Category: Medicare
Republicans in Congress are eyeing cuts to Medicaid. But what does Medicaid actually do?
Medicaid is the single largest health payer in the nation, and is particularly important for people in poverty. Almost a fifth of people living in the United States are covered through Medicaid.
Health News Headlins
Weight-loss drugs for stroke prevention – Harris’ “At-home Medicare” proposal – Infant deaths have risen after Dobbs – Pink Cocaine
Medicare Open Enrollment Period Begins Today
Visit Medicare.gov now through December 7 to compare all your coverage options. You could save money, find better coverage, or both! If you decide to enroll in a different option, your new coverage will start January 1.
Medicare Open Enrollment Opens Next Week
Medicare Open Enrollment starts next week! It’s your chance to review or change your prescription drug and health coverage for next year.
Harris Did Not Vote to ‘Cut Medicare,’ Despite Trump’s Claim
Trump’s statement is wrong both on the hard numbers and his interpretation of what they mean.
Looking for nursing home info?
Medicare.gov makes it easy to find and compare nursing homes in your area. Personalize your results by filtering for what matters most to you — like inspection results, location, quality ratings, and more.
Older Americans Say They Feel Trapped in Medicare Advantage Plans.
Medicare pays private insurers a fixed amount per Medicare Advantage enrollee and in many cases also pays out bonuses, which the insurers can use to provide supplemental benefits. Those extra benefits work as an incentive to get people to join the plan but that the plans then restrict the access to so many services and coverage for the bigger stuff.”
Medicare enrollment begins October 15
Did you know you have choices in your Medicare prescription drug and health coverage? Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) is your chance to think about what matters most to you. Plans can change from year to year, and your health needs may change, too. So it’s important to know your options.
How to create your online Medicare account
It takes just a few minutes to create your account.
Vaccines covered by Medicare Part D
Stay up to date with vaccines. Talk with your doctor about which vaccines are right for you!
How does your hospital measure up?
Trying to find a hospital nearby with doctors that accept Medicare? Or, perhaps you’re planning to have surgery or are thinking about your future needs. Visit Medicare.gov to find a hospital in your area that best meets your needs.
‘Grotesque Catch-22’ – Sickest Rural Adults Are the Least Likely to Be Able to Pay for Healthcare
Research on cost barriers to health care found that rural adults were more likely than urban adults to report being unable to pay their medical bills or have problems paying their medical bills. Rural adults also were more likely to use medications in ways not prescribed (like taking pills every other day or only filling prescriptions every other month) to save money on medication.
Act fast if you feel you have COVID symptoms, Medicare urges
Feeling sick? If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, act fast!COVID-19 antiviral treatments can help reduce your symptoms and keep you out of the hospital, but you must take them as soon as possible.
Supreme Court Case Could Curtail Rights of Medicaid Patients
Twenty-two Republican-leaning states have urged the Supreme Court to block beneficiaries of federal safety net programs from suing. If the court agrees participants in many federal entitlement programs could lose the right to go to court when they believe a state, city or county has violated their rights in the administration of those programs.
Endgame: How the Visionary Hospice Movement Became a For-Profit Hustle
It might be counterintuitive to run an enterprise that is wholly dependent on clients who aren’t long for this world, but companies in the hospice business can expect some of the biggest returns for the least amount of effort of any sector in American health care. Medicare pays providers a set rate per patient per day, regardless of how much help they deliver. Since most hospice care takes place at home and nurses aren’t required to visit more than twice a month, it’s not difficult to keep overhead low and to outsource the bulk of the labor to unpaid family members — assuming that willing family members are at hand.