Are the Medicare commercials from Medicare or the government?
Feb 24, 2021 · The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the principal source of funding for Advantage plans, paying insurance companies for each beneficiary's expected healthcare costs. Thus, the...
Why do Medicare Advantage plans have commercials on TV?
Nov 05, 2021 · The commercials, said "Friends Talk Money" co-host Terry Savage, a syndicated personal finance columnist and author and Medicare expert, promote their one-stop shopping and potential money savings....
What does Joe Namath’s Medicare commercials on TV mean?
Nov 08, 2017 · Per Wikipdia, Medicare Part D, also known as Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit, is a US federal government benefit that subsidizes the costs of prescription drugs and prescription drug insurance premiums for Medicare beneficiaries.
Do you know the benefits of Medicare?
Feb 11, 2020 · In some of the commercials, there were two more benefits that require clarification. Free preventive screenings Medicare covers a long list of preventive and screening services. You don’t need to...
What does "misleading" mean in commercials?
The facts, as presented, are true but then the question becomes, “Are these commercials misleading?” According to the Macmillan dictionary, misleading means something that is intended or likely to make someone believe something that is incorrect or not true.
Is Medicare Advantage a zero premium plan?
Not all Medicare Advantage plans are zero-premium. And for those that are, it’s important to know that zero-premium does not mean zero costs. There are out-of-pocket costs for most services. Plan members will pay their share of costs until they reach the plan’s out-of-pocket maximum limit.
Does Medicare cover preventive screening?
Free preventive screenings. Medicare covers a long list of preventive and screening services. You don’t need to enroll in one of these plans to get preventive services. A 75% discount on prescription medications in the Coverage Gap.
Is the Medicare donut hole closed?
The Coverage Gap is more commonly known as the donut hole. In 2020, the donut hole closed. Beneficiaries are responsible for 25% of the cost of medications in this payment stage. Or, in other words, they get a 75% discount.
Does Medicare cover home aides?
Medicare describes these as benefits for daily maintenance and doesn’t cover them. However, because of policy changes, Medicare Advantage plans can now provide them.
Why is this Medicare marketing blitz happening now?
The Medicare Annual Election Period (also called Open Enrollment) starts on October 15 each year and ends on December 7. That means that typically, the Medicare commercials and mail start right after Labor Day, with phone calls beginning October 1.
How did Medicare marketers get my phone number and address?
Medicare marketing lists are inexpensive and readily available to anyone who wants to use them for mailings and phone calls. So if you have 10,000 agents in Los Angeles, chances are – if you are over 65 and live in a zip code the agent wants to sell in – you have received a LOT of mail since Labor Day.
How can I make the Medicare calls stop?
TIP: If you want the calls to stop, respond with “My phone number is on the Do Not Call list and I will report you to CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) if you continue to call.” (Ignoring the Do Not Call list is a serious infraction for agents.)
What about in-person Medicare marketers?
Then we have the door knockers and agent kiosks. You do not have to answer the door. Ever. (And I highly recommend not answering, especially now!)
Should I pay attention to marketers during Medicare's open enrollment period?
It is very important to review your plan each year, but that does not require you to respond to the marketing.
A few tips
Using a trusted agent or advisor is always best, but you want review your drug list and pharmacy for the upcoming year at Medicare.gov at the very least.
When is Medicare open enrollment?
As stated earlier, the open enrollment period runs two months from mid-October to early December. Second, if you dial the 800 number, you won’t get a government call center; you will be connected to a licensed insurance agent who typically acts as a commissioned broker for Medicare Advantage Plans.
How much is Medicare Part B?
The $144 is the typical monthly cost for Medicare Part B benefits that is automatically deducted from your monthly Social Security check. (A couple will pay $288 per month.) The rebate being referenced (sometimes called a “payback”) isn’t something like traditional Medicare that you “qualify” for through the government.
What is a zero premium plan?
The commercial refers to the zero-premium plans that some providers offer that include benefits not available with Medicare Part B at no additional cost. But the spokesperson fails to mention that not all plans are zero-premium.
Does Medicare cover dental and vision?
None of these services are provided by Medicare Part A or B, nor do Medigap (supplemental plans) cover them. However, you can get dental and vision coverage via separate policies, and you can get prescription coverage with a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.
Does Medicare have out of pocket costs?
Also, if you sign-up for one, that doesn’t mean there will be no costs at all. There will be out-of-pocket costs for deductibles, Medicare coinsurance, and copays for most services, and you will have to pay them up to the plan’s out-of-pocket limit.
