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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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
