Avoiding the Medicare Part B Late Enrollment Penalty When it comes to Medicare, timing is everything. Unless you have qualifying (creditable) employer group coverage, you generally need to enroll in Medicare at age 65. Some people qualify earlier due to disability or certain medical conditions. Missing key enrollment windows can trigger late enrollment penalties—especially for [...]
Understanding Your Medicare Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) Letter What it is, what to look for, and what to do next. What is the ANOC? The ANOC is a letter from your current plan—either a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan or a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan—spelling out any updates that will take effect [...]
Medicare Supplements Original Medicare is intended to help cover your healthcare costs. Unfortunately, Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B) does not pay 100% of your costs for medical care. You will be financially responsible for copays, coinsurance, and deductibles. After Medicare pays, your cost will usually be 20% for medical services [...]
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan Questions Am I eligible to purchase a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy? If you are enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B, you can purchase a Medicare supplement insurance policy. If you have had your Medicare Part B six months or less, you are in a period called open enrollment. [...]
Medicare Supplement Plans A Medicare Supplement insurance plan, also known as Medigap, is an insurance you can buy that helps pay for the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare doesn’t cover. There are ten different supplemental plans to choose for coverage. Plans are referred to by letters. The three most purchased plans are Plan [...]
Medicare and Marketing Agents assisting you with your Medicare options ARE NOT allowed to….. Ask for information, such as your bank account, over the phone unless it’s needed as part of an enrollment. Require you to provide them your Medicare Number or Social Security Number for a quote. Plans don't need those numbers to [...]
Paying Your Medicare Part B Premium You are probably like most people and receive Medicare Part A at no cost. Medicare Part A is premium free if you or your spouse worked 10 years or more and paid Medicare taxes while working. However, Medicare Part B is not free. If you are receiving retirement benefits [...]
Medicare and Medicaid Medicare and Medicaid are two separate programs that are both run by the government. A person may qualify to receive benefits from one or both programs. The major difference between Medicare and Medicaid is that Medicare covers health care mainly for people age 65 and older. Medicaid is for people with low income. Medicare provides health [...]
New to Medicare Several months prior to your 65th birthday, something happens. You start receiving mail and phone calls like never before. Every phone call and letter you receive in the mail is about Medicare. You will also receive a book in the mail entitled Medicare and You Handbook. This book has information and terms [...]
NATIONAL WALKING DAY National Walking Day is the first Wednesday in April and is sponsored by the American Heart Association. The first National Walking Day was in 2007. This day promotes awareness to healthy living and the benefits of taking a walk. Activities such as walking can help you lower stress and improve your mood. [...]
