Jay at Paulson Insure

Good to know! Good news from Medicare! It is now covering prescriptions for the oral antiviral COVID-19 treatment, Paxlovid, through the end of 2024.
https://mailchi.mp/medicarerights.org/extra-help-spap-294582?e=7ae5a2cf16

Send a message to learn more

Another fun one

Here's a harmless little funny that I certainly empathize with!

A great explanation of what Home Health Services means in Medicare:

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 7 organizations which offer 100 products in your area (state of WA) Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

If you are helping care for a family member or friend, you are not alone! More than 820,000 Washington State citizens provide care to an adult who needs help with care. Check out this link for a variety of ways to find some information, resources, and people that can help:

Caregiver Resources | DSHS If you are helping care for a family member or friend, you are not alone! More than 820,000 Washington State citizens provide care to an adult who needs help with care. Below are a variety of ways to find some information, resources, and people that can help. Caregiver Support is a Phone Call Away T...

A friend and client sent me this the other day. I'm still chuckling. "I scheduled for tomorrow but didn't realize tomorrow was tomorrow till just now so we need to reschedule for next week."
Brilliant!!

Good post about the up and coming Annual Open Enrollment for Medicare.

Dear Marci: What do I need to do during Fall Open Enrollment? Dear Marci,    I enrolled in Medicare earlier this year. My sister told me that Fall Open Enrollment for Medicare is coming up. What is Fall Open Enrollment, and what do I need to do during this time?   -Abigail (Redding, CA) 

Good article about the confusion understanding Medicare plans.

New Survey Highlights Overwhelming, Confusing, and Misleading Medicare Plan Marketing A new survey from the Commonwealth Fund examines beneficiary experiences with marketing outreach from private Medicare Advantage (MA), Medigap, and Part D plans. The surveyors asked beneficiaries about these interactions, including any impact on their Medicare coverage decisions. The survey was cond...

Worried about your Medicaid? Contact me.

More than 1 million people are dropped from Medicaid as states start a post-pandemic purge of rolls About 1.5 million people have lost Medicaid coverage in more than two dozen states as a post-coronavirus pandemic purge of the rolls gets underway. Data analyzed by The Associated Press show some states have dropped coverage for more than half the people whose eligibility cases were decided in April...

Check it out online: lmtaaa.org/farmersmarket

https://mailchi.mp/medicarerights.org/extra-help-spap-293801?e=7ae5a2cf16

Dear Marci: Does Medicare cover second opinions? Dear Marci,   My doctor is recommending I get surgery. I do trust them but I want to get another opinion before agreeing to something so big. Will Medicare cover a second opinion, even if another doctor recommends the same thing?   -Rana (El Paso, TX)

With the official end of COVID, Medicaid recipients may find their help level adjusted. If you receive Medicaid:

1. Make sure your address and contact info is up to date.
2. If you receive inquiries from Medicaid, respond promptly.

I'm here if you need to change your plan, either Medicare or on the WA Individual Exchange or simply have questions, contact me!
Jay

Here's some great information if you are thinking of adding Medicare coverage with your VA coverage. I'm here for questions as well!

Dear Marci: How do VA benefits work with Medicare? Dear Marci,   I have Veterans Affairs (VA) health coverage and am turning 65 in late March of this next year. Do I need to enroll in Medicare?   -Chris (Springfield, OH)

Starting Oct 1st. Call recording requirements start for Medicare calls. If you wish to learn more, read this article.
https://www.pahealthadvocates.com/post/new-cms-regulation-meant-to-protect-could-harm-60-million-medicare-beneficiaries?fbclid=IwAR3kV2uE--LvdClqF7w1MJQOhSZKUGCaLKbh5KuqEACL3NlmM94U9Pk4PqY

New CMS Regulation Meant to Protect, Could Harm 60+ Million Medicare Beneficiaries Starting October 1st, 2022 all Medicare-related calls must be recorded by health insurance agents and brokers. At face value, having a recording of a call sounds like a great way to catch bad actors who misinform seniors about their options pertaining to medicare. Here is my question to you though:....

Fall Enrollment is almost here. Confused about it? Read this or give me a call!

Dear Marci: What is Fall Open Enrollment? Dear Marci, I just enrolled in Medicare a few months ago, and now I am hearing about Fall Open Enrollment coming up. What is Fall Open Enrollment, and what should do I do during this time?    -Patty (Providence Forge, VA)

Allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices could lower drug prices. Check out this article and make your voice heard.
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/act-today-tell-congress-to-make-health-care-and-prescription-drugs-more-affordable/?utm_source=Medicare+Rights+Center&utm_campaign=9510c40423-medicare_watch_080422&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1c591fe07f-9510c40423-85255841&mc_cid=9510c40423&mc_eid=7ae5a2cf16

Send a message to learn more

The Medicare Rights website is non-profit and has great information. I learn from them all the time!

Getting Medicare right. Medicare Rights is the largest and most reliable independent source of Medicare information and assistance in the United States.

Just want to make it clear that Medicare does not endorse me personally. I am an independent health insurance broker who also sells Medicare plans from multiple carriers!
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 7 organizations which offer 100 products in your area (state of WA) Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

I had a booth at the Mason County Forest Festival this last weekend. A lot of fun meeting new people!

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, they are going to lower the Part B premium next year!

https://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/hhs-announces-projected-part-b-premium-price-drop-due-aduhelm-pricing

HHS announces projected Part B premium price drop due to Aduhelm pricing New CMS report requested by HHS Secretary Becerra shows savings can be passed on to Medicare beneficiaries in 2023.  

I found this interesting. Can a nutritionist really recommend any kind of fast food? Yes. Check this out from Silver Sneakers:
https://www.silversneakers.com/blog/nutritionist-approved-fast-food-meals/?utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=212854678&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_906t84bRfCddMStjg9-fhMGNdUAZmZIjJhrRYQDiKEwDtSQmn12v-2FAQpYh6hjxftBIN1NZYX7gnc0liC93fQ7Z4DsI_9bPivmv3LrsE-HrBnig&utm_content=212854677&utm_source=hs_email

12 Nutritionist-Approved Fast Food Meals - SilverSneakers Few health experts would suggest that you hit the drive-thru on a regular basis, but that doesn’t mean every fast food meal is terrible for you. Here are the best picks on every menu.

A nice article from the Silver Sneakers Newsletter. Diabetes can be a hidden danger.
https://www.silversneakers.com/blog/early-signs-symptoms-diabetes/?utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=211977520&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--XsCNfpqgxOy-o4dktIi-2HEx5LUhYRkJXy0ZAdY92UEBvaSvvnE4pxq9lrvn099Bd8KvhSg-LW6azInL7uv4n9cDaPleNf6W-ywTTPpRjBQYaxXo&utm_content=211977518&utm_source=hs_email

The Early Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes You Can’t Ignore - SilverSneakers Nearly a quarter of Americans with diabetes are undiagnosed. These are the early signs and symptoms of diabetes that older adults need to know about.

A quality of care complaint includes situations such as receiving the wrong care, treatment, or running into barriers to receiving care. For more information, see the link.

https://mailchi.mp/medicarerights.org/extra-help-spap-293009?e=e2ee57138c

How do I file a quality-of-care complaint? Dear Marci,   My mother recently received a misdiagnosis, resulting in unnecessary and painful treatment. We are so upset about her situation but are not sure what to do about it. Is there anything Medicare beneficiaries can do when they receive poor quality of care?   -Vincent (Abbeville, SC)   ...

Did you miss out on getting your Medicare card for Parts A & B? All is not lost:

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM CMS...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is providing equitable relief to individuals who could not submit premium-Part A or Part B enrollment or disenrollment requests timely due to challenges contacting us by phone. This relief applies to the 2022 General Enrollment Period, Initial Enrollment Period, and Special Enrollment Period

If you were unable to enroll or disenroll in Medicare because you could not reach us by phone after January 1, 2022, you will be granted additional time, through December 30, 2022.

For more information, call 1-800-772-1213 or use our Office Locator to find the number for a local office.

A troubling trend on drug prices. Read more about it here:
https://www.medicarerights.org/medicare-watch/2022/03/10/drug-prices-already-rising-in-2022

Drug Prices Already Rising in 2022 A new analysis from the AARP Public Policy Institute finds drug companies have increased prices for many brand name Part D drugs in 2022, contributing to affordability challenges for people with Medicare. According to the report, 75 of the 100 brand name drugs with the highest Medicare Part D spendi...

Hooray!!
The Center for Medicare Services is considering a rule change concerning third-party marketing organizations (TPMOs) advertise heavily, often on TV, and make big claims for what people can receive if they switch to an MA plan. In the proposed rule, CMS notes that “beneficiaries are confused by these TPMOs, including confusion regarding who they are speaking to, what plans the TPMOs represent, and that the beneficiary may be unaware that they are enrolling into a new plan during these phone conversations.”
To see the whole article https://www.medicarerights.org/medicare-watch/2022/03/10/medicare-rights-supports-important-proposals-for-medicare-advantage-and-part-d-plans?utm_source=Medicare+Rights+Center&utm_campaign=eeadc4ea3d-Medicare_Watch_2_3_2022_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1c591fe07f-eeadc4ea3d-85255841&mc_cid=eeadc4ea3d&mc_eid=e2ee57138c

Medicare Rights Supports Important Proposals for Medicare Advantage and Part D Plans This week, Medicare Rights submitted comments on a proposed rule that would make some important changes to Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D plans. If finalized, this rule would alter how MA plans can use third parties to market to consumers; require plans to communicate with enrollees in multiple....

The Medicare Rights Center is the largest and most reliable independent source of Medicare information and assistance in the United States.

They have a great article this month about what to do if you miss enrollment. I can help with this as well!

https://mailchi.mp/medicarerights.org/extra-help-spap-292884?e=e2ee57138c

What happens if I enroll in Medicare late? Dear Marci,   I just realized I missed my Initial Enrollment Period to enroll in Medicare. What happens if I enroll in Medicare late?   -Dan (Herman, MN)   Dear Dan,   If you missed your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) and need to enroll in Medicare, you will have to enroll during either a Speci...