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Shortly after you enroll in Medicare, Social Security will send you a red, white, and blue Medicare card in the mail. Your Medicare card will show your unique Medicare number, the date your coverage starts, and which parts of Medicare you have (Parts A and/or B). Sample of Medicare Card from CMS Your Medicare card…
If you lost your Medicare card, it’s important to get a replacement as soon as possible. You’ll need your card to prove that you have Medicare coverage and to take advantage of your health insurance benefits. What’s on the Medicare card? Shortly after you enroll in Medicare, Social Security will send you a red, white,…
You might be wondering how Medicare works, especially since many people are eligible for premium-free Part A coverage. It must be paid for by someone, right? The federal Medicare program is overseen by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It is funded by two trust fund accounts held by the U.S. Treasury. These…
HHS stands for the United States Department of Health and Human Services. This department oversees the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and is a common term found in the Medicare industry. The HHS is comprised of eleven operating divisions, including eight agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of…
The law that led to Medicare and Medicaid was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 30, 1965. At that time, the program included Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance). This is now known as “Original Medicare” or “Traditional Medicare”, and approximately 44 million people are part of the program today.…
When you start Medicare research, you’ll likely come across many unfamiliar terms and acronyms that can make the process frustrating. We’ve created a helpful glossary of terms (located here) to help remove some of the confusion. One acronym you’ve likely already come across a lot is “CMS”. CMS stands for the Centers for Medicare and…
There is a big learning curve when it comes to Medicare. Even seasoned Medicare beneficiaries need refreshers on the details from time-to-time. This Medicare glossary includes 20 common Medicare terms that you may come across in your Medicare journey. 1. Annual Enrollment Period The time of year where all Medicare beneficiaries can enroll in or…
Most people become eligible to enroll in Medicare insurance at age 65. This includes eligability for Medicare Part A, Part B, Part D, and Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap). While many people enroll in Medicare at this time, it may not be necessary if you are covered by your spouse’s employer-provided health care plan. If you…
Does Medicare Cover Vision? Did you know that Medicare doesn’t include vision care? A common misconception is that Original Medicare covers all areas of health care, leading many people to overlook important coverage for their dental, vision, and hearing needs. To address this gap in Medicare coverage, private insurance carriers offer add-on plans that complement…
What is the best Medicare Supplement Insurance? When determining the best Medicare Supplement (or Medigap) plan for you, you’ll want to consider several factors like costs and coverage. Rather than looking solely at monthly costs, you should also look to protect yourself from unexpected, out-of-pocket costs that can eat into your monthly income. We cannot…
