Calls for funding cuts to popular entitlement programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, have been fueled by the growing U.S. deficit and the fear that the Medicare trust fund will soon run out. Some Republican lawmakers insist that trimming those programs is the only way to rein in federal spending. But Urban Institute researchers released a study Monday showing that Medicare and Medicaid have done a better job at controlling spending than private payers have. They concluded that lawmakers should shift their focus toward containing costs in the private insurance market. Source/more: Modern Healthcare For a complete list…
Annual Enrollment has ended, but the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, allowing plan changes or a return to traditional Medicare continues through March 31 – Make sure you are fully informed about the Medicare that is right for you. Source/more: Center for Medicare Advocacy For a complete list of upcoming seminars, visit our website at www.davidwingate.com. Peace of mind is only a call or click away! For an Initial Consultation call Estate and Elder Planning by David Wingate at (301) 663-9230 or visit www.davidwingate.com David Wingate is an estate planning and elder law attorney at Estate and Elder…
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released a mobile application that enables consumers to determine whether Medicare covers a specific medical item or service. Source/more: Health Data Management For a complete list of upcoming seminars, visit our website at www.davidwingate.com. Peace of mind is only a call or click away! For an Initial Consultation call Estate and Elder Planning by David Wingate at (301) 663-9230 or visit www.davidwingate.com David Wingate is an estate planning and elder law attorney at Estate and Elder Planning by David Wingate. The Estate and Elder Planning office services clients with powers…
The Center for Medicare Advocacy will present “Medicare Home Health Updates” on January 23, 2:00 PM CST. More info/register here For a complete list of upcoming seminars, visit our website at www.davidwingate.com. Peace of mind is only a call or click away! For an Initial Consultation call Estate and Elder Planning by David Wingate at (301) 663-9230 or visit www.davidwingate.com David Wingate is an estate planning and elder law attorney at Estate and Elder Planning by David Wingate. The Estate and Elder Planning office services clients with powers of attorneys, living wills, Wills, Trusts, Medicaid and asset protection….
Consumer and health care groups are scrambling to block what they say is a move by the pharmaceutical industry to commandeer must-pass opioids epidemic legislation as a vehicle for rolling back drugmaker discounts to Medicare beneficiaries with high prescription costs. Republicans said Friday nothing has been decided in behind-the-scenes discussions. But Henry Connelly, a spokesman for House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, called the effort a “Republican attempt to hijack a bipartisan effort on opioids funding to ram through a multibillion-dollar handout to Big Pharma.” The House and Senate are working on major legislation to combat the opioids epidemic by focusing…
Premiums have risen very little in the years since Medicare Part D was introduced. But the same cannot be said of the burden on taxpayers. On the surface, there’s stability in premiums for obtaining prescription drugs, but they’re not reflecting the true costs of the program.CreditMatt Rourke/Associated Press At a glance, Medicare’s prescription drug program — also called Medicare Part D — looks like the perfect example of a successful public-private partnership. Drug benefits are entirely provided by private insurance plans, with generous government subsidies. There are lots of plans to choose from. It’s a wildly popular voluntary program, with…
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) is in the process of issuing new Medicare cards with a new “Medicare Beneficiary Identifier” to help protect the identities of Medicare beneficiaries The new card does not contain the social security number. In Maryland we expect the mailings to be completed by June 2018. You can use your new card as soon as you receive it. You can contact the Social Security Administration to make sure the mailing address is correct. The new number does not change the Medicare benefits. For more information go to www.cms.gov/medicare/new-medicare-card/nmc-home.html David Wingate is an…
Elder law attorneys serve as advocates for elderly or disabled clients and their families, providing counsel on a wide range of topics including health care, guardianship, and estate planning. Though it may seem that elder law attorneys are meant to handle extreme or unusual cases, everyone can benefit from the services of an elder law attorney. Here are four things an elder law attorney can do for you: Estate Planning Making sure your affairs are in order is essential, and having an experienced elder law attorney to guide you through the process makes everything easier. Because there are strict guidelines…
Medicare benefits start at age 65, but many people continue working past that age, either by choice or need. It is important to understand how Medicare and employer coverage work together. Depending on your circumstances, Medicare is either the primary or secondary insurer. The primary insurer pays any medical bills first up to the limits of its coverage. The secondary payer covers costs the primary insurer doesn’t cover (although it may not cover all costs). Knowing whether Medicare is primary or secondary to your current coverage is crucial because it determines whether you need to sign up for Medicare Part…
All hospitals must now give Medicare recipients notice when they are in the hospital under observation status. The notice requirement is part of a law enacted in 2015 but that just took effect. Signed by President Obama in August 2015, the law was intended to prevent surprises after a Medicare beneficiary spends days in a hospital under “observation” and is then admitted to a nursing home. This is important because Medicare covers nursing home stays entirely for the first 20 days, but only if the patient was first admitted to a hospital as an inpatient for at least three days….
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