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Vision Care Is A Common Medicare Question

Question: I need to get new glasses and they are so expensive. Does Medicare help pay for glasses? Answer: The question of vision coverage is a really commonly asked question about Medicare. Original Medicare is a health insurance product. This means that all of your coverage must be based on a medical problem or diagnosis. Most of us have problems with our vision due to age related vision problems. Be sure to talk about your insurance coverage before you consent or decide on any procedure. You should not assume that any procedure is covered by your insurance. Ask about insurance ...

Car Insurance Increases Can Hit Seniors Hard

Question: I just got my car insurance bill, and the price went way up. What should I do? Answer: I just got my car insurance bill, and it also went up! In my research, it seems all the insurance costs are increasing. I also see this with Health Insurance, and the solution is the same: you should research your options and see if another insurance company could offer more reasonable coverage. One difference between Auto Insurance and Health Insurance is the time of year you can change your coverage. Your Auto Insurance renewal date is based on the date you initially took out the ...

Medicare Savings Program Can Help Some

Question: I hear other people talk about benefits that pay their Medicare Part B premium. What is that and how do I get that? Answer: The program I believe you are asking about is called the Medicare Savings Program (MSP). This is a Medicaid benefit administered by the Department of Social Services (DSS) in Chautauqua Co. Each year the income levels change, and this is new income information just released from the Federal Government. Often our gross income is different than our Net income. (I remember the difference with a rhyme, “Net is what you Get”.) With regards to Social ...

Questions About Penalties For Non-Enrollment In Medicare

Question: Medicare is complicated. I just found out there is a penalty if I don’t enroll. What are those penalties? Answer. This is a follow-up question to last week’s summary of all the Medicare parts. Last week I explained the different components of Medicare, when they started and some of the basic information. This week I will talk about the penalties if you don’t enroll. As I said last week, it is important to Remember, that all the different parts that make up the Medicare Benefits offered have different rules. Those rules can impact your situation and the penalties ...

Things You Should Know About The Need For Medicare Part B

Question: I have been told I need to sign up for Part B. How do I know if I do? Answer: Happy General Enrollment Period (GEP)! One of the most important rules to remember is that Medicare Part A, B and D all have different rules. This article defines the rules regarding Medicare Part B only. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will yearly send a letter to those with only Medicare Part A, stating that you may need to sign up for Medicare Part B. It is currently the General Enrollment Period (GEP) allowing you to sign up for Medicare Part B, January 1 to March 31 each ...

Season Of Upper Respiratory Illness, Should You Get Vaccinated?

We all know that fall, winter, and even springtime in our areas can be fraught with upper respiratory illness! The CDC notes, “Fall and winter are a time when viruses that cause respiratory disease usually circulate more heavily in the community. Before COVID-19, two viruses, flu, and RSV, were the main causes of severe respiratory disease during this time of year….Along with the seasonal influenza and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19 has become a part of the respiratory virus season.” Chautauqua County Office for Aging Service and NY Connects has joined the ...