General Medicare Articles

Articles, guides and FAQs on Original Medicare and Medicare process topics

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What is Medicare

What is Medicare?

September 13, 2021

Medicare is a federal program that provides health care coverage at a small cost. It can be an overwhelming topic to navigate alone! We’re here to break the basics. What does Medicare cover? Original Medicare coverage is broken into two parts: Part A and Part B. It’s accepted by nearly every doctor and hospital in…

Medicare Supplemental Dental Insurance

Medicare Supplemental Dental Insurance

August 30, 2021

Medicare alone does not cover dental care. Since oral health is vital to your overall well-being, you may want to consider buying supplemental dental insurance to help cover the costs. Dental costs can get out of hand quickly. You don’t want to be stuck paying out-of-pocket, especially if you need a procedure like a root…

What is Supplement Medicare Insurance?

What is Supplement Medicare Insurance?

August 26, 2021

What is Supplement Medicare Insurance? It goes by many names. You may have already heard of one of these variations: Medicare Supplement Insurance Supplemental Medicare Medigap Medicare Gap Insurance All of these terms refer to the same thing: a type of insurance plan you can purchase to round out your Medicare coverage. What does Medicare…

When can you get Medicare?

When can you get Medicare?

August 9, 2021

As you enter your mid-sixties, you’ll notice a change. Mail will start to arrive, emails will hit your inbox, and your internet ads will start to be about the same topic: Medicare. While you’re likely familiar with the generalities of Medicare, you probably don’t know the deep details (and no one will blame you for…

5 Things to know about your Medicare card

5 things to know about your Medicare card

August 2, 2021

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). Your Medicare card will not show if you have…

How is Medicare funded

How is Medicare funded?

July 19, 2021

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…

What is HHS?

What is HHS?

July 12, 2021

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…

When was Medicare established

When was Medicare established?

July 6, 2021

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.…

What does CMS stand for

What does CMS stand for?

June 28, 2021

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…

Understanding Medicare: 20 Medicare Terms to Know

Understanding Medicare: 22 Medicare Terms to Know

April 5, 2021

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 22 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…