, and changing a bandage from a deep wound, among other things. Anne has a Medicare plan that states that she can get […]
“Confusion Over Medicare Improvement Standard Persists”- Case Reintroduced and New Settlement Reached
Q. My father had a pretty major stroke several weeks ago. After being hospitalized for about 4 days, he was sent to a nursing home for rehab and has been receiving physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. He is still unable to swallow on his own, so he is hooked up to a feeding […]
The Little-Known Pitfalls of Medicare Advantage Plans
Author Wendell Potter’s mother had a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, with premiums that increased significantly over the years. Despite the increasing premiums, she didn’t feel she had any real motivation to disenroll. This was until she broke her hip and required skilled care in a nursing facility. After a few days, the nursing home administrator […]
What Medicare Won’t Cover
Q. When my mom turns 65, she will enroll in Medicare, as most seniors do. My understanding about Medicare is that Part A is hospital insurance and Medicare Part B helps pay for doctors’ services and other medical services and supplies that are not covered by Part A. My mother seems to think that Medicare […]
Do I Have to File for Medicare?
Dear Baxter, I will turn 65 soon, but am still working full time. I was planning on retiring, but my husband died suddenly two years ago at the age of 70, so I will still need to work for several more years. I have good health insurance with my work. Do I have to file […]
Medicare Recipients Will Be Less Vulnerable to Sticker Shock in Hospitals
Over the course of a day or so, Karen’s right arm began feeling weak and her speech began to slur. She was convinced she was having a stroke, so she called 911 and was rushed to the nearest emergency room. She remained in the hospital for nearly 48 hours to undergo testing, since it was […]
Does Medicare Pay for Hearing Aids?
Sid watches the baseball game with the television turned really high. His wife has been noticing that it is getting louder and louder. In fact, she can hear it outside the house in her garden and the neighbor said he can even hear it. She also noticed that she has to repeat things she says […]
Is Social Security or Medicare Running Out of Money? What the 2016 Trustees Report Has to Say
Social Security is vital to Americans, providing workers and their families with retirement, disability, and survivors insurance benefits. Medicare is also an essential program for American seniors. Since its creation in 1965, Medicare has provided universal health care to millions. Both these programs play integral roles in our lives, and it would truly be a […]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- …
- 7
- Next Page »