Get Medicare advice from free state counseling programs When it’s time to choose Medicare health care or prescription drug plans, you might be wishing for some expert advice. Fortunately, state-run counseling programs are available so you can get one-on-one help with Medicare questions for free. These government programs are generally called SHIP, which stands for State Health Insurance and Assistance Programs. Anyone…
Medicare Open Enrollment is Oct 15 to Dec 7 Medicare open enrollment or annual election period (AEP) is an enrollment period that happens every year in the fall. During this time, Medicare plan enrollees can reevaluate their existing Medicare coverage and make changes if they choose to do so. For 2025 healthcare coverage, Medicare’s annual Open Enrollment period runs from October 15…
Medicare myths cause costly mistakes for seniors Medicare is used by nearly 66 million Americans, but there’s still a lot of confusion about how the program works. Commonly repeated myths and misconceptions can lead to costly mistakes for older adults. To help your older adult get their essential health benefits, we share the truth behind 5 common myths about Medicare. Myth #1:…
Hospital status determines out-of-pocket medical costs When they’re in the hospital, it’s essential to know your older adult’s hospital status. That’s because hospital status affects their out-of-pocket medical costs and eligibility for Medicare coverage of post-hospital nursing home stays. By law, hospitals are required to notify patients that they might have to pay huge out-of-pocket costs if they stay more than 24…
Understand Medicare vs. Medicaid to get maximum benefits Medicare and Medicaid can be confusing, partly because the names sound so similar. But they’re two very different government healthcare programs. Medicare focuses on adults age 65 and older and Medicaid focuses on low-income individuals and families. The benefits, costs, and eligibility requirements are different for each program. Neither program has automatic enrollment so…
Insurance plans are complex and confusing. Because of this, it can be hard to understand how changes will affect our wallets. But a recent change is likely to skyrocket prescription drug costs for seniors. FamilyWize explains what copay accumulators are, why they increase prescription drug costs, and how seniors can combat those rising costs. U.S. insurance companies are adding copay accumulators…
Managing medical bills is a necessary part of caregiving Managing medical bills is part of the job when you’re caring for an older adult. Unfortunately, those bills are often complicated, filled with errors, and sometimes beyond your older adult’s budget. We found a helpful image that breaks down medical bill management into 10 clear steps. This organized list makes the job much easier…
What is Medi-Cal? Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program. It serves seniors, persons with disabilities, and other low-income individuals. The program offers free or low-cost health coverage for California residents who meet certain requirements. How much does it cost? For many people enrolled in Medi-Cal, there are no premiums, no co-payments, and no out of pocket costs. Some will have a low monthly premium.…
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