Medicare Insurance Articles
New Medicare App
Determining coverage has never been easier. CMS recently released an app that provides coverage information on Medicare. With the What’s Covered app, anyone can search for a service or item and see whether it’s covered under Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B. How Can...
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What’s New in Medicare and Social Security for 2019
Many of us are still struggling to remember to write “2019” instead of “2018.” Nevertheless, the new year is well underway. In case you’re still catching up, here’s a look at what’s changing in Medicare and Social Security. Social Security Adjustments The Social...
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Can You Deduct Medicare Expenses on Taxes?
Everyone has to pay taxes, but no one wants to pay more than they have to. Whether you’re counting on a big refund or simply want to keep the amount owed to Uncle Sam as low as possible, you need to take every deduction that’s legal. For many people aged 65 or older,...
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What Can I Do with My Medicare Insurance During the Open Enrollment Period?
A new year has begun, which means a new coverage period has begun as well. Medicare beneficiaries who selected a new plan during the Annual Election Period, which ran from October 15 to December 7, are now enrolled in their new plan. Medicare beneficiaries who chose...
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10 Questions to Answer Before You Choose Your Medicare Plan
Open enrollment for Medicare runs between October 15 and December 7. This is when beneficiaries can switch plans for the upcoming year. Choosing a plan is an important task, and it shouldn’t be done before you answer these 10 questions. Has your current plan changed?...
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LTC Benefits Now Available in Some Texas Medicare Advantage Plans
Long-term care is a major expense that many seniors will need to cover but few have planned for. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a person turning 65 today has a 70 percent chance of needing long-term care services at some point. Care can...
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How to Choose a Good Medicare Insurance Agent
The annual open enrollment period for Medicare starts October 15. Between then and December 7, Medicare beneficiaries can make coverage changes for 2019. You can switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage. You can switch from Medicare Advantage to Original...
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Medicare Open Enrollment: What to Expect and How to Get the Most out of It
The open enrollment period for Medicare takes place between October 15 and December 7. Also called the Annual Election Period (AEP), this is when Medicare enrollees get the chance to review their coverage options and decide whether they want to switch to a different...
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How to Check Your New Medicare Card Status
New Medicare cards are coming – sometime between April 2018 and April 2019. It’s a pretty big timeframe, and it’s leaving a lot of people wondering exactly when they can expect their card to arrive. The good news is that there are three easy ways to check your...
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Could You Benefit from A Medicare Diabetes Assistance Program?
Do you have trouble paying for important diabetes treatments? If so, you’re not alone, and help is available in the form of assistance programs. Diabetes is extremely common in the United States. According to the CDC, 9.4 percent of the U.S. population has the chronic...
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How Medicare, Medicare Supplement Plans and Medicaid Differ
Navigating health insurance is challenging, and this doesn’t change when you turn 65 and age into Medicare. Although Medicare will likely be your main source of health insurance from this point on, you still have many options. To help you make the best choice for your...
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Medicare Coverage for Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition that can require ongoing treatment and monitoring. It is also a common condition that affects millions of Americans, many of whom do not realize they have the disease. Therefore, to manage diabetes while keeping costs down, it’s...
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New Medicare Cards Will Improve Personal Security
Medicare beneficiaries face a conundrum. They’ve been told they need to keep their personal information secure from identity thieves. Because wallets can be lost or stolen, this means not carrying their Social Security card in their wallet. But their Medicare card...
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COLA Update May Not Help Medicare B Enrollees
Thanks to a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2018, Social Security beneficiaries will be due more money in the coming year. While this is good news for many, it may not help everyone, specifically some Medicare B enrollees. How much is the increase? The Social...
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Medicare Insurance Ratings in Texas
Medicare Open Enrollment is taking place now through December 7. CMS has released Star Ratings and statistics, and the outlook is great for the country and for Texas in particular. Costs are down and options are up, giving Medicare enrollees ample reason to review at...
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New Medicare ID Cards
Next year, Medicare beneficiaries will start receiving new Medicare ID cards in the mail. These cards will differ from previous cards in an important way: They won’t have Social Security numbers on them. Each beneficiary will be assigned a unique Medicare number, and...
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Medicare Open Enrollment
Between October 15 and December 7, Medicare beneficiaries can switch plans. This an essential time for anyone who wants to get the best coverage possible for the following year. But be careful – it can go by quickly. The Open Enrollment Period lasts less than two...
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Medicare Phone Scams: What You Need to Know
Scammers love to prey on senior citizens, and they often use false claims about Medicare benefits, payments and cards as the basis for their cons. Know what to expect so you don’t become the next victim. Your Personal Information The Minnesota Attorney General issued...
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Paying for Prescription Drugs Under Medicare
Prescription drugs costs are high and rising in the United States. Budgeting for prescriptions is an essential part of any retirement plan. Under Medicare, beneficiaries have several options for paying for prescriptions. Medicare Part D Medicare Part D provides...
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Medicare Enrollment Deadlines – What You Need to Know
In the case of Medicare late enrollment penalties, what you don’t know can hurt you. The penalties are both long-lasting and expensive. Enrolling on time is essential in order to avoid extra costs. Initial Enrollment Period Eligibility for Medicare is based on your...
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