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These blog posts are an educational resource. Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information. It is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. Contacting me will connect you to a licensed broker who is trained and certified to help you review the plan options available in your area. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1–800–MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program to get information on all of your options.

All About the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan

CMS has added a new feature to Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) for 2025: the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, or M3P as we'll...

Tom Cianflone

Aug 4, 20242 min read

How Medicare Part D Drug Plans Work in 2025

This is an update to my post How Medicare Part D Drug Plans Work in 2024 . There are many changes for 2025 largely due to the Inflation...

Tom Cianflone

Jul 18, 20245 min read

Don't Ignore this E-Mail from SSA.gov

Social Security is changing how you access their online services and they are announcing it via email. This is one email you should not...

Tom Cianflone

Jul 18, 20241 min read

What Lies Ahead for Medicare Advantage Plans in 2025?

These recent headlines all tell the same story: Medicare Advantage extras on the chopping block in 2025 Medicare Advantage plans face new...

Tom Cianflone

Jun 7, 20243 min read

Why You Should Create an Account at Medicare.gov

Once you enroll in Medicare, whether it's Part A only or both Part A and Part B, one of the first things you should do is create an account at the official government Medicare website Medicare.gov . Doing so will make your life on Medicare so much easier to manage! Why Should I Create an Account at Medicare.gov ? Here are some cool things you can do from your Medicare.gov account: View your Medicare card in electronic form and print it Order a replacement Medicare card View

Tom Cianflone

Jun 2, 20243 min read

What does the $2,000 annual prescription drug cost cap in 2025 mean for you?

Not long ago we were talking about the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA2022). (See my blog post What Does the Inflation Reduction Act...

Tom Cianflone

May 1, 20242 min read

All About Medicare Supplement Insurance (aka, MediGap)

This article provides an overview of Medicare Supplement insurance, also known as MediGap insurance. As with all things Medicare, the more you explain, the more questions arise. For more information and those inevitable questions, contact me here . What is Medicare Supplement (MegiGap) Insurance? Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) is extra insurance offered by private health insurance carriers to help pay your share of out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare. Gaps in Or

Tom Cianflone

Apr 8, 20246 min read

Why You Should Revisit LIS/Extra Help in 2024

In 2024, many more Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for help with their prescription drug costs under the Federal program known as...

Tom Cianflone

Feb 5, 20242 min read

Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization in the News

If you're one of my clients, we have had the discussion about Medicare Advantage plans, that they are managed care plans, and that the...

Tom Cianflone

Jan 17, 20242 min read

All About Medicare Advantage OEP

First, let's say what the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA-OEP) is not: it is NOT the annual enrollment period (AEP) that...

Tom Cianflone

Jan 17, 20243 min read

Watch Out for These Telemarketing Calls!

Let me tell you about what CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) calls "permission to contact", or "PTC" as we say in the...

Tom Cianflone

Oct 13, 20232 min read

How Medicare Part D Drug Plans Work in 2024

This is an update to my post How Medicare Part D Drug Plans Work in 2023. There are many changes for 2024 largely due to the Inflation...

Tom Cianflone

Oct 12, 20235 min read

All About AEP

This post is about the who, what and when of the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, or AEP as we say in the business. Who is it for? What...

Tom Cianflone

Sep 17, 20235 min read

Knock, Knock: It's ANOC!

If you've been enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or Part D drug plan for any length of time, you know about the ANOC: Annual Notice...

Tom Cianflone

Sep 17, 20231 min read

Don't Take the Bait! (or, How to survive Medicare Annual Enrollment Period)

Here are my top ten tips for surviving Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) October 15th through December 7th: Don’t take the bait! ...

Tom Cianflone

Sep 3, 20232 min read

How to apply for Medicare without going to the Social Security office

During the coronavirus pandemic the Social Security Administration made applying for Medicare online easier and more accessible. People...

Tom Cianflone

Aug 1, 20232 min read

Common Mistakes Choosing Medicare Coverage

Going on Medicare is a big decision. Don't mess it up. Here are some common mistakes to watch out for. As always, working with a licensed, local, independent agent is the best way to avoid costly mistakes like these. Contact me anytime with questions . Starting Medicare at the wrong time If you're in any of the following five circumstances, you should definitely enroll in Medicare at age 65: You get your healthcare through an ACA (aka, Obamacare) plan from the healthcare.gov

Tom Cianflone

Jul 27, 20237 min read

Do You Need a Co-Payment Protection Plan?

Around half of the Medicare population is enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans (aka, Part C plans). These private carrier plans are attractive because you can enroll in them for no additional monthly premium beyond the Part B premium you pay to the Medicare program. These plans are considered "pay-as-you-go" because, as you use certain benefits, you will have co-pays for which you will be financially responsible. This all works nicely as long as you're in good health. Once yo

Tom Cianflone

May 8, 20233 min read