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.
Lawmakers Unveil Separate Medicare Bills
By Arthur D. PostalThe top members of the Senate Finance Committee have introduced separate proposals for cutting the Medicare Advantage program budget and setting new program marketing rules.Sen. ...
April 30, 2008
Regulators target Medicare Advantage sales practicesIf you sell Medicare Advantage plans or advise clients about buying them, watch out. That's because regulators and lawmakers are zeroing in on abusive sales practices and even considering supplementing federal oversight of the market with a limited
April 19, 2008
Private Medicare plans cost morePrivatization 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 18, 2008
Private Medicare plans cost morePrivatization 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
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 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