That depends. In the throes of Medicare enrollment period, we are being bombarded with Medicare Advantage advertisements touting its benefits. According to an August 2023 study done by Kaiser Permanente, in 2020 Medicare Advantage covered more than 44% of enrollees or 25.7 million people with Medicare. This number is only increasing: the same study found… Continue reading Is Medicare Advantage Really an Advantage?
It’s a media blitz. Open enrollment for Medicare began October 15th. If you’re new to this process, or even if you’ve been a participant, each year brings something novel. Where to start? Good question. Today, let’s talk about prescriptions: Part D plans. Part D plans come in many flavors. You can enroll in a plan… Continue reading Welcome to Medicare: Let the Games Begin
That depends on the definition of health care. There’s health insurance (private, exchange, Medicare et al). In addition, there is the day-to-day care that individuals exercise with respect to their own health. Let’s look at this simple question as it relates to one’s own health. If you have a cold, cough, fever. What’s the first… Continue reading The Healthcare Abyss Post Covid: What’s Different
Medicare For All? Doubtful. So far, we have been told by some 2020 Democratic candidates that there will no premiums, no deductibles, no lifetime maximums, no pre-existing condition restrictions, to name a few. All for free! Who can resist that? Except that you know that nothing is free. Let’s dig a little deeper and ask… Continue reading “I have a plan for that…”
Yes, it is possible to avoid some surprise medical bills. Really? It will take some work on your part, but it is certainly worth your time to closely investigate any medical care, whether preventative or otherwise, to manage your health care expenses carefully. Don’t assume anything. While your doctor make be acquainted with the parameters… Continue reading How can you avoid surprise medical bills?
Maybe not the car, but hopefully your health insurance. In an unusual bipartisan action, the House passed a bill that would repeal the “Cadillac tax”, scheduled to be imposed on high-cost employer health insurance in 2022. The act, titled the Middle Class Health Benefits Repeal Act, passed with a 419-6 vote, would kill this excise… Continue reading Will You Be Driving A Cadillac in 2022?
It’s hard to believe that there is actually a definition for a “surprise medical bill”. There are real circumstances where a medical bill qualifies as a “surprise”, and the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, and many states, would like to offer a solution for those who are faced with such surprises. First, let’s describe what… Continue reading What exactly is a surprise medical bill?
When the ACA was passed in 2010. the now famous phrase “If you like your health plan, you can keep your doctor” was born. It proved to be false. Life went on, millions more people were able to access health care. As we all saw, however, many physicians wanted no part in the new health… Continue reading What If My Doctor Doesn’t Accept Medicare?
Good question. Not sure anyone really knows the answer. The truth is very few people understand what Medicare is and how it works. This includes current and future recipients. If you watch much television, you see a myriad of commercials describing Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplemental pans. What are those plans and why would you… Continue reading Medicare For All: What Does That Really Mean?
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are often described as a tax-advantaged account that can be used as a means to assist individuals and families with high deductible health insurance plans manage current medical costs. More recently, however, the benefits of using HSAs as a supplemental retirement plan has become more widely identified as an attractive financial… Continue reading HSAs: What’s the Best Account for You?
