What is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period MA-OEP? 

Most people are aware that you can enroll in or make a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan change during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), which runs from October 15th thru December 7th every year.  It’s hard not to know about this window, with all the advertising and mail solicitations that you are likely…

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Selecting the Right Part D Drug Plan

Selecting the Right Part D Drug Plan

Each year during the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), Medicare enrollees can enroll in or make a change to their Medicare Advantage and/or Part D coverage. AEP takes place each year from October 15th thru December 7th and any changes made are effective on January 1st of the following year. AEP is also the time of…

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Changes Coming to Part D Prescription Drug Costs

Changes Coming to Part D Prescription Drug Costs

The Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act on August 7, 2022, which has significant provisions affecting Medicare drug prices. In addition, most Part D plans change annually. The changes you may see with your Part D plan include a different premium, deductible, cost-sharing limits, and covered drugs.  Below is a summary of some of the…

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COBRA & Medicare

COBRA & Medicare: What You Need to Know COBRA coverage and Medicare are two perplexing topics on their own. And they can become even more confusing when you are eligible for both COBRA & Medicare at the same time.  So what is COBRA exactly? COBRA (The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) is a federal law…

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Types of Medicare Insurance Plans

Understanding the types of Medicare Plans Many Medicare-eligible individuals choose to add a Medicare insurance plan to help with the medical and prescription costs not covered by Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). There are several types of Medicare insurance plans to choose from and we have included information about the most common below:1.Medicare…

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Important Medicare Enrollment Timelines

There are important timelines when it comes to signing up for Medicare and enrolling in Medicare insurance plans that you need to be aware of. In addition to familiarizing yourself with these timelines, we recommend reaching out to a trusted Medicare advisor at least three (3) months prior to turning 65 to determine your action…

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Budgeting for Medicare

Overview of Costs Medicare consists of “Original Medicare” known as Part A and Part B, plus any Medicare insurance plans you may elect to enroll in, like a Medicare Advantage plan (also known as “Part C”), Medicare Supplement plan, and/or a Prescription Drug Plan (also known as “Part D”).  When budgeting for Medicare, there are…

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Appealing a Higher Part B or Part D Premium

Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) article to see the income thresholds and applicable IRMAA charges for Part B and Part D.   To determine whether IRMAA charges apply, Medicare defaults to looking at your modified adjusted gross income as reported on your IRS tax return from two years prior. For example, in 2022, they would…

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