Maximize Your Medicare

Radio Interview, April 21, 2014 Every financial planner has his/her own perspectives. You can listen to my comments on Medicare here. The focus is on correct enrollment, and the penalties that can occur. You can listen to this episode here. You can subscribe to this podcast here. Further information can be found on the official website: http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

The previous link was broken (sorry). This is now fixed. For Those That Qualify for "Extra Help," Rx Aid is Just the Beginning As the cost of specialty prescriptions skyrockets, according to a New York Times in an article yesterday, April 15, this podcast covers a federally-funded program called Extra Help which can help towards those costs. In addition, there are additional benefits that are part of this. Many of these are unknown, and Medicare beneficiaries should take full advantage. Listen to the podcast here. Further information can be found on the official website: http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

First Time in a Medicare Advantage Plan? You Can Change.... Very few people know that the Medicare rules regarding enrollment are largely in a consumer's favor. A perfect example is here. If it is your first time in purchasing a Medicare Advantage plan, and it has been in effect for less than 12 months, the you can change to another Medicare Advantage plan, OR return to original Medicare, and couple it with a Medigap & stand-alone prescription plan (Medicare Part D). No calendar restrictions. Listen to the podcast here. Further information can be found on the official website: http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

Expert Contributor and Observation Status You can see me and my comments, as well as my answers to questions from readers online: http://www.mymedicareanswers.com. Interesting site, powered by Humana, Inc, the nation's second largest carrier of Medicare Advantage plans. I am one of 6 Expert panelists asked to contribute. I can say that the site isn't a marketing tool of Humana's offerings, but rather, it's a good site with unbiased information. You can also hear the latest and (not greatest) update on Observation Status, an important term that Medicare beneficiaries must clearly understand. You can listen to Podcast 15 here. You can subscribe to the Maximize Your Medicare podcast here. Further information can be found on the official website: http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

Sorry for the delay I have been very busy with clients: I return with a recording of my interview this past Saturday. Next podcast will be soon, because March 31st is an important date, for a variety of reasons. You can listen by clicking here. You can subscribe to the Maximize Your Medicare podcast here. Further information can be found on the official website: http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

Thanks to David Holland's Real Money David hosts a radio talk show in central Florida, and we had a very enjoyable conversation about Medicare. You can listen by clicking here. You can subscribe to the Maximize Your Medicare podcast here. Further information can be found on the official website: http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

It's Valentine's Day...and You can disenroll from your Medicare Advantage plan up until this date. There are many exceptions to this, and these exceptions are largely in your favor, so you don't need to be discouraged or intimidated.   Listen here to the podcast.   Send questions/feedback to jae [at] maximizeyourmedicare [dot] com.   Further information can be found on the official website: http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

If You Require Substantial Medical Care.... The total out-of-pocket expenses can exceed the difference in premium. Many people believe that they cannot make a change in coverage if this happens to you. That is not quite right, but you will need to think of a number of different issues. That said, the financial difference may make it worth the effort. You can listen here. Send me your questions: jae [at] maximizeyourmedicare [dot] com Further information can be found on the official website: http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

Rather than talking to myself... You can hear my interview on Healthline, a radio show on WSGW AM790, with host Art Lewis. He is a Medicare beneficiary, and a very knowledgeable one! So, our conversations are usually very interesting, especially when the interviewer is this good. Click here to listen. Further information can be found on the official website: http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

You should resist the temptation of chasing equity returns if that means ignoring Medicare or healthcare cost planning, because the downside of ignoring Medicare, what it covers, and what it does not, can make portfolio returns moot. Listen here to the podcast. Further information can be found on the official website: http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

Listen to the latest Maximize Your Medicare Podcast here. Further information can be found on the official website: http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

Let's Say You Never Enrolled in Medicare Part B Let's Say You May Want to Switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap. Your time is coming up soon, January 1, 2014. You don't have that much time to decide, so it is best that you know your options beforehand. You can listen to details here. Further information can be found on the official website: http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

Surprise: The Rules Work For You, Not Against People keep the age-old thought that they have to use the Annual Election Period only in order to make changes to their Medicare configurations. Nope. The reality is that you have options under the current rules, and in some situations, it is highly favorable to do so. MYM Podcast 6 tells you about some ways that you can make a change even after the Medicare Annual Election Period is over, with a few examples included. Click here to listen.   Further information can be found on the official website: http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

No Duh... In a world of uncertainty, there was little reason to question the outcome here: the HCTC wasn't going to get extended. You could sugarcoat it with sprinkles and a sparkler, it would not have mattered. The hope that the HCTC would get extended was a pipe dream at best. Employee Associations are part of the PROBLEM What isn't publicized is that employee associations, under the guise of defending employees' and retirees' rights/benefits, may not have revealed the full ramifications of the inevitable outcome (HCTC expiry). THEY DIDN'T TELL YOU, DESPITE HAVING THE KNOWLEDGE AND MY FREE OFFER TO INFORM YOU, THEIR ALLEGED CONSTITUENCY. Delphi Corporation...This is you and I have my emails to prove it. Listen Podcast Here Further information can be found on the official website: http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

Outpatient Hospital Rules Have Changed For some unknown reason, newspapers and local TV stations continue to report that this is a problem. Don't get me wrong, it remains to be the source of confusion. HOWEVER, the story should be that the rules have improved substantially, and that if you stay over two midnights, then you will be presumed to have "inpatient" status, thus avoiding much of the controversy. Click here to listen. Further information can be found on the official website: http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

Last-minute tips to make sure that you have kept your options open. The Medicare Annual Election Period ends today. Click here to listen. Further information can be found on the official website: http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

This episode focuses on what to do during Medicare Annual Election Period, which ends on Midnight, December 7th. That is this Saturday. Click here to listen. Further information can be found on the official website: http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

The first podcast will discuss UnitedHealth Care's decision to eliminate many doctors from its Medicare Advantage plans. This news was released last week, and is no surprise. Bottom line: more to come. Click here to listen. Further information can be found on the official website: http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com