Medicare

For those of us lucky enough to have insurance coverage for medication costs, we assume that no matter what our co-pay, we must be saving money over the “actual” cost of the medications. But it turns out that may not be a correct assumption. Reporter Susan Jaffe, in a post…

Most of us know that dreaded feeling: your tooth begins to ache and you realize yet another trip to the dentist may be necessary. And we’re the lucky ones. Given the lack of insurance coverage for dental health care under Medicare, many older individuals can’t afford to seek out a…

If you receive Medicare, or help a loved one who does, you know there are choices to consider each year when Fall Open Enrollment season begins. Starting October 15, Medicare recipients can determine whether they want traditional Medicare, or a Medicare Advantage Plan, as well as what type of prescription…

Some of us won’t go to a restaurant or attend a performance without first checking how other people rated the experience. Sometimes other peoples’ perspectives are instructive and useful- and sometimes their ratings seem trivial or silly. The question is: what do we make of the ratings other people give…

Following a hospitalization, it’s not unusual for an older patient to require skilled nursing help. Many people prefer to receive that help at home, rather than go to a rehab center or skilled nursing facility. In theory, if a physician says this assistance is medically necessary, Medicare is supposed to…

Medications are a fact of life for most seniors, but with Medicare Part D, the costs of those medications can usually be managed- but not always. Sometimes, for example, Medicare denies coverage for a medication, which could lead to enormous out-of-pocket expenses if the decision stands. Luckily, there is an…