On April 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the Calendar Year 2025 Rate Announcement for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Programs to update payment policies for these programs, according to a press release from CMS.gov. Payments to the government will increase an average of 3.70 percent from 2024 […]
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2024 Bringing Big Savings for Medicare Patients Relying on Expensive Drugs
There is good news for Medicare recipients in 2024 who count on costly prescriptions. The Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022 puts an annual ceiling of $3,300 in 2024 for Part D drugs. The number could shift slightly depending on whether they take brand-name or generic medications. In 2025, the news is even better: the […]
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Seniors Beware – Medicare (dis)Advantage Plans – Part Two.
If you’re not worried about your Medicare Advantage plan, a recent article from The Washington Post, “Hospitals and doctors are fed up with Medicare Advantage,” might motivate you to check on your Medicare plan before the open enrollment period ends – next Thursday, December 7. While Medicare Advantage plans have about 31 million members (nearly […]
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Seniors Beware – Medicare Advantage Plans – Part 1
Seniors who sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan may find themselves in a world of trouble – the complete opposite of what they expected. Once you turn 65, you are eligible to sign up for health coverage under Medicare. You can choose traditional Medicare (Parts A, B, and D) or Medicare Advantage (Part C). […]
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Stephen J. Silverberg Speaking at Nassau County Bar Association on November 17th.
Seniors aren’t the only ones who find Medicare options confusing. On Friday, November 17, Stephen J. Silverberg will present “Medicare Supplement vs. Medicare Advantage,” a program examining the different programs to help attorneys better assist their eligible senior clients. The program, a joint meeting of the Senior Attorney and Elder Law, Social Services, and Health […]
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Don’t Make These Medicare Mistakes
Medicare can be complicated and mistakes can be expensive. Knowing the pitfalls in advance can make a big difference for seniors. Here’s an example of what can go wrong. A 66 year old actor from California enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. After receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis last year, he learned the specialists he […]
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Thinking About Getting A Shingles Vaccination – Don’t Do it Now
If you are on Medicare and are considering getting a shingles vaccination before the year ends, read this first. Definitely get the vaccine if your doctor recommends it. But what you may not know: the shingles vaccine is not currently covered by Original Medicare (Medicare Part A or B). For some people, Medicare B may […]
Continue reading…Medicare Enrollment Season: What You Need to Know Now
I’m happy to learn that the CMS is combatting the misleading ads targeting seniors to switch from traditional Medicare plans to private Medicare Advantage plans. The number of mailers, television ads, robocalls, and emails has exploded – I received more marketing messages about Medicare this year than I did from candidates – and we all […]
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Medicare Part B Premiums to Decrease in 2023
For the first time in over a decade, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that Medicare beneficiaries will enjoy a lower premium in 2023. That’s welcome news for seniors living on a fixed income and struggling with dramatic price increases on, well, everything. The standard monthly premiums in 2023 will be $164.90 in […]
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Climate Change Bill Brings a Bright Spot of Good News for Americans
We welcome any good news in a dismal news cycle, but the healthcare provisions built into the “Inflation Reduction Act” are worth a special mention. The New York Times calls it “the most substantial changes to health policy since the passage of Obamacare in 2010.” Passed by the U.S. Senate on August 8 and expected […]
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