Coping with terminal illness can be very difficult, for the patient as well as his or her loved ones. That’s why I want to pass along some information about Medicare’s coverage of hospice care. Hospice is a program of care and support for people who are terminally ill. The focus is on comfort, not...

Have you ever read a restaurant guide before picking a place for a special dinner? Or a consumer-advice magazine before buying a new car? Wouldn’t it be great if there was a similar guide for looking up the quality of care at hospitals in your area? Well, there is. It’s called Hospital Compare and...

Your Original Medicare insurance covers a wide variety of health services, from flu shots to hospital stays to hospice care. But it doesn’t cover everything, and it doesn’t cover all your out-of-pocket costs. Many services covered by Original Medicare require co-payments, coinsurance, and deductibles....

So you’re turning 65. Congratulations! It’s time to start taking advantage of your Medicare benefits. And just how do you do that? First, here’s a quick overview of the benefits: Medicare has four parts, A through D. Part A pays for hospitalization, and most eligible people don’t have to pay...

As 2014 gets under way, I wanted to give you a quick overview of the Medicare information you can now get online. Our website is www.Medicare.gov, and it has a wealth of information you might find helpful. One terrific feature is our “Compare” websites, which provide quality of care information on...

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...

Some people might not realize it, but there are actually two ways to get Medicare benefits. The best-known way is Original Medicare. With Original Medicare, you can choose any doctor, hospital, or other healthcare provider you want, as long as they accept Medicare. When you receive medical services or...

Medicare’s annual open enrollment period has begun, and I want to encourage everyone with Medicare to review their current health and prescription drug coverage. Open enrollment runs through Dec. 7. If you want to change your Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan, this is the...

Some people with Medicare are asking lately if their Medicare coverage is affected by the new the Health Insurance Marketplace that starts in 2014. The answer is no – the Marketplace won’t have any effect on your Medicare coverage. The Health Insurance Marketplace is designed to help people who...

I certainly hope you never need an ambulance, but at some point you may have to take one during a medical emergency. If you have Original Medicare, your Part B (medical insurance) covers ambulance services to or from a hospital, critical-access hospital, or skilled nursing facility only when other transportation...