Medicare

Medicare Advantage Applications Grow

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on March 8, 2013 - 9:14am

An increasing amount of insurance companies have been working to improve services and products by offering expanded health care plans. The number of health insurers sending in applications for Medicare Advantage has increased by 50%. Last year, the U.S reported approximately 31 Medicare Advantage applications from insurers compared to 48 already seen this year. Experts expect Medicare Advantage applications to continue to grow reaching an additional 200 Medicare Advantage health plans in 2013. More here Read more »

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Medicare Age May Increase

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on March 6, 2013 - 8:33am

House Republicans have recently proposed raising the qualifying age for traditional Medicare to 56. Americans near the age of retirement would not be effected by any changes to the Medicare plan according to panel members. The suggested increase in age to receive Medicare is among other changes that Paul Ryan, Budget Committee Chairman has constructed for the year 2014. The committee plans to study and experiment with different strategies to offset federal spending over the next ten years. More here Read more »

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Dementia Screening Offered Under Medicare

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on March 1, 2013 - 1:21pm

Studies are now suggesting that early dementia screening may be of value even without medication that can help slow the disease. Home care, counseling, and brain exercise have now been proven to help individuals suffering from dementia. Dementia screening has recently been added to wellness visits offered through medicare free of charge. Individuals on Medicare are entitled to screening under the Affordable Care Act. Last year only 9% of Medicare patients took advantage of the offered dementia screening. More here Read more »

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Dementia Screening Offered Under Medicare

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on March 1, 2013 - 1:21pm

Studies are now suggesting that early dementia screening may be of value even without medication that can help slow the disease. Home care, counseling, and brain exercise have now been proven to help individuals suffering from dementia. Dementia screening has recently been added to wellness visits offered through medicare free of charge. Individuals on Medicare are entitled to screening under the Affordable Care Act. Last year only 9% of Medicare patients took advantage of the offered dementia screening. More here Read more »

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Medicare Lowering Drug Costs

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on February 21, 2013 - 9:35am

Disabled individuals and the elderly will receive a break in Medicare drug costs starting next year. Medicare’s standard deductible for their drug program will be approximately 4.6 % lower next year compared to this year, and Medicaid co-payments will also see a price reduction in 2014. The executive director at Families USA, Ron Pollack, talked about how individuals enrolled in the Medicare program would be able to see “a direct and positive impact on their pocket books.” More here Read more »

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Population Of Individuals Living Age 90+ Grows

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on February 13, 2013 - 12:47pm

People living to be in their 90s is growing according to the first census figures of a study covering population age 90 and above. Individuals living to be 90+ has increased to 1.9 million, tripling in size since 1980. The expanding age group is expected to cover 2% of the U.S population by mid-century. The census also stated that individuals living longer also have a higher risk of poverty, stressing Social-Security programs and Medicare. More here

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Population Of Individuals Living Age 90+ Grows

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on February 13, 2013 - 12:47pm

People living to be in their 90s is growing according to the first census figures of a study covering population age 90 and above. Individuals living to be 90+ has increased to 1.9 million, tripling in size since 1980. The expanding age group is expected to cover 2% of the U.S population by mid-century. The census also stated that individuals living longer also have a higher risk of poverty, stressing Social-Security programs and Medicare. More here

Read more »>

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Automatic Spending Cuts Not Expected To Effect Entitlement Programs

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on January 30, 2013 - 10:12am

It is expected that automatic spending cuts will go into effect soon but should not harm entitlement programs such as Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security. The White House is constructing a plan that will cut spending costs for federal agencies by $85 billion dollars over a 7-month span. Cuts are likely to come out of discretionary spending, in turn protecting entitlement programs. House budget chairman, Paul Ryan stated that he did expect automatic spending costs to take effect. More here

Read more »>

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Automatic Spending Cuts Not Expected To Effect Entitlement Programs

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on January 30, 2013 - 10:12am

It is expected that automatic spending cuts will go into effect soon but should not harm entitlement programs such as Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security. The White House is constructing a plan that will cut spending costs for federal agencies by $85 billion dollars over a 7-month span. Cuts are likely to come out of discretionary spending, in turn protecting entitlement programs. House budget chairman, Paul Ryan stated that he did expect automatic spending costs to take effect. More here

Read more »>

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Increasing Medicare’s Age Of Eligibility Still Undecided

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on December 26, 2012 - 10:36am

Increasing the age of eligibility for Medicare has been a controversial issue when discussing budget-cut negotiations at the White House. The McClathy Newspapers reported that, according to White House officials the issue has not yet been eliminated, although President Obama said that it was not certain that a higher eligibility age “saves a lot of money. But what I’ve said is, let’s look at every avenue.” The Congressional Budget Office projects that slowly increasing the eligibility year for Medicare by two months a year from 2014-2027 could possibly reduce program spending by $148 billion over the next decade. More here Read more »

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