Retirement Healthcare and Medicare
Retirement expert Bob Carlson’s research and knowledge on how to get the most out of healthcare options
Found 324 Articles.
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Long-Term Care Insurance Policies: Changes and Updates
Insurers are changing long-term care insurance policies to reduce confusion and overcome the objections of many potential buyers. The government also is getting on board with some new rules that favor policy purchases. Two major factors keep many people from purchasing long-term care policies. One factor is that the policies are complicated, with many optional […]
How Long-Term Care Insurance Can Reduce Risk
Most people evaluate long-term care insurance the wrong way. Sales approaches also often stress the wrong factors. LTCI should be analyzed in much the same way we analyze investment opportunities. Fear often is the focus of LTCI discussions. Scary statistics are used to try to convince consumers that they need the policies to protect them […]
Part D Medicare Prescription Drug Plan: Changes and Updates
We are rolling into the second year of the Part D Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. Beneficiaries can switch plans during the enrollment period from Nov. 15 through Dec. 31. If new coverage is selected, it begins Jan. 1. With one year of experience behind them, insurers are changing their plans, and most of the changes […]
What is Better Than Medicare
Alternatives to traditional Medicare are more popular – and with good reason. For the same and sometimes lower cost, more care is received by Medicare beneficiaries. Medicare Advantage is an umbrella name for alternatives to traditional Medicare. The alternatives include HMOs, PPOs, and special needs plans. But the fastest-growing alternative is PFFS – private fee […]
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Long Term Care Insurance: New Regulations
New regulations covering long-term care insurance might be on their way to your state. The regulations will broaden care and help reduce premiums. The regulations were drafted by the National Association of Insurance Commis-sioners. Insurance is regulated by each state. This group drafts model statutes and regulations that each state is encouraged to adopt. In […]
Medicare Premium Hikes Coming
Medicare beneficiaries with higher incomes face higher premiums in 2007 and thereafter. We have better estimates of those premiums now, and beneficiaries can factor these higher costs into their financial plans. The higher premiums, called surtaxes, are imposed on a sliding scale. They begin rising for single beneficiaries whose incomes exceed $80,000 and for married […]
Get Set for the New Medicare Surtax
Medicare beneficiaries are used to annual premium increases to go along with the rising cost of medical care. But in 2007 many will be surprised by the new means-tested premiums. Higher income beneficiaries will pay higher premiums. The amount of the increase in premiums will depend on the beneficiary’s income. The higher premium is called […]
Medicare Drug Deadline Draws Near
The deadline for Medicare beneficiaries to sign up for the new prescription drug plan is drawing near. To avoid penalties, seniors who are in Medicare must sign up for a plan under Part D of Medicare by May 15, 2006. The penalty, if you sign up for a plan later, is an increase in the […]
