Showing posts with label Medicare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Medicare. Show all posts

Saturday, February 3, 2024

Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program FAQs

Title: Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program FAQs

Article Snip: "The Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program is a new, separate program within the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) which will provide health insurance to eligible Postal Service employees, Postal Service annuitants, and their eligible family members starting in 2025. The PSHB Program coverage will replace Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) Program coverage for these groups. "

Reference: www.opm.gov
Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB),Medicare,





Friday, January 26, 2024

Surprise! If You're a Medicare Enrollee, You May Have to Pay for These Expenses on Your Own.

Title: Surprise! If You're a Medicare Enrollee, You May Have to Pay for These Expenses on Your Own.

Article Snip: "...Medicare provides health coverage to millions of seniors today. But even with that coverage, retirees commonly have to reach into their wallets to cover expenses that Medicare won't pay for. Here are a few items that fall into that category. ..."

Reference: www.fool.com
Medicare, Original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage,






Tuesday, November 7, 2023

CMS.GOV | 2024 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles

Title: 2024 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles

Article Snip: "...On October 12, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2024 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs, and the 2024 Medicare Part D income-related monthly adjustment amounts. ...Each year, the Medicare Part B premium, deductible, and coinsurance rates are determined according to provisions of the Social Security Act. The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $174.70 for 2024, an increase of $9.80 from $164.90 in 2023. The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries will be $240 in 2024, an increase of $14 from the annual deductible of $226 in 2023. "

Reference: www.cms.gov
2024,Medicare,Reading,Education,






Friday, July 7, 2023

FDA fully approves 'novel' Alzheimer’s disease drug Leqembi, will be covered by Medicare

Title: FDA fully approves 'novel' Alzheimer’s disease drug Leqembi, will be covered by Medicare

Article Snip: "Leqembi has shown clinical benefit in fighting Alzheimer's disease. ...The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has fully approved a "novel" drug used to treat adult patients with Alzheimer’s, the agency announced. Leqembi, which is produced by Japanese drugmaker Eisai and American-based drugmaker Biogen..."

Reference: www.foxnews.com
Leqembi,Medicare,Alzheimer's, Health,Alzheimer’s Drugs,Food and Drug Administration (FDA),amyloid beta-directed antibody, Biogen, Eisai, Lecanemab,





Friday, June 2, 2023

Medicare will continue to restrict coverage of a new class of Alzheimer’s drugs, even when fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Title: Medicare won’t change coverage policy for pricey Alzheimer’s drugs

Article Snip: "Currently, Medicare coverage is even stricter, as the agency will only pay for the drugs if a patient receives them through a clinical trial. The treatments in question are monoclonal antibody infusions that target brain plaque known as amyloid that’s a signature characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. The drugs are intended for early stage Alzheimer’s patients and are meant to slow the progression of memory loss, but are not a cure. They are costly, and there are only two: Eisai’s Leqembi and Biogen’s Aduhelm. Both were granted accelerated approval by FDA..."

Reference: www.yahoo.com
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)





Saturday, March 4, 2023

FEHB and Medicare Webinar to be held March 9

Title: FEHB and Medicare Webinar to be held March 9

Article Snip: "...Representatives from GEHA, a not-for-profit provider of health plans for federal employees, will conduct the webinar and explain how Medicare works with FEHB plans, including information on Medicare parts A, B, C and D. Participants must register before the event on the webinar website. After signing up, directions for accessing the webinar will be emailed to each registrant. Following the session, registrants will receive an email with a link to an archived recording, along with the slides shown. Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees may only participate off the clock or during authorized breaks...."

Reference: usps.com
FEHB and Medicare Webinar


Saturday, November 26, 2022

Beware Federal Employees: Mandatory Medicare First Step to Eliminating FEHB Coverage for Retirees?

Title: Beware Federal Employees: Mandatory Medicare First Step to Eliminating FEHB Coverage for Retirees?

Article Snip: "As is often the case in Congressional bills, the bill’s title does not reveal the real impact of the proposal. In this case, “Postal reform” legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives. The title is accurate but the real impact may be the potential to increase health care premiums for federal employees and retirees enrolled in Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plans. The legislation could also turn out to be the first step in removing federal retirees from the FEHB. ...Creating the Postal Service Health Benefit Plan (PSHB) The bill would create separate health plans for Postal employees and retirees. These plans would be separate from the current Federal Employee Health Benefit (FEHB) plans. For example, there would be a Blue Cross Blue Shield Standard plan for Feds and a separate one for Postal employees and retirees."

Reference: www.fedsmith.com
Federal Employee Health Benefit Program (FEHB),Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB),Medicare,


Sunday, January 10, 2021

Social Security, Medicare and Retirement Plan Changes for 2021

Title: Social Security, Medicare and Retirement Plan Changes for 2021

Article Snip: "...From the pandemic to politics and the economy, it’s been a wild year, especially for those near or in retirement. While some uncertainty remains in the outlook for 2021, here’s what you need to know about Social Security, Medicare premiums and retirement plan contributions..."

Reference: www.thestreet.com
social security,Medicare, Retirement, 2021,

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Trump on Entitlement Cuts: “At some point they will be” on his agenda

Title: Trump suggests he may be open to entitlement cuts in future

Article Snip: "... Asked if entitlement cuts would ever be on his agenda, Trump responded, “At some point they will be.” As a candidate for the White House, Trump stood apart from much of the GOP primary field as he vowed to oppose cuts to Social Security and Medicare..."

Reference: abcnews.go.com
social security, Medicare, destruction of the American working class, Raping the Middle Class, Cuts to Social Security,

Monday, July 2, 2018

How To Sign Up For Medicare: Who Should, Why, When

Title: How To Sign Up For Medicare: Who Should, Why, When

Article Snip: "...the biggest mistake that individuals can make under Medicare is not signing up for Parts A and B on a timely basis... The key date is four months before your 65th birthday. Here's how..."

Reference: www.investors.com
Medicare, Medicare part B,

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Gotcha, Sorry, We Need Your Social Security to Pay for Medicare

Title: January surprise of vanishing Social Security COLA

Article Snip: "...most Medicare beneficiaries will pay $134 per month for Part B, which pays for doctors' fees and outpatient services. That's a $25-per-month increase over the 2017, nearly wiping out the Social Security COLA for many retirees..."

Reference: www.investmentnews.com
Medicare, Medicare Part B premiums, Social Security COLA 2018, What does Medicare Part B cover?, Destruction of Retirees, Medicare Advantage Plan,

More Reading: (From Medicare.gov) If you're in a Medicare Advantage Plan or other Medicare plan, you may have different rules, but your plan must give you at least the same coverage as Original Medicare. Some services may only be covered in certain settings or for patients with certain conditions.

Saturday, November 18, 2017

2018 Medicare changes will erase Social Security COLAs for many

Title: 2018 Medicare changes will erase Social Security COLAs for many

Article Snip: "...Average Social Security benefits for retired workers will increase $27 per month to $1,404 per month in 2018, up from $1,377 this year. As a result, higher Medicare premiums will virtually wipe out any increase in Social Security benefits for many retirees next year..."

Reference: www.investmentnews.com
Medicare, Social Security COLA 2018,

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Benefits of owning a Medicare supplement insurance policy

Title: Benefits of owning a Medicare supplement insurance policy

Article Snip: "...Medicare pays a portion of your health care costs for hospitalization, skilled nursing facility care and physician’s services and supplies. However, it does not pay all of your expenses and requires you to pay deductibles and coinsurance for many services. A Medicare supplement insurance policy can help pay some of the charges Medicare doesn’t cover..."

Reference: www.myeasternshoremd.com

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Important Medicare Reminder! Three (3) months before your 65th birthday you should enroll in Medicare (If you qualify)

Title: Medicare

Article Snip: "...There are 2 main ways to get your Medicare coverage— Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO). Some people get additional coverage, like Medicare prescription drug coverage or Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap). Learn about these coverage choices and 3 steps to help you decide how to get your coverage...."

Reference: www.medicare.gov

Saturday, December 27, 2014

You will be penalized if you enroll in Medicare outside of your eligibility period

Title: Medicare Enrollment

Article Snip: "...You are eligible to enroll in Medicare three months before you turn 65, the month of your 65th birthday, and three months after the month you turn 65. You will be penalized if you enroll outside of your eligibility period and your options to enroll will be limited. If you miss your eligibility window, you may sign up only during the general enrollment period at the beginning of the year, with few exceptions. And, if Social Security records reflect that you have enrolled late, you will be required to pay a penalty in addition to the monthly premium. The penalty for enrolling late is 10 percent for each year you delay enrollment in Medicare Part B. For most USPS retirees, the premium for Medicare Part B for 2015 is $104.90. Medicare B covers medically-necessary services from doctors and other health care providers, ambulance services, outpatient care, home health care, and some preventative services. For a complete list of covered services, visit www.Medicare.gov. Medicare Part A covers hospitalization and it’s free because you paid for it while you worked for the Postal Service...."

Reference: www.apwu.org

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

FEHBP, Medicare and Postal Workers would be harmed by Issa / Postmaster General healthcare plan

Title: GAO: USPS Healthcare Plan Would Hurt Medicare, Postal Workers

Article Snip: "...“The FEHBP, which includes many non-profit plans, is one of the best health insurance programs in the country,” Guffey added. “Removing postal employees would jeopardize the FEHBP, and would result in less coverage and higher healthcare costs for postal workers. ..."

Reference: www.apwu.org
Postal Service Healthcare plan,

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Postal Service wants to pull retirees out of Federal Employees Health Benefits program - loss of a large worker benefit

Title: USPS Plan to Pull Out of Fed Health Benefits Could Cost Postal Workers

Article Snip: "...“The differences in deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums under the USPS plan -- on their own, or in combination with lower coverage levels for some services -- could lead to higher total costs for some postal employees and non-Medicare-eligible retirees, including those who would have lower premiums under the USPS plan,” GAO wrote in its report...."

Reference: www.govexec.com
Postal Service, Medicare, Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), FEHB and Retirees,

Friday, December 14, 2012

Some standing strong against attacks on Social Security/Medicare

Title: Pelosi Takes Hardest Line Against Raising Medicare Eligibility Age

Article Snip: "...“As I have said, don’t even think about raising Medicare age,” Pelosi said. “We are not throwing America’s seniors over the cliff to give a tax cuts to the wealthiest people in America.”..."

Reference: talkingpointsmemo.com

Monday, October 15, 2012

Medicare open enrollment begins today

Title: Medicare Open Enrollment Starts Today

Article Snip: "...The Medicare open enrollment period begins today. Learn more about the health and drug plans available...."

Reference: usa.gov
Medicare, Medicare open enrollment

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Obama to protect much needed Social Security and Medicare

Title: Obama Plan Won't Include Changes to Social Security

Article Snip: "...President Barack Obama's new deficit-reduction proposal will leave out changes to Social Security, and may exclude any increase in the Medicare eligibility age, people familiar with the discussions said Wednesday...."

Reference: wsj.com
Social Security, Medicare,