Jennie L Phipps

This year’s sky-high inflation has prompted predictions of a giant Social Security raise for retirees in 2023. The nonpartisan and nonprofit Senior Citizens League is forecasting a 10.5% boost in benefits, which may sound like a boon for Social Security recipients.
But a supersized COLA, or cost-of-living adjustment, could lead to unwanted consequences.

The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) replaces conventional Medicare and Medicaid plans to allow people who need nursing home care to stay in their homes.
Participants receive a broad array of services, and as long as they are eligible for Medicaid, they don’t pay anything for the program.

Many seniors mistakenly believe that because Medicare provides universal coverage, it’s a bargain, but it can be expensive, especially for people whose income is modest but above poverty level.

Buying a house or condo in your child’s college town - as a place for them to live and as an investment – has been a growing trend for more than a decade.
Chad Mitchell, TD Bank’s Vice President, Corporate and Public Affairs, and head of Content and Digital Platforms, and his wife, Laura have taken it one step further. They weighed the pros and cons and decided to move the whole family to their daughter’s college town. Here’s how it worked

Medicare covers inpatient and outpatient physical therapy (PT) in a number of settings, including home health and telehealth. Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage (MA) pay similarly for PT, but you may need to be more vigilant about getting coverage if you have MA.

Medical marijuana is legal in 37 states, 4 U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
Marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, which is what prevents Medicare — and other insurers — from covering it.

A Medicare Savings Program (MSP) will help you save money on Medicare costs.
Income and asset limits can vary by state, so don’t be discouraged by the basic federal guidelines.If you are approved, your MSP will pay most — if not all — of your Medicare expenses.

Medigap plans cover out-of-pocket costs from original Medicare and usually don’t include special benefits. But gym memberships with programs like SilverSneakers, Silver&Fit, and Renew Active are sometimes an exception.

Silver&Fit is one of three major free or mostly free fitness programs frequently offered to people enrolled in Medicare Advantage or Medigap plans. it offers free or low-cost gym memberships at more than 18,500 gym and fitness centers nationwide.

Guide to the deceptively complex management of your insurance cards.

Key takeaways:

A healthcare network is a group of doctors and hospitals that provides services to insured members at a lower cost than providers outside the network.

When shopping for a health plan, explore the network of the plan you are considering. Make sure it includes the healthcare providers you want and need.

Remember that upfront cost isn’t the only factor. Consider the location of the available healthcare providers, including any specialists you might need to see.

If you have a healt...

Picking a Medicare supplement (Medigap) plan tricky. Newcomers to Medicare have many options and making a poor choice can cost big bucks.

If you have an eye disease, Medicare will probably cover its treatment.Original Medicare doesn’t provide routine vision care. If you need routine vision care, consider a Medicare Advantage plan. You may find savings on vision care by exploring the services of optometry school clinics, national charities, private insurance, and discount providers.

Medicare Part D drug coverage may be the most complex part of the already complicated Medicare program. I'm a Medicare participant, and I have spent a lot of time explaining the program to others.

Once a Medicare participant picks a Medigap plan, it is hard to switch. This story details the difficulties, including explaining why someone might be rejected, the challenges of insurance underwriting and when it is possible to switch without facing underwriting.