Higher fees are coming to high earners, when income thresholds for the highest surcharge tiers drop even further next year. If you were hit with premium surcharges for Medicare Part B and Part D already, these costs will increase again in 2018, according to a recent article in Kiplinger, “Medicare…
You must sign up for Medicare Part B no later than eight months after retirement, or the penalties could be serious. These are the details that really matter when it comes to retirement and Medicare. If you signed up for Medicare Part A on your 65th birthday but were still…
Even if you are still working, once you turn 65, you have to navigate your way through an entirely new and complex health care system. While there’s no HR department, there are resources. It starts the day you turn 65, and it’s a bit of a challenge. Seniors need to…
You might think that any doctor seeing patients over a certain age would automatically screen for Alzheimer’s or other dementia-related diseases, but until now that has not been the case. Starting in January, Medicare will now begin reimbursing doctors for screening and providing information about care planning for patients with…
The cost of long-term care can take a huge bite out of retirement savings, exhaust family resources and create strain on relationships. Don’t count on Medicare, but do plan in advance. At least seven out of ten Americans age 65 and over will need long-term care at some point. Most…
Nursing homes that give substandard care to residents are the target of new Elder Justice Task Forces intended to move faster in targeting and penalizing certain facilities. The National Review reports in "DOJ Task Forces Target Elder Fraud in Health Care" that teams from several Elder Justice Task Forces deployed…
As a direct result of complex relationships between Social Security and Medicare and a number of other unforeseen issues, 2016 will be an expensive year for some seniors, according to Forbes' recent article, "Untangling the Medicare Premium Mess — And What It Means For You." Medicare laws require it to…
"If you get a claim denial, always contact your doctor or hospital to see if they can help you through the appeal," said Shirley Whitenack, president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and a partner with law firm Schenck, Price, Smith & King. Larry Tocco retired last year…
Medicare has published new rules spelling out the changes, and an education campaign aimed at healthcare providers began in January. But many healthcare providers haven't grasped it, either. As you may know, Medicare has recently undergone a big change affecting long-term care and the availability of skilled nursing or therapy.…
What does this mean? Imagine you have a severe stroke. Before Jimmo, most people thought Medicare would pay for physical therapy only as long as that PT was helping you get better. For instance, Medicare would pay if therapy helped increase the number of steps you could walk without assistance.…