The Return of the Open Enrollment Period – New for 2019!

An older couple considers something carefully on their laptop computer.
For 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have brought back the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, or OEP. The Medicare Advantage OEP is not to be confused with the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), which runs from October 15 through December 7. The new OEP occurs from January 1 through March 31 of 2019....
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Saving Money: One Prescription at a Time

Senior talking to pharmacist about generic prescription drugs
If you think about it, we’re surrounded by opportunities to save money. Our mail is filled with sales flyers and postcards; stores offer us loyalty cards, “insider” savings clubs, and discounts for buying in bulk; and the Sunday paper is loaded with coupons. But when it comes to saving money on prescriptions, the savings aren’t so easy to find — unless you know where to look....
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A View of Community Health Services from Health Center 4

Philadelphia, PA
As a boy growing up at 45th and Westminster in the heart of West Philadelphia, I often visited the Philadelphia Department of Public Health: Health Center 4. I remember simply referring to it as “the clinic.” It was where I received my immunizations, well check-ups, and got my summer camp waivers signed. I did all the things there that you would do at a “regular doctor.” It wasn’t until later in life that I realized my doctor’s office was actually the local free clinic....
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Health Insurance Covers 100 Percent of Preventive Care….But What Is Preventive Care?

Caring male pediatrician talks with baby boy at free clinic
IBX is often out in the community meeting people at health clinics, community fairs, seminars, festivals, YMCAs, and many more places throughout the region. By now, many consumers know that health insurance plans are required by law to cover 100 percent of the costs for preventive care. However, a question we often hear is, “What is preventive care?” Preventive care is the care you receive to prevent illnesses or diseases....
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In-Network vs Out-of-Network: What Does It Mean?

A lot of things can happen to put you in the market for a new doctor. Maybe you’ve moved to a new town and need to find a pediatrician for your kids’ well-visits. Or your primary care physician (PCP) recommends you follow-up with a specialist. Or you’ve turned 50 and are due to get your first colonoscopy....
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Eligible for a Tax Credit or Subsidy to Help Pay for Health Insurance?

If you’re shopping for an individual or family health plan on the Marketplace, you don’t want to pay more than you have to. Did you know you may be eligible for a health care premium tax credit from the federal government to help pay your monthly premium or out-of-pocket costs?

What Is a Tax Credit/Health Insurance Subsidy?

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Why You Need Dental, Vision, and Hearing Coverage

Older gentleman with glasses
One of the things I hear often from beneficiaries is that they’re concerned to find out that Original Medicare does not pay for everything — especially “extras” like vision, dental, and hearing coverage. If you’re transitioning from employer-provided health care to Medicare, you’ve probably had vision, dental, and hearing benefits all along. Since Medicare doesn’t cover them,...
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Considering Medicare Advantage? Get the Facts

A doctor talking to an older adult about her Medicare Plan
You might have heard Medicare Advantage plans discussed as an alternative to “original” Medicare, but did you know that these plans have been around, in some form, since the very beginning of Medicare? Medicare Advantage plans are part of a program that allows private insurers to provide Medicare benefits to enrollees on behalf of the federal Medicare program....
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How does Independence Blue Cross decide which medications to cover?

Doctor and patient rx
Health insurance companies maintain a list of covered prescription medications. This list is called a formulary, and it is an important tool for you and your doctor. It’s the master list of all the generic and brand-name drugs for which plan members receive benefits, and can help members and providers choose medications that will be most cost-effective....
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