USA Today (2/1, Kennedy) reports, Medicare Advantage “premiums…have dropped an average of 7% while enrollment has grown by 10%, according to Department of Health and Human Services statistics to be released today.” The result “counters the negative predictions of opponents of the 2010 health care law, who said enrollment would drop and premiums would rise.” [...]
Bloomberg News (1/12, Frier) reports that “UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) and Humana Inc. (HUM) are among insurers offering fitness memberships with their Medicare programs as a way to draw healthier and less costly patients, said a report in the New England Journal of Medicine.” What’s more, “35.3 percent of new enrollees in a fitness membership [...]
The AP (1/2, Alonso-Zaldivar) reported, “With more than 1.5 million baby boomers a year signing up for Medicare, the program’s future is one of the most important economic issues for anyone now 50 or older. Health care costs are the most unpredictable part of retirement, and Medicare remains an exceptional deal for retirees, who can [...]
In a front-page story, USA Today (12/6, A1, Kennedy) reports that the government plans to announce that “more than 2.65 million Medicare recipients have saved more than $1.5 billion on their prescriptions this year, a $569-per-person average, while premiums have remained stable.” In addition, “as of the end of November, more than 24 million people, [...]
The announcement regarding Medicare premiums received extensive and mostly positive coverage, as officials and experts expressed satisfaction that the increase is smaller than expected. The CBS Evening News (10/27, story 6, 0:25, Pelley) reported, “Last week, we told you Social Security recipients are getting a raise tied to the inflation rate. Well, today we hear [...]
Dow Jones Newswire (8/3, Subscription Publication) reports that Health Net Inc. will immediately return to marketing its Medicare Advantage and prescription-drug plan products after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services lifted its sanctions against them. The sanctions were imposed last November, when CMS alleged that the company had failed to provide enrollees with prescription [...]
They’re often called the “Golden Years”-and they should be. What a wonderful time of life to enjoy time with family and friends, devote time to hobbies and other activities, and to travel or explore new interests! On the flip side of the coin are the increased risks of health problems and the potential for major [...]
The AP (7/5) reported, “The federal healthcare overhaul delivers deep price cuts this year that will benefit Medicare prescription drug customers who fall into a coverage gap known as the ‘doughnut hole.’ But limited coverage still may pose a financial challenge for a few more years.” The healthcare overhaul “took a step toward filing the [...]
AP (6/14) reports, Aetna Inc. “said Monday federal regulators have lifted a marketing and enrollment suspension for its Medicare products that started in April 2010.” The Hartford, Connecticut-based insurer said it will “immediately begin selling” its Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plans with “effective dates starting July 1.” Previously, Aetna had [...]
If a person already has a Medigap (supplement) insurance, they have 30 days of “open enrollment” following their birthday each year when they may buy a new Medigap policy without medical underwriting or a new waiting period. The new policy must have the same or lesser benefits as the old policy. This rule is only [...]