Medicare checklist: Be prepared during the annual enrollment period
If you havenโt enrolled in Medicare or reviewed your plan, now is the time to do so. The Medicare Annual Enrollment is going on now through Dec. 7, and choosing a plan is one of the most important health and financial decisions a person can make.
Medicare enrollees warned about deceptive marketing schemes
With Medicareโs open enrollment underway, health experts are warning older adults about an uptick in misleading marketing tactics that might lead some to sign up for Medicare Advantage plans that donโt cover their doctors or prescriptions and drive up their out-of-pocket costs.
The Public Health Emergency will soon end. Hereโs what you need to know.
During the Public Health Emergency (PHE), millions of Americans have benefited from continuous and uninterrupted Medicaid or CHIP coverage. Soon the PHE will end, and Medicaid and CHIP recipients will need to take action to keep their Texas health care benefits.
Go-broke dates pushed back for Social Security, Medicare
A stronger-than-expected economic recovery from the pandemic has pushed back the go-broke dates for Social Security and Medicare, but officials warn that the current economic turbulence is putting additional pressures on the bedrock retirement programs.
Biden's Medicare pick would be 1st Black woman to hold post
The agency oversees government health insurance programs covering more than 1 out of 3 Americans and is a linchpin of the health care system. CMS also plays a central role in the nationโs $4 trillion health care economy, setting Medicare payment rates for hospitals, doctors, labs and other service providers. The agency also sets standards that govern how health care providers operate. โShe is well-respected and liked by the department veterans who have worked with her in the past.โYears ago, Brooks-LaSure worked with Biden's nominee to run HHS, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. AdUnder Biden, Brooks-LaSure will be expected to grow Obamacare enrollment by promoting HealthCare.gov and trying to persuade holdout states to adopt Medicaid expansion.
Trump plan to curb drug costs dealt setback in court
The Trump regulation would tie what Medicare pays for certain drugs administered in a doctor's office to the lowest price paid among a group of economically advanced countries. Some opponents have likened the Trump policy to a form of socialist price controls. Trump came into office accusing drug companies of โgetting away with murderโ and promising to slash costs for American patients. Even if the Trump rule is ultimately blocked, the idea of using international prices to lower costs for Americans is very much alive. It's at the heart of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's legislation to empower Medicare to negotiate drug prices.
Trump tries to revive stalled election-eve drug discounts
FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2020, file photo, President Donald Trump speaks from the Blue Room Balcony of the White House to a crowd of supporters in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)WASHINGTON โ The Trump administration is trying to revive the president's stalled election-eve plan to send millions of Medicare recipients a $200 prescription discount card. White House spokesman Judd Deere confirmed the administration is continuing to move forward. โItโs simply good policy, and demonstrates President Trump is continuing to deliver on his promises to our nationโs seniors to lower drug prices." Pallone dismissed the latest White House push.
Whatโs covered in the Medicare Dual Complete plan? Medical experts explain
Dr. Rowland Reyna, founder and CEO of HealthTexas, and Glenda Pope, local sales director for United Healthcare, explain what is included in the Dual Complete plan. 1) Who qualifies for the Dual Complete plan? โPeople who have Medicare and find that money is tight (or are on Medicaid) may qualify for a UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete plan, a type of dual special needs Medicare Advantage health plan, which allows you to get better benefits,โ Pope said. A UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete plan can help people by coordinating their care. 3) Are Dual Complete plans available in our area?
Trump makes late-term bid to lower prescription drug costs
The Trump administration disputes that and says its rule could potentially result in 30% savings for patients. It also would allow private insurance plans for workers and their families get Medicare's lower prices. Trump has taken other action to lower prescription drug costs by opening a legal path for importing medicines from abroad. Also, Medicare drug plans that cap insulin costs at $35 a month are available during open enrollment, currently underway. The Food and Drug Administration has put a priority on approving generics, which cost less.
Biden has room on health care, though limited by Congress
And just like the Trump administration, Biden is expected to aggressively wield the rule-making powers of the executive branch to address health insurance coverage and prescription drug costs. With COVID-19 surging across the country, Biden's top health care priority is whipping the federal governmentโs response into shape. โWeโre going to work quickly with the Congress to dramatically ramp up health care protections, get Americans universal coverage, lower health care costs, as soon as humanly possible,โ the president-elect said earlier this week. A factor that may work in Biden's favor is that many Republicans want to change the subject on health care. Coronavirus relief legislation could provide an early vehicle for some broader health care changes.
Health experts encourage seniors to review Medicare coverage before annual enrollment period deadline
There are only a few weeks left for the Medicare annual enrollment period -- the time when millions of Americans will make important decisions about their health care coverage for 2021. Whether youโre enrolling in Medicare or looking to change your coverage, now is the time to do it. Dr. Rowland Reyna, founder and CEO of HealthTexas, and Glenda Pope, local sales director for United Healthcare, explain why itโs important to review your Medicare plans for 2021. โYou will still have coverage, but itโs very important to make a decision right now, because things change,โ Pope explained. โYour plan could change and your health conditions can change -- even your finances can change.
These are the 4 essential plans of Medicare to consider before the enrollment period deadline
The Medicare annual enrollment period has just begun, and those who are turning 65 can explore their Medicare Advantage benefits. As Medicare terminology can be difficult to understand, the Gonzaba Medical Group is available to help answer any questions seniors may have. The deadline to make a change to your Medicare plan is Dec. 7. For those who may be looking for personalized, coordinated care, Gonzaba Medical Group has been serving the San Antonio community with premier senior care for 60 years. The medical group offers grocery giveaways for seniors, Zumba classes, free technology training, coordinated care, in-house specialty care and in-house imaging services.
Feds issue coverage plan for COVID-19 vaccine and treatments
The regulations from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, will also increase what Medicare pays hospitals for COVID-19 treatments. Under Wednesday's announcement:โ Seniors with traditional Medicare will pay nothing for COVID-19 vaccines, and any copays and deductibles are waived. โ The government will pay private Medicare Advantage plans to administer the vaccine to seniors. โ Workplace and individual health insurance plans will cover the COVID-19 vaccine as a preventive service, with no cost sharing. โ State Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance plans will have to provide vaccines for free for the duration of the coronavirus public health emergency.
Medicare finalizing coverage policy for coronavirus vaccine
WASHINGTON โ Medicare will cover the yet-to-be approved coronavirus vaccine free for older people under a policy change expected to be announced shortly, a senior Trump administration official said Tuesday. It's questionable under normal circumstances if Medicare can pay for a drug that receives emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, as expected for the eventual coronavirus vaccine. A White House-backed initiative called โOperation Warp Speedโ is pushing to have a vaccine ready for distribution in the coming months. States have already begun submitting their plans for vaccine distribution to the federal government. Initially, it's expected vaccines will go to people in high-risk groups such as medical personnel, frontline workers and nursing home residents and staff.
Delaying routine screenings? Medical expert advises patients to continue checkups with health care providers
Dr. Victor Soria with WellMed answered some commonly asked questions regarding the Annual Enrollment Period for Medicare. An alarming percentage of Americans are delaying or putting off routine screenings like a mammogram for fear of getting COVID-19. What can Medicare patients do during AEP? Switch from original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan, switch Medicare Advantage plans, dis-enroll from a Medicare Advantage plan and return to original Medicare, enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan, switch Medicare prescription drug plans or dis-enroll from a Medicare prescription drug plan. How do they communicate and coordinate care with their patientโs other care teams, such as specialists and hospitalists?
Need help understanding differences in Medicare Advantage Plans versus just Medicare? Health experts explain
Dr. Rowland Reyna, founder and CEO of HealthTexas explains why itโs important to review your Medicare plans for 2021. Make sure your medications are covered in the Medicare plan. Confirm your preferred doctors and hospitals are available through the Medicare plan youโre considering. What advantages does a Medicare Advantage Plan have over traditional Medicare? A Medicare Advantage Plan covers all health and prescription coverage needs and includes added-value services such as dental, vision and hearing.