Feb 19 Q&A: How do you pay for long-term care? By Bonnie Lawrence, Family Caregiver Alliance Long-term care in the U.S. is confusing, there is no doubt about it, and trying to sort through the elements and options can be stressful. But there are some resources to help. Here’s a selection of frequently asked questions that… Continue reading
Feb 18 Look out for Medicare drug plans’ bait-and-switch pricing tactics By Philip Moeller Many Medicare drug plans – both Part D and plans that are part of Medicare Advantage policies – offer very low premiums to get you in the door. But they have ways of shifting the costs back on to Medicare… Continue reading
Feb 11 Anthem hack is only tip of the iceberg for Medicare customers By Philip Moeller Making Sen$e Medicare Maven Philip Moeller weighs in on the Anthem hack, warning readers about subsequent online fraud efforts trying to convince Anthem customers to turn over more personal information. Continue reading
Feb 04 What’s the most important cost to consider when picking a health plan? By Philip Moeller Don't make a health coverage decision with long-term consequences based on short-term conditions and costs, advises Making Sen$e Medicare Maven Phil Moeller. Continue reading
Jan 28 Can expats take their Medicare abroad? By Philip Moeller Medicare recipients can keep Part A and Part B while living outside the United States, as long as they continue to pay their monthly Part B premiums. Maintaining Medicare drug coverage abroad, however, is a lot trickier. Making Sen$e Medicare… Continue reading
Jan 22 Many of the hospitals awarded Medicare bonuses won’t be able to collect By Jordan Rau, Kaiser Health News Medicare is giving bonuses to a majority of hospitals that it graded on quality, but many of those rewards will be wiped out by penalties the government has issued for other shortcomings, federal data show. Continue reading
Jan 21 Thanks, but no thanks, Medicare, for the love By Philip Moeller Why does it seem like health insurance providers are attuned to your physical and emotional health -- tracking your medications, urging you to get certain tests, even sending you holiday cards -- until something goes wrong and you really need… Continue reading
Jan 14 What older workers need to know about the hybrid health care world By Philip Moeller Making Sen$e Medicare Maven Phil Moeller helps readers navigate the different health care combinations now available to so many workers staying on the job past age 65. Continue reading
Jan 11 Medicare begins paying doctors to coordinate chronic care for seniors By Lauran Neergaard, Associated Press Starting this month, Medicare will pay primary care doctors a monthly fee to better coordinate care for the most vulnerable seniors - those with multiple chronic illnesses - even if they don't have a face-to-face exam. Continue reading
Jan 07 Getting your hands around slithery COBRA coverage By Philip Moeller Workers who lose their jobs may have the option of continuing their employer group health insurance for a limited time under what's known as COBRA. But how does that coverage interact with Medicare and the Affordable Care Act? Making Sen$e… Continue reading