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You may be seeing some new and better Medicare Advantage choices available in your area. That’s because a number of large health insurance companies are making a major push to expand their Medicare Advantage service areas into hundreds of new counties. At the same time, they continue to seek to differentiate themselves by adding new,… Continue reading Major Medicare Advantage Plans Expand to New Cities, Parishes

Monthly Medicare Part B premiums for 2023 are coming down by $5.20 per month, which is a big relief to many seniors who were shocked when premiums jumped significantly from 2021 to 2022. In addition to Part B premiums, the average premium for Medicare Advantage plans is also falling. That’s good news going into 2023.… Continue reading Medicare Part B, Advantage Plans See Premium Drops

A new study seems to blow a hole in the myth that many primary care physicians won’t accept new Medicare patients because the reimbursements are notoriously low. In fact, most office-based doctors accept both new Medicare and privately insured patients, according to the study by the Kaiser Family Foundation. That’s despite the fact that group… Continue reading Myth Debunked: Most Providers Accept New Medicare Patients

Normally, Medicare Part B covers 80% of physicians’ fees for Medicare beneficiaries — over and above an annual deductible, which is $233 for 2022. Health care providers who participate in Medicare agree to accept the official Medicare rate for any given covered service they provide. So, in most cases, there is no need to worry… Continue reading Medicare Part B Excess Charges and How to Avoid Them

When you turn 65, you have some important decisions to make about your Medicare benefits. You must also make these decisions within a specific time frame. It’s important to understand your choices, and the timeline by which you must make them in order to avoid penalties. Normally, most Americans become eligible for Medicare benefits when… Continue reading Turning 65? Here’s What You Need to Know About Medicare

In 11 years, health care costs are projected to consume at least half of the average senior citizen’s Social Security income, even with basic Medicare coverage. Also, by 2030, some 42% of all seniors will be spending at least 20% of their total incomes on health care expenses. This is because even though Medicare Parts… Continue reading Health Care Costs to Consume Half of Social Security Income by 2030

Many retirees get an unpleasant surprise after turning 65 and signing up for Medicare: It doesn’t provide complete coverage of health care costs. In fact, there are some very large gaps that can be financially devastating to ordinary Americans. A recent study from Fidelity estimated that the average 65-year-old married couple would need about $280,000… Continue reading R U Aware of Medicare Coverage Gaps?

Circuit Court Seems Poised to Shoot Down Individual Mandate It’s looking more and more likely that a federal appeals court will strike down the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate, which requires Americans to carry health insurance, either through coverage they receive from their employer or buying it themselves. The case challenging the landmark health insurance… Continue reading Not Affordable Care Act

The Senate Health Committee in May 2019 released a draft bill that aims to reduce health care costs, taking particular aim at the lack of transparency in the system and the scourge of surprise medical bills. The draft legislation is the first serious attempt at addressing the drivers behind costs in a system that is… Continue reading Legislation Aims to Tackle Health Care Costs

You know. . . time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went.… Continue reading Lagniappe for the Senior Soul