Assisted living is expensive, and because many seniors are enrolled in Medicare, a common question is whether Medicare covers assisted living.
Assisted living is expensive, and because many seniors are enrolled in Medicare, a common question is whether Medicare covers assisted living.
Medicare’s open enrollment period, also known as the annual election period (AEP), occurs annually in the fall.
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:…
Medicare doesn’t always cover all drugs Most older adults get prescription drug coverage through a Medicare Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan. Each plan has a list of drugs that the plan will pay for, called a formulary. A big problem is that these formularies don’t cover everything and change constantly. A new medication your older adult’s doctor prescribes might…
One way to save time and money on prescription medication refills is to use a mail order pharmacy. MedicareFAQ explains how mail order pharmacies work, why they’re increasing in popularity, and how they’re different from online pharmacies. If you’d like to skip the hassle of going to the local pharmacy to refill your older adult’s prescriptions in person each month, consider switching…
A Medicare program that covers in home care You probably already know that Medicare doesn’t cover in home care services. However, there is one exception to that rule. Medicare PACE is a government program that helps older adults get the medical and social services they need to continue living in their homes as they age. We explain what PACE is, which services…
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…
The rising cost of prescription medications can be a significant burden for seniors living on fixed incomes, but thankfully, help is available.
Long term care for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia is expensive. To be able to provide the best care possible, it’s important to plan ahead for future care costs. HealthMarkets explains what Medicare does and doesn’t cover for Alzheimer’s and dementia care. As of 2019, an estimated 5.8 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. And the…
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