What is the Medicare Card Scam?

The scammers want to get personal or financial information for identity theft or outright theft. To thwart a Medicare card scam, follow some basic precautions. Medicare never will call you uninvited to request personal or private information to get a new Medicare card and won’t charge you for a new card. If you receive a call claiming you need to pay a fee to get a new or upgraded Medicare card, it’s a scam. The previous Medicare cards used your Social Security number, and the new cards contain a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) number. Medicare doesn’t need to “verify” your information and never threatens to cancel benefits. Hang up immediately if you get an unsolicited call from someone who claims to be from Medicare and asks for personal information. Please don’t believe a caller is a Medicare employee simply because they know some information about you. Scammers will have done their homework. Call Kevin Leinum – your local Medicare Expert about what Medicare covers or how enrolling in a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plan can improve your coverage and reduce your out-of-pocket costs.

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Medicare food: Who can apply and how?

Medicare Advantage plan can provide unexpected benefits. One of those benefits is access to food with the Grocery Plus Benefit. Qualified users can get the Grocery Plus benefit that “helps you shop a variety of healthy foods at participating grocery stores.” It stretches your budget for high-quality, healthy foods. You’ll get a Healthy Benefits+ card for all qualifying purchases if you qualify. Grocery Plus Benefits is reserved for healthy food, and it covers hundreds of products. These include fresh fruits and vegetables, salad kits, canned and frozen vegetables, fruits, and more. Uncovered items include non-food items, pet items, baby formula, candy, chips, etc. Eligibility: These are usually available through a particular Medicare Advantage plan called a Special Needs Plan (SNP). SNP-related conditions include congestive heart failure, diabetes, and end-stage renal disease. Contact your Medicare insurance provider to find out whether their Medicare Advantage plan offers meal delivery services, including the supplemental meal benefits, and how to arrange meal deliveries. Call Kevin Leinum – your local Medicare Expert about what Medicare covers or how enrolling in a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plan can improve your coverage and reduce your out-of-pocket costs.

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Is Long-Term Care Covered Under Medicare or Medicaid?

No. Medicare is strictly a health insurance program that covers costs related to illnesses and injuries (and, to some extent, their prevention). Based on a doctor’s recommendation, it will help pay for up to 100 days of rehabilitation or skilled nursing care after a significant health issue. But more extended stays, such as a permanent move into a nursing home, are not covered. What about Medicare Advantage? You can check to see if there’s a Medicare Advantage plan in your area that offers limited caregiving assistance. You may be able to find one that provides meals or pays for the installation of grab bars. A small number of so-called special needs plans offer some in-home support services. If a Medicare Advantage plan has a five-star rating, you may switch to it outside of the annual enrollment period. What about Medicaid? Medicaid pays for long-term nursing-home care, but only for people with low income and modest savings which can no longer handle basic daily tasks like dressing or feeding themselves. Gleckman says a good rule of thumb is that you likely qualify for Medicaid if you have less than $750 in income per month and less than $2,000 in financial assets (not counting a home). Call Kevin Leinum – your local Medicare Expert about what Medicare covers or how enrolling in a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plan can improve your coverage and reduce your out-of-pocket costs.

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What are the four parts of Medicare?

There are four parts of Medicare: Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D. – Part A provides inpatient/hospital coverage. – Part B provides outpatient/medical coverage. – Part C offers an alternate way to receive your Medicare benefits. – Part D provides prescription drug coverage. Generally, the different parts of Medicare help cover specific services. Most beneficiaries choose to receive their Part A and B benefits through Original Medicare, the traditional fee-for-service program offered directly through the federal government. It is sometimes called Traditional Medicare or Fee-for-Service (FFS) Medicare. Under Original Medicare, the government pays directly for the health care services you receive. You can see any doctor and hospital that takes Medicare (and most do) anywhere in the country. Let expert Kevin Leinum help you understand the many parts of Medicare and determine the right fit for you. Give me a call to discuss the options available to you.

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Are Medicare costs tax-deductible?

Monthly Medicare Part B premiums are tax-deductible. And just like other types of medical expenses, you can deduct them from your taxes. You’ll need to meet specific rules to deduct your Part B premium. It is possible to take advantage of the medical expense deduction, but only if you follow certain rules. To do so, file your taxes in a certain way and itemize your deductions instead of choosing the standard deduction. Your medical expenses will only be worth claiming after surpassing 10% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). You may want to look at your specific situation before deciding whether or not you should deduct your medical expenses. Let expert Kevin Leinum help you understand the many parts of Medicare and determine the right fit for you. Give me a call to discuss the options available to you.

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I’m about to sign up for Medicare but my income is over $100,000/yr. Will I pay higher premiums?

The premium you pay for Medicare Part B and Part D is dependent on your income. Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) is the name for the income-adjusted amount you pay for Medicare Part B or Part D premiums and is determined by your income. Most people will pay the standard amount for their Medicare Part B premium. However, you’ll owe an IRMAA if you make more than $91,000 in a given year. For Part D, you’ll pay the premium for the plan you select. Depending on your income, you’ll also pay an additional amount to Medicare. Call Kevin Leinum Medicare Agent – your local Medicare Expert about what Medicare covers or how enrolling in a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plan can improve your coverage and reduce your out-of-pocket costs.

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What is “The Medicare Wellness Visit”?

The Medicare Wellness Visit differs from a routine physical because it focuses on preventing disability and disease. During this visit, you and your health care provider (a doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or nurse) will develop a personalized plan for your health and wellness goals. Is the Medicare Wellness Visit free? If you qualify, Original Medicare covers the Annual Wellness Visit at 100% of the Medicare-approved amount when you receive the service from a participating provider. If you’ve had Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) for more than a year, you’re eligible for a free annual Medicare Wellness Visit. As long as your health care provider accepts Medicare Assignment, you don’t have to pay anything for this visit. If they perform additional services or tests and Medicare doesn’t cover these services or tests, you may be required to pay an additional fee. Ask your provider if you have questions. During your first Annual Wellness Visit, your Personal Care Provider (PCP) will develop your personalized prevention plan. Let expert Kevin Leinum help you understand the many parts of Medicare and determine the right fit for you. Give me a call to discuss the options available to you.

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What is the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP)?

The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program expanded model is a structured intervention with the goal of preventing type 2 diabetes in individuals with an indication of prediabetes. The clinical intervention consists of a minimum of 16 intensive “core” sessions of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved curriculum furnished over six months in a group-based, classroom-style setting that provides practical training in long-term dietary change, increased physical activity, and behavior change strategies for weight control. After completing the core sessions, less intensive follow-up meetings furnished monthly help ensure that the participants maintain healthy behaviors. The primary goal of the expanded model is at least 5 percent weight loss by participants. Fortunately, type 2 diabetes can usually be delayed or prevented with health behavior changes. The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) expanded model is a structured behavior change intervention that aims to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes among Medicare beneficiaries with an indication of prediabetes. Kevin Leinum – your local Medicare Expert – can help you understand the many parts of Medicare and determine what the right fit is for you. Give us a call to discuss the options available to you.

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Can I save money by adding Medicare Advantage?

A Medicare PFFS Plan is a type of Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) offered by a private insurance company. PFFS plans aren’t the same as Original Medicare or Medigap. The plan determines how much it will pay doctors, other health care providers, and hospitals, and how much you must pay when you get care. Yes – you can save money simply by paying the monthly premium for Part B and going directly to doctors and hospitals for your health care. You will not have to pay the Part B deductible, and you can continue to use Medicare prescription drug coverage. The main disadvantage of this approach is that if you ever have to enter a hospital or skilled nursing facility, you will have to pay up-front for the cost of your stay, which may be substantial. You would also have to pay your physician directly for any services you received while you were in the hospital or skilled nursing facility. Seniors save nearly $2,000 on average a year in total healthcare spending in Medicare Advantage (MA) compared to fee-for-service Medicare, a new study finds. Kevin Leinum – your local Medicare Expert – can help you understand the many parts of Medicare and determine what the right fit is for you. Give us a call to discuss the options available to you.

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We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, we represent 8 organizations which offer 75 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. This is a proprietary website and is not associated, endorsed, or authorized by the Social Security Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services or the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This site contains decision-support content and information about Medicare, services related to Medicare and services for people with Medicare. If you would like to find more information about the Medicare program, please visit the Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare located at http://www.medicare.gov.

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