If you’re approached by someone who offers “free” genetic testing or cancer screening, turn them down. Medicare doesn’t cover such tests unless a doctor who’s treating you orders them and they’re medically necessary. Laboratory representatives have allegedly been taking swabs inside the mouths...

If you get injured or have surgery, your doctor may prescribe opioids, a class of drugs used to treat pain. Although opioids can be an important part of treatment, they carry serious risks of addiction, abuse, and overdose, especially if used continuously. This is true even for seniors and other people...

Did you know that Medicare has an ombudsman to help you resolve complaints you may have about your healthcare? Congress created the job of Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman to assist people with Medicare with their inquiries, complaints, grievances, appeals, and requests for information. The Medicare Beneficiary...

You may have heard something lately about “preventive health care.” What does that mean? At its most basic, preventive health care means living a healthy lifestyle. Eat a balanced diet. Exercise regularly. Maintain a healthy weight. And stop smoking. Like anyone else, people with Medicare can benefit...

Let’s say you go for your annual physical and your doctor recommends that you get a hearing and balance test. Or an electrocardiogram. Or a Hepatitis B screening. Does your Original Medicare cover these services? Now there’s a quick way to find out, using your smartphone or tablet. It’s Medicare’s...

Most doctors accept Medicare as full payment for their services. But some accept it only for certain services, and others don’t accept it at all. What does this mean for you? If you have Original Medicare, it means you should try to use doctors, hospitals, medical equipment suppliers, and other healthcare...

Imagine going to the grocery store, picking up the items you need for the week, but not knowing how much anything costs until the store sends you a bill two weeks later. Sadly, that’s how our healthcare system works every day. Healthcare costs now represent one in every five dollars spent in our country....

As we head into the holiday season, I wanted to let you know how much your Medicare will cost in 2019. Most people with Medicare will pay the standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B, which will be $135.50 next year, an increase of $1.50 over 2018. Part B covers physician services, outpatient hospital...

When you shop for a new car or truck, you don’t just buy the first one you see, do you? Probably not. You shop around, looking for the best deal you can get on a vehicle that fits your driving needs as well as your pocketbook. Well, it’s the time of year when you can shop for a Medicare health or...

At a family reunion, my Aunt Abby and Uncle Glen got into a squabble over the best way to get their Medicare benefits. Uncle Glen is an Original Medicare man, and has been for a decade or so. Aunt Abby prefers Medicare Advantage, which is similar to a health plan she had before enrolling in Medicare. When...