TSS: Medicare & Social Security Benefits

Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage. Part D covers prescription drugs, and is provided by private insurance companies that are approved by Medicare. You must have Medicare Part A or Part B to join a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan. For more information on Medicare Part D & what it entails, download our New to Medicare Guide: https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/updated-2017-new-to-medicare For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, feel free to give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

Medicare Part C, known as Medicare Advantage, is a type of plan offered by private insurance carriers who have a contract with Medicare and are required to offer the same benefits as Original Medicare, however, you don’t lose Original Medicare by enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan. For more information on Medicare Part C & what it entails, download our New to Medicare Guide: https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/updated-2017-new-to-medicare For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, feel free to give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

When you're first eligible for Medicare, you have a 7-month Initial Enrollment Period to sign up for Part A and/or Part B. - The three months before the month you turn 65 - The month of your 65th birthday - The three months after the month you turn 65 For more Medicare enrollment tips and advice, visit: 3 Ways to Prepare for Medicare Enrollment: https://blog.trustedseniorspecialists.com/3-ways-to-prepare-for-medicare-enrollment 5 Crucial Medicare Enrollment Mistakes: https://blog.trustedseniorspecialists.com/5crucialmedicareenrollmentmistakes For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, or to enroll in a Medicare plan today, give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

Medicare Part B is often referred to as medical insurance. Part B covers your doctor and specialists visits, outpatient care, home health services, preventative services, as well as medical procedures when admitted to the hospital. It covers: Clinical Research One-Time “Welcome to Medicare” Wellness Exam Annual “Wellness” visit every 12 months Laboratory Test (X-Rays, blood work) DME, Durable Medical Equipment, (wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, home oxygen equipment, etc.) Prosthetics & Orthotics Mental Health Care (inpatient, outpatient and partial hospitalization) Ambulance Services Preventative Services, care to prevent illness like flu or pneumonia and screenings to detect an illness at an early stage when treatment is most likely to work best For more information on Medicare Part A & what it entails, download our New to Medicare Guide: https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/updated-2017-new-to-medicare For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, feel free to give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

Medicare Part A is most commonly referred to as hospital insurance. Part A will cover semi-private rooms, meals, general nursing, drugs as part of your inpatient treatment in addition to hospital services and supplies. It covers: Hospital Services & Emergency Care Hospital Care Skilled Nursing Facility Care Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities Home Health Care Services Hospice For more information on Medicare Part A & what it entails, download our New to Medicare Guide: https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/updated-2017-new-to-medicare For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, feel free to give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

The Federal government maintains a program called the Low Income Subsidy Program (LIS). It is often times also referred to as Extra Help. This program helps those with a limited income and resources pay for their prescription drug costs associated with Medicare. For more information on the LIS Program, visit: 7 Facts Medicare Eligibles Should Know About Low-Income Subsidies https://blog.trustedseniorspecialists.com/7-facts-medicare-eligibles-should-know-about-low-income-subsidies-lis How to Get Help With Medicare for Seniors With Low Incomes https://blog.trustedseniorspecialists.com/how-to-get-help-with-medicare-for-seniors-with-low-incomes/ For more information on how to get assistance with the Extra Help program, download our New to Medicare Guide. https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/updated-2017-new-to-medicare For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, feel free to give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

The amount of information that a Medicare eligible starts to receive before their 65th birthday is no joke! It is easy to want to toss it all aside (or in the trash) and wait before making any decisions. The problem in choosing to wait is that once you make that decision you leave yourself with limited time frame in which to make your decisions. With limited time you may feel pressure to make a quick decision, and in the long run a decision that is made on a whim can be costly for your health and for your pocketbook. Decisions that are made under stressful circumstance rarely ever end in good results. For more information on who you should talk to when enrolling in a researching and enrolling into a Medicare plan visit: https://blog.trustedseniorspecialists.com/who-should-i-talk-to-about-medicare-plans/ For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, feel free to give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

Medicare will not be available to many of us until we are age 65, but for those with long term disabilities or those who have been diagnosed with specific diseases, Medicare is available much sooner. We explore what you can do if you're currently receiving disability in regards to Medicare. For more information on how Medicare and Disability work together in terms of receiving your benefits, visit: Medicare & Disability: Waiting Periods - 3 Things You Should Know https://blog.trustedseniorspecialists.com/medicare-disability-waiting-periods-3-things-you-should-know For more in depth information on this situation and other common Medicare scenarios, visit: https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/updated-2017-new-to-medicare For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, feel free to give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

Health insurance provided to an employee, and often times their family members, is called Group Health Insurance Coverage. Having group coverage through an employer can be an integral part of any employee benefit package. Employees that have group health coverage may be used to several different benefits. We list a few here. For the pros and cons of group insurance vs individual Medicare insurance, visit: https://blog.trustedseniorspecialists.com/group-insurance-vs.-individual-insurance For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, feel free to give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

If you're retiring soon and you're currently receiving SS benefits, should you enroll in Medicare? We answer this question and more in this podcast. For more information pertaining Medicare and Retirement, download our New to Medicare guide and go to the 12 Medicare Scenarios section: https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/updated-2017-new-to-medicare For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, feel free to give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

If you are a Veteran receiving VA benefits you can also be enrolled in Medicare once you become eligible, in fact it is encouraged. The VA provides many services for those who have served our country and their dependents such as financial assistance, education, home loans and healthcare. However, there can be limitations to the services you receive from the VA and so relying on VA benefits alone for your health care once you reach age 65 can severely limit your options. For more information on VA Benefits and Medicare, visit: 3 Ways to Gauge Medicare Benefits For Veterans https://blog.trustedseniorspecialists.com/3-ways-to-gauge-medicare-benefits-for-veterans Do Veterans' Benefits Pay For Long Term Care: https://blog.trustedseniorspecialists.com/2015/01/07/do-veterans-benefits-pay-for-long-term-care/ For more in depth information on Medicare benefits for Veterans, visit: https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/updated-2017-new-to-medicare For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, feel free to give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

If you have received Retirement Insurance from your employer to hold you over as you transition from the work field into retirement, should you enroll in Medicare? Here are some options that might pique your interest. For more information on what you should do in this situation, visit: https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/updated-2017-new-to-medicare For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, feel free to give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

If you are age 65 or older and are losing or leaving your group health insurance, you will need to plan meticulously if you are considering COBRA as your insurance option. The role that COBRA plays in the transition from group health insurance to Medicare is often misunderstood. We're here to clear a few things up. For more information on how Medicare and COBRA can work together or your benefit, visit: https://blog.trustedseniorspecialists.com/how-you-can-get-medicare-and-cobra-coverage For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, feel free to give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

If you're waiting on your Social Security benefits to kick in and you're unsure if you should delay enrolling in Medicare, think again. Here are some things you should consider. For more information on Social Security and Medicare, visit: https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/apply-for-social-security For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, feel free to give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

Working past traditional retirement age used to be uncommon. The Department of Labor Statistics estimated that about 15 percent of people over 65 still worked in 2006. Today, the number of people who wait to retire until between 66 and 74 years of age is expected to top one in four. At over the age of 74, almost 10 percent of the population may be still at work. Medicare used to be only thought of as retirement health insurance, but many who qualify may not be retired at all. #medicare #medicarecms #cms #medicareplans #medicareoptions #seniors #seniorhealth #healthcare #health #healthinsurance #insurance #medicarecoverage #podcast #medicareinsurance For more information and possible options for those who are working past 65 and are considering enrolling in Medicare, visit: https://blog.trustedseniorspecialists.com/turning-65-and-still-working-what-about-medicare/ For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, feel free to give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

Are you new to Medicare and not sure where to start? If you need help understanding the basics of Medicare and what it all entails, here are four things you'll need to know before committing to any health care plan. As complicated as it all may sound, once you make yourself familiar with all the parts of Medicare, deciding what is best for you and your healthcare needs can be a piece of cake! Let's start! For more information on Medicare enrollment, coverage and cost, visit: https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/updated-2017-new-to-medicare For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, feel free to give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

It is not just income that might impact Medicare premiums: social security could also raise premiums for some higher income beneficiaries. Here are some ways in which your Social Security plays into your benefits. For more information on how Medicare and Social Security impact each other, read the blogs below: Important Social Security Changes Medicare Beneficiaries Should Know About:https://blog.trustedseniorspecialists.com/important-social-security-changes-medicare-beneficiaries-should-know-about How Social Security Impacts Your Medicare Premium https://blog.trustedseniorspecialists.com/how-social-security-impacts-your-medicare-premium/ Should You Take Social Security Early or Late https://blog.trustedseniorspecialists.com/2015/03/03/should-you-take-social-security-early-or-late/ For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, feel free to give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

Knowing when to enroll in Medicare Part B and Part D is very important. Often times beneficiaries are unaware as to when to enroll leading to much confusion, and that can end up being costly. You see, if you do not get enrolled when you are first eligible, or when you lose Creditable Coverage, you may get stuck with a hefty lifetime penalty. For more information on Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D Penalties, visit: Part B: https://blog.trustedseniorspecialists.com/how-to-prevent-medicare-part-b-penalties Part D: https://blog.trustedseniorspecialists.com/how-to-avoid-unnecessary-part-d-penalties Find out when you're supposed to sign up for your Medicare parts. Go to: https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/updated-2017-new-to-medicare For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, feel free to give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

Medicare can certainly be confusing! We decided to compile a list of some of the more commonly asked questions we receive through our call center, website and social media accounts and put all of the answers in one place for you here. Are there any we missed? Please let us know if there is a question (or questions) we can answer for you! For more commonly asked Medicare questions, visit: https://blog.trustedseniorspecialists.com/2014/02/26/7-frequently-asked-questions-about-medicare/ For in-depth information on Medicare enrollment, coverage and cost, visit https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/updated-2017-new-to-medicare For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, feel free to give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

Each year CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) measures Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) and Part D Prescription Drug The overall Star Rating of a plan provides a way to help beneficiaries compare the performance of several plans. The overall Star Rating of a plan provides a way to help beneficiaries compare the performance of several plans. For more information on Medicare's Star Ratings and how they affect you, visit https://blog.trustedseniorspecialists.com/star-ratings-what-are-they-and-how-do-they-affect-me/ For immediate Medicare questions or concerns, feel free to give our licensed agents a call at 1-855-474-6234 TTY 711 or set up an appointment https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/schedule-your-appointment

Medicare Part B is often referred to as medical insurance. Part B covers your doctor and specialists visits, outpatient care, home health services, preventative services, as well as medical procedures when admitted to the hospital. For more information on what Medicare Part B covers and if it's a good fit for you, visit https://www.trustedseniorspecialists.com/updated-2017-new-to-medicare