Bridlewood News May 2026 John and Laura – PNW Medicare Advisors, LLC

What is a Medicare Supplement Guaranteed Issue plan?

July 24, 2026

The Guaranteed Issue Rights (also known as Medigap Protections) are your rights when insurance companies are required to offer you certain Medigap policies. In these situations, an insurance company: – Must sell you a Medigap policy – Must cover all your pre-existing health conditions – Can’t charge you more for a Medigap policy because of past or present health problems In most cases, you have

Medicare Treatment for Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorders

July 22, 2026

Mental illness and substance abuse disorders are covered by Medicare, but special rules limit coverage and reimbursement. Mental health, behavioral health, and substance abuse disorders are not as well covered by Medicare as other services. Treatment for Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorders Alcoholism and substance use disorders can be treated both inpatient and outpatient under Medicare. Individuals will pay the same co-pays for inpatient substance

Trump’s Personnel Agency Says It Will Remove Some Identifying Info as It Sweeps Up Medical Records

July 22, 2026

The Trump administration is forging ahead with a controversial plan to collect the medical records of millions of federal workers and retirees, as well as their family members. The Office of Personnel Management said in a notice posted last month that it will begin routinely collecting identifiable, personal health information on more than 8 million people — despite concerns from privacy advocates and Democrats, who

Does Medicare Have a Flex Card for Seniors?

July 20, 2026

A flex card is a debit card beneficiaries can use to purchase medical items and equipment. The cards are typically associated with flexible spending accounts and are available to health plans throughout the country. Insurance companies issue these cards on specific plans only. Moreover, each card has a different spending limit. The flex card benefit is not common in Medicare Advantage plans, but you can

“Skinny Labeling” and Medicare

July 17, 2026

“Skinny labeling” is a practice by which follow-on drug manufacturers seek approval for some but not all indications for which branded drugs are approved. Medicare saved $1.5 billion between 2015 and 2020 as a result of competition between five biologic drugs and their skinny-label biosimilars. Recent judicial rulings are threatening these savings for Medicare and the availability of those and other biosimilars through skinny labeling,

A Sales Tax on Doctor Visits and Medicine? In Missouri, Some Worry

July 16, 2026

ST. LOUIS — Missouri healthcare advocate Leslie Ortbals and her husband want to start a family, but she worries they can’t afford it. The 27-year-old said she takes 10 medications daily to manage multiple chronic illnesses. Now she worries the cost of those drugs could rise — not because of price increases, but because of a tax system revamp put on the ballot by the

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