Ready to Retire? When You Should Leave Your Spouse’s Employer Health Plan.

“I’m about to retire but my spouse is still working, and I have coverage through his/her employer. What do I do now; should I enroll in Medicare?” This is a common question I hear almost every day — and it can be a challenging one to figure out. My simple answer is: it depends....
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3 Changes Coming to Medicare That Every Beneficiary Should Know About

Good news! Some much anticipated changes to Medicare are on the horizon. So, whether you’re recently retired, newly enrolled in Medicare, or you’ve been on Medicare for a while, here’s what you need to know.

1. A New Look for Your Medicare Card

Your Medicare card is getting a makeover. Beginning in April of this year,...
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3 Things You Need to Know About $0 Premium Medicare Advantage Plans

Would you believe it’s possible to get all your health care coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan and not pay a monthly premium? Well, you can, and I want to give you the full scoop on how you can get quality coverage with no monthly premium.

The Truth Behind $0 Premium Plans

Medicare Advantage plans (known as Part C plans) combine your Original Medicare Part A and B benefits into one plan....
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What Is a Special Enrollment Period?

If you lose coverage through a job, have a kid, get married, or move, you don’t have to wait for the open enrollment period to shop for a new health plan.
Try as you may to plan ahead, you can’t always see the future. But if you lose the health care coverage you have through a job, have a kid, get married, or move, you don’t have to wait for the open enrollment period to shop for a new health plan. Read on to learn more about applying for health insurance during the special enrollment period....
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5 Ways Health Insurance Can Help You Save Money While Pregnant

With so many doctor appointments and tests, you probably already know how important health insurance is when you’re pregnant, let alone after you have your baby. But you may be interested to learn about some of the valuable extras your plan offers, and how your health insurance can help you save money while pregnant. Every health insurance plan varies,...
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Your Explanation of Benefits (EOB), Explained

You found a doctor, made an appointment, received care, and picked up your prescriptions. A few weeks later, you get a letter or an email from Independence with a document that says, in all capital letters, “THIS IS NOT A BILL.” So if it’s not a bill, what is it?

Meet your EOB

Your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) — also called a Plan Activity Statement — breaks down the exact costs every time you receive care....
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On Your Behalf: Designating a Personal Health Representative

Depending on what type of access you grant them; a personal health representative can help you with a range of health care decisions.
Maintaining the privacy and control of your health care is important, but so is ensuring that decisions about your health are in capable hands in the event you can’t make them yourself. If you would like to give someone the authority to make medical decisions on your behalf or have access to your private health information,...
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5 Medicare Milestones You Should Know About

Medicare milestones
Medicare can be a challenge to understand and navigate. But planning well in advance of your Medicare eligibility (for many that’s your 65th birthday) can help you get every dollar in Medicare benefits. These five helpful Medicare milestones will aid you as you start planning for your 65th birthday. If you’re looking for even more information about eligibility,...
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How Long Can You Stay on Your Parent’s Health Insurance?

Can you stay on your parents’ health insurance if you’re in college? How about if you move out…or get married? We answer these questions and more.
One of the most helpful innovations of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the provision that allows dependents to remain on a parent or guardian’s health insurance plan until they turn 26. This helps young adults maintain continuous health coverage through the often unpredictable years after high school. But can you stay on your parent’s health plan if you’re in college?...
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Self-Employed? Health Insurance is Within Reach.

Thinking of making the leap to working for yourself? Working for yourself is rewarding, but not without its challenges. One of the biggest challenges, particularly if you’re used to getting health insurance through an employer, is choosing a high-quality, affordable health insurance plan for yourself. To make it easier, we put together a handy list of common questions about affordable health insurance for freelancers,...
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