Brandy Lachanski, MSM Benefits Advisor; Medicare Consultant

2023 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles 2023 Medicare Part D Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts | CMS On September 27, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2023 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs, and the 2023 Medicare Part D income-related monthly adjustment amounts. Medicare Part B Premium and Deductible

CMS rule limiting 3rd-party Medicare Advantage, Part D marketing now in effect A CMS rule revising Medicare Advantage and Part D marketing and communication regulations went into effect June 28 to increase oversight over third-party marketing organizations.

www.kff.org

Every U.S. household can get up to 3 orders of at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests at no cost!
Visit COVID.gov/tests to place your order. You'll need to enter your name and mailing address. (You can also give your email address if you want status updates on your order.)
Each new order includes 8 free COVID-19 tests shipped to your home at no cost — 2 separate packages of 4 tests each.
Order Now
At-home tests, or "self tests," give rapid results and can be taken anywhere, regardless of your vaccination status or whether or not you have symptoms. Visit CDC.gov to learn when to test yourself, how to use an at-home test, and what your test results mean.
Sincerely,
The Medicare Team

COVID.gov/tests - Free at-home COVID-19 tests Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order a 3rd round of free at-home tests. Order yours today.

Very Disturbing

Drug plan prices touted during Medicare open enrollment can rise within a month Even the savviest Medicare drug plan shoppers can get a shock when they fill prescriptions: That great deal on medications in fall is no bargain after prices go up as much as 8% by winter.

In case you missed it: If you or a loved one are 50 or older, or are moderately or severely immunocompromised, you can get an additional Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 booster shot at no cost to you.
The CDC recommends an additional booster shot for certain individuals to increase protection from severe disease from COVID-19. People over the age of 50, or who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, can get an additional booster of Pfizer or Moderna 4 months after their last dose. This is especially important for those 65 and older who are at higher risk from severe disease and most likely to benefit from getting an additional booster.
Learn More
Remember: Medicare covers the COVID-19 vaccine, including booster shots, at no cost to you. Find a COVID-19 vaccine location near you.

Good news! Each household in the U.S. can now have four free COVID-19 at-home tests shipped directly to their home at no cost! All you need to do is visit COVIDtests.gov and enter your contact information and mailing address.
Order Now
The tests are rapid antigen "at-home" or "self" tests — not PCR tests which require a lab drop-off. The "at-home" or "self" tests can be taken anywhere and give results within 30 minutes.
Guard against scammers trying to steal your personal information. When ordering tests, use the official, secure government website: https://COVIDtests.gov. Watch out for phone scammers, too. If you get a phone call requesting information so that free at-home tests can be mailed to you, hang up — it's a scam!
Remember: Medicare pays for COVID-19 tests performed by a lab, such as PCR or antigen/rapid tests, at no cost to you when the test is ordered by an authorized health care professional. Those in a Medicare Advantage Plan should check with their plan to see if their plan offers coverage and payment for at-home tests.
Sincerely,
The Medicare Team

COVIDtests.gov - Free at-home COVID-19 tests Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.

2022 Medicare rates
Medicare part B premium increase is largest ever
CMS officials stressed that while the 14.5% part B premium increase is a stiff one, the Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) at 5.9% the largest in 30 years is estimated to average $71.40 per recipient so even after the increase in Medicare part B premium most Social Security recipients whose part B premiums are typically deducted from their Social Security benefits will still see an increase in their monthly check COLA goes into affect in January

HHS unveils plan to directly negotiate Medicare pharmaceutical prices | BenefitsPRO House Democrats passed a similar provision as part of a major drug pricing bill in 2019, although it never was enacted into law.

Did you know Medicare has a YouTube channel with a ton of helpful (short and easy) videos?!! https://www.youtube.com/user/cmshhsgov

CMSHHSgov - YouTube Official YouTube Channel for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) responsible for all Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP information. www.cms.govWe ac...

Hypertension detection, treatment, control varies widely across countries Hypertension detection, treatment and control varies widely across different countries, with some middle-income countries outperforming high-income nations, researchers reported in The Lancet.“Comparable data on hypertension detection, treatment and control are needed to learn from good practi...

Encourage friends and family to get the COVID-19 vaccine

If you've already gotten your COVID-19 vaccine — that's great! With 80% of people 65 and older fully vaccinated, older adults are leading the charge in getting their COVID-19 vaccination. Now it's time for your friends and loved ones to get their vaccine, if they haven't already. And with the Delta variant spreading across the country, this is more urgent than ever.
Everyone age 12 and older is eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost. Remember, if you or a loved one are unvaccinated, you're at higher risk of getting seriously ill from the virus.
Find COVID-19 Vaccines
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and they're the way to get back to the things we love with the people we love. Encourage your loved ones to join the millions of others who are getting the COVID-19 vaccine for themselves, their families, their communities, and so much more.

Sincerely,
The Medicare Team
Medicare.gov

Calling Ohioans approaching Medicare eligibility! Participate in our “Welcome to Medicare” webinar on August 25 at 4pm! This webinar provides an overview of Medicare and coverage options in an interactive setting. Register here! https://bit.ly/3tVWcCu!

2021 Medicare Rates

😂 too cute, not to share❣️

Now's the time to get your flu shot. The flu shot is covered for people with Medicare from providers that accept Medicare or your Medicare plan. You can safely get a flu vaccine at your doctor's office, pharmacy, or other local provider.

The flu can be very serious for people who are 65 years and older. A flu shot is your best protection from getting and spreading the virus. Getting the shot can help you stay healthy and, if you do get sick with the flu, your symptoms likely won't be as bad or last as long.
All places offering flu shots should be following CDC guidance to ensure you have a safe place to get vaccinated. This includes that patients wear a face covering and maintain social distance in areas like waiting rooms. Visit CDC.gov for more information on how to safely get your flu vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some info on insulin savings for Medicare from CMS

And for all the dog 🐕 lovers 😂

Some Friday humor 😀

If you've been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you may be contacted by a contact tracer or public health worker from your state or local health department in an effort to help slow the spread of the disease. Here's what to know if you get a call:
• A contact tracer may call to let you know you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. All information you share with a contact tracer, like who you've been in contact with and your recent whereabouts, is confidential.
• You may be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days. This means staying home, monitoring your health, and maintaining social distance from others at all times.
• You may be asked to monitor your health and watch for symptoms of COVID-19. Notify your doctor if you develop symptoms, and seek medical care if your symptoms worsen or become severe.
Contact Tracing
Be aware of scammers pretending to be COVID-19 contact tracers. Legitimate contact tracers will never ask for your Medicare Number or financial information. If someone calls and asks for personal information, like your Medicare Number, hang up and report it to us at 1-800-MEDICARE.

How Yoga Can Support Heart Health Yoga’s powerful effects can help you avoid and manage heart disease.

CMS increases Medicare payment for three types of providers Skilled nursing facilities will get a $750 million, or 2.2%, boost for 2021.

Report shows COVID-19's disparate impact among seniors Medicare paid out an average of $25,255 per beneficiary, or a total of $2.8 billion, in fee-for-service claims for COVID-19 hospitalizations, according to data from the CMS. Black Medicare recipients had the highest rate of hospitalization for COVID-19 among minority groups, followed by Native Ameri...

Beware of offers for free protective equipment in exchange for your Medicare Number.
medicare dot gov
Avoid COVID-19 scams
Have you gotten robocalls, text messages, or emails offering free face masks? Or maybe you've seen social media posts about free COVID-19 testing kits, "cures," or protective equipment?

Unfortunately scammers are using the COVID-19 pandemic to try to steal your Medicare Number and personal information. If anyone reaches out to get your Medicare Number or personal information in exchange for something, you can bet it's a scam.

Prevent Medicare Fraud

Stop scams before they happen. Watch this short video and visit Medicare.gov/fraud for tips on preventing Medicare scams and fraud. If you suspect fraud, call 1-800-MEDICARE to report it.

Medicare fraud video, click to watch
Sincerely,

The Medicare Team

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Help fight Medicare fraud | Medicare Learn about examples of Medicare fraud, like getting billed for services or equipment you never got.

House Committee Approves Bill to Ease Medicare Part B Enrollment Seniors would be notified about eligibility to avoid late fees, coverage gap

While everyone is at risk for getting COVID-19 if they're exposed to the virus, people of any age with certain medical conditions — like heart disease, diabetes, or COPD — are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. Visit CDC.gov for a list of conditions that might put you at higher risk.
More Info
If you or a loved one are at an increased risk, take these steps to help protect yourself:
o Continue your medicines and treatment plans as directed by your healthcare provider. Ask your Medicare drug plan about extended-day supplies.
o Call your healthcare provider if you have any concerns or feel sick. Don't delay getting emergency care for your medical condition because of COVID-19.
o If you must go out in public, stay safe by wearing a face covering and maintaining social distance.
If you're at higher risk for complications from COVID-19 and you need to see your doctor, consider telehealth and virtual visits. For more general information about COVID-19 and your Medicare coverage, visit Medicare.gov.

What moving means for Medicare coverage People using Medicare or Medicare Advantage might need to change health coverage when moving from one state to another. People with Medigap insurance plans, which are coupled with traditional Medicare, may be able to keep their coverage because benefits are more standardized, but MA and standalone P...

CMS: Home care telehealth changes should be permanent The CMS issued a proposal to make changes allowing expanded use of telehealth for home health care permanent after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The temporary change enabled providers of home health care to use connected health tools to provide more services that fall under patien...