Beginning in April, and continuing for a year, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will mail new identification cards to Medicare’s 55 million beneficiaries. These cards will replace the version in effect since 1965. (Historical note: The first Medicare card was issued to former President Harry S. Truman by then-President Lyndon B. … Read more
1. Enrolling in Medicare Part B at the wrong time. You should enroll in Medicare Part B three months prior to your 65th birthday, unless you will continue to have group health insurance coverage through your or your spouse’s employer. If your employer has fewer than 20 employees you may still need to sign up … Read more
I am currently on my company’s medical plan and turning 65. I plan on working for several more years and staying on the company’s medical plan, do I have to sign up for Medicare Part B now? In most cases no, as long as you have group health insurance provided by your employer you can … Read more
Seniors, open your mail and read it carefully. What you don’t know can hurt you. A special Medicare provision that allows private health insurance companies to enroll individuals who become eligible for Medicare into their Medicare Advantage coverage is costing surprised patients lots of money, according to news reports. The little known rule, called “seamless … Read more
Top 7 benefits for Texans 65 and better What are the top 7 benefits for Texans 65 and better? When Texans turn 65, they qualify for many well deserved perks like Medicare Part A and B, Social Security, Property Tax Exemptions, and numerous other discount programs. Let’s take a closer look at these benefits. 1. … Read more
For ages, there’s been a not-so-secret loophole for Social Security spousal benefits. It’s called “File and Suspend,” and it will soon be coming to an end. As you’ll see, the loophole has the potential to be quite lucrative, and if you’re thinking about using the strategy, your window for doing so is rapidly closing. The … Read more
Yes, you can use your Health Savings Account (HSA) distributions to pay for Medicare Part B premium, Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), and prescription drug plan (Part D). You can also continue to use you HSA to pay for Medicare expenses such as co-payments, co-insurance, deductibles, and even long-term care insurance. However once enrolled in … Read more
How much will my Medicare Part B premium amount for 2016? Your Medicare Part B premium will be $121.80 (or higher depending on your income). However, most people who get Social Security benefits will continue to pay the same Part B premium amount as they paid in 2015. This is because there wasn’t a cost-of-living … Read more
Open Enrollment For Individuals Is November 1, 2015 – January 31, 2016 If you are looking to buy your own health insurance plan or change your current coverage for 2016, you can do so during this time. In order to help you better understand your options for 2016, I will highlight the current status of each … Read more
Benefits of an Annual Medicare Supplement Insurance Review When I help most folks select a Medicare supplement plan, they generally want to remain loyal to one insurance company for as long as possible with little or no increases in premium. None of us enjoys shopping for insurance, but if there’s an opportunity to save money it’s … Read more