Summer Health Screenings Covered by Medicare at No Cost

free medicare health screenings

Free medicare health screenings are one of the most underused benefits in the entire program. Part B covers dozens of preventive tests at no charge, yet millions of beneficiaries never schedule them. Research published in Health Affairs found that use of the Annual Wellness Visit among eligible beneficiaries rose only from 7.5% in 2011 to … Read more

7 Medicare Mistakes to Avoid When You Enroll

medicare tips

Table of Contents Medicare Coverage for Prosthetics and Orthotics How Disability Beneficiaries Avoid the Part D Penalty Medicare for People With Heart Failure Medicare Part B for Diabetic Supplies and Equipment Medicare and Cancer Treatment: What’s Covered Medicare Coverage for Home Health Care How SSDI Recipients Choose a Medicare Plan Practical Medicare Tips Before You … Read more

Spring Medicare Checkup: Review Your Coverage Mid-Year

spring medicare coverage review

Spring Medicare coverage review season is the part of the year almost nobody talks about. The fall Annual Enrollment Period gets the commercials, the mailers, and the phone calls. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period wraps up on March 31. After that, most beneficiaries assume the file is closed until October. That assumption costs people … Read more

January Medicare Changes: What Is New in Your Plan This Year

january medicare plan changes

January Medicare plan changes arrive quietly, but they can reshape what you pay all year. Every January 1, new plan documents take effect. Formularies shift. Provider networks get trimmed or expanded. Deductibles reset to zero, and cost-sharing rules start fresh. Table of Contents What Drives January Medicare Plan Changes Each Year Part D Redesign, Drug … Read more

How to Appeal a Part D Coverage Denial

appeal part d denial

Appeal Part D denial decisions quickly, because Medicare gives you a short window and a real chance of winning. Every year, millions of prescriptions get rejected at the pharmacy counter. The plan may say the drug is off-formulary. It may demand prior authorization or step therapy first. Many beneficiaries simply pay cash or go without. … Read more

What Happens to Part D Coverage When You Travel

part d travel

Part D travel questions come up every summer, every holiday season, and every time a snowbird packs the car for Florida or Arizona. The rules are not intuitive. Your Medicare drug plan follows you across all 50 states, but it stops at the border. It also depends heavily on a pharmacy network that was built … Read more

The Medicare Part D Monthly Payment Plan (M3P) Explained

m3p payment plan

The m3p payment plan is one of the least understood benefits in Medicare, yet it can change how a household manages a difficult month. Officially called the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, it lets anyone with Part D drug coverage spread out-of-pocket prescription costs across the calendar year instead of paying the full amount at the … Read more

How to Lower Part D Costs With Generic Alternatives

part d generic alternatives

Part d generic alternatives are one of the fastest ways to cut what you pay at the pharmacy counter. Generic drugs made up about 90% of all prescriptions filled in the United States in 2024. Yet they accounted for only about 12% of total prescription spending, according to the Association for Accessible Medicines. Table of … Read more