Medicare

Posts focusing on Medicare Parts A, B, C and D, Medicare Advantage, Supplements, changes in benefits, enrollment.

2025 Medicare Insurance Premiums for the Monthly Budget

February 18, 2025 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

The monthly insurance premium for Part B of Medicare is $185 for individuals who had earned less than $106,000 or $212,000 for a married couple filing a joint federal income tax return. As the household income increases, the insurance premium for Part B increases. For individuals who earned over $500,000, the Part B premium is $628.90 per month for 2025. Remember that the monthly premiums are per person. If a married coupled earned over $750,000 and are eligible for Medicare, each person will pay $628.90 for Part B.

The Medicare Medi-Cal Covered California Trap

January 14, 2025 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Regardless of the error, Medi-Cal updates the Covered California income section denying the non-Medicare spouse their private health insurance with the subsidy. The spouse is determined Medi-Cal eligible and their health plan is terminated.

Social Security Deposits Reduced In 2025

November 13, 2024 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Social Security recipients who have a Part D drug plan need to review their 2025 monthly premium rate. The changes to the Part D drug plans with a lower maximum out-of-pocket amount has forced many Part D plan sponsors to raise their monthly premiums. Rate increases of $30 to $50 per month is not uncommon.

Why Medicare Health Plan Help Maybe Difficult to Find

November 8, 2024 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

The impacts of so many Medicare plans not paying an agent commission will suppress the number agents who are willing to assist enrollments for no compensation. In other words, some Medicare beneficiaries may have a tough time finding local agent help to evaluate their Medicare plan options.

Are PPO Medicare Advantage Plans Better HMOs?

September 27, 2024 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Other plans may have an out-of-network deductible of $500 to $750+. The out-of-network deductible must be satisfied before the plan begins to share in the cost of the health care services or out-of-network services.

2025 Medicare Part D Prescription Cost Sharing and Payment Plan

August 20, 2024 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

The 2025 Medicare Part D standard benefit structure will have a $590 deductible. After the drug deductible is met the plan member goes into the initial coverage phase. During the initial coverage phase, the plan member is responsible for 25 percent of the drug costs.

Health Insurance Options after a Divorce

July 31, 2024 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Not all the below options may be available to you because some are contingent on your age, employment, or income. Those health insurance alternatives available to you are worth investigating and considering if they meet your budget or adequately address health care challenges you may be facing.

Countable Sources of Income for Medicare Savings Program through Medi-Cal

July 27, 2024 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Medi-Cal breaks up the income into unearned income, earned income, in kind income, and exempt income. Finally, there are certain expenses that will reduce the final countable income for eligibility in the Medicare Savings Program.

The Extra IRMAA Cost for Medicare Part B and D Enrollments

May 23, 2024 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Pat and Don are a married couple. Pat is age 67 and Don is age 64. Pat retires from work and leaves the employer group plan. Pat activates Part B of Medicare. For the last filed tax year, the modified adjusted gross income for Pat and Don was $350,000. Pat will be subject to an Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount for the Part B and Part D.

Medicare Part B Enrollment after You leave Employer Health Plan

May 17, 2024 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Once you leave your job and the health plan, you must enroll in Part B in order to enroll in a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan. In this situation, enrollment can be a little confusing.

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