Medicare

AARP - Social Security Planning

"The AARP Social Security Resource Center is as an online retirement-planning tool designed to help you figure out your eligibility for Social Security payments, when you can get them, and how much you and your family can receive. In this section you’ll find easy-to-understand answers on eligibility topics including:

• Who is (and isn’t) covered by Social Security.
• Criteria to qualify for retirement, disability, spousal and survivor benefits.
• Enrolling in Medicare.
• Social Security options for people living (and retiring) abroad.

Use the web link to visit the AARP Social Security Resource Center.

Medicare.gov

Get started with Medicare

Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older. You’re first eligible to sign up for Medicare 3 months before you turn 65. You may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease).

Follow these steps on this site to learn about Medicare, how to sign up, and your coverage options. Learn about it at your own pace.

AARP - 7 Medicare Changes You’ll See in 2025

"Expensive medications? You’ll save thousands. Dementia or mental health care? More options

Key takeaways:

• Changes from Inflation Reduction Act will take effect next year.
• Lower out-of-pocket limit in Part D drug plans erases old “donut hole.”
• You may find weight loss drugs covered to treat other medical conditions.
• Your Medicare Advantage plan may not stay the same.
• Look for a midyear statement from your MA plan.
• Caregivers for loved ones with dementia may be eligible for respite care.
• More mental health counselors are encouraged to enroll as providers."

Check out this August 2024 article from AARP highlighting many of the Medicare changes expected in 2025.

Your Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home or Other Long Term Services and Supports

From the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services:

This official government (CMS) booklet explains: ■ How to find and compare nursing homes and other long-term services and supports ■ How to pay for nursing home care ■ Your rights as a nursing home resident ■ Alternatives to nursing home care.

Use the checklist on pages 31-39 to compare nursing homes.

How to Get Started with Medicare

Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older. You’re first eligible to sign up for Medicare 3 months before you turn 65. You may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease).

Excellent information is available at Medicare.gov. This link will get you to that point to start your Medicare enrollment process.

How to get Financial Assistance for Adjustable Beds

"Adjustable beds typically start at $500 in smaller sizes and can easily cross the $2,000 threshold for split designs, making them a significant financial investment for most buyers. Using Medicare or Medicaid can lower your out-of-pocket payments. That said, there are a few stipulations with both of these programs to consider."

This editorial from the Sleep Doctor was written by Garen Glazer in February 2024 explains how you can receive financial assistance from Medicare or Medicaid to lower out-of-pocket costs for an adjustable bed. Check the following link: Financial Assistance for Adjustable Beds: Medicare, Medicaid, and More (sleepdoctor.com)

Does Medicare cover medical alert systems?

"According to the National Poll on Healthy Aging, which surveyed adults from ages 50 to 80, 88% responded that it was important to remain in their homes as long as possible. For older Americans to age in place well, technology can be useful, especially medical alert systems."

“These devices allow those who have fallen or have an emergency to contact someone for assistance,” says Jen Teague, Director for Health Coverage and Benefits at the National Council on Aging. “Ultimately, they help an individual maintain independence.”

"Medical alert devices have come a long way since the 1980s Lifecall ads that featured an older woman on the ground saying, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.” Today’s medical alert options range from in-home and on-the-go systems to watches and other wearables."

A May 1, 2024, article in the Aging Well section of Fortune Well magazine talks about the medical alert options currently available and answers the question regarding Medicare or Medicaid coverage. Use the following link: