Category: Article

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has named the 55-and-older population as the fastest-growing segment of the workforce, projecting that 41 million older Americans will represent 24.8 percent of the civilian workforce by 2024. An analysis by the National Restaurant Association found the count of restaurant workers 55...

The Medicare Wellness exam includes the assessments, but none of the “physical” tests where the doctor has to physically touch you. Under Medicare, a doctor will only perform these types of services if there is a specific diagnosis or symptom which necessitates that type of examination. It does not...

For those of us who elect to stick with Original Medicare (not Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage)), Medicare Part B Excess Charges are charges that a doctor adds above and beyond the Medicare-approved amount for a procedure or service. When a provider/doctor accepts Medicare “assignment”, the provider/doctor won’t bill...

There are extra coverage costs that must be considered when signing up for Medicare. You can elect to stay with Original Medicare and sign up for Medicare Part D (Drug coverage) and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) OR elect to sign up with a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan. Original Medicare...

The bad news is “a new report by federal investigators finds that [Medicare] Advantage plans have a pattern of inappropriately denying patient claims.” “The good news is that those denials are frequently overturned if people bother to appeal.” “The [Medicare] Advantage payment model reimburses plans a pre-set amount per patient,...

Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) is basically a replacement for traditional Medicare. With Medicare Advantage you purchase a private health care plan that replaces almost all of Medicare Part A (hospitalization), Medicare Part B (medical), Medicare Supplemental (Medigap) plans and many times Medicare Part D (prescription).  You cannot get a...

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services announces Medicare Parts A & B premiums and deductibles increase in 2019. Medicare Part A (hospitalization) Premiums/Deductibles Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, and some home health care services. About 99 percent of Medicare beneficiaries do not have a...

From CNBC, The Social Security Administration announced that the cost-of-living adjustment for 2019 will be 2.8 percent. The increase marks the biggest boost to benefits since 2012, when beneficiaries saw a 3.6 percent increase. From 2013 to 2018, the increases were 1.7%, 1.5%, 1.7%, 0.0%, 0.3%, 2.0%, respectively. This is...

According to AARP, there are “7 Ways Medicare Will Improve in 2019.” Changes range from an early close of the prescription drug coverage donut hole to outpatient therapy caps gone to expanded Medicare Advantage plan benefits. 1) Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage donut hole) Thanks to the Affordable...

Reported instances of elder financial exploitation are on the rise. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has attempted to track the losses and its estimates range wildly, somewhere between $2.9 and $36 billion per year. This significant spread is caused mainly by the difficulties in determining actual abuse cases...