David Sayen is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific Territories. You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Choosing to enter hospice care can be a wrenching decision for yourself or a loved one. Hospice is intended to help terminally-ill people live out their lives as comfortably as possible. Hospice doesn’t focus on curing disease and it’s not only for people with cancer. Medicare’s hospice benefit covers your care, and you shouldn’t have […]
Even if you don’t take many prescriptions now, you should consider joining a Medicare drug plan. There are two ways to get Medicare prescription drug coverage: Medicare standalone drug plans, also known as Part D plans, add drug coverage to Original Medicare, as well as to some Medicare Cost Plans and Medicare Private Fee-for-Service plans. […]
You’ve probably read a restaurant guide or review before going out for a special dinner. And you’ve probably scanned a consumer review or two before buying a new or used car. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a place where you could get information on the quality of hospitals in your area? Well, there […]
The biggest news in Medicare for 2016 is the Part B premium. I’m happy to report that for most people with Medicare, the premium will stay the same as it was in 2015: $104.90 per month. In fact, Part B premiums – which pay for doctor services, outpatient care, and preventive health benefits, among other […]
It’s an unfortunate truth, but health care fraud drives up costs for everyone in the health care system. Fraud schemes often depend on identity thieves getting hold of people’s Medicare numbers. So guard your Medicare number. Treat it as you would a credit card. What can you do to protect yourself from health care fraud? […]
The best way to stay healthy is to live a healthy lifestyle. You can live a healthy lifestyle and prevent disease by exercising, eating well, keeping a healthy weight, and not smoking. Medicare can help. Medicare pays for many preventive services to keep you healthy. Preventive services can find health problems early, when treatment works […]
People ask me all kinds of questions about Medicare. One of the most frequent concerns is whether they should sign up for Medicare Part B. Part B is medical insurance. It covers professional fees for doctors and other health care providers, outpatient treatment, durable medical equipment, home health services, and preventive care like flu shots […]
by David Sayen Do you ever have questions about your Medicare? Have you ever wondered where you can get fast, reliable answers to those questions – free of charge? There’s a terrific program in your community that can help. It’s called the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP. If you’re eligible for Medicare, you’re […]
by David Sayen Most doctors, pharmacists, and other health care providers who work with Medicare are honest. Unfortunately, some aren’t. One common form of Medicare fraud is when Medicare is billed for health care services or benefits that you never received. Someone could have gotten access to your Medicare number and submitted a false claim. […]
by David Sayen Good news for people with Medicare in 2015: Part B costs will remain the same as in 2014. Medicare Part B helps pay for doctor bills, outpatient care, durable medical equipment, and other items. It requires a monthly premium and an annual deductible. I’m happy to report that Part B costs for […]
