General Medicare Articles

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

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Medicare Networks: 6 Things to Know

December 17, 2019

Networks are often a confusing topic for beneficiaries of any type of insurance. Here are answers to six of the most common questions we receive about Medicare networks. As always, we are here to help if you have any Medicare network questions not covered below. 1. What is an HMO? An HMO is a Health…

Estimating Surgery Costs with Medicare Coverage

December 17, 2019

Facing a surgery is scary enough without worrying about your finances. Medicare is there to help reduce your surgery bills and stress levels. Read on to get a better idea of your out-of-pocket surgery costs. What Does Medicare Cover? Medicare covers many expenses related to essential surgical procedures, but it does not cover elective surgeries…

Seven questions to ask before Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period

Missed Medicare Open Enrollment? Here’s What to Do

December 17, 2019

Medicare’s Annual Election Period (AEP) runs from October 15 to December 7 every year. During this time, you can freely switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare. You can also change your Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug plan. Additionally, you can enroll in a Part D Prescription Drug…

Medicare Supplement Costs

How to budget for Medicare expenses

December 17, 2019

When it comes to Medicare expenses, budgeting is equally as important as managing the costs you pay. Given that Medicare does not cover everything, setting up a budget will help keep you from running into financial troubles. Read our Medicare budget tips to see how you can manage Medicare expenses and medical costs. Saving for…

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Who Pays For Medicare?

December 17, 2019

You probably know that Medicare pays for medical expenses, but you may not know how the program continues to receive funds. If you’re on Medicare, you may wonder about Medicare funding. Where does the U.S. government get the money to offer health care for people ages 65 and older? What Is Medicare? The U.S. government…

When to start thinking about Medicare before retirement

December 17, 2019

First things first: if you’re going to work past the age of 65 and continue employer-sponsored health insurance, be sure to inform Social Security. Failing to do so can result in a premium penalty for the rest of your life. This is not a good thing. While Medicare to those in their thirties and forties…

Medicare Supplement Insurance

Medicare and the Health Insurance Marketplace

December 17, 2019

Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, you’ve undoubtedly heard about the Health Insurance Marketplace. How does this impact your Medicare coverage, and can you have both? Find out what you need to know about Medicare and the Health Insurance Marketplace. What Is The Health Insurance Marketplace? The Marketplace for health…

Medicare Part A + Part B

What determines Medicare Part B Premium?

December 16, 2019

Medicare Part A and Part B provide the exact same benefits for all Medicare beneficiaries throughout the country no matter their age or location. Why is it, then, that premiums for that coverage can vary greatly? High-Income Levels Mean Higher Premiums Higher premium rates apply to individuals who have incomes above $85,000 and couples above…

How to appeal a Medicare decision

December 16, 2019

With the right Medicare plan and supplements, getting health care coverage should be easy. If you’ve ever had a claim denied, however, you know that Medicare doesn’t always work that smoothly. Find out how to file a Medicare claim and navigate the appeals process successfully. When to File a Medicare Appeal You can file an…

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Medicare coverage under 65

December 16, 2019

“17% of all Medicare beneficiaries are under 65 years old.” -Kaiser Family Foundation According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, almost one in six Medicare-eligible Americans are under age 65. That means that almost eight million Americans have permanent disabilities that enable them to receive Medicare under the age of 65. So, what are the instances…