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Humana Medicare Advantage Changes Are Coming for 2027 - 600,000+ plans being discontinued
Humana is expected to discontinue certain Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, impacting approximately 600,000 members nationwide. If you receive a Notice of Non-Renewal, don’t panic, losing your current plan does not mean you’re losing Medicare. You’ll have options, and this may even open up additional choices you didn’t have before. However, if your plan is one of the 600,000+ being discontinued, it is essential that you review your options. Your Options If Your Humana Plan I

Medicare Melanie
18 hours ago1 min read


Turning 65 & have Marketplace (Obamacare) Insurance? What Happens When Medicare Starts?
If you're turning 65 and currently have health insurance through the ACA Marketplace (Obamacare), don't assume your coverage will automatically transition to Medicare. In most cases, becoming eligible for Medicare means it's time to move from Marketplace coverage to Medicare, and timing that transition correctly is important. Can I Keep My Marketplace Plan After I Turn 65? Technically, you may be able to keep a Marketplace plan, but once you're eligible for premium free Medic

Medicare Melanie
2 days ago3 min read


Medicare Grocery Allowance Cards: Do You Really Qualify?
You've probably seen the commercials: “Get money for groceries with Medicare!” It sounds great, but there's something those advertisements don't always make clear. There is no universal Medicare grocery allowance. Some people really can receive money toward groceries through their insurance plan, but simply having Medicare does not mean you qualify. Where Do Medicare Grocery Benefits Come From? Original Medicare does not provide grocery cards. Instead, grocery and healthy-foo

Medicare Melanie
3 days ago2 min read


Does Baptist Health Jacksonville Accept Medicare Advantage Plans?
If you live in Jacksonville and have Medicare, or you're getting ready to enroll, you may have asked: “Does my hospital accept Medicare?” But if you have a Medicare Advantage plan, that's actually not the right question. A hospital can accept Medicare while not accepting your specific Medicare Advantage plan. Jacksonville residents have several major healthcare systems, including Baptist Health, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, UF Health Jacksonville and Ascension St. Vincent's. But

Medicare Melanie
3 days ago2 min read


Best Medicare Coverage if You Want to Use Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
If receiving care at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville is important to you, you may be wondering: What's the best Medicare coverage for Mayo Clinic Jacksonville? There isn't one Medicare plan that's best for everyone. But there is one thing you should know before choosing coverage: Mayo Clinic Florida participates in Original Medicare and accepts Medicare supplements, while Mayo Clinic states that it does not accept noncontracted Medicare Advantage plans. That distinction can have a m

Medicare Melanie
6 days ago4 min read


Is it possible to lower your Medicare Supplement (Medigap) monthly premium,?
If your Medicare Supplement premium seems to go up every single year, you may be wondering: “Do I have to keep paying this much to keep my coverage?” The answer may be no. In some cases, you can lower your Medicare Supplement premium substantially without giving up the benefits you currently have. The Same Plan Can Have Very Different Prices Here's something many Medicare beneficiaries don't realize: Medicare Supplement plans are standardized. If you have a Plan G, for exampl

Medicare Melanie
6 days ago3 min read


Is Your Medicare Advantage Plan Going Away? Don't Panic, You Have Options, But You Have A Deadline Too!
Every year, Medicare Advantage insurance companies make changes. Sometimes they change premiums, copays, drug coverage or provider networks. And sometimes they make a much bigger change: They discontinue the Medicare Advantage plan altogether. If you receive a letter telling you that your Medicare Advantage plan will no longer be offered next year, don't ignore it, but don't panic either. You have options, and you may have some special protections you don't normally have. Why

Medicare Melanie
Aug 313 min read


Medicare Late Enrollment Penalties: How Long Do They Last?
Missing a Medicare enrollment deadline can be an expensive mistake, and unfortunately, some Medicare penalties can follow you for years or even for life. The good news? Not everyone who delays Medicare has to pay a penalty. Understanding the rules before you delay coverage can save you a lot of money and frustration. The Medicare Part B Late Enrollment Penalty If you don't enroll in Medicare Part B when you're first eligible and you don't have coverage that allows you to safe

Medicare Melanie
Aug 313 min read


Is Your Medicare Plan Changing Coverage for Your Thyroid Medication?
If you take Synthroid, levothyroxine, or another thyroid medication, you may receive a notice from your Medicare drug plan saying that something about your prescription coverage is changing. Before you panic, here's the most important thing to know: Medicare has not stopped covering thyroid medications. Instead, your individual Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan may be changing how it covers your particular medication. Why Would My Coverage Change? Medicare prescripti

Medicare Melanie
Aug 263 min read


Medicare Annual Enrollment Period vs. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: What’s the Difference?
If you have Medicare, you’ve probably heard about different times of the year when you can change your coverage. Two of the most commonly confused are the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. They sound similar, but they are not the same thing. Understanding the difference can help you avoid missing an opportunity to make an important change to your Medicare coverage. Medicare Annual Enrollment Period The Annual Enrollment Perio

Medicare Melanie
Aug 173 min read


Long Term Care Isn’t Just a Concern for Your 70s and 80s
One of the biggest misconceptions about long-term care insurance is that it’s only something to think about later in life. In reality, the need for long-term care isn’t determined by your age. An accident, serious illness, disability, or unexpected health event can create a need for extended care well before age 65. That’s one of the reasons I encourage people to start learning about their options before they think they'll need them. Planning ahead often provides more flexibi

Medicare Melanie
Aug 154 min read


Medicare Now Offers $50 GLP-1 Weight Loss Medications — Do You Qualify?
If you're on Medicare and have been interested in medications like Wegovy or Zepbound for weight loss, there is some exciting news! Beginning July 1, 2026, the new Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program gives certain Medicare beneficiaries access to covered GLP-1 weight-loss medications for just $50 per month. Who Can Qualify? You must have Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage and meet certain health requirements. You may qualify if: BMI of 35 or higher — no additional qualifyin

Medicare Melanie
Aug 122 min read


That Medicare Letter May Not Be a Scam — But You Can Still Toss It
If you’re on Medicare, you’ve probably received mail that looks very official. It may say things like: “IMPORTANT: READ CAREFULLY” “RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE IS REQUESTED” “PLEASE CALL TO CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY” “You may qualify for additional Medicare benefits.” The envelope or letter may even include the words Medicare Advantage, Medicare, or Medicare Support Hotline in large print. So, is it a scam? Usually, It’s Marketing — Not a Notice From Medicare, but also not a 'Scam'

Medicare Melanie
Aug 123 min read


5 Safe Investments for Seniors
As you get closer to or enter retirement, your investment priorities may begin to change. Growing your money is still important, but protecting what you've already saved can become just as important. Here are five options seniors may want to consider when looking for safety and stability in retirement. 1. Certificates of Deposit (CDs) CDs offer a fixed interest rate for a specific period of time and are generally FDIC insured when held at an FDIC-insured bank and within appli

Medicare Melanie
Aug 122 min read


Why Cancer Insurance is Important for Medicare Beneficiaries
Medicare provides valuable health coverage, but a cancer diagnosis can bring expenses that go far beyond what your health insurance pays. Even with Medicare and additional coverage, you may face costs related to deductibles, copays, coinsurance, transportation, lodging, meals, household expenses, and other needs during treatment. That’s where cancer insurance can help. Cancer policies are designed to provide additional financial protection if you're diagnosed with a covered c

Medicare Melanie
Aug 111 min read


Long-Term Care: The Expense Medicare Wasn't Designed to Cover
One of the biggest misconceptions I hear about Medicare is that it will pay for long term care if you eventually need help taking care of yourself. It won't. Medicare may cover certain short-term skilled nursing or home health services when specific requirements are met, but it does not pay for ongoing custodial care, and help with everyday activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, or using the bathroom. And long term care can be expensive. Without a plan in place, the co

Medicare Melanie
Aug 101 min read


Medicare Part D: What You Need to Know About Prescription Drug Coverage
Medicare can feel like an alphabet soup at first — Part A, Part B, Part C, and then there’s Part D. So, what exactly is Part D? Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage. If you have Original Medicare, you can purchase a stand-alone Part D plan from a private insurance company to help cover your medications. One thing Medicare Melanie always reminds her clients about is that Part D plans are not all the same. A plan that works perfectly for your neighbor may be a terrible

Medicare Melanie
Aug 92 min read


What Is a Medicare Supplement Plan?
If you’re new to Medicare, you may quickly discover that Original Medicare doesn’t pay 100% of your healthcare costs. That’s where a Medicare Supplement plan, also called Medigap, can help. Medicare Supplement plans work alongside Original Medicare (Parts A and B) to help pay some of the costs Medicare leaves behind, such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. One of the biggest reasons people choose a Medicare Supplement is predictability. Depending on the plan you sel

Medicare Melanie
Aug 91 min read
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