I typed in the keyword “Medicare” on Reddit and did a quick scroll. Yikes. I can’t count how many times I read the phrase, “I wish I had known this sooner!” Getting stuck with penalties. Missing enrollment periods. Wishing they could do it all over again. I’m here to tell you: THIS DOESN’T HAVE TO […]
COBRA gives workers and their families the opportunity to stay on their employer group plan after a voluntary or involuntary job loss. A lot of retirees think, “I’ll retire but just stay on my employer group plan through COBRA. THEN I’ll enroll in Medicare.” Bad idea. Why? Being on COBRA will not protect you from […]
Are you suspicious of insurance agents? You should be! There are a lot of fishy characters out there – so I have no problem explaining to folks what they should look for in an agent. Brandon Barrett – the owner of The Barrett Agency in Indiana came up with this list. I think […]
My brain is boggled by the medical technology world. Can you imagine being born blind and then being able to see? Or becoming a quadripalegic being able to walk again? Elon Musk’s company Neuralink is rolling out a new nervous system implant that could accomplish these dreams and many more (treat depression, dementia, Parkinson’s?). A […]
I recently found a new word used to describe changes being made to Part D: “smoothing.” What does this mean? (And no – it’s not a delicious concoction of blended fruits and juice) 😋 The Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) recently released draft guidance for the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, part of the Inflation Reduction […]
I recently got a comment on one of my posts about signing up for Medicare: Here’s the paraphrase: “What is there to sign up for? Doesn’t Medicare just send you a card when you turn 65?” Sadly, if you are turning 65 (and not on Social Security yet), and you are waiting for your Medicare […]
I’ve talked to several clients recently and fielded this common question: Are Medicare Advantage plans bad? **(If you’re not familiar with Medicare Advantage plans, they are Medicare plans offered by the private sector. The federal Medicare program heavily subsidizes them, and they often “bundle” Parts A, B, and D of Medicare into one plan).** I […]
Have you ever heard of “Occam’s Razor”? It’s a principle that suggests when you have multiple explanations for something, the simplest one is usually the best. For example, if you hear hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras. I like to take the same approach with Medicare. Why make things complicated when they can be simple?? Here […]
If you are anything like me, you are being drowned by news about blockbuster weight-loss drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy. Maybe you’re curious (How do these drugs work? Are they effective?). Maybe you’re annoyed (why are these drugs so expensive and hard to get?). Maybe you’re fearful (I take these drugs – […]
What would you guess is the biggest “money suck” in retirement? Many would say traveling, spoiling grandkids, eating out too much, or maybe finally splurging on things you put off during your working years (we can finally join and use a country club!). While it’s true that overspending can definitely suck your money away in […]