Medicare Insurance Articles
Medicare First Looks and Annual Notices of Change
Every year, prior to AEP, important information goes out to both Medicare agents and Medicare members about the upcoming year. Agents receive First Looks from major Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D carriers, which give them an early glimpse at changes for the...
Understanding Medicare Cost Savings Programs
Many Medicare beneficiaries who struggle to afford the cost of their coverage do not realize there are programs that can help them offset their out-of-pocket expenses associated with Medicare Parts A, B and D premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. These...
Data Security for Medicare Sales Agents: Your Responsibilities Under HIPAA
As business associates of covered entities, Medicare sales agents must fully comply with HIPAA’s Privacy and Security rules. By nature of the business, some personal information must be exchanged for things like plan enrollment. HIPAA makes sure your client’s data...
Changes to CMS Guidelines Require New Disclaimer and Recording of Agent Calls
CMS recently released their 2023 final rule which includes two requirements that will have a significant impact on independent agents and brokers who sell Medicare Advantage and/or Part D plans. Effective Date While the marketing guideline changes are for calendar...
Your Guide to Annual Medicare Certification Requirements
Every year, Medicare agents and brokers need to meet annual training and certification requirements. This needs to be done ahead of the annual election period that happens every fall, so summer is the natural time to focus on Medicare certification requirements. What...
Second Chances: What If You Don’t Like Your Medicare Plan?
In a recent article, we looked at the Medicare enrollment periods. We saw that most people enroll when they turn 65, but some people might delay enrollment without paying a late enrollment fee if they have eligible insurance from current employment. What we didn’t...
How Much Does Medicare Cost? What to Expect
Medicare isn’t free. According to MarketWatch, a study published in the Retirement Management Journal found that retirees between the ages of 65 and 94 spend an average of $4,500 on healthcare costs each year, while a Fidelity study found that a 65-year-old couple...
When Can You Enroll for Medicare: Understanding Enrollment Periods
Enrolling in Medicare can be a confusing process. You must consider whether you’re the right age and financial status to enroll and what coverage you genuinely need. Some people have family or friends to help them through this task, but others must go at it alone....
2022 Medicare AEP – Trends & Insights: What to Expect
What does this year’s Medicare AEP have in store for us? During the Annual Election Period that runs between October 15 and December 7, Medicare enrollees will make their 2022 plan selections. With AEP right around the corner, here’s a look at what we can expect. More...
What Are Medicare SEPs?
If you need to enroll in Medicare or change your plan, you probably want to do it ASAP – but that’s not always possible. Medicare enrollments and plan elections are restricted to certain periods. Outside of these defined periods, you may not be able to make changes to...
How to Appeal Medicare Decisions
More than 60 million people are enrolled in Medicare. In a program that large, some mistakes are bound to happen. You may also find yourself in an unusual situation that requires special consideration. Unfortunately, these issues could mean that your premiums are...
How Medicare Enrollees Can Stay Healthy While Traveling
Now that the weather’s heating up and the vaccine is rolling out, many people are starting to think about taking a vacation again. A Harris Poll found that 77% of Americans are planning to travel this summer – compared to only 29% who planned a leisure trip during the...
Medicare Extra Help Income Limit
You help you clients find the best Medicare plans for their needs, but some of them might need a little extra help. Prescription drugs can be expensive – so expensive that some of your clients might not be able to afford them. That can lead to difficult decisions,...
Are You Spending Too Much on Medicare Prescription Drugs?
Medicare could save $1.7 billion a year if beneficiaries switched from brand name to generic prescription drugs. How much could you save? According to a study conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Medicare could have saved...
Who Should Buy a Medicare Supplement?
Medicare is far from free. According to the Fidelity Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate, a couple who retires in 2020 at age 65 will need approximately $295,000 just for healthcare costs. Saving for retirement is important, but so is picking the right Medicare plan....
Medicare Options for Clients with Chronic Conditions
Chronic conditions are common among seniors. More than one in four seniors has diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association, while more than one in five seniors has coronary heart disease, according to the CDC. The prevalence of many other chronic...
Your COVID-19 Vaccine Guide
Now that COVID-19 vaccines have been approved, many people are eager to get their shots. Other people have questions and concerns. Here’s what you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine. Where and When Can I Get the Vaccine? Producing a vaccine takes time, and there...
Medicare Costs Announced for 2021
Medicare isn’t free – and in 2021, it will be even more expensive. The 2021 Medicare costs have been announced, and seniors can expect to pay a little more in the coming year. 2021 Medicare Part B Costs CMS has announced the 2021 premiums, deductibles and coinsurance...
Medicare News Roundup
The end of the year is a busy time for Medicare news, and 2020 has been an especially eventful year. There have been updates on the pandemic, as well as important announcements for 2021. Here’s what’s happening now. 2021 Low Income Subsidy Resource Limits CMS has...
Understanding Your Medicare Choices
When you become eligible for Medicare, you get a lot of options. This is a good thing. The more options you have, the more empowered you’ll be to take control of your healthcare and medical costs. But it also means you have a lot of big choices to make. To navigate...