As Medicare prepares to mark its 50th anniversary in July 2015, there is a lot to celebrate. For 50 years, Medicare has accomplished its two key goals: ensure access to health care for its elderly and disabled beneficiaries, and protect them against the financial hardship of health care costs.
Source: Medicare: 50 Years of Ensuring Coverage and Care – The Commonwealth Fund
Most health insurance companies want to raise prices on Kentucky’s health exchange next year, and some companies are blaming the Affordable Care Act for the higher costs.
Source: Most health insurance companies on kynect ask for higher rates in 2016
Several states that chose to expand Medicaid under ObamaCare are now facing high-than-expected costs, the result of more signups than anticipated and the federal government soon paying less.
Source: Medicaid enrollment under ObamaCare soars, raising cost concerns
Are you receiving your Medicare benefits through a MedicareAdvantage PPO or HMO plan, OR, an “on-exchange”/”off-exchange” Obamacare or legacy healthcare plan? If so, be sure to do the following when seeing any doctor for the first time.
At the front desk or with your doctor’s billing representative, show your MedicareAdvantage membership card (from Humana or Anthem BC/BS or other) and ask them if they can verify that they are “in-network” for your plan. Do NOT ask them if they take your plan. Inevitably they will nearly always say they will “take your insurance and file it” for you.
This does not mean that they are in-network and could cause you to have higher copays, and/or you may not even be covered for the visit.
What you need to know is if your doctors are “in-network”. That is the key.
Technology is an amazing thing. These days, if you want to learn something on a topic of your choice, all you have to do is Google the topic. More than likely you can find some kind of class, somewhere on that topic.
And, sometimes, you can even attend the class right from the old recliner by taking an online class. You can see presentations, hear the audio, ask questions, and learn what you need to learn.
The “Medicare NINJA!” speaks on a variety of topics so if it is more convenient for you to attend an online class with me, please feel free to plug in.
Courses are short, begin and end on time, and there is no cost, obligation, or commitment on your part. Simply sit down and learn!
