Milestone Medicare
 

The following information is intended to provide general information to current and prospective beneficiaries. It is not intended to draw attention to a particular plan or plans, influence a beneficiary's decision-making process when selecting a plan, or influence a beneficiary's decision to stay enrolled in any particular plan. As you approach the milestone of Medicare eligibility, you will find that Original Medicare alone does not provide adequate coverage, and you might d

Most people become eligible to enroll in Medicare when they turn 65. But just because you can enroll in Medicare doesn't always mean you should, especially if you are going to continue working. And if you are enrolling in Medicare when you are contributing to an HSA, you have a special set of circumstances to consider when making Medicare enrollment decisions. Navigating all of the contingencies and nuances of Medicare enrollment can be tricky, and making the wrong decisions

Q1: What is prior authorization? Prior authorization (PA) is when your doctor or medical facility must get approval from your Medicare Advantage or drug plan before providing certain services, tests, or medications. It’s a “check‑first” step: the plan reviews the request to decide if the service is medically necessary, fits coverage rules, and is being done in the right setting. Q2: Why does prior authorization exist? The main reasons are cost control and fraud prevention, es

Medicare covers emergency medical services received when you are traveling within the United States. But does Medicare cover expenses during international travel? With a few very rare and limited exceptions, Original Medicare does not cover healthcare services received outside of the United States. And even if you have added a Medigap plan or enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that offers some protection if you travel out of the country, you are not likely to find it suffi

The intent of the following information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to draw your attention to a particular plan or plans, influence your decision making process when making a specific plan selection or influence your decision to stay enrolled in any particular plan. For most people, Original Medicare (Parts A and B) is the foundation of healthcare coverage after turning 65. While it’s comprehensive, it does not cover everything, and it leaves you resp

The intent of the following information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to draw your attention to a particular plan or plans, influence your decision making process when making a specific plan selection or influence your decision to stay enrolled in any particular plan. Many Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plans include hearing benefits, but the way those benefits are structured can be confusing and limiting. This blog explains how third-party

The following information is intended to provide general information to current and prospective beneficiaries. It is not intended to draw attention to a particular plan or plans, influence a beneficiary's decision-making process when selecting a plan, or influence a beneficiary's decision to stay enrolled in any particular plan. This blog explains four alternatives Medicare plan members commonly explore when trying to drive down their drug costs. Please note that none of thes

The following information is intended to provide general information to current and prospective beneficiaries. It is not intended to draw attention to a particular plan or plans, influence a beneficiary's decision-making process when selecting a plan, or influence a beneficiary's decision to stay enrolled in any particular plan. So you've enrolled in Medicare Part A (hospital coverage) and Part B (medical coverage.) But there is still work to be done. Before we move ahead, it

The following information is intended to provide general information to current and prospective beneficiaries. It is not intended to draw attention to a particular plan or plans, influence a beneficiary's decision-making process when selecting a plan, or influence a beneficiary's decision to stay enrolled in any particular plan. Extra Help (also known as the Low-Income Subsidy, or LIS, program) is designed to provide assistance to qualified Medicare beneficiaries with limited

The following information is intended to provide general information to current and prospective beneficiaries. It is not intended to draw attention to a particular plan or plans, influence a beneficiary's decision-making process when selecting a plan, or influence a beneficiary's decision to stay enrolled in any particular plan. For many people, turning 65 means getting started with Medicare. That process can feel daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Here, we will take a qu

The following information is intended to provide general information to current and prospective beneficiaries. It is not intended to draw attention to a particular plan or plans, influence a beneficiary's decision-making process when selecting a plan, or influence a beneficiary's decision to stay enrolled in any particular plan. Enrollment in Medicare is limited to certain time periods, as outlined and managed by the federal government via the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid

For those enrolled in Medicare, it's essential to stay vigilant against scams targeting your benefits. Scammers are constantly coming up with new ways to trick you into giving them your personal information or committing fraud or theft using your account. Here’s a guide to the most common Medicare scams and tips on how to protect yourself. Phishing Scams (when the scammer attempts to get your personal information), which include: Phone Scams: Beware of calls from people cla

Your income could affect your Medicare Part B and D Premiums. Let's start with a high level overview of Medicare, and then discuss how your income can have an impact on your health care coverage costs. Enrolling in Original Medicare (usually when you turn 65 or retire) enables you to obtain Part A and Part B health care coverage from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS. CMS is a branch of the Federal Government. Part A is your hospital coverage, as well as sk

The intent of the following information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to draw your attention to a particular plan or plans, influence your decision making process when making a specific plan selection or influence your decision to stay enrolled in any particular plan. Many Medicare-eligible veterans can benefit from enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan in addition to taking advantage of the health care services they receive from the VA. Medicare Adva

The intent of the following information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to draw your attention to a particular plan or plans, influence your decision making process when making a specific plan selection or influence your decision to stay enrolled in any particular plan. The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is the time each year during which Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their Medicare coverage. During AEP, which occurs from October 15 to Decemb

The following information is intended to provide general information to current and prospective beneficiaries. It is not intended to draw attention to a particular plan or plans, influence a beneficiary's decision-making process when selecting a plan, or influence a beneficiary's decision to stay enrolled in any particular plan. When you move to a new home; whether just a few blocks or a couple thousand miles away; you will need to take action to protect your Medicare coverag