Category Archives: News & Views Magazine

Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) will begin 10/15 and continue through 12/7. The AEP is when most people can change their Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Drug Plans (Part D). So, you will see a flood of commercials and perhaps receive phone calls.  What do you need to know? DOs: If you have an MA…

Are you turning 65 and going on to Medicare? Or have you been on Medicare, had a Medicare Plan and really do not know how the plan would work for you?  You aren’t alone. Often people do not understand how Medicare and how the coverage they have works.  Most often you hear this when someone…

Have you ever heard “I cannot pay for my prescriptions”?  Or, “my husband died and my income has been cut dramatically”. Statements like these are common, especially for people who have been retired for 20 years.  Prescription drugs are the tool for physicians to help people manage chronic conditions.  When prescription costs are too much…

It’s late at night, you’re alone and driving home.  You’re tired, but still have a couple miles to go.   At last, you’re about a half mile from home.  You relax and fall asleep at the wheel.  You go off the road waking up when you’re going over some big bumps.  You’re off the road…

What can a person, or business, do if they own a life insurance policy and no longer need or cannot pay for the policy?   Did you know: approximately 90% of all life insurance policies issued lapse before paying a claim.  A policy can lapse because premiums are not paid or term life insurance ends…

Higher insurance deductibles!  Higher co-insurance!! More out of pocket expense!!!  What can a person do to control their out of pocket expense? To be clear, first, a person is best served by having a good medical or Medicare health plan.  In addition, some people purchase supplemental policies to pay “extra benefits” to help cover deductibles…

New Medicare Changes and Benefits This fall season will be an active time period for most people who do not have employer sponsored group insurance.  People who buy Medicare Plans, including Medicare Advantage Plans (MA), Medicare Drug Plans and Medicare Supplements have an annual enrollment period (AEP) to make changes.  Some people may move from…

Denied Insurance Claims Last month’s column focused on the need to protect one’s earnings with disability insurance during the income producing years; and long term care (LTC) coverage to protect one’s nest egg during the retirement years.  Even though a person may have disability or LTC insurance, the definitions, exclusions, limitations and benefits will determine…

Long Term Health Care Insurance In most age groups, the likelihood of disability ‐ being incapacitated due to illness or accident ‐ is greater than the likelihood of death.  For younger people, disability insurance, often provided by employers, is used to protect their greatest asset: the ability to earn an income. For a retiree, Long Term Care Insurance (LTC) is…

Nursing Home Costs and How To Protect Yourself From Them This is interesting: How much did you earn, or will you earn in your lifetime?  Most people work 40 hours (or more) per week, 50 weeks per year, for 40 or more years.   That totals at least 80,000 hour of work in a lifetime. …