Medicare beneficiaries who receive certain physician-administered prescription drugs in hospitals could see significantly lower out-of-pocket costs under a new proposal from the Trump administration. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed changing how Medicare reimburses hospitals that participate in the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, which aims to support hospitals and clinics that serve many low-income patients. Administration officials estimate

Many Americans spend years building a healthy balance in a Health Savings Account (HSA), taking advantage of one of the most tax-friendly savings vehicles available. But once Medicare enters the picture, a simple misunderstanding can create an unexpected tax headache. Under IRS rules, once you enroll in Medicare, you are no longer eligible to contribute to an HSA, which can be used to reimburse your out-of-pocket medical expenses. These accounts are usually administered by yo

Complaints about Medicare-related scam calls have increased sharply over the past year, with reports to the Better Business Bureau rising 40% and some seniors receiving 50 calls a day about improving their Medicare coverage. The callers often claim to represent Medicare regulators, a health insurer or a doctor's office. Some say your Medicare card is expiring, your coverage is about to be interrupted or you qualify for new benefits. Others offer free products, including medic

For many older Americans living on a fixed income, paying for health care can feel overwhelming. Even with Medicare coverage, premiums, deductibles, prescription drug costs, and copays can quickly add up. The good news is that several federal and state programs are available to help seniors and people with disabilities pay for Medicare-related expenses. Unfortunately, many people who qualify either do not know these programs exist or assume they do not qualify. Understanding

Retirement is a major life transition. If you're reaching retirement age within the next few years, it's time to start making some important financial decisions. Here are several of the most critical issues you should be addressing in the coming months: Reduce risk. Now is the time to begin reducing your stock market exposure. While stocks have been a great long-term investment, they are notoriously volatile. There have been many times in history where stocks have plummeted

If you are a Medicare Advantage enrollee, you may have noticed that the number of plans available to you has shrunk during the last Annual Open Enrollment. It's not your imagination: A research letter published in the medical journal JAMA noted that about 10% of MA enrollees saw their plans discontinued for 2026, forcing them to switch to other MA plans, go back to Traditional Medicare, or sign up for a Medicare supplement plan. When a plan shuts down, it can disrupt care in

A new study suggests that older adults with cancer may be especially good candidates for a little-known Medicare benefit that can make expensive prescription drugs easier to manage financially. Researchers found that the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, sometimes called M3P, can significantly reduce the financial strain that often hits Medicare beneficiaries early in the year, when high-cost medications sometimes must be paid upfront. That's because it allows Part D enroll

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced the next 15 drugs slated for Medicare price negotiations. The list includes costly medications that many seniors rely on. This year's lineup includes six highly prescribed drugs that the American Association of Retired Persons identified as having some of the largest list price increases, including Trulicity (up 51% since 2014), Cozentyx (up 55% since 2015), and Orencia (up 71% since 2021). This will be the third roun

By Kimberly Lankford, AARP | Updated October 19, 2023 If you aren’t already receiving Social Security benefits at age 65, you won’t be signed up automatically, so you’ll have to decide when you want to enroll. But if you continue to work and have health benefits through your job, depending on the size of your employer, you can delay enrolling in Medicare. The same goes for your health insurance if it’s through your spouse’s job. But you need to consider some rules about

One of the biggest challenges as we age is the prospect of having to spend days, weeks, months, or even years in a hospital. If you're enrolled in Medicare Part A (hospital coverage) it can help foot the bill for the first 60 days, but far less in the following 30 days, and after that you will pay full price out of pocket. Also, the number of days in the hospital that Medicare will cover over your lifetime is capped, and once you burn through those days, you are on your own f

If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan and find that it is not working as well as you hoped, there is a special window each year that gives you a chance to make one change. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from Jan. 1 through March 31. This enrollment period is different from the fall Medicare Open Enrollment Period that runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. It is only for people who are already enrolled in an MA plan. If you have Original Medicare and want

There are some special circumstances in which you can sign up late for Medicare without paying penalties. After the initial enrollment period, you can sign up for optional programs during special enrollment periods . If you or your spouse continued working past your 65th birthday and had health insurance through your employer, you won’t have to pay a penalty for late enrollment in any of the Medicare programs. Beginning the month after you end your employment, or when your

The penalties for not enrolling when you are first eligible for Medicare depend on the part of Medicare. Part A If you choose not to sign up for Medicare Part A when you become eligible, a penalty may be assessed. This penalty depends on why you chose not to sign up. If you simply chose not to sign up when you were first eligible, your monthly premium — if you have to pay one — will increase by 10% for twice the number of years that you went without signing up. For exam

Medicare isn’t exactly mandatory, but it can be complicated to decline. Late enrollment comes with penalties, and some parts of the program are optional to add, like Medicare parts C and D. Medicare parts A and B are the foundation of Medicare, though, and to decline these comes with consequences. The Social Security Administration (SSA) oversees enrollment in the Medicare program and recommends signing up for Medicare when you are initially eligible, even if you don’t pl

If you’re thinking about deferring Medicare, discuss the pros and cons with your current insurer, union representative, or employer. It’s important to know how or if your current plan will work with Medicare, so you can choose the most comprehensive coverage possible. Some of the common reasons you may choose to defer Medicare enrollment include: You have a plan through an employer that you want to keep. You want to keep contributing to a health savings account (HSA) . Y

You can opt out of Medicare, but you may lose your Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits. Additionally, if you initially decline Medicare coverage, you may be subject to a penalty if you decide to enroll later. Medicare is a public health insurance program designed for individuals age 65 and over and people with disabilities. The program covers hospitalization and other medical costs at free or reduced rates. The hospitalization portion, Medicare Part A, usual

Article from MEDICARE.GOV Medicare fraud and abuse can happen anywhere. It’s important that you protect your Medicare card, number, and other personal information, and check your Medicare claims regularly. What are some examples of Medicare fraud? To help spot and prevent Medicare fraud and abuse: Compare the dates and services on your calendar with the Medicare statements you get to make sure you got each service listed and that all the details are correct. Protect your pers

The federal government shut down at 12:01 AM Wednesday, October 1st, after lawmakers failed to reach a deal to pass a short-term funding bill, which would have financed government operations for fiscal year 2026. It is the first government shutdown since January 2019. According to the Washington Post, the disagreement is over enhanced ACA subsidies, which were originally implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The enhanced subsidies led to record-high enrollment in ACA p

Medicare and Medicaid look and sound alike, but are actually very different. One is a federal healthcare program for seniors. The other...

The Stopping Addiction & Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act, a bipartisan bill before Congress, could soon make it easier for Medicare...