A New Era in Drug Pricing The Biden administration is on the point of a significant announcement. They are about to reveal the first batch of prescription drugs for which Medicare will negotiate prices. This move has been met with resistance, especially from drugmakers who are not in favor of this change. This initiative is… Read More
Introduction to Medicare Part D Medicare Part D, a program that offers outpatient prescription drug benefits, is a lifeline for older adults and individuals with long-term disabilities. These beneficiaries can enroll in private plans, including stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans (MA-PDs). These plans supplement traditional Medicare and include drug… Read More
“It is time to call out so-called Medicare Advantage for what it is,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro. This statement underscores the growing concern among Democratic U.S. lawmakers about Medicare Advantage. This program, essentially private insurance, has been accused of profiting by denying coverage and using the name of Medicare to trick our seniors. On July… Read More
Retirees may need to brace themselves for a potential increase in one of their regular costs — Medicare Part B premiums — in 2024. This projected increase is primarily driven by a new Alzheimer’s treatment recently entering the market. The Projected Increase in Medicare Part B Premiums Earlier this year, the Medicare trustees projected that… Read More
The Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare drug price negotiation provision is set to revolutionize the affordability and accessibility of medications for millions of Americans. This groundbreaking reform is particularly significant for women, Black, Hispanic or Latino, LGBTQI+, and disabled beneficiaries who have historically faced challenges accessing necessary medications due to high costs. The Inflation Reduction Act:… Read More
The Chamber of Commerce has stepped into the legal limelight. The organization recently filed a preliminary injunction against the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. This move, falling under the auspices of the Inflation Reduction Act, is designed to halt the program’s progression while it is under judicial review. The reason behind this strategic action is… Read More
The Inflation Reduction Act and the Drug Price Negotiation Program Under the Inflation Reduction Act, the federal government is now mandated to negotiate the price of high-spending drugs covered by Medicare Part D, the outpatient prescription drug benefit program, and Medicare Part B. This gave birth to the new Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, a… Read More
Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and the Chair of the Subcommittee on Health, Brett Guthrie (R-KY), revealed the plans for a subcommittee hearing titled “Innovation Saves Lives: Evaluating Medicare Coverage Pathways for Innovative Drugs, Medical Devices, and Technology.” Medicare’s Evolution: The Chairs’ Vision The Chairs highlighted the urgency… Read More
FDA Approves New Alzheimer’s Treatment The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Biogen and Eisai Co. Ltd.’s Alzheimer’s treatment, Leqembi, also known as lecanemab. This ground-breaking drug is designed to reduce the buildup of amyloid beta plaque in the brain – a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. This is a significant step forward, as… Read More
The Medicare Advantage Quality Bonus Program (QBP) was born out of the Affordable Care Act and carried the expectation to revolutionize Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by reducing payments to MA organizations. However, according to the Urban Institute report, the program must still meet these expectations. The report highlights several instances where the QBP is found… Read More
Proposed Medicare cuts pose a significant risk to patients and communities nationwide. Challenges such as workforce shortages, rising costs, and supply chain disruptions have already strained America’s hospitals and health systems. These institutions play a vital role in providing quality and accessible care 24/7, meeting the needs of communities in times of illness and crisis…. Read More
In a groundbreaking move, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced actions to reduce healthcare costs significantly. This move is part of the implementation of President Biden’s lower-cost prescription drug law – the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This law has already started to provide financial relief to covered seniors and people… Read More
Early detection is crucial in a world where cancer remains a leading cause of death. That is the aim of the Multi-Cancer Early Detection Bill, a groundbreaking piece of legislation that can potentially change the landscape of cancer screenings in the United States. The bill, introduced in the Senate, seeks to increase equitable access to… Read More
A Groundbreaking Proposal The Republican Study Committee (RSC), a group that includes 175 GOP members of the U.S. House of Representatives, has recently proposed two substantial changes to Social Security and Medicare as part of their federal budget for the fiscal year 2024. These proposals represent significant shifts in the structure and delivery of these… Read More
Merck vs. The US Government: The Lawsuit Explained Pharmaceutical giant Merck has filed a lawsuit against the US Government, taking issue with a newly-implemented program under the Medicare system that allows for the negotiation of drug prices. The program is a provision of the Inflation Reduction Act, a recent law that has raised contentious debates… Read More
Medicare open enrollment 2023 ends December 7th. Don’t forget to shop for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans! Every year during Medicare’s Annual Enrollment you can make changes to your coverage and enroll in a Medicare plan. During this period: You can switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage with or without a drug… Read More
Annual Open Enrollment for Medicare starts October 15 and ends December 7th this year. This is different from marketplace open enrollment for those who don’t qualify for Medicare which runs from Nov 1st to Jan 15th (the one where you can shop for private non-Medicare health insurance). During the Annual Enrollment period, Medicare shoppers can:… Read More
Medicare Open Enrollment 2022 starts today October 15th and runs until December 7th. If you qualify for Medicare, this is the time of year you can join, switch, or drop a plan.
Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage both cover FDA-approved coronavirus tests and vaccines at no out-of-pocket costs.
Does my dependent need to get their own ObamaCare plan if I am on Medicare?
Medicare for all describes a general concept of a single payer healthcare system. Right now the US has a multi-payer healthcare system, that means people pay different insurance companies but have a choice in healthcare providers. With single payer, there is one insurer, but you keep the choice in providers. Also, as the “for-all” part implies, every citizen would have access to Medicare-for-all.
If you or your spouse become eligible for health insurance from a program like Medicaid or Medicare it counts as a qualifying life event and you can change your coverage. The same is true for losing eligibility for one of those programs.
Bernie Sanders’ Medicare-for-all plan improves and expands Medicare to create a single payer universal healthcare system with no out-of-pocket costs for all Americans.
In mid-April Bernie Sanders made the case for Medicare-for-All during an appearance on Fox News Town Hall.
The Trump administration is backing a lawsuit that would make the ACA illegal. This would for example make the ACA’s cost assistance and pre-existing protections illegal. That is not popular.