Ament Benefits Inc

Medicare Advantage extras on the chopping block in 2025 "Medicare Advantage insurers prioritize margins over membership in 2025 due to lower reimbursement rates and rising medical costs, leading to plan offerings being cut.

https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2024-medicare-parts-b-premiums-and-deductibles #:~:text=Medicare%20Part%20B%20Premium%20and%20Deductible&text=The%20standard%20monthly%20premium%20for,%249.80%20from%20%24164.90%20in%202023.

2024 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles | CMS 2024 Medicare Part D Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts

Study: MA Beneficiaries Have Lower Utilization Than Traditional Medicare A new study found that MA beneficiaries have more than 50% fewer inpatient stays and 22% fewer emergency department visits than traditional Medicare enrollees.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianeomdahl/2023/06/09/can-you-drop-medicare-part-a/

Can You Drop Medicare Part A?

Can You Drop Medicare Part A? Bottom line: The decision to enroll in premium-free Part A is not one you can undo at a later date.

The COVID-19 vaccines and test coverage could change based on your insurance company's benefits starting 5/12/23 since the Covid-19 Health Emergency is ending, see attached for more details.

Fact Sheet: COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Transition Roadmap HHS is planning for the federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19, declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act

CMS rule addresses prior authorization issues with Medicare Advantage plans “Together, these changes will help ensure enrollees have consistent access to medically- necessary care while also maintaining medical management tools that emphasize the important role MA plans play in coordinating medically-necessary care,” CMS said.

Not sure if Medicare Advantage plans are good in every state but where I serve the plans have low out-of-pocket and low copays with many options at a $0 premium and several with nationwide provider networks. So I can understand the findings of this article. It is great there are so many good insurance options for the Medicare population!!

Medicare Advantage enrollees need less retirement savings for healthcare costs: Report Older adults who enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan may need less retirement savings to cover their healthcare costs than their counterparts in traditional Medicare.

Well it's tax time so I thought this article was appropriate, plus it shows the places you can go to file your taxes completed free!!

Tax Breaks After 50 You Can't Afford to Miss IRS tax code offers perks to taxpayers of a certain age

I would think all government would agree to not touch Medicare or Social Security but good to see something in writing, saying that is not the direction McCarthy is heading!

McCarthy: ‘We won’t touch Medicare or Social Security’ Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said on Thursday that House Republicans will not target Medicare or Social Security in their negotiations over the debt ceiling. “We won’t touch Medicare or Social…

Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries Have Better Diabetes Patient Outcomes Medicare Advantage and Medicare beneficiaries see different patient outcomes when it comes to chronic disease management for diabetes.

For those of you not on Medicare, might be another way to save on your insurance!

‘Family glitch’ fix makes thousands of Granite Staters newly qualified for cheaper insurance For the first time this year, family members of an employee who has insurance through an employer may be able to choose a federally subsidized Affordable Care Act Marketplace plan instead.

The Average Medicare Beneficiary Has a Choice of 43 Medicare Advantage Plans and 24 Part D Stand-Alone Plans for Coverage in 2023 For 2023, the typical beneficiary has a choice of 43 Medicare Advantage plans as an alternative to traditional Medicare, a new KFF analysis finds. That’s an increase of 5 plans on average from 2022…

Say What? Hearing Aids Available Over-the-Counter for as Low as $199, and Without a Prescription The cheaper over-the-counter aids are for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss — a market of tens of millions of people, many of whom have until now been priced out because prescription device…

Good news, raise on Social Security benefits!!

Social Security Benefits To Jump 8.7% In 2023, As Top Tax Hits $19,865 As inflation runs the hottest in four decades, 70 million Americans will benefit from the largest Social Security cost of living adjustment since 1981.

Olathe Health joins University of Kansas Health System Olathe Health announces it signed a letter of intent to join the University of Kansas Health System.

Great article showing difference in cost between the Medicare options, I actually think in our area since the MAPD plans have low out-of-pocket max with no premium, you would spend even less.

Milliman Retiree Health Cost Index: A healthy 65-year-old will spend on average between $137,000 and $300,000 on healthcare costs in retirement /PRNewswire/ -- Milliman, Inc., a premier global consulting and actuarial firm, today released its 2022 Retiree Health Cost Index which projects the total...

Good news, Part B premium going down for 2023!!!

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

Interesting stats on Medicare Advantage!

The state of Medicare Advantage in 2022: 12 notes With record support in Congress and in the number of plans offered nationwide, Medicare Advantage is growing fast, diversifying its members and driving senior care costs down, according to the Better Medicare Alliance's 2022 "State of Medicare Advantage Report."

These new Medicare Advantage plans that I have seen in the last few years are amazing and glad to see it is saving people money per this article, plus giving them so many additional services like OTC, dental, vision, fitness, assistance, large provider networks, etc. Seniors deserve good quality healthcare and most insurance carriers are providing this service.

Study: Medicare Advantage saves seniors nearly $2K a year compared to fee-for-service Seniors save nearly $2,000 on average a year in total healthcare spending in Medicare Advantage (MA) compared to fee-for-service Medicare, a new study finds. | A new study from the Better Medicare Alliance found that Medicare Advantage beneficiaries saved nearly $2,000 on their total healthcare spen...

I help my clients with their Medicare insurance and so excited of all the options that Seniors have for health benefits. This article shows Medicare Advantage plans continues to add services and more insurance carriers offering it. The only problem is knowing how to access all these wonderful benefits, so that is where a good Medicare agent comes in to help. So if you are my Medicare client or want to be, call me and I can help you maximize your benefits and get the care needed.

Medicare Advantage Plans Get A Big Pay Hike, Offer More Services And Supports For Older Adults Medicare Advantage managed care plans, which in 2021 covered 26 million enrollees, will get an average 8.5 percent increase in total Medicare payments next year. At the same time, MA plans are rapidly embracing a wide range of social services and supports for older adults living at home.

My #1 job as a Medicare agent is to help my clients turn 65 gracefully without any penalties and with Medicare insurance policies that fits their needs. So when I found this article, I was very excited, definitely the best piece I have seen to help those turning 65 understand where to go and what to do. So read this and call me when you are nearing age 65 or. . . . just call me and I can make sure it is a smooth transition for you!!

Your Medicare pre-enrollment checklist Give yourself time to prepare for enrollment, so you can choose the plan that’s right for you.

I normally post items that focus on Medicare or insurance but this is a great article for all ages!!
https://apple.news/AdjanG2BHRe27UvPqan7v-Q

The Seven Habits That Lead to Happiness in Old Age — The Atlantic Your well-being is like a retirement account: The sooner you invest, the greater your returns will be.

The benefits offered by these Medicare Advantage plans are definitely growing, I've seen it personally in the KS/MO plans I have sold for 2022.

Competition drives Medicare Advantage plans to expand nonmonetary benefits, which can save LTC providers money The number of Medicare Advantage insurers has doubled over the past year, leading to expanded coverage beyond medical needs, according to a report released Wednesday from ATI Advisory. The nonmonetary benefits to recipients can help offset costs for senior living and care operators, the experts say.

Great article, our team helps our clients negotiate their medical bills with similar strategies.

Yes, you can negotiate your medical bills. Here's how to lower your costs Many Americans are facing thousands of dollars in medical bills. Yet they don't always have to pay it all.

$170.10 is the new Part B premium for 2022, one of largest increase in history, read article to see why.

Medicare's "Part B" premium jumping by $21.60 a month next year, one of largest increases ever Officials say a new Alzheimer's drug is responsible for about half of that.

I am a Certified licensed Medicare agent, I do not call or email people unless they are my Medicare clients or they have given me their permission. That is a law and as a Medicare agent I have to certify each year and contest that I will abide by this law. So why all these scams, not sure but if this happens to you report it! My clients have been victim to these phone calls, mail and email scams but luckily they do not engage and hang up or better yet they do not answer the phone. I feel it gets worse every year, so sad. I recommend only going with an agent that is local, not through an 800 # and have the option to meet in person. Unfortunately the best thing to do is to not answer the phone unless that number is in your caller ID, if it's a friend they will leave a voicemail. There are many good Medicare agents in your community, I try to visit each one of mine in person and I'm sure there is one in your community, let them help you! Read this article and report any scams to 1-800-MEDICARE!

Medicare’s Open Enrollment Is Open Season for Scammers Medicare officials say complaints are rising from seniors lured into private plans with misleading information or enrolled without their consent. In response, officials have threatened to penalize …

Great article in time for Veteran's Day/week! Thank you for your service for anyone that has served for our country!

Veterans with VA health benefits should consider Medicare when they become eligible, experts say. Here's why While there is no requirement that veterans using VA health care enroll in Medicare, there are reasons they should explore the benefits of doing so.

Those of you drawing Social Security, big raise for 2022!!

Social Security COLA Set at 5.9 Percent for 2022 The Social Security Administration set a 5.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2022 with inflation driving the biggest change in decades.

It's that time again, Annual Open Enrollment for Medicare, how exciting! There is so many new Medicare Advantage plans entering into the Kansas/Missouri area. We now have 4 employees that are licensed and certified to help you with your Medicare questions, free quote and all year long service!! Licensed in KS, MO, SC, AZ, IL and CO with ALL the insurance carriers. If you are Medicare eligible and live in these states, call us if you want an Agent that cares about your needs and finding the plan that best fits you!! Karen Ament -913-568-0768; Boaz 913-963-3339; Terry Atteberry 573-280-2839; Nick 636-208-1404

My friend and now colleague! Terry Atteberry