Jul 01 Medicare woes: Why the meds your doctor prescribes are outrageously expensive By Philip Moeller If there's one area of Medicare that needs fixing it's how doctors prescribe medications and the Medicare rules under which we pay for them. While your doctor should know better than to prescribe you a drug that costs an arm… Continue reading
Jun 24 What happens to your Medicare when you marry? By Philip Moeller You may not even need Medicare right now, and contrary to folklore, it is perfectly legal to leave the program if you become newly entitled to employer group health insurance. Continue reading
Jun 17 Don't overlook the benefits of 'free' Part A Medicare coverage By Philip Moeller Part A Medicare gets less attention, but it plays an important role in hospital, nursing and home health care. Continue reading
Jun 12 Medicare drug plans favor generic opioids over those designed to avoid abuse, study finds By Michelle Andrews, Kaiser Health News The abuse of prescription painkillers is a growing problem for seniors, as it is for other age groups. But Medicare drug plans are cutting back on coverage for a specially designated type of painkiller that deters abuse in favor of… Continue reading
Jun 10 Why Wall Street loves Medicare Advantage (and why this should bother you) By Philip Moeller A top issuer of Medicare Advantage plans has put itself in play for an acquisition, triggering largely bullish Wall Street reports about the investment appeal of this sector. Continue reading
Jun 03 Should I be paying for this? And more of your Medicare questions By Philip Moeller You can't sleep. Your doctor prescribes you a durable medical device to help—one that Medicare usually covers. But what do you do when the bill falls on you?… Continue reading
May 21 As they lay dying: Medicare rules rob voiceless ALS patients of the ability to communicate By Philip Moeller In early 2014, Medicare changed some of its rules and effectively took away the ability of many people with ALS to communicate. Despite upcoming changes, the current limitations are still being felt by patients and their families. Continue reading
May 13 Don't make this Medicare mistake: COBRA is not like employer health insurance By Philip Moeller COBRA can provide continuation of health insurance for 18 months up to 36 months and can be a literal lifesaver for people who lose their jobs and health coverage. What it does not do, however, is take the place of… Continue reading
May 06 Here's what you need to know about the serious backlog of Medicare appeals By Philip Moeller There is a serious issue here, but its direct impact on Medicare beneficiaries is perhaps not so great. Continue reading
May 01 Medicare reveals how much it spends on prescription drugs for Americans By Jordan Rau, Kaiser Health News The data show that 14 drugs cost the federal government and Medicare beneficiaries more than $1 billion each, accounting for nearly a quarter of Medicare prescription drug spending in 2013. Most of those drugs are used to treat chronic conditions… Continue reading