House Hearing Highlights the BENES Act ~ Let’s Get it Passed in 2020
Read moreLast week the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing called, “Legislation to Improve Americans’ Health Care Coverage and Outcomes.” In it they highlighted the bipartisan bill, the Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act (H.R. 2477) which would improve the Medicare Part B enrollment process to help stop people approaching Medicare...
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House Passes Historic Bill to Lower Drug Prices & Expand Medicare
Read moreOn December 12th, the U.S. House of Representative passed a historic piece of legislation, Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3) by a vote of 230-192. If signed into law, this legislation would significantly reduce the cost of prescription drugs for beneficiaries and Medicare, including authorizing Medicare to negotiate prices for...
While Medicare’s Open Enrollment is Over, Consequences for the Medicare Plan Finder’s Inaccuracies Are Not
Read moreEven though Medicare’s Open Enrollment period is over, the consequences resulting from some of the inaccurate information on Medicare’s Plan Finder (MPF) are not. In fact, they will only start to be realized in the new year when some beneficiaries find out the drug prices, premium information and more that they gathered on the...
Medicare’s Open Enrollment Ends Saturday, Dec 7th
Read moreHave you made your health care coverage choices for 2020? If so, great! If not, now is the time, as Medicare’s open enrollment ends this Saturday, December 7. Each year this open enrollment period, also known as the Annual Election Period (AEP) is from October 15 – December 7. It’s a time where you...
Nine Common Medicare Mistakes to Avoid
Read moreMedicare is complicated and it can be easy to make erroneous assumptions about coverage and enrollment. Below, Tatiana Fassieux, our Education & Training Specialist, reviews the nine most common myths and “Medicare mistakes” with information on how to avoid them. 1. If I delay my Social Security pension, I can also delay my...
Medicare’s Open Enrollment is in Full Swing ~ Review Your Coverage Options for 2020
Read moreMedicare’s Fall Open Enrollment, officially known as the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is in full swing. Running from October 15 – December 7, this is the time beneficiaries can change their Medicare health plan and Part D coverage and/or return to Original Medicare. Coverage changes become effective January 1, 2020. Learn more about the...
Avoid the “Bad Apples” When Choosing Your Medicare Coverage for 2020
Read moreHeadlines on 2020 Medicare changes fill the news, and advertisements and notices on Medicare coverage options for the new year flood into beneficiary mailboxes across the country. This phenomena is just part of Medicare’s Annual Election Period (AEP), also known as fall open enrollment, which runs from Oct 15 – Dec 7. During the...
Open Enrollment is Here! ~ It’s Time to Review Your Medicare Options for 2020
Read moreMedicare’s Fall Open Enrollment is here! Officially known as the Annual Election Period (AEP) which runs from October 15 through December 7, this is main time when you can change your coverage. All changes are effective January 1 next year. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch plans or disenroll...
President’s Executive Order Tips the Scales Even More in Favor of Private Medicare Advantage Plans Over Original Medicare
Read moreThe President’s Executive Order signed last Thursday 10/3 is just another attempt to dismantle Original Medicare. The press conference contained lies and mis-construed information, for example, saying that this EO is to “… ensure that, as much as we can, our Fee-for-Service Medicare program is not advantaged or promoted over Medicare Advantage with respect...
Skilled Nursing Facilities New Medicare Payment System Takes Effect ~ Is It Patient or Profit Driven?
Read moreAs of October 1, 2019, Medicare is implementing a new payment system for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), according to an update from our partners at California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR). It is called the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), yet how “patient driven” the complicated payment system is (or is not) remains to...