Category: medicare
-
Medicare’s 3-Day Rule and Two-Midnight Rule
Medicare has specific guidelines for hospital stays and skilled nursing facility (SNF) coverage, and two important rules—the 3-Day Rule and the Two-Midnight Rule—play a crucial role in determining eligibility for certain benefits. What Is the 3-Day Rule? The 3-Day Rule requires Medicare beneficiaries to have a medically necessary inpatient hospital stay of at least three consecutive days before Medicare will cover skilled…
-
Medicare as a Secondary Payer
The Medicare system is designed to ensure that Medicare doesn’t use taxpayer dollars to pay claims that are covered by other insurance. However, the process also ensures that your medical bills are paid on time without you having to submit mountains of paperwork or take any other action. It doesn’t work perfectly every single time,…
-
Being Eligible for Part A on Someone Else’s Work Record
If you haven’t worked long enough to get Medicare Part A benefits without paying premiums, you may qualify on the work record of your current or former spouse. But the rules vary according to different circumstances. Your current/former spouse has enough credits If your current or former spouse has earned 40 work credits, you can…
-
Workers Age 65 and Over
What you need to know if you continue working after you reach age 65. If your employer offers group health insurance, how does Medicare affect you regarding Medicare? Generally, if your employer has 20 or more full-time employees, and you’re age 65 or over, you’re entitled to the same group health benefits as any other employee. The group…
-
Home Health Care Services
Home Health Care Services provides some of the same types of care that you might receive in a skilled nursing facility but in your own home. These include: Skilled Nursing Care: provided on a part-time basis (no more than eight hours a day over a period of 21 days or less) and include services such…
-
Choosing a Medicare Supplemental Policy
Your choice of a Medicare Supplemental Policy depends on two things: which one provides closest to your needs and how much you’re willing to pay for it. The latter point depends on several factors: I recommend purchasing the supplemental policy with the most comprehensive set of benefits that you can afford at the time of…
-
Medicare Initial Enrollment Questionnaire
Medicare does not automatically know if you have any other health coverage, so about three months before you become eligible for Medicare, you will receive a letter in the mail informing you on how to complete the Medicare Initial Enrollment Questionnaire. It’s in your best interest to complete this form without delay. There are two…
-
Wellness Exam
A Medicare wellness exam is a special type of physical exam specifically designed by Medicare for the needs of people 65 and older. A Medicare beneficiary is untitled to one “Welcome to Medicare” initial wellness exam within the first 12 months after first enrolling in Medicare Part B, and then one wellness exam every year thereafter. Medicare pays…
-
Annual Notice of Change (ANOC)
If you currently have a Medicare Advantage Plan or you’re enrolled in a stand-alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan, your plan will send you a “Plan Annual Notice of Change” (ANOC) by the end of each September. The ANOC includes any changes in coverage, costs, or service area that will be effective in January.…
-
Medicare and Skilled Nursing
If you or a loved needs care in a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), either for a short-term rehabilitation, or a long-term stay, it is crucial to know what Medicare covers and what you will need to pay for these services. First and foremost, the skilled nursing facility you choose must be certified by Medicare. Patient Criteria…
Farnum Health Insurance 