Congratulations! 

You’ve made it to 65; it’s time for Medicare! Here’s what you need to know.

You will have an “open enrollment” that will last three months before your birthday, the month of your birthday, and three months after your birthday. There are many Medicare choices. The right plan will be the correct choice for you depending on your needs. Plans are by area. Not all plans are equal. To choose the right plan, it’s best to have a Medicare Broker like us who can represent various plans and can help you make a comparison between them to see which one is right for you. In the event that your needs change, your agent broker can guide you.

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• To begin with, parts A & B form parts of what is recognized as Original Medicare.
• Part A is for hospital coverage, including inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facilities, and Hospicare care.
• Part B is “outpatient medical coverage including doctor visits, preventive services, radiology and lab services.
• Part C is Medicare Advantage. It covers everything original Medicare does plus other benefits like vision, dental, hearing, and sometimes prescription drugs.
• Part D is for Prescription Drug coverage which can be obtained as a stand-alone MA plan or can be included in a MA plan.

Ask your agent broker for assistance.

832-725-6788 / Mary Patricia Carmona-Gomez

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• A provider that bills Medicare for services or supplies they never gave you, like charging you for a visit you never had or a back brace you never got.
• A provider charges Medicare twice for a service or item that you only got once.
• A person who steals your Medicare number or card and uses it to submit fraudulent claims in your name.
• A company that offers you a Medicare drug plan that Medicare hasn’t approved.

If you suspect fraud, you may want to call your provider’s office to ask about it. They may be able to help you understand the charges or figure out if they made a billing error. Check your Medicare statements and your health plan monthly statements to clarify what they are charging you.

If you suspect that Medicare is being charged for an item or service, you didn’t get, or your Medicare card or number is stolen, use the contact information below to report suspected fraud or abuse.

1-800-MEDICARE (832-725-6788).

Fraud with Scammers.

While Millions of seniors are targeted by telemarketing fraud, internet fraud, and other scams each year, the consequences for elderly victims of fraud are often devastating, both financially and psychologically. Older adults hold the majority of our nation’s wealth, and many possess a sizable nest egg after having accumulated assets over a lifetime. They’re also likely to own a house, have excellent credit, and be solely responsible for their finances—all attractive scenarios to a potential thief.

Seniors with low psychological well-being, limited financial literacy, or poor health are particularly susceptible to scams.  Con artists realize that some seniors have difficulty with memory and may have trouble relaying key details to authorities. What’s more, people over age 60 may live alone, making them an easy target for scammers.  Those who do remember the details of the scam are often too embarrassed to admit they’d been duped.

Because they might not understand the technological capabilities that scammers possess, seniors are particularly vulnerable to certain scams. Today’s fraudsters and hackers can access vast troves of an individual’s data. In some cases, elderly victims of crime often don’t realize they’ve been scammed for weeks, and thieves use this delay to their advantage. Older individuals also may not know to whom they should report a scam.

Protect personal information over the phone. Never give out personal details over the phone. Credit card numbers, bank account information, and social security numbers should never be given out to callers, who could well be scammers posing as credible persons.

Scammers also claim they are individuals from the IRS. The fraudster will then demand money over the phone, threatening to jail the senior if the money is not wired immediately. The IRS will never request back taxes over the phone; the IRS initiates communication strictly by mail.

Prohibit remote access to a senior’s computer. Advancements in technology may leave some seniors squirming for help. Any technology issues should be directed to a reputable computer repair technician. Con artists have been known to pose as representatives from major technology giants and will call to notify seniors that a virus has attacked their computers. Following the scammer’s instructions to rid the device of any so-called viruses, saved files, passwords, and visited websites stored on the senior’s computer are automatically at the mercy of the criminal. Consequently, the senior’s bank account is wiped out within minutes.

Hire bonded caregivers. Excellent caregivers offer much-needed care to the elderly. However, dishonest caregivers are not unknown. Financially stressed or emotionally distressed caregivers have made headlines by stealing from elderly care recipients. Make sure to hire a caregiver from a licensed and bonded.

You can also contact the Office of Inspector General by telephone: 1-800-230-6539

By mail: U.S. Agency for International Development
Office of Inspector General
P.O. Box 657
Washington, DC 20044-0657

As an agent broker, I am well trained in Fraud, Waste, and Abuse yearly.

Mary Patricia Carmona-Gomez

Trusted By Seniors, Medicare Plans 832-725-6788

www.TrustedBySeniors.com

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If you have a toothache, backache, or any other type of pain, your first impulse may be to reach for pain medication.

Many people rely on medications, but they can come with a risk of side effects, drug interactions, and sometimes misuse.

While certain circumstances may require a prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication, it may also be possible to find some of the relief you need from a variety of natural pain relievers. Many herbs and spices have a long history of being used to relieve inflammation and pain.

While certain circumstances may require a prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication, it may also be possible to find some of the relief you need from a variety of natural pain relievers. Many herbs and spices have a long history of being used to relieve inflammation and pain.

These natural pain relievers fall under a category of treatment known as alternative medicine, which also includes acupuncture and other practices.

There can be a lot of benefits to easing pain and inflammation more naturally, but keep in mind that these natural remedies can occasionally interfere with other medications you are taking.

Furthermore, some natural pain relievers have not been well studied in humans (especially when it comes to dosage), and many supplements are not tested by an independent lab to ensure quality or safety. Supplements are also not regulated for quality by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) like drugs are.

If you’re dealing with pain or chronic issues, it’s best to talk with a doctor before buying any natural remedies. Integrative medicine professionals, which are physicians who have training in more natural remedies, may be a great option if you’re seeking alternative forms of pain therapy.

It’s also important to consult a qualified health professional before adding any supplements to your routine, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking other medications.

You can find more info on healthline.com

Keep in mind that Alternative Medicines are usually not included in your health plan’s drug formulary since supplements are also not regulated for quality by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) although Alternative procedures can be like Chiropractor and Acupuncture therapy.

Ask your agent broker for assistance

Mary Patricia Carmona-Gomez / Trusted By Seniors Medicare /832-725-6788

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The Total Cost of Prescription Drugs Is Projected to Continue Climbing

U.S. spending on prescription drugs has grown rapidly over the past decade, climbing from $783 per capita in 2007 to $1,025 per capita in 2017. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services project that such spending will continue climbing to $1,635 per capita by 2027, an increase of 60 percent. Overall, the U.S. spent about $330 billion on prescription drugs in 2017 — a 40 percent increase from 2007. That total includes both public and private spending, meaning it includes both out-of-pocket costs by Americans as well as costs borne by insurance companies and government programs like Medicare.

The growth in aggregate spending on prescription drugs can be attributed to several factors, such as the number and type of drugs prescribed (for example, specialty drugs are typically much more expensive than other drugs). The price of prescription drugs.

Why Are Prices for Prescription Drugs Rising?

Several factors may be contributing to the rise in prescription drug prices. One notable driver is a lack of competition resulting from the U.S. patent system for brand-name drugs, which gives the manufacturer monopolistic control over a given market and therefore the ability to increase prices without competition. Even though brand-name drugs account for only 10 percent of the prescription drug market, spending on such drugs accounts for almost 80 percent of total prescription drug costs, according to an analysis by IQVIA. Furthermore, prices on brand-name drugs have increased by over 60 percent since 2014, according to the Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker.

Other factors commonly cited as contributors to rising drug prices include:

• A lack of transparency in drug prices
• Less competitive drug markets stemming from mergers and acquisitions among manufacturers
• The limited ability of other parties, such as Medicare, to negotiate drug prices

Why Are Rising Drug Prices an Issue?

Prescription drugs play a vital role in the U.S. healthcare system — enabling Americans to lead longer, higher-quality lives. However, the value of such drugs can be diminished if people are unable to afford them. In fact, 24 percent of people taking prescription drugs noted that they had difficulty affording their medication, according to a poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation. That finding was more pronounced for lower-income individuals as well as for those nearing retirement age.

Prescription drugs also play a sizable role in the cost of the U.S. healthcare system, accounting for 10 percent of total health expenditures. Furthermore, those expenses are increasingly occurring through government healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid — placing an additional strain on the federal budget. In 2000, government healthcare programs paid for 20 percent of prescription drug expenses. By 2017, that number had increased to 43 percent; it is expected to climb further to 49 percent by 2027.

For more information- visit the Peter G. Peterson Foundation (pgpf.org)

List of covered prescription drugs (formulary)
Most Medicare drug plans have their own list of covered drugs, called a formulary.
Plans cover both generic and brand-name prescription drugs. The formulary
includes at least 2 drugs in the most commonly prescribed categories and classes.
This helps make sure that people with different medical conditions can get the
prescription drugs they need.

All Medicare drug plans generally must cover at least 2 drugs per drug category,
but plans can choose which specific drugs they cover. Plans are required to cover
almost all drugs within these protected classes: antipsychotics, antidepressants,
anticonvulsants, immunosuppressants, cancer drugs, and HIV/AIDS drugs.
The formulary might not include your specific drug. However, in most cases, a
similar drug should be available. If you or your prescriber (your doctor or other
health care provider who’s legally allowed to write prescriptions) believes none of
the drugs on your plan’s formulary will work for your condition, you can ask for an
exception.

More information on Medicare.gov. Download 8pg booklet below.

https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/11136-Pharmacies-Formularies-Coverage-Rules.pdf#:~:text=All%20Medicare%20drug%20plans%20generally%20must%20cover%20at,for%20more%20information%20on%20filing%20for%20an%20exception.

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The best way to increase the size of your Social Security check is to earn more while you’re working and then defer claiming until age 70. If you’ve already retired and your Social Security check is set, that opportunity has passed.

But just because you can’t raise your payout anymore doesn’t mean you can’t get added value from what you receive. Here are some steps you can take to stretch your Social Security money further, which is the next best thing to increasing the size of your check.

Downsize

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