Enrolling in Medicare Correctly… Absolutely Puzzles Me!!
Toni: I have a very different Medicare problem concerning how to enroll than any problems, I've seen in your Medicare column. I turn 65 on February 23 of this year and will retire on March 10th when my wife turns 65. Company benefits will end March 31st and I would...
Why Enrolling in Part D is IMPORTANT!!
Dear Toni: Does Medicare Part B cover prescription drugs in an outpatient setting, like emergency room or under observation? You wrote about this last week and we are having this problem. My mother was in the hospital for 2 days and because it was considered “under...
“Under Observation”…Two Words Costing Medicare Patients Thousands
**Reader Alert: This week, I have received several emails about an email blast on the NBC Nightly News report called “Two words costing Medicare patients thousands”. This news story is about how your hospital bill is being coded and what you should know to protect...
Can I Delay Medicare to Keep Funding My Company’s HSA?
Hi Toni: I have a few questions about Medicare and our employee benefits. I am the benefits administrator for a company and I need to provide information to our employees since, we have 2 health plans, a PPO and a high deductible HSA. Most of the employees have...
Self Employed with Retiree Benefits… Why Do I Need Part B??
Good Day, Toni: We saw your answer about Medicare Part B in an article online and our situation is different. My wife and I have recently turned 65, me in Dec. 2013 and Carol this January 8. We have signed up for Medicare Part A only. I retired 2 years ago...
Why Doesn’t Medicare Pay for Long Term Care?
Toni: Recently in your Medicare column, you discussed home healthcare for the elderly. I would like to know about Long Term Care. I always thought Medicare covered long term care but now I am finding out I was totally wrong. My mother has...
Rumors about the Affordable Care Act and Medicare?
Toni: I will be 70 on June 20, 2014 and have decided to retire effective June 1. I have always had company benefits and because of healthcare reform my company is no longer covering retirees. Now I have to make new Medicare choices. I would...
What is the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program?
Toni, I have a client who just received a bill for her mother's Medicaid Long Term Care that was done at her house instead of a nursing home during the last few years of her mother’s life. My client had no idea that Medicaid was running a tab; otherwise she would have...
Why Is My Part B $335.70 and Not $104.90?? Something is Really Wrong!!
Dear Toni: I retired last March and my income was over $300,000. I was surprised to learn that Medicare Parts B and D are both income based and I have to pay $335.70 for Part B and $69.30 for Part D, totaling $405.00 monthly from my Social Security check....
Doctor’s New Rule…Pay Up Front and YOU…File with Medicare!!
Hi Toni: I have Original Medicare and a Medicare Supplement Plan F. No problem in the past filing with Medicare, but beginning January 1st, my neurologist has changed how he bills Medicare. He is a small office and said that because of the amount of paperwork, he...
Sorry Grandma…you weren’t “Formally Admitted” and You Owe a $36,000 Skilled Nursing Stay!!
Toni, You wrote an article a few years ago that addressed the length of time you had to spend at a hospital before Medicare would pay for a skilled nursing/rehabilitation hospital stay. I can’t remember the number of days you have to spend in the hospital. My mother...
Clock’s Ticking… Medicare’s Open Enrollment Ends Saturday Dec. 7th!!
Hello Toni: "I was so glad I read your column on the Internet; I recently attended a Medicare Advantage meeting and was going to join with some reservations. After reading your article, I am thinking it may not be a good fit for me. My question is if I change to an...
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