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.
FAQ: SSDI vs. Medigap
By Staff WriterAn agent asks: For disabled individuals under the age of 65 who are receiving SSDI, would they be better off buying a Medigap policy or enrolling in an Advantage Plan?
January 12, 2011
FAQ: Medicare and Senior DesignationsCan I have "Senior Health Insurance Consultant" written on my business cards?
January 10, 2011
How to Reduce Your CMS Marketing Violations and ComplaintsOn Nov. 19, 2010, CMS issued a press release on its website announcing that it was placing three Medicare Advantage carriers on marketing sanctions: Health Net, Arcadian, and Universal American.
January 02, 2011
CVS to Acquire Universal American Medicare Drug UnitCVS Caremark Corp. hopes to double the size of its own Medicare Part D prescription drug business by acquiring the Medicare Part D business of Universal American Corp.
December 30, 2010
CMS May Hire Medicare Advantage Mystery ShoppersThe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is looking into the possibility of hiring a contractor to help it monitor newspapers, websites and public events to detect misleading Medicare plan marketing practices.
December 28, 2010
Which Drug Companies are Participating in the 50 Percent Off During Medicare Gap Coverage in 2011?Starting in January 2011, people with Medicare who have Part D but don't have the low-income subsidy Extra Help will get a 50 percent discount under the Medicare Coverage Gap Discount Program on "applicable" drugs at the point of sale.
December 21, 2010
Antidepressant use tricky for many seniorsA new study of older patients has found that of those who were prescribed antidepressant drugs, more than half had prescriptions for other drugs that could interact with the antidepressants, causing side effects.
December 16, 2010
Medicare beneficiaries uninformedIt appears the Obama administration is failing to get the word out to seniors about the beneficiary changes coming their way as a result of the Affordable Care Act.