Medicare Planning
Medicare planning news and analysis, including coverage of the Medicare Advantage program, Medicare supplement insurance, the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, and Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly plans.
Private Medicare plans cost more
By Staff WriterPrivatization of Medicare plans was billed as a way to save the program money. But according to a Commonwealth Fund study, the private plans cost an additional $5.2 billion in extra payments. In 2005, private Medicare Advantage plans were paid an
April 17, 2008
Medicare cuts to affect seniorsThe American Medical Association surveyed nearly 9,000 physicians earlier this year and discovered that seniors are going to find it more difficult to get medical care when Medicare cuts go into effect next year. That's because doctors are going to
April 16, 2008
A challenge to debunked VA mythsPerhaps in response to ("8 variable annuity myths," SMA Feb. 2007) Mr. Huggard's eight VA myths answered with half-truths, I should write my own that will fare better with the NASD. Myth #1: You don't pay a commission for a VA. If you tell a
April 16, 2008
Medicare cuts to affect seniorsThe American Medical Association surveyed nearly 9,000 physicians earlier this year and discovered that seniors are going to find it more difficult to get medical care when Medicare cuts go into effect next year. That's because doctors are going to
April 10, 2008
Prescription drug costs7.4%: Average price increase for brand-name drugs last year. 22%: Percentage of people 65 or older who take seven or more medications on a regular basis. 13%: Percentage of people between 50 and 64 who take seven or more medications on a regula
April 09, 2008
AAHSA pushing for Medicare expenditures billThe American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging commend the Senate Special Committee on Aging for examining the commitment to transparency and quality improvement in America's nursing homes.Quality should be an automatic public
April 09, 2008
How satisfied are you with the level of services you receive from Medicare?I don't have Medicare, but my elderly mother does. She's going on her third spinal surgery, and we're having trouble getting Medicare to cover it. Obviously, she lives on a very limited fixed income, and the cost of these procedures is so high that
February 29, 2008
GAO Questions Value Of Medicare Advantage SubsidiesIf Congress wants to focus mainly on helping low-income Medicare beneficiaries, it should consider giving them direct subsidies rather than maintaining current Medicare Advantage program ...