Medicare was designed to provide comprehensive and low cost health insurance to senior citizens. However, it can still be a financial burden to many. Fortunately, there are many ways to afford Medicare on a fixed income. Medicaid and DSNPs If you are living on a fixed income, (possibly social security alone) and your assets are [...]
There’s no way around it. Health insurance is confusing! How do you pick the right plan? Why did you get that unexpected bill? What are you paying for after all? We’re going to break down some of the more confusing parts of health insurance in this health insurance 101 article. HMO vs. PPO Most plans [...]
Medicare provides excellent and comprehensive health insurance to millions including Americans with ESRD. In 2021, there are even positive changes in Medicare for those with ESRD. Eligibility for Medicare & ESRD If you have ESRD, you will be eligible for Medicare. You do not have to be 65. Because you will not be automatically enrolled [...]
Under the ACA (sometimes known as Obamacare), young people are able to stay on their parents’ insurance for a much longer period of time. This is great news because many are choosing to follow drastically different career paths than their parents. Very often, these life trajectories don’t come with the employer sponsored health insurance enjoyed by [...]
There’s a lot of buzz about the tax benefits of contributing to an HSA and enrolling in a High Deductible Health Plan. But is it right for you? HSAs or health savings accounts are known to have triple tax benefits. BUT, they are only available with HDHPs. They can be great, but are certainly not for [...]
Medicare provides excellent coverage for seniors, but there are definitely some gaps: namely vision, hearing, and possibly most importantly, dental! Fortunately, there are a couple of great options dental insurance options for seniors. MEDICARE ADVANTAGE Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A & B) cover your basic inpatient and outpatient healthcare. However, it does not cover dental. [...]
For those looking to retire early, there are many questions, but chief amongst concerns is what to do about health insurance! Everyone knows that you can enroll in Medicare at 65, but what if you want to retire early? What are your options? There are a few options to choose from and it’s important that you [...]
Medicare Savings Programs are Medicaid administered programs. They are jointly funded by the individual states and Medicaid. The benefits can vary quite a bit, but in general these programs are designed to help pay for monthly premiums, copays, and coinsurance associated with Medicare. First, of course, you must be enrolled in Medicare. Many, if not most, [...]
If you’re getting ready to enroll in Medicare, you may be wondering how or when to enroll, and understandably so! There are many different parts of Medicare and several different options to choose from. Also, if you miss your enrollment period, you may be subject to late penalties! You will most likely be automatically enrolled in [...]
No one likes going to the dentist. Sometimes the bill can be even more unpleasant than the treatment. Is dental insurance even worth it? How do you get the best dental insurance for your needs? We get asked about dental insurance a lot! To many people it seems like options are limited, information is very confusing, [...]
Pregnancy has many highs and lows and many, many doctor’s appointments. Your prenatal care will consist of various doctor’s appointments, several blood tests and screenings, a few ultrasounds and multiple vaccines. Even though prenatal care is guaranteed under the affordable care act, not all plans are created equally. If is very important that you have good [...]
Health insurance costs have skyrocketed in recent years! Many individuals choose to forego insurance due to the cost. But not having health insurance can end up costing you big in the end. So, how do you save money on health insurance and make it more affordable? First and foremost, you must do your research! Know [...]
If you are currently self employed or unemployed, you may be interested in pursuing a plan through the Marketplace. You can find excellent coverage, but it can be overwhelming. With so many options available, it’s imperative that you understand exactly what you are signing up for! Marketplace insurance is part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) [...]
Many individuals on Medicare find themselves struggling to pay premiums and copays. If your income falls below a certain threshold, you may be eligible for Medicaid in addition to Medicare. These types of plans are known as DSNP or Dual Eligibility Special Needs Plans. What are Dual Eligibility Plans? (DSNP) DNSP’s are a type of [...]
When you enroll in Medicare, there will be a sea of options available to you. You can choose from a variety of Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Part D Plans in addition to Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap Plans). You can peruse all of your options on Medicare.gov by accessing the plan finder. If you choose to [...]
There are so many mistakes you can make when signing up for Medicare. Some of these mistakes can be tacked onto your monthly premiums forever! Avoiding these missteps will help you to save money on medicare. Many people don’t know that they need to pay for Medicare at all! After all, you’ve seen those deductions knocked [...]
Having health insurance is very important but at certain times in our lives the cost of health insurance may seem completely unfeasible. If your income is below a certain level, you may qualify for Medicaid. Medicaid can help to provide excellent insurance at a very low cost or even no cost dependent upon your circumstances. Even [...]
Losing your job can be a very stressful and scary time. If you are thinking of quitting your job to change careers, the thought of losing your health insurance may be holding you back. There are several options that can help keep you covered including COBRA. COBRA or the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act was designed to [...]
Are you getting ready to enroll in Medicare? There are many different letters for parts and plans, but what do they all mean? Medicare offers a variety of new choices, but unfortunately, not all of these options will be right for you. Let's breakdown the basic parts: Parts A & B (also known as Original [...]
Losing employment can be a very scary thing, even more so when you rely on employment for insurance coverage. If you've lost health insurance there may be options for short or long term coverage. You may be able to pursue one of the following possibilities: Joining a family member’s plan Participating in [...]
