Three Common Medicare Enrollment Mistakes

Messy desk, with a calendar at the center
Transitioning to Medicare can be intimidating, whether you’re changing insurance plans for the first time in decades or a savvy shopper who peruses the Marketplace for coverage every November. The good news is that enrolling in Medicare is easier than you think. Watch out for these three common Medicare enrollment mistakes, and you’ll find that signing up for Medicare coverage can be smooth sailing....
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Medication Reviews: Talking to Your Doctor About Your Prescriptions

An older man examines a medication bottle, as woman uses a laptop
If you’re like the average American over 65, you take about three prescriptions each month (prescribed by more than one doctor) in addition to some over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements. But what do you really know about these medications? Are they safe to take together? Could they cause unwanted side effects? Is it time to stop taking some of them?...
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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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Save Money with Medicare’s New Benefits for Beneficiaries

You probably already know that Medicare Advantage plans cover lots of benefits that aren’t a part of Original Medicare, but did you know that starting January 1, 2019, the savings are about to increase? The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have expanded health plans’ ability to offer health-related benefits as part of their Medicare Advantage plan benefits,...
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Your Guide to the 2018 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)

Insider’s guide to Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, the types of Medicare plan change you can make, and reasons Medicare members may choose to change their Medicare coverage.
If you’re a Medicare member, you’ve probably heard of the Annual Enrollment Period  (AEP), which occurs every fall from October 15 to December 7. It’s the one time of year when Medicare members can make changes to their health plans and prescription drug coverage for the following year.1 AEP is the busiest time of the year for me and my fellow associates at Independence Blue Cross....
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Top 3 Tips for Taking Medications As Prescribed

3 Tips for Taking Medication
As a pharmacist, I’ve seen patients struggle with keeping a medication routine as prescribed by their doctor. In fact, a recent study found that nearly half of all Americans with chronic conditions don’t take their medication as directed, resulting in costly hospital bills, declining health, and medical complications. But there are ways to stay on a prescribed schedule to keep your medications as effective as possible....
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