Managing Your Managed Care

Most of us are enrolled in some type of managed care health plan. Managed care means you agree to allow a private insurance group or physicians group manage your access to health care. From the insurer’s point of view, these are cost containment measures, and they can be frustrating to deal with if they are… Read more »

Re-Solution

As we enter another new year, many look to this opportunity with excitement to start anew; refresh their outlook and create goals or new aspirations of achievement. However, it’s important to reflect on and remember the past as to not make the same mistakes or fall into the same rut after the new year’s excitement… Read more »

What You Gain, What You Lose

Medicare Advantage plans are more popular than ever. With Medicare Annual Election Period coming soon, we are expecting even more seniors to choose this type of coverage than ever before. Low- or even no-premium plans are the most popular and some plans even offer a “giveback,” a credit to your Social Security benefit, rather than… Read more »

Travel Health Insurance

Packing for your summer vacation means finding room for all the essentials. One that many might forget is travel health insurance.  Now, keep in mind that trip insurance and travel insurance are very different. Trip insurance, usually purchased from your agent or online booking site, insures you against loss for having to cancel or postpone… Read more »

Open Enrollment.

Do’s and Don’ts of Medicare

Whether you are turning 65 soon or already enrolled, there are some simple points to remember as you plan your Medicare coverage. Turning 65? DO set up an online account with SSA.GOV. This will be your “mySSA” account. Register at least four months before your 65th birthday. Your Medicare effective date is the first day… Read more »

Projected 2023 Medicare Costs

Each year, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), under the Federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), sets new pricing for Medicare. This involves more than just your Medicare premium, but deductibles, co-pays and reimbursement levels for providers. Fortunately, there is good news for the year ahead. The 2022 Medicare Part B premium… Read more »

hands holding coins and plant

The ABCs of ESGs

History demonstrates socially responsible investing (SRI) has been present since the 1800’s. It began with adversity to companies that manufactured tobacco and alcohol or promoted gambling in an era  known as the Age of Reason.   In 1971, the first socially responsible investing fund was launched by Pax World, a sustainable investment firm, and in… Read more »

Person thinking with question marks all around

Prescription Drug Plan Pricing Explained

Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plans can be complicated, but once you understand them, you can make them work in your favor. The two main factors that affect the price of your prescription medications are drug tier and coverage stage. Drug tiers 1-5 are the levels of pricing for medications on a specified formulary.  Each… Read more »

Medicare Terminology Made Simple

Medicare can be very confusing. Plan types, names and acronyms make for a labyrinth of terminology. Here are some simple definitions that may help make sense of Medicare coverage. Traditional Medicare: This is the federal program that includes Medicare Part A and Part B. Most people start here at age 65, unless they have group… Read more »

Freeze the Fraud

Many years ago, I received a $30,000 tax bill from the state. I was a freshman in college and the world wide web had yet to be launched for public use. After several long calls to the state, it was determined that my social security number had been compromised. Fortunately, I was not held responsible… Read more »

Building Foundation

This Old House

As one of the first do-it-yourself (DIY) shows over 40 years ago, “This Old House” focused on home renovations and improvements. Today, there are dozens of DIY shows and dedicated networks to watch renovations and new home construction. One constant in every show, whether a home is being modernized or built from scratch, is that… Read more »