During the past few months the frenzy about Medicare has heated up substantially, especially as lawmakers in Washington have passed a healthcare reform bill that will most likely include some changes to Medicare as a result.
Unfortunately, there are two things common when it comes to change: the people who have been complaining the loudest about what they have are the most upset when they think there could finally be changes – especially if the changes affect them; and many of the changes that have not been described in much detail or are confusing are assumed to be changes for the very, very worst, rather than the assumption that there might be changes for the better.
This is the situation with Medicare. There are naysayers, scaremongers and others out there that are creating a doomsday atmosphere for the 45 million individuals enrolled in Medicare, rather than allowing lawmakers to fill in the blanks, come up with revisions and a final bill and see what ends up happening. (more...)
Most people enroll in Medicare by the time they are age 65. They are advised to do so and in most cases, this is the best thing to do. And, in most cases, this is the right thing to do.
There are cases, however, when it is not necessary to sign up for Medicare at age 65. First of all, people start getting tons of junk mail and other mail advising – and even warning – that a person has to sign up for Medicare part A and B either three months before or three months after their 65th birthday or they would have to pay a great deal more later.
First of all, a person is automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A when they are 65. If a person delays getting Part B, they could end up having to pay a 10% penalty when they finally do sign up. (more...)
Millions of people depend upon Medicare to provide coverage to care for their illnesses and ailments. With over 45 million people covered by Medicare, there is a big price tag that comes with all of the treatments to help Medicare recipients. Close to 40% of the individuals covered by Medicare are dealing with ongoing illness – most of these individuals suffer from multiple illnesses and have to be treated for all of these.
In 2009 alone, Medicare will have paid out nearly $475 billion in benefits. Unfortunately, many of these benefits are paid out for emergency care, or care that is necessary because individuals have not had continuous care for growing health problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, high blood pressure and more. As a result, the price tag for care is much higher than it would be if individuals had been seeing their doctor continually – especially for preventive care.
Most of the costs that Medicare pays out have to do with the individuals who are obviously the sickest. Then come the ones who have been seeing their doctors on and off for their problems. Often these problems get worse because they only see their doctors when there are flare ups. (more...)
Every year, seniors throughout the country get to the open enrollment period – a time when they can review, adjust, renew or change their Medicare coverage. It is also a time when many more seniors sign up for Medicare for the first time.
In many cases, seniors have important questions regarding their coverage and need to find the answers. Where do they go to get these questions? There are a lot of places.
Most of the places you can go are right in your own community. No matter where you live, most towns, cities and counties have a senior center and at this time of year, your town – or one close to you will be providing information through meetings and workshops as well as one-on-one meetings in some cases. (more...)
Individuals receiving Medicare benefits have a lot of information to go through. If you have never enrolled in Medicare and are just about to do so for the first time, you too have a lot of questions to answer and need information that will help you answer those questions.
One of the most important tools available is a handbook put out through the federal government called “Medicare and You 2009” and “Medicare and You 2010”.
It may seem that you may not need the 2009 handbook, but if you are a current Medicare recipient, having the 2009 book and the 2010 book will allow you to see the differences coming your way. It is important to do these comparisons and do as much research right now as possible, since this is open enrollment period until December 31st.
If you have not received your “Medicare and You” handbook for 2009 or 2010 there is still time to get them and it is easy, quick and free. You can contact Medicare at medicare.gov of cms.gov. The phone number to call is 1-800-772-1213 and you can order either or both of these by phone. You can also CLICK HERE NOW TO DOWNLOAD the book to your computer for free. (more...)
HIV testing is an important issue. There are many people walking around with the HIV virus that are not aware that they could be infected and could possibly infect others.
Most people think of HIV as being the result of unprotected sex and/or drug use with unclean needles. This is not always the case. There are many cases of HIV that are caused by blood transfusions and other heath procedures or issues.
Unfortunately, too many people think of individuals who are infected with HIV as having done something wrong, living an immoral life or stereotype them as poor, uneducated or even homeless. (more...)
This is the time that everyone is getting all riled up about health care in general and Medicare, specifically. First of all, it is open enrollment period for Medicare until the end of December, 2009, which means that by December 31st a lot of choices need to be made by Medicare recipients.
At the same time, one of the biggest battles in decades is continuing while lawmakers try to determine what healthcare should be like for now and into the future. There are all sorts of proposals being put forth – from public options to what to do about abortion and more.
Some of these issues can tip the balance on the whole health care reform issue. Not only are Democrats arguing with Republicans, but individuals within their own parties are arguing with each other. Yet there is a lot of hard work going into healthcare reform – even working over the weekend – to try to get this finished once and for all. (more...)
Health Care Reform has been passed in both the House and the Senate now and there is still work to be done to iron out the details. Instead of certain factions settling down and focusing on getting the work done, they are carrying on the same scare tactics that we have gone through for the last eight years.
O.K. Scaring everyone in the country about terrorists and turning the whole thing into a war is one thing. Not great, but not as personal as terrifying seniors about Medicare. There is no comparison between the two, and it is possible that the deficits that are making it difficult if not next to impossible to balance the budget and not destroy health care and Medicare would not be as devastating if so many billions were spent on an ill-advised war that not only was not wanted by the people of the United States, but not wanted by the United Nations and most countries around the world.
There is not much we can do about that now except to figure out a way to get things taken care of both in Iraq and Afghanistan and make as graceful an exit as possible. As for Medicare and health care, there are things we can do – and lawmakers are trying to do these things – so that there is coverage for everyone and it is affordable, yet doesn’t break the government’s bank. (more...)
Medicare enrollment can be confusing. In fact, most people who are eligible to enroll in Medicare find it more confusing than they bargained for.
Part of the problem is that there are a lot of parts to Medicare and each one covers something a little different. An individual that wants to purchase Medicare needs to compare all the parts and determine what fits your needs.
Another part of the problem is that there are a lot of stories about what covers you, how to get coverage, how much it can cost, and a lot more. This is all confusing, if not overwhelming.
If you are a senior or another individual in a situation where you are trying to apply for Medicare or researching to purchase Medicare within the next year or so, there is an important place that you can go to find the correct information that you need. (more...)
We continue to hear about health care reform and we continue to hear that Medicare reform is an ample part of the entire package of health care reform.
This means that not only does healthcare need changes that will save money and help keep coverage in tact as much as possible.
The health care reform that is currently being decided upon cannot solve all the issues that involve coverage, and the cost of individual care and what kind of quality that is provided to people. (more...)
Every year there are a few changes to Medicare that Medicare recipients should know about. With all the confusion about health care reform, the information for 2010 is as important as ever.
One of the things that will happen in 2010, unfortunately – but not totally unexpectedly – is that the Premiums for Medicare Part B will rise. Since income determines your premiums, if you are single and your income is less than $85,000 your premiums will go up from the 2009 figure of $96.40 to $110.50 per month in 2010.
It becomes a bit confusing when it comes to filing a joint tax return. If filing joint and your income is $170,000 or less, each beneficiary will pay $110.50 per month. The individuals who file a single return and whose income is between $85,000 to $170,000 will pay $154.70 per month.
This is the same for those filing jointly whose income is between $170,000 and $214,000. If your information isn’t listed here, you can check with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) or www.medicare.com, or in the Medicare and You booklet which has a chart explaining premiums. (more...)
It used to be that doctors made house calls. This was essential because there were few doctors that were responsible for vast areas. People would send for the doctor if a person was sick, and there was nothing left to do but for the doctor to make a house call to help the patient.
As communication grew along with communities and towns house calls increased for a while, then decreased with the advent of medical centers and hospitals. There were still house calls, however, there were more and more people going to doctor’s offices, clinics and hospitals.
Then came the era of cities that had organizations and health departments, making the era of house calls nearly a thing of the past. There was one group, however, that still fared better with house calls. This group includes seniors and individuals with disabilities. (more...)
The Medicare Part D open enrollment period is the final six weeks of each calendar year. This means the time you can start to choose a new Medicare prescription drug plan is on November 15th and the period will run through December 31st. Any changes you make during this time will go into affect on January 10th of the New Year.
Medicare recommends that you make changes to your plan as soon as possible during the Part D open enrollment cycle to prevent any confusion when the new plans take affect in January. You certainly do not want the pharmacy to have the wrong information when you need a prescription filled in January. Basically, the sooner you get your changes submitted, the less likelihood there will be that confusion will take place.
When it is time to choose a prescription drug plan, you will need to consider a number of factors to find the best Medicare Part D Plan to meet your needs. (more...)
With the health care debate in full swing, CBS's 60 Minutes television program recently aired a story in which it claims that Medicare fraud is now a $60 Billion dollar a year crime (I capitalized the "B" in billion to emphasize the enormousness of this number). It is utterly unbelivable. You can view the story as it aired in the video below:
The Medicare program, which now servers about 46 million senior and disabled American citizens, has become an easy and incredibly profitable target for criminals. (more...)
The Medicare open enrollment cycle for existing beneficiaries occurs annually during the last six weeks of the year (November 15th through December 31st). The changes made during this time period will go into effect January 10th of the New Year.
During this time period, Medicare beneficiaries have the choice to go with traditional Medicare only, a Medicare supplement insurance plan or to sign up for a Medicare prescription drug plan.
After the beneficiary has made a decision, he or she has until March 31st to switch plans. If not change his made before this date, the plan will remain intact until the following year's open enrollment season.
Users have the ability to keep their existing Medicare Advantage plans by doing nothing. To make changes, users can enroll at Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. (more...)
Medicare and Medicaid. You can't pick up a newspaper, look at the news or listen to the radio without hearing about these programs.
The problem is that everything you hear is different depending upon who is saying it. Some of the pundits and politicians have been talking about doing away with the programs and starting over. Others have been trying day and night to bolster and save these essential services and have said that if Medicare, Medicaid and healthcare are balanced right, the programs would save enough money to grow and thrive in the future.
For those of you who depend on Medicare or Medicaid the first thing to remember is that after eons of wrangling about all the programs, lawmakers are getting closer to determining the issues and figuring out answers. According to the lawmakers, Medicare and Medicaid will be saved, and though some things may change, overall, things will be changed - most likely for the better. (more...)
There are a million ideas about what overhauling the healthcare system will bring about for everyone and for every program involved in the healthcare system itself. One of those programs is Medicare, and they have some feelings and ideas about what possible changes might mean.
The secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, who oversees the federal Medicare program, issued a report on Thursday, to help keep seniors and Medicare recipients from worrying about anything that might be coming in the future.
The title of the report is “Protecting Coverage and Strengthening Medicare.” The report addresses various issues and also states that proposals that are being worked on by lawmakers in Washington will help seniors. These proposals, Sebelius says, will keep Medicare from bankruptcy and will help senior with issues including trying to lower the out-of-pocket costs and copays for prescription drugs and make them more affordable for seniors. (more...)
September will be the most difficult month regarding healthcare reform for the Obama administration and the advocates of comprehensive health reform. They knew that it would be a tough month but knowing it and going through it is two different things. This administration and advocates are going through it.
Lawmakers are returning from a break and the President is returning from his vacation. Healthcare reform is not an easy task and has been a tough fight.
On top of everything else, Ted Kennedy – the Lion of the Senate – has now passed away.
Senator Kennedy had served for over 45 years and was a guiding light for lawmakers that were on both sides of the aisle. He was able to explain his point of view tactfully and respectfully so that even those who didn’t agree would still at least listen – and some of them actually heard him and adjusted their thinking on whatever subject was at hand. Of course, there were those times when he could be quite forceful and absolutely nobody missed the point. (more...)
Seniors throughout he country are extremely concerned and worried about their Medicare benefits. Everytime they hear the words "healthcare reform" they cringe, worried that as money continues to get tighter and cuts are made to many programs, they will lose critical and essential benefits that in many cases keep them alive and out of the hospital.
At a telephone town meeting Tuesday, President Obama answered questions from mostly seniors. One of the things that he said to reassure these older Americans regarding their Medicare benefits was, “Nobody’s trying to change what does work in the system,” Obama told the estimated 180,000 listeners. “We are trying to change what doesn’t work in the system.” (more...)
As the saying goes, stuff rolls down hill. In the situation with all the budget constraints on the federal government, comes constraints on the state and local government. Healthcare is definietly no exception. Lawmakers in Washington are looking at some very deep cuts when it comes to many programs and trying to figure out how to keep them from being deeper than they already are.
One of the programs that is being looked at piece by piece and line by line is Medicare. There will definitely be cuts to that program, period. As a result, as things roll down hill, Medicaid, which is a state program but bolstered by federal dollars, is taking a big hit, too.
Not only are some Medicaid benefits being cut way back, but getting into the program, which is already on the difficult side, has become much tougher indeed. It seems as though unless you are in the most dire straits getting approved for Medicaid is extremely difficult. Even if you are in dire straits and the rope you are hanging onto is beginning to fray - a lot - it is still difficult to get approved. (more...)
During the past few months the frenzy about Medicare has heated up substantially, especially as lawmakers in Washington have passed a healthcare reform bill that will most likely include some changes to Medicare as a result.
Most people enroll in Medicare by the time they are age 65. They are advised to do so and in most cases, this is the best thing to do. And, in most cases, this is the right thing to do.
Millions of people depend upon Medicare to provide coverage to care for their illnesses and ailments. With over 45 million people covered by Medicare, there is a big price tag that comes with all of the treatments to help Medicare recipients. Close to 40% of the individuals covered by Medicare are dealing with ongoing illness – most of these individuals suffer from multiple illnesses and have to be treated for all of these.
Every year, seniors throughout the country get to the open enrollment period – a time when they can review, adjust, renew or change their Medicare coverage. It is also a time when many more seniors sign up for Medicare for the first time.
HIV testing is an important issue. There are many people walking around with the HIV virus that are not aware that they could be infected and could possibly infect others.
Medicare enrollment can be confusing. In fact, most people who are eligible to enroll in Medicare find it more confusing than they bargained for.
Every year there are a few changes to Medicare that Medicare recipients should know about. With all the confusion about health care reform, the information for 2010 is as important as ever.
It used to be that doctors made house calls. This was essential because there were few doctors that were responsible for vast areas. People would send for the doctor if a person was sick, and there was nothing left to do but for the doctor to make a house call to help the patient.
The Medicare Part D open enrollment period is the final six weeks of each calendar year. This means the time you can start to choose a new Medicare prescription drug plan is on November 15th and the period will run through December 31st. Any changes you make during this time will go into affect on January 10th of the New Year.
