Long term care generally refers to personal and medical services for people with chronic illnesses, disabilities, or limitations in their ability to function independently. It’s important for seniors and their loved ones to know that Medicare only covers medically necessary care in certain circumstances, and for a limited time. Medicare …
Seniors Age 65+: Four Programs that May Help Pay for Medical Expenses
It is a common misconception that Medicare is a free program. The reality is that, while most people won’t pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), Medicare Part B (medical insurance) has a monthly premium of $104.90 in 2015 (for most people). In addition to the Part …
Medicare Premiums and Out-of-Pocket Costs for 2015
Medicare premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance amounts are all subject to change annually. If sifting through Medicare’s 150-plus page handbook to understand your costs is not your ideal way of spending an afternoon, you’re in luck—we’ve broken down the premiums and out-of-pocket costs you can expect this year. We’ll provide …
What Are Medicare Private Fee-For-Service (PFFS) Plans?
A Private Fee-For-Service, or PFFS, plan is a type of Medicare Advantage (MA) plan that is administered by a private insurance company. PFFS plans are an alternative way to get your Medicare benefits. Medicare pays the PFFS plan a set amount of money every month to provide health care coverage …
Can California Seniors Get Medicare and Medi-Cal at the Same Time?
The short answer to whether some seniors may qualify for both Medicare and Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program) is: yes. Although some people under age 65 qualify for Medicare, such as individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), our focus in this post is on seniors age 65 and older. This post …
How Does Medicare Work with Other Insurance?
If you’re looking into Medicare enrollment, it’s important to know how Medicare coordinates with other coverage(s), including group health insurance, Medicaid, disability, and other coverage. Each type of coverage is referred to as a “payer.” When there is more than one payer, the “coordination of benefits” rule determines who pays …