National Vision Month: Prioritize Vision and Hearing Health

May is National Vision Health Month, a time to emphasize the significance of maintaining healthy eyesight. Our sense of sight is vital for navigating our daily lives, yet we frequently take it for granted. This month serves as a reminder to take care of our vision and spread awareness about the importance of early detection and treatment of vision problems. One of the goals of National Vision Health Month is to promote regular eye exams. […]

5 Tips to Protect Yourself from Medicare Fraud: Stay Safe and Informed

As a senior citizen, you rely on Medicare to provide you with the medical care you need to stay healthy.  Unfortunately, scammers and fraudsters also know how valuable your Medicare benefits are, and they will go to great lengths to try to trick you into giving up your personal information or signing up for services you do not need. Here are some tips to help you avoid Medicare fraud:       1.            Protect your Medicare card: […]

Travel and your Medicare Coverage- Know Before You Go!

When choosing health care coverage, it’s important to consider your vacation plans. If you’re someone who frequently travels, spends time away from home, or splits your time between different locations, it’s essential to factor these key points into your decision when choosing a Medicare plan or reviewing your existing coverage.  Key points to keep in mind: Medicare plans may not work the same way everywhere you go. Some plans only provide coverage within the state […]

Out-of-Pocket Costs to Anticipate

As we are now a couple of months into 2023, it’s important for Medicare beneficiaries to understand the out-of-pocket expenses associated with their healthcare coverage. While Medicare provides essential healthcare benefits for millions of seniors and people with disabilities, it does not cover all medical costs. This is where Medicare Advantage, Part D plans, and Supplemental plans come into play. Understanding the out-of-pocket costs associated with these plans can help you make more informed decisions […]

What is the Initial Coverage Election Period?

If you’re new to Medicare, you may be familiar with the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), an election period that covers from 3 months before your 65th birthday to 3 months after. However, if you chose not to sign up for Part B during your IEP, there is another enrollment period available to you, known as Initial Coverage Election Period (ICEP). But what exactly is it? When can you use it? And how does it differ […]

Turning 65 With Employer Insurance and the Need to Report Creditable Coverage to CMS

If you’re turning 65 and still intend to have employer coverage, or if maybe you’re delaying your retirement just a few months after your birthday, one thing to keep in mind is making sure you receive an annual written notice of creditable coverage from your employer. As you may or may not know, Medicare will require you to maintain creditable prescription drug coverage or receive a Part D Late Enrollment Penalty. If you’d liked to […]

Medicare and Health Savings Account

A Health Savings Account (HSA) lets you deposit untaxed dollars into a savings account that can be used to pay for qualified medical necessities. Employers and financial institutions offer this kind of savings account to eligible individuals. You may only contribute to an HSA at age 65 or older if you are covered by an HSA qualified health plan, you are not a tax dependent, and you are not enrolled in Medicare. You will not […]

Making the Most of Your Medicare Plan: Know Your Benefits and Save Money

Whether you’re on a limited income, or just trying to justify how much you’re paying for your Medicare Advantage plan, we all want to get the most out of our health care plan. Every plan comes with a lot of information and explanation about its benefits, and it can be overwhelming to drill down into these documents to find useful savings, discounts, and benefits.  In this article, we’re covering some of the resources and features […]