We all wish the healthcare system was perfect. No one wants to deal with a doctor making the wrong recommendation, unpleasant or unsafe hospital conditions, the wrong prescription, or inappropriate treatment.  Unfortunately, the reality is that these issues do happen. And when they do, you may feel that letting someone know is important. You might need your care to be readdressed or want an explanation for why you need to switch doctors or pharmacies. The closure of knowing someone hears your negative experience, and to hopefully prevent the situation from happening again, is also healing. So when your Medicare experience [...]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, health care was in an obvious crisis. In addition to healthcare workers navigating how to treat patients in overwhelmed hospitals and perform needed operations within the strictures of quarantine, many people found themselves without health insurance and access to care.  In response to the public health emergency, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The act required states to continually enroll beneficiaries until the end of the COVID-19 emergency—if they wanted to keep their funding. The primary goal was to give Medicare-eligible Americans in crisis access to medical care. They also wanted to remove the [...]

Are you dealing with chronic pain? If so, you likely feel frustrated, angry, and possibly, hopeless. Not to mention the constant discomfort you’re facing can lead to anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, chronic pain keeps many seniors from enjoying their lives to the fullest.  While there’s often not a perfect solution to this problem, there are ways to manage and alleviate your pain—even without medication. Reducing stress, exercising regularly, changing your diet, and eliminating smoking and drinking can all improve your health. But there may be yet another way: acupuncture.  Acupuncture has entered the mainstream in recent years as a major [...]

Your medical care is comprised of many moving parts, and some aren’t even technically considered medical treatment. They’re actually seen as add-ons called ancillary services. Insurance like Medicare is built to provide healthcare treatment, but sometimes understanding your coverage can be tricky, especially when dealing with these associated resources. For example, say your friend falls and breaks her wrist. She has an initial visit with a doctor who treats her injury. But she also may have an ambulance ride to the hospital, wound care services to prevent infection, a series of x-rays and an inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation program. She [...]

Winter is turning into spring, which means longer days, blooming trees, wildlife coming out of hibernation, and of course, Medicare OEP!  Medicare has a few types of enrollment periods each year, and they can be a bit confusing to navigate. If you’re wondering what Open Enrollment Period (OEP) is and what action you might need to take, you’re in the right place! Today, we’ll cover the basics of OEP and what you need to know.   What is Medicare OEP? OEP runs every year from January 1st through March 31st. If you’re on Medicare Advantage, this is the time of year [...]