Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage-What’s the Difference?
Toni: I have been receiving different insurance companies marketing material and I am confused about the difference between a Medicare Supplement and a Medicare Advantage Plan. They all seem to be the same. How are we supposed to understand all of...
Turning 65 and Still Working..Should I Delay Parts B & D?
Dear Toni, I have a Medicare question that affects my husband and me personally: He turns 65 on April 27, 2013. He plans on working until he is 66. As I understand it, his basic Medicare A kicks in at 65? Right? Then he waits until he's ready to retire...
Need Help Qualifying Mom for Medicaid’s Long Term Care Services!
Toni: I am not sure where to start with this but here goes: my mother is 78 yrs old and now lives with me full time. She receives about $1700/math from social security and has no savings and no other income. Most of her income is used to help pay for...
I Need Help Affording My Prescriptions!!
Toni: A few months ago, you wrote about how to stay out of or not get into the “Donut Hole” so quick. I have cancer and the cost of drugs associated with my cancer is eating my lunch. Can you please give me some tips on what to do or where I can go to...
Does Medicare Call Your House?? Or is this Medicare Fraud??
Hello Toni: I have a problem and I need your help. I am a 79 year old female who lives alone in Meyerland. Yesterday, a representative from Medicare called me asking all types of personal questions. I told them, I did not give personal information over the...
Why Did I Lose My Medicare Part D?
Hello Toni: I have a very different Medicare problem than what you usually write about and I hope you can give me some well needed guidance. On May 15th, I received a delinquent notice from Medicare which was dated April 27th, about my Medicare premium that I pay...
What is Medicare’s 3 Day Skilled Nursing Rule!!
Toni, There was an article in the Rancher a couple of weeks ago that addressed the length of time you had to spend at a hospital before Medicare would pay for a rehabilitation hospital. I can’t remember the number of days you have to spend in the hospital....
Can I Change My Medicare Advantage Plan Now?
Toni: I have been on Medicare for almost 2 years; I need to change the Medicare Advantage Company I am in because 2 doctors I see are no longer accepting or part of my Medicare Advantage plan. Do I have to wait until a certain month of the year or can I...
Doctors Accepting Medicare Get a BREAK!!!
Good News for those on Medicare: On Friday, February 17, 2012, Congress approved the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012(H.R. 3630). Not only did this bill help people’s pay checks or whatever the news media was reporting…but the bill also saved the...
Donut Hole Changes to $2,930 for 2012
Toni: This year, my mother got into the “donut hole” in September. It has financially devastated her and she almost stopped taking her prescriptions. She can afford her co pays of $80.00 per month, but it shows on her statement that the true prescription...
Help!!! Made Wrong Decision for My Mom!!
Dear Toni, Ten days ago, I placed my mother who has Medicare in a "re-hab facility" for approximately three weeks, thinking that her post-hospital therapy would go better there than it would here at home….WRONG….I enrolled my poor mother into The Halls of H*ll, and...
Veterans Benefits and Medicare are Confusing!!
Dear Toni: I am a disabled Viet Nam Vet and am finally turning 65 this March. I am just completely confused and really not sure with what I should do. I use Michael DeBakey VA Center for all of my Doctor visits and prescriptions. I have talked with a few...
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