Kiplinger

Medicare open enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. During this period, you can switch from original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or vice versa. You can also choose a new Advantage plan or new Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. Knowing more about changes to Medicare taking effect in 2025 will help you select the best plan when the time comes.

Three Medicare Changes on the Horizon for 2025

Fortune

People very limited financial resources may qualify for Medicaid to help pay for health costs not covered by Medicare. Health care expenses often increase as people age, due to more health challenges and care needs. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, U.S. adults ages 65 and over...

Who is eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid?

“Private Medicare plans now cover more than half of Medicare beneficiaries, but how well they actually serve people differs from county to county,” Maya Goldman writes over at Axios. “Medicare enrollees living in communities of color and with high rates of poverty had less access to top-rated Medicare Advantage plans last year than those living in wealthier places that are majority white. These disparities could contribute to unequal health outcomes for seniors across the country as Medicare Advantage enrollment grows, particularly among seniors from diverse and low-income backgrounds. The geographic quality differences in Medicare availability drive home the longstanding point that where someone lives in America can determine the caliber of their health care options. ‘Nobody can really easily move to another location to get the health care services they need,’ said Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, associate director of KFF’s program on Medicare policy. ‘It’s even harder for people who are Medicare beneficiaries.’ … Medicare Advantage plans offered in more disadvantaged counties were less likely to be rated 4.5 stars or higher, according to research published last week in JAMA Network Open.” Maya Goldman, “Medicare Advantage’s geographic disparities,” Axios.

Medicare Advantage worse in some places

It is anticipated that Congress will extend telehealth access rules for Medicare patients, though likely not until after the election. This delay could have significant repercussions, Politico reported Aug. 9. Since the introduction of pandemic-era telehealth provisions in 2020, tens of millions of beneficiaries have utilized these services. CMS lacks...

Telehealth access for Medicare patients in limbo

Medicare Advantage giant Humana expects to lose a “few hundred thousand” members in its marquee business next year, after seriously shrinking its benefits and exiting markets for 2025 in a bid to boost profits, the insurer disclosed Wednesday. It’s the first time Humana has estimated membership losses from...

Humana expects to lose ‘few hundred thousand’ Medicare Advantage members next year

Brace yourselves: A key measure of employer healthcare costs is poised for its biggest annual increase in more than a decade as more people use mental health care and get prescriptions for new, expensive drugs—yes, including Ozempic—according to a new PwC report. For CFOs concerned about employee healthcare...

Get ready for the biggest medical cost hike in 13 years

“I am worried about a phone call I received from someone claiming to be from Medicare who had my personal information and was verifying it. The caller mentioned that I would receive a new plastic Medicare card with a chip the following day. It has now been over a week, and I still haven’t received the card. I think I may have made a serious mistake by confirming my details and responding to the questions the caller posed to me. What steps should I take or whom should I contact to verify if this was a legitimate communication from Medicare?” – Jeanette.

Latest Medicare Scam Targeting Seniors

SmartAsset

Medicare isn't free. This catches many retirees by surprise. Medicare has a reputation for simplicity. You turn 65 and get access to free universal health insurance. This is true to a certain degree, and that's one of the reasons the program is overwhelmingly popular among recipients. However, in practice, Medicare has many carve-outs and exceptions. […] The post Medicare Premiums: What You Should Expect to Pay in 2024 appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.

Medicare Premiums: What You Should Expect to Pay in 2024

Massachusetts State

Retirement Daily

Understand Medicaid's impact on your parents' assets.

Medicaid & Nursing Homes: Will Your Parents Lose Their House?

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Jesse Slome

Millions of seniors will wake up January 1st only to realize their Medicare plan coverage has changed and that it's too late to act. Fortunately Medicare provides an annual opportunity for seniors to review coverage for the coming year. If a better plan would offer improved coverage or yield savings, switching is possible.

Seniors Need To Prepare Now For Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period

Will the looming changes address the concerns of the patient assistance community?. In just a few weeks, open enrollment begins for the more than 63 million people enrolled in Medicare programs in the US. During this time, many will evaluate and select a Part D plan that best meets their health needs. It is also a time when those enrolled in Medicare will learn more about two important changes to the Medicare Part D program taking effect Jan. 1, 2025:

Looking Ahead to Medicare Reforms Coming in 2025

New York State

Dicle Belul

Democratic U.S. Congressman Pat Ryan of New York has proposed the Improving Access to Emergency Medical Services for Seniors Act, aiming to introduce at-home care services under Medicare coverage. The bill advocates for a "treatment-in-place model" to provide minor health issue treatment at home, eliminating the need for Medicare patients to be transported to hospitals for reimbursement. This change attempts to alleviate the financial burden on taxpayers and recognizes the essential role of emergency medical service providers.

Expanding Medicare: Enhancing Care for Seniors

The Associated Press

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 8, 2024-- Fidelity Investments ® today shared its 23 rd annual Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate, revealing that a 65-year-old retiring this year can expect to spend an average of $165,000 in health care and medical expenses throughout retirement 2. Fidelity’s 2024 estimate is up nearly 5% over 2023 and has more than doubled from its inaugural estimate in 2002. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240808840966/en/ (Photo: Business Wire)

Fidelity Investments® Releases 2024 Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate as Americans Seek Clarity Around Medicare Selection

FinanceBuzz

Depending on your plans for the future, your budget, and your health, Medicare Advantage might not be the best retirement healthcare solution for you.

The 9 Biggest Disadvantages to Medicare Advantage

Walgreens shared in an Aug. 7 Securities and Exchange Commission filing that it could sell off its entire stake in primary care clinic chain VillageMD. "The company is currently evaluating a variety of options with respect to VillageMD in light of ongoing investments by the company in VillageMD’s businesses and VillageMD’s substantial ongoing and expected future cash requirement," the filing said. "These options could include a sale of all or part of the VillageMD businesses, possible restructuring options and other strategic opportunities."

Walgreens eyes offloading all of VillageMD

Here are 13 freebies included with Original Medicare plans that can help you keep more cash in your pocket and eliminate some of your money stress.

Don't Miss These 13 Totally Free Things You Get With Medicare

When you live a long life, the chances are exceedingly high that you'll require the type of care referred to as long-term care. It can be costly. Little is covered by either insurance or Medicare.

Today's More Affordable Long-Term Care Option for Women

California State

The family of a woman who died at a California hospital is suing the hospital and its parent organization, Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health, alleging the hospital misplaced the 31-year-old woman's body, the Chicago Tribune reported Aug. 8. The lawsuit, filed Aug. 7 by the mother and sisters of Jessie Marie Peterson...

CommonSpirit hospital misplaced woman's body, family alleges

Retired and in need of health insurance? Check out our top part-time job picks that give retirees both coverage and flexibility.

8 Best Part-Time Jobs for Retirees Who Need Health Insurance

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on The Penny Hoarder. The price of everything has skyrocketed recently, from groceries and property taxes to the gas in our cars. And speaking of cars, auto insurance has seen one of the largest spikes in cost. There was a 20.3% rate jump from...

6 Ways Seniors Can Save Money on Car Insurance

NewsBreak

Where health systems are going wrong with Medicare Advantage

As the Medicare Advantage landscape evolves, the success of health systems hinges on their ability to adapt and excel in key areas such as star ratings...

Where health systems are going wrong with Medicare Advantage

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