GRAND VALLEY Senior Benefits (970) 773-0220

We don’t know how much more Medicare Drug Premiums will increase, but people in the industry expect prescription plan premiums to increase by 50% or more.

CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) has announced the Medicare Part A & Part B costs for 2023.

In most situations, Medicare won’t pay for health care or supplies you get outside the United States.

Original Medicare consists of two parts Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance).

With 60 million people on Medicare, they present a huge target for scammers looking to steal personal information or defraud Medicare.

Original Medicare consists of Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance and Medicare Part B medical insurance.

COBRA stands for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act and requires employers with 20 or more employees to offer an 18-month continuation of group health coverage.

A Colorado Special Enrollment Period (SEP) will run from January 1, 2021, to June 30, 2021. During this time, you will be able to change from Medicare Supplement Plan F to Plan G without any medical underwriting. You will be able to change plans just by submitting a...

Telehealth Due to the Coronavirus effective March 6, 2020, Medicare has temporarily expanded its coverage of Medicare telehealth services. Expanding the coverage means that people will be able to get coverage from more places, including their homes, using a wider...

Durable Medical Equipment as defined by Medicare is reusable medical equipment that is medically necessary due to injury or illness. Examples of DME are blood sugar monitors, walkers, crutches, wheelchairs, and home oxygen equipment and their accessories.

What Medicare Will Cover? Testing Medicare Part B covers a test to check if you have the coronavirus. The test will be covered when your doctor or other health care provider orders it. You will pay no out-of-pocket costs. Hospitalization If you are diagnosed with the...

Understanding Medicare can be a daunting task. Not only are there many Medicare options, but Medicare jargon can be confusing. There is Original Medicare, Medicare Supplement plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and Medicare Drug Plans. Below is important information for...

Many people wonder if Medicare will cover Home Health Services. The good news is yes, Medicare will cover services that were once only offered only in a hospital or a doctor’s office. Before Medicare will cover health care services in your home you must meet certain...

CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) has released the 2020 Medicare Costs for Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. The Medicare Part A inpatient hospital deductible will increase to $1,408.00, an increase of $44.00 from the 2019 deductible. Unlike the...

As we approach the Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP) that runs from October 15 thru December 7, you are going to start receiving a ton of mail. Plans in your area, your current Medicare Advantage or your Medicare Prescription Drug plan and possibly mail from...

This article explains the coverage of diabetic supplies and services that are covered under Original Medicare along with a  Medicare Prescription Drug plan (Part D) Original Medicare is fee-for-service coverage. Medicare will usually pay the hospitals, doctors, and...

Like most answers that involve Medicare, it depends.   The Basics Let us start with the Medicare basics. When you turn 65, you become eligible for Medicare. Upon turning 65, you have a seven-month window to enroll in Medicare that begins three months before you...

What is a second opinion? A second opinion is when you talk with a doctor other than your regular doctor to get another opinion on a particular health problem and their treatment options. When your doctor advises you that you have a health problem that requires...

CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) has released the 2019 premiums for Medicare inpatient hospital (Part A) and physician and outpatient services (Part B). The Part A inpatient hospital deductible will increase to $1,364.00, an increase of $24.00 from the...

Recently I needed to see a specialist for a medical problem I was experiencing. After several visits, the problem was resolved and I am now good as new. After the first visit, the doctor’s office sent an invitation to create an account on their website where I would...

Note The information in this article only applies to people with Original Medicare or people with Original Medicare along with a Medicare Supplement. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or another type of plan, contact your plan provider. Medicare Part B Medicare...

There are three ways to check the status of your new Medicare card. Check out the map at the gov website to see if the Medicare.gov mailings in your state have begun. Check your email. You will receive an email when the new Medicare cards start mailing in your state....

Are you looking for a doctor who accepts Medicare? If so you may want to use the Medicare Physician Compare tool as all physicians listed in Physician Compare take part in Medicare. There are three ways to research or select a doctor using the Medicare Physician...

 I have been hearing inaccurate rumors about the new Medicare cards so here’s the real information. There will be no change in your Medicare benefits and there is no charge for your new Medicare card. Your new card will no longer have your Social Security number....

What is a Medicare Supplement plan? (also known as Medigap) Medicare Supplement Insurance plans are standardized plans that cover the gaps in Original Medicare. Medicare Supplement plans allow you to choose any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare and to see...

I never really liked the term "Old People" but this makes me feel better about it. And if you ain't one, I bet ya know one! I got this from an "Old Personal friend of mine"! I'm passing this on as I did not want to be the only "old people" receiving it. Actually, it's...

According to a recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, many seniors find the process of selecting a Medicare plan frustrating and confusing. Piecing together the pieces of the Medicare Puzzle can be a challenging experience. Here are a few reasons why you may...

Now that you are retired, you might have decided that you are ready to leave the hustle and the bustle of the big city behind and move to that small quiet town you have always dreamed of. Say you are living in Denver and decided that you would like to live in a small...

Captive Agent vs Independent Agent – What is the Difference? I specialize in Medicare Supplement (also known as Medigap) plans for seniors in Colorado and represent all Medicare Supplement Plan types. Medicare Supplement plans help pay all or some of the costs...

I specialize in Medicare Supplements (also known as Medigap) plans for seniors in Colorado and represent all Medicare Supplement Plan types. Medicare Supplements help pay some of the cost-Original Medicare does not cover. Receive no-cost Medicare advice from an...

I moved to Colorado in 1974 and immediately fell in love with the Centennial State. I have always known that Colorado was a great place to live, especially for people who enjoy the great outdoors. It’s hard to beat hiking in the Colorado high country during the summer...

A few months ago, I posted about the new Medicare cards that will begin being mailed in April 2018. The new cards will no longer contain our social security number and will be replaced with what is called a Medicare Beneficiary Number or MBI. The change is part of the...

Medicare Supplements are plans offered by private insurance companies that help pay some or all of the deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments that Original Medicare does not pay. Some Medicare Supplements will also offer coverage for medical care that is not covered...

As most of us already know, the best way to stay healthy is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle includes eating well, exercise, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight. Medicare can help you live healthier by paying all or part of preventive...

Here is a brief video from CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services) with an explanation of the different parts of Medicare. This is very basic information please call or email me if you have any questions. NOTE Please note when this video is finished playing...

Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement; Which Plan is Right for You?

Medicare-speak can be very confusing. To help you understand the terminology, here are some of the more common terms and definitions used by Medicare and medical providers.

You probably have heard that as of January 1, 2020, Medicare Supplement Plan F will no longer be available to people aging into Medicare. Because of this change, many want to know the difference between Medicare supplement plans F and G.

This is the first of two articles concerning Medicare Enrollment. This article contains information on some of Medicare’s most common enrollment periods.