Medicare Open Enrollment FAQs

Here is a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Medicare Open Enrollment period covers a range of topics related to Medicare enrollment, including Medicare Advantage, Part D, Medigap, and more. While every effort is made to provide accurate information in these FAQs, people should contact Medicare, Social Security, State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP), or companies offering Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans and Medigap policies directly for guidance on individual circumstances. Read the KFF article: https://www.kff.org/medicare/faq/medicare-open-enrollment-faqs/#section-enrollment-information-for-people-new-to-medicare

 

Does Medicare cover health care while you’re traveling outside the U.S.?

Medicare usually doesn’t cover health care while you’re traveling outside the U.S. There are some exceptions. Read the article from Medicare.gov: https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/travel

Drilling Down on Dental Coverage and Costs for Medicare Beneficiaries

Oral health is an integral part of overall health. Medicare does not cover routine dental care, and the majority of people on Medicare have no dental coverage at all. Limited or no dental insurance coverage can result in relatively high out-of-pocket costs. This Kaiser Family Foundation article describes the consequences of foregoing dental care, current sources of dental coverage, use of dental services, and related out-of-pocket spending. Read the KFF article: https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/drilling-down-on-dental-coverage-and-costs-for-medicare-beneficiaries/?utm_campaign=KFF-2019-The-Latest&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=70758800&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–pDNMKAcib2sZcqQMqcPJRDHO6L31k9Jl9IaJzZbM1bUyx-6DdhAxRm1N–AOBiATeG_yFxJx1LJGV-p5zZTVom5A26Q&_hsmi=70758800

HHS Final Rule Expands Patient Access to Short-Term Health Plans

The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has issued a final rule expanding short-term health plans that allows for the sale of short-term health insurance plans that span longer than the previous three-month maximum. Now, short-term plans can span an initial period of less than 12 months and can be extended for 36 months at maximum. Read the PatientEngagementHIT.com article: https://patientengagementhit.com/news/hhs-final-rule-expands-patient-access-to-short-term-health-plans

Travelling abroad? Check your health coverage first!

If you’re travelling abroad, there’s a lot to do before you leave. So don’t forget to include health coverage on your travel plans. If you have Original Medicare, Medicare covers your health care services and supplies when you’re in the U.S., which includes Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Read the Medicare.gov Blog: https://blog.medicare.gov/2018/06/12/travel-abroad-3/

New Medicare cards start mailing in April 2018

They are removing Social Security Numbers from Medicare cards to prevent fraud, fight identity theft, and keep taxpayer dollars safe. They will mail the new Medicare cards from April 2018 through April 2019. See the CMS.gov for details: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/New-Medicare-Card/NMC-Mailing-Strategy.pdf

 

Caregiver Solutions Info radio show

I was the featured guest on the radio broadcast of “Caregiver Solutions Info” hosted by Marcia Teele. We discussed the ins and outs of Medicare and Medicare supplements. See the YouTube video: https://youtu.be/IYwwOB-5VQ0

How Medicare works with other insurance

If you have Medicare and other health insurance or coverage, each type of coverage is called a “payer.” When there’s more than one payer, “coordination of benefits” rules decide which one pays first. The “primary payer” pays what it owes on your bills first, and then sends the rest to the “secondary payer” to pay. In some cases, there may also be a third payer. Read the article from Medicare.gov: https://www.medicare.gov/supplement-other-insurance/how-medicare-works-with-other-insurance/how-medicare-works-with-other-insurance.html#1358

 

Study Gives Mixed Reviews To Laws To Equalize Cancer Patients’ Out-Of-Pocket Costs

Laws designed to equalize out-of-pocket costs faced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy are having mixed results, according to new research. The study, published online this week by JAMA Oncology, found these so-called state “parity” laws have not uniformly reduced patients’ out-of-pocket spending. See the Kaiser Heath news article: https://khn.org/news/laws-to-equalize-cancer-patients-out-of-pocket-costs-provide-uneven-protection/

Open enrollment is here?

The new Medicare guide is now available from Medicare.gov. Don’t forget that open enrollment is from October 15^th to December 7^th. https://www.medicare.gov/pubs/pdf/10050-Medicare-and-You.pdf