What’s an “Advance Beneficiary Notice of Non-coverage” (ABN)?
If you have Original Medicare, your doctor, other health care provider, or supplier may give you a written notice if they think Medicare won’t pay for the items or services you’ll get. This notice is called an “Advance Beneficiary Notice of Non-coverage,” or ABN. The ABN lists the items or services that your doctor or […]
Medicare – Preventive service – Lung cancer screenings
Preventive service – Lung cancer screenings Medicare covers lung cancer screenings with low dose computed tomography once per year if you meet these updated conditions: • You’re 50–77. • You don’t have signs or symptoms of lung cancer (you’re asymptomatic). • You’re either a current smoker or you quit smoking within the last 15 years. […]
Medicare – Nursing Home Resident Rights
Nursing home residents have certain rights and protections under the law. The nursing home must list and give all new residents a copy of these rights. These resident rights include, but aren’t limited to: – The right to be treated with dignity and respect. – The right to be informed in writing about services and […]
Medicare and Bankruptcy
If you have filed a bankruptcy petition or are involved in a bankruptcy proceeding, notify your servicing Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) immediately so that we can properly resolve Medicare financial obligations. Even if there are no outstanding payments at the time of the bankruptcy filing, this notification ensures that we handle your situation properly. Notify […]
How to find Medicare Providers using the Medicare Lookup Tool
To find Medicare providers using the Medicare Lookup Tool, start by visiting Medicare.gov and clicking on “Find care” in the main navigation menu. This will take you to the provider search tool where you can search for doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, home health services, hospice care, rehabilitation facilities, long-term care hospitals, and dialysis facilities. Begin […]
Online Bill Payment for Medicare Premiums
If your bank offers online bill payment, you can use it to pay your Medicare premiums bill from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Getting started with online bill payment requires you to sign up for your bank’s process, or your representative can do so on your behalf. Social Security and CMS are […]
Does Medicare cover heart disease care?
Yes, Medicare covers comprehensive heart disease care including screenings, treatments, procedures, and rehabilitation services. Coverage spans conditions like coronary artery disease, heart failure, valve disorders, and arrhythmias. Medicare Part B covers preventive screenings including cardiovascular disease screenings every five years and a one-time abdominal aortic aneurysm screening for at-risk beneficiaries. Your Annual Wellness Visit with […]
How to appeal and avoid Medicare premium surcharges
Around seven percent of people with Part B pay a special Medicare monthly surcharge that can dramatically increase their premiums. The surcharge is known as an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount or IRMAA. IRMAA is Medicare’s extra fee for high-income beneficiaries, enacted by Congress in 2003 and expanded in 2011. The IRMAA surcharge is based on […]
Medicare and the Mental Health Access Improvement Act
According to studies, seniors face a variety of mental health challenges. It is estimated that more than one in five adults over the age of 60 suffer from at least one mental or neurological disorder, including anxiety, cognitive impairment, depression, and other mood disorders. Marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors are now eligible […]
“Brain training” is the fastest growing Medicare Advantage fitness benefit
Brain training has emerged as the fastest growing Medicare Advantage fitness benefit since the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services began tracking distinct fitness benefit categories in 2019. When CMS required insurance plans to differentiate between physical fitness, wearable fitness trackers, and memory fitness programs, it revealed a significant trend in beneficiary preferences. Federal data […]