Elder Care ABC

By Mary Jane Stern Recently through a social networking site, I connected with someone I went to school with.  Unfortunately, she has gone out on disability because of diabetes and is covered under a Medicare Advantage Plan.  She mentioned how she wasn’t too happy with Medicare and one big reason was the Medicare Therapeutic Shoe [...]

Recently on one of our blog posts we had a comment regarding the 2011 contributions while in the Coverage Gap (Donut Hole) and how the total out-of-pocket expenses would be allocated until a beneficiary reached catastrophic coverage. Medicare has changed some of its wording and makes reading a little more confusing as to what will [...]

You can pick up a newspaper or a magazine and you will find articles about diet and nutrition to help with the management of certain diseases.  Medicare covers Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) for people with diabetes or renal diseases to help them manage their conditions. What is Medical Nutrition Therapy? Medical Nutrition Therapy includes nutrition, [...]

There’s a lot to learn about Medicare Outpatient Services. A few weeks ago my husband went in for a cardiac catheterization and stent placement. With a stent implant you have to spend an overnight in the hospital. I assumed the hospital stay would be covered under Medicare Part A, but it’s not – it falls [...]

By Mary Jane Stern During July 2010 Attorney General Eric Holder and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Seblius made South Florida their first stop of a seven city itinerary for Regional Healthcare Fraud Prevention Summits as part of the Obama Administration’s effort to crack down on health care fraud. A recent study reported South [...]

By Mary Jane Stern One of my recent blog posts was about the “extras” some of the Medicare Advantage Plans offer to their members and one “extra” was the Silver Sneakers Program. About 6 months ago I decided to join a gym because I was out of shape and as we mature, it is so [...]

by Mary Jane Stern Many people struggle trying to understand what a Medicare Part B Excess charge is.  I know I did initially. It’s an additional charge a physician or other healthcare provider can charge. There are many doctors and facilities who accept the Medicare allowed charge.  However, there are also doctors and other healthcare [...]

Some of the Medicare Advantage plans have a really great benefit offering the SilverSneakers Fitness Program. What is SilverSneakers? SilverSneakers is a fitness program for Medicare Advantage members offering programs that encourage older adults and seniors to become involved in physical activity and at the same time offers a social activity.