Maximize Your Medicare

Maximize Your Medicare Podcast 57: Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period It ends on February 14th, but if you want to do this, then you need to start as soon as possible. Explanation is in the pod, and further comments on why caution is required. Also: Repeal and/or replace of the ACA can potentially affect Medicare Advantage. Register and check out GH2 Unfiltered. Be sure to subscribe to the MYM Podcast on iTunes!

The ACA (and Medicare) War Has Begun We need to understand how we got here. People don't understand what health insurance is (it is a financial contract). People confuse financial contracts with the healthcare system (which is your physician/hospitals, and the service they deliver). The ACA is about health insurance, not about healthcare. The ACA is a tax, but since people don't understand that health insurance is a financial contract, they didn't understand that the ACA is a tax to assist distributing health insurance to others. Who is to blame? Well, both supporters (that includes POTUS, and the opponents. Dont' forget to subscribe to the podcast!

I was the guest on The Art Lewis Show. You can listen here. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast!  

Obamacare Had a Week Week: Does It Matter? Aetna announced its plans to withdraw entirely from health exchanges for pre-Medicare applicants. Does this really matter? Well, given the fact that that Medicare was the very reason for attempting to merge with Humana, another large Medicare plan provider, the answer must be yes. The podcast clears up some commonly-held, wrongly-placed beliefs. Bottom line: this is business, and not politics, by the carrier. Those attempting to mix the two? They probably are misusing the data to try to prove a point that has nothing to do with financial facts. People attempt to take credit where none is due, and assign blame where it doesn't belong. And again, healthcare is not health insurance. Healthcare policy is definitely not health insurance. Aetna, Humana, et al are health insurance providers, not healthcare providers and not healthcare policy decision-makers. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast, and the free newsletter, available online. http://www.maximizeyourmedicare

Not Only In Michigan People can say I'm just a fear-monger. People can say "You're a seller, of course that is your view." The flip side of that coin is: "Maybe he has been paying attention, listening to the how confused everyone is, how under-informed everyone is, no matter where they are, no matter what their health or financial circumstances are, just maybe." Listen to the Confusion You'll hear the confusion, you'll hear the worry. If you think this is unique to this episode, which affects over 200,000 people in Michigan, you are may be right, but I will completely disagree with that view. Don't forget to subscribe to the free Maximize Your Medicare Newsletter here.

Real-Time, Real-Life Event Validates the Book, the Podcast, the Newsletter, the.... Background: the single most popular Medigap plan in Michigan is Plan C called Legacy. It was affordable, it had NO medical underwriting, and its premium did not change through time...until now. Listeners of the Podcast, readers of the Newsletter, attendees at live seminars are told one thing, in different forms. The world is unlikely to stay the same, when you add that to the OBVIOUS demographic and fiscal challenges our nation faces, Medicare beneficiaries are likely to be affected, and it is best to stay informed to retain the optimal combination of benefits and costs for now, and for an uncertain future. The simple version: control what you can to the greatest degree possible. Not a Medicare Stakeholder? Uhh... Jae personally gets a bonus, because the impact on this will be so large on the Michigan economy, the rate increases will be approximately $240MM a year, every year, that every person or business that conducts any

Be sure to contribute (perks start at $10) to the 2nd book, Medicare Mayhem: Solutions for Stakeholders: copy and paste this link: https://igg.me/at/medicaremayhem When You Turn 65, Start Over (It's Good, Not Bad) You get to start over. Your selections are both wider and unlimited. Listen for details. Be sure to subscribe to this podcast on itunes or for your android.....

This Just In: We Don't Live in Isolation If you think we are immune from the ripple effects of #Brexit, you're mistaken. For starters, interest rates have gone lower, from already-incredibly low rates. The result? Retirement savings cannot generate earnings required to pay for retirement. Worse, if your advisor is telling you that you can invest for growth to pay, then that is also impaired. While we cannot control foreign financial markets, we can control which advice we believe to be credible, and which information isn't. The crowdfunding campaign to support the 2nd book, Medicare Mayhem, is here. Please contribute, every penny counts! Perks start at $10, click here! The website for the book is here: Medicare Mayhem: Solutions for Stakeholders

What Does OJ Simpson Have to do with Medicare??? I spend a lot of time (arguably, an excessive amount) watching ESPN. A much heraleded, 5 episode documentary called O.J. Simpson: Made in America was recently released, so I have been busy. Anyways, I was thinking about how in the world the prosecution lost. And then I thought about the job the defense's legal team did, and of course, the jury's responses. Under Medicare: you are the jury, Marcia Clark and Johnny Cochran are the Stakeholders. You have biases and be influenced by the advocates, and there are many, all giving you their perspective on what is best. That leaves you with the task of putting it together.  

JenningsWire.com is a great site, a really diverse set of information on a wide variety of topics. Stacy and I have worked together and the site is full of very helpful information. The link to the website is here!  

Community Health Radio Podcast I was interviewed for a podcast and it is posted here, and on their website. Heritage Health is North Idaho’s premier provider of integrated medical, dental, and behavioral health services. Be sure to subscribe to the Maximize Your Medicare Podcast on iTunes, and feel free to send us your questions!  

Interviewed on W4DIVAS.com Deb is a friend, and her audience appeals to those that believe in women helping themselves. Women know better than I: women are more frequently the caregiver to extended families. We talked about how to get signed up for Medicare, and important things that need consideration. Too frequently, people simply think that their spouse has them covered. That will depend on MANY things. Even in the case that this is true, that doesn't always mean that it is best. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, and send us your questions!

This Isn't a Book or Movie Review Podcast, BUT... The book and the movie The Big Short appeal to our favorite national pastime, namely "Find Someone to Blame." When you attempt to use this attitude, without the complete set of facts, while considering Medicare, you may be making a mistake, and that mistake can feed on itself. And who suffers the consequences? Take one guess....

People Make Expensive Mistakes The podcast describes a situation where the married Medicare beneficiary has not been completely informed, and then the family makes the error even worse. Ugh. Don't forget to share this!

My Interview with Art Lewis Art has invited me back to WSGW, where I have appeared 10 times over the past 3 years. We met again yesterday, April 16th, and I appeared on The Art Lewis Show. We talked about a Michigan-specific matter, and perhaps more importantly, we spoke about the decision-making required by those that are currently working, and delaying enrollment in Medicare. Be sure to subscribe to the Maximize Your Medicare Podcast on iTunes!

I received an email, titled "A Great Email from a Fellow Senior in Mesa, Arizona." It is totally, utterly wrong. It will do much more harm than anything else. Here's why.

CIGNA had sales of its Medicare Advantage and Part D plans suspended by the CMS. That isn't very comforting, of course, but it highlights the severe penalties that the CMS can impose. Employees of small businesses have the right to delay enrollment in Part B if they are covered by the health insurance provided by the employer. However, beginning in July 2017, the existing plan may not provide coverage in certain instances. SO, that means an unexpected surprise is very likely to arrive in Q3 2016. Questions, feedback: jae@maximizeyourmedicare.com Don't forget to subscribe on iTunes!

This Happens: billing departments, patient advocates, Division on Aging (MAPP) don't have the correct, updated information. This is particularly worrisome, since many patients rely on this (incorrect) information. Also, the General Enrollment Period ends on March 31st. For those that have not enrolled in Medicare Part A and/or Part B when first turning 65, or after they retire (if after the age of 65), then these are some guidelines. Questions, feedback: jae@maximizeyourmedicare.com Don't forget to subscribe on iTunes!

Audio File Updated! You can switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap, but you need to follow these steps carefully. Questions? jae@maximizeyourmedicare.com Official Book Website: http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com Subscribe to the Podcast! http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com/feed/podcast

January 1 - February 14: Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period Happy New Year! If you want to switch to Medigap, you need to do so NOW. The reason: there are multiple steps, and the order matters. Questions, feedback: jae@maximizeyourmedicare.com