Instead of saving money, some Medicare patients will pay more for medicines. Others may not be able to get their medicines – 89% of insurers and PBMs say they plan to reduce access to medicines in Medicare Part D because of the Inflation Reduction Act. Higher costs and less access. That’s not what seniors were...
Tag: <span>medicare</span>
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Medicare open enrollment starts Oct. 15: Here’s what to know
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Medicare’s fall open enrollment, which runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, is an opportunity to review your benefits and make changes for 2025. Signing up for Medicare or changing plans can seem daunting, but it’s important to make sure you’re enrolled in the best plan for your medical needs. To help...
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Does Medicare cover oral surgery?
Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care or oral surgery for the general health of the teeth. However, Medicare may approve coverage for oral surgery in special cases. Although Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care, it does provide limited coverage for certain types of oral surgery. Approved procedures and surgeries include those...
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Medicare changes for 2025: What you need to know
October 2, 2024 by Karon Warren, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Fall has arrived, and that means open enrollment for Medicare starts Oct. 15. There are several changes for 2024 that you should know before enrolling or updating your Medicare coverage. Even if you won’t turn 65 for a few more months, now is the time to...
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Medicare Part B: How to cancel your plan
Individuals with Medicare Part B can choose to cancel this plan at any time. However, there are risks and considerations they may want to consider before they do. People with Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) can only cancel (drop) Part A if they pay a monthly premium. However, most people are eligible for...
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Do I have to enroll in Medicare?
Generally, an individual enrolls in Medicare when they turn 65 years old. However, a person may choose other healthcare options or opt out of the program. Medicare is available to United States citizens and long-term residents who are 65 years old or older. In some cases they may be automatically enrolled in the program. This...
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Medicare approves genetic test for solid tumors
by Julia Evangelou Strait, Washington University in St. Louis Shelly O’Laughlin, (right) director of clinical operations for the Genome Technology Access Center at McDonnell Genome Institute, prepares the GatewaySeq test with Lulu Sun, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of pathology and immunology. Credit: Matt Miller/School of MedicineA genetic test that identifies cancer mutations in solid tumors...
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CMS threatens to cut hospices from Medicare if they can’t prove legitimacy
By Susanna Vogel | Associate Editor Hispanolistic via Getty Images Dive Brief:– The CMS continued its crackdown on hospice fraud on Tuesday, announcing nearly 400 hospice facilities may be removed from Medicare if the practices cannot prove they’re legitimate enterprises through address verification.– The agency identified the potentially fraudulent operations by making unannounced visits to...
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Medicare may save $1.8B from four drugs in first year of price negotiations, research finds
Paul Schloesser Associate Editor A new paper published this week claims that in 2026, when Medicare negotiations for drug prices kick off, the minimum discount stipulated by the Inflation Reduction Act exceeds 2020 rebates for only four of the 10 drugs to be negotiated. On Sept. 1, CMS is expected to announce those 10 drugs...
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Drug plan prices touted during Medicare open enrollment can rise within a month
May 3, 2022 5:00 AM ET SUSAN JAFFE Retiree Donna Weiner shows some of the daily prescription medications for which she pays more than $6,000 per year through a Medicare prescription drug plan. She supports giving Medicare authority to negotiate drug prices. Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Something strange happened between the time Linda Griffith signed up...