Ready to quit smoking? Medicare can help.

Medicare will help you stop smoking or using tobacco products. 

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers up to 8 face-to-face visits in a 12-month period for smoking & tobacco use cessation counseling. These visits must be provided by a qualified doctor or other Medicare-recognized practitioner.

Who's eligible?

All people with Medicare who use tobacco are covered.

Your costs in Original Medicare

You pay 20% of the Medicare approved amount for the doctor's services, and the Part B deductible applies if you use tobacco and you've been diagnosed with an illness caused or complicated by tobacco use, or you take a medicine that’s affected by tobacco. In a hospital outpatient setting, you also pay the hospital a copayment.

If you haven't been diagnosed with an illness caused or complicated by tobacco use, you pay nothing for the counseling sessions if the doctor or other health care provider accepts  assignments. For more information, visit www.Medicare.gov for details.


Former Smokers . . .
 

If you are a former smoker, take a look at your old life insurance policies to see if they still list you as a smoker. You may save some money by letting them know you no longer smoke.

How to Report Suspected Medicare Fraud

Fraud happens when Medicare is billed for services or supplies that you never got. Fraud costs Medicare, and ultimately US taxpayers, billions of dollars every year. You can help stop fraud in two easy steps:

1. Review each Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or Explanation of Benefits (EOB) as soon as you receive it.

2. Follow up on anything you see that you don’t understand.

Medicare sends you a summary notice every three months, if you have Original Medicare. You can also see these documents online at MyMedicare.gov. You’ll need to register on the site. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan or a prescription drug plan, your plan sends you a monthly statement (EOB). Many plans also have member web sites where you can register to view your EOBs online.

Click here to read more on What to Look For

http://blog.medicaremadeclear.com/blog/bid/113346/How-to-Report-Suspected-Medicare-Fraud

Taken from article posted by Medicare Made Clear Blog.

Get Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Costs

Are you one of the 2 million low-income Americans who qualify for help with prescription drug costs but have not applied for Medicare's Extra Help Program?

I was recently interviewed by Diane Suchetka who explains more about the program in her recent blog post on the TheFrugalPatient.com. Click here for details:

 http://www.cleveland.com/healthcare-savings/index.ssf/2013/05/medicare_extra_help_program_pa.html#incart_river

To apply or help someone you know apply, go to http://socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp/ or call 1-800-772-1213 and ask for an Exta Help Application

Will Medicare cover you when traveling outside the U.S.?

As you pack your bags for that out-of-country trip, there's one more thing you'll want to do. That's check your insurance coverage.

You may be surprised to learn that Original Medicare does not pay for health care services or supplies you get outside the U.S. except in very limited situations.

If your circumstances do not match the limited exceptions, you are responsible to pay the full cost to the health care provider. If your situation matches one of the allowable exceptions, you still pay the coinsurance or copayments and deductibles you would normally pay if you received these services or supplies in the U.S.

If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or other Medicare health plan, you may be entitled to additional coverage for health care services you receive outside the U.S. Advantage Plan coverage may vary so it's best to give your insurance agent a call and ask them about your coverage before you begin your trip.

For information on allowable exceptions go to http://www.medicare.gov/coverage/travel-need-health-care-outside-us.html or call 1-800-MEDICARE.

Bon voyage!

Steps for Appealing a Medicare Decision

What you need to know

If you disagree with a coverage or payment decision made by Medicare or your Medicare Advantage plan you have the option to file an appeal. You can file an appeal if you are denied one of the following:

• Your request for a health care service, supply, item or prescription that you think you should be able to get.
• Your request for payment for health care service, supply, item or a prescription drug you already got.
• Your request to change the amount you must pay for a health care service, supply, item, or prescription drug.

You can also appeal if Medicare or your Advantage plan stops providing or paying for all or part of an item or service you think you still need.

Where to begin?

If you are thinking about filing an appeal, talk to your doctor, health care provider or supplier. Ask them to provide any information that will support your appeal. Read your plan materials or contact your insurance agent or plan for details about your appeal rights. Medicare and all companies that provide Medicare Advantage plans are required to help you file an appeal.

The appeals process has 5 levels. If you disagree with the decision made at any level of the process, you can generally go to the next level. At each level, you'll be given instructions in the decision letter on how to move to the next level of appeal.

You have the right to appoint a representative to help you file an appeal.
 

Your representative can be your insurance agent, a family member, friend, attorney or doctor or anyone you choose to act on your behalf. One of the many benefits of having an insurance agent is having someone to act as your advocate. Your insurance agent knows you, your plan and the process for filing an appeal and provides this service at no additional charge.

If you have questions about any part of the appeal process, call 1-800-MEDICARE ((1-800-633-4227) or go to http://www.medicare.gov for more information.

 

Scammers taking advantage of confusion over Affordable Care Act

 

Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, who is also the state's insurance director, is issuing a consumer alert after reports of scammers offering to help navigate consumers through the so-called health insurance exchanges.

 

Taylor says the scammers are trying to capitalize on confusion around the federal Affordable Care Act.

Open enrollment in the exchanges does not begin until Oct. 1. Taylor says marketing of plans offering coverage through the exchange hasn't started.  “No one from an official government program should be calling you requesting your personal information.  If you are contacted by a suspicious caller, do not provide your personal information, including your Medicare, Social Security and bank account numbers,” said Lt. Gov. Taylor.

Click to continue: http://www.insurance.ohio.gov/Newsroom/Pages/05092013ConsumerAlertHealthReform.aspx

 

Madison YMCA added as new class location in June

Are you ready to Get Started with Medicare?  We've added a new class location in Madison. Please plan now to attend any of our upcoming classes for all the facts on Medicare:

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Lake County YMCA-East End Branch

6:30 pm- 8:00 pm

440-428-5125

 

Tuesday, May 21

Morley Library 

6:30 pm- 8:00 pm 

440-255-5700

Thursday, May 23
Mentor Senior Center
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
440-255-5700

Getting Started with Medicare will help prepare you for your transition to Medicare. Please share this information with friends who may be interested, too.

 

Pre-registration is required for all classes. Please call the specific location to register and for any additional details.

For the dates and times of additional classes, please visit my website at http://www.mutskoinsurance.com/seminars