Medicare For The Lazy Man Podcast

MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                      CMS (THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT) TIGHTENS MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION RULES!                                                                                              Before that we discuss the qualities of certain members of England's Royal Family. January 1st saw a pilot program begin, creating prior authorization requirements for a few procedures performed under Original Medicare in six states. The program will be testing whether enhanced technologies like AI and machine learning can streamline prior authorizations and medical reviews. New, soon-to-be-client Sheryl, is taking a very cerebral approach to the concept of Medicare supplement rate stability. She discovered a site called: SERFF.com and is trying to identify those Medicare supplement plans with less rate stability, whi...

MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                       THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE QUESTION THAT HOSPITALS WANT ANSWERED!    Seven things to know about the new AI source of information: CHATGPT HEALTH. Valued client Robert shared an article: Medicare Advantage Shake-up: Who is out? I was so happy to see the first review on Amazon of my newest book...until I actually read it. Turns out the reviewer knows a thing or two about Medicare plans and seems to have a problem with my warnings about the possible consequences of Medicare Advantage plans. I, on the other hand, have a problem with the reviewer being a ret...

MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                  "WHAT IF WE COULD ELIMINATE PRIOR AUTHORIZATIONS?" Can we eliminate this scourge of Managed Care through increased use of computers? One exec thinks so! Someone discovered that about 40 million Americans use ChatGPT every day to ask questions about health concerns. Erica from Harmony Home Medical in San Diego might have been a wonderful guest but I was afraid the subject might be a little too depressing for my happy-go-lucky audience!                                                Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com (Most severe critic: A+)                   Visit us on: BabyBoomer.ORG Inspired by: "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2026; SIMPLEST & EASIEST GUIDE E...

 MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                    GOVERNMENT PLANS AGGRESSIVE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AUDITS!  NYC employee health insurance fund is mysteriously insolvent! You don't think there has been any fraudulent activity there, do you? One of my favorite client/listeners shared a list of 15 health systems that are dropping some or all Medicare Advantage plans.  Tax breaks coming to Medicare premiums? Rand Paul has proposed that the USA establish HSA for all! Finally, I located a cartoon nurse spewing a big fat lie. She spews: Until 1973, all health insurance companies were non-profit. Evil Republicans changed the law!* * The word "evil...

   MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                   UHC UNDER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION FOR ALLEGED MEDICARE ADVANTAGE FRAUD - WSJ        Randy's Choice led to Medicare Part D Drug Plans: a completely unsatisfying article with a big flaw. We wrap the episode with a pithy George Harrison story.                                               Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com (Most severe critic: A+)                   Visit us on: BabyBoomer.ORG Inspired by: "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2026; SIMPLEST & EASIEST GUIDE EVER!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: ENROLLMENT GUIDE!" (coming soon) For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider retur...

   MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                               CHART REVIEWA INCREASE PAYMENTS TO MA INSURERS FOR 1 in 6 ENROLLEES    12 FAQs ABOUT MEDICARE: YOUR MEDICARE QUESTIONS ANSWERED....BY ME!                                                             Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com (Most severe critic: A+)                   Visit us on: BabyBoomer.ORG Inspired by: "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2026; SIMPLEST & EASIEST GUIDE EVER!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: ENROLLMENT GUIDE!" (coming soon) For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.c

   MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                    THE FUTURE FOR(?) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE!  Includes a hint that funding for SHIP may be on the bubble in 2026!                                                         Eleven costly Medicare Mistakes you should avoid!      These include The Drug plan selection problems, HSA precautions and MA vs Medicare Supplement differences. Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com (Most severe critic: A+)                   Visit us on: BabyBoomer.ORG Inspired by: "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2026; SIMPLEST & EASIEST GUIDE EVER!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning...

   MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                         MEDICARE ADVANTAGE OR ORIGINAL MEDICARE: WHICH SHOULD YOU TRUST YOUR HEALTH TO?                                                        News items: Older Americans quit weight-loss drugs in droves!                      Weight-loss pill approved by FDA!                                                          This episode ended with our final Christmas Quiz of the season.                                                         Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com (Most severe critic: A+)                   Visit us on: BabyBoomer.ORG Inspired by: "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2026; SIMPLEST & EASIEST GUIDE EVER!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Offi

   MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                             PHYSICIANS SAY THAT PRIOR AUTHORIZATION STANDS IN THE WAY OF                 MEDICALLY NECESSARY CARE!                                                                       YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                                             THE FINAL ENTRY: X-RAYS      We receive correspondence from "Lazy Man Steve" who is wondering what he ought to do, if anything, about his Medicare supplement and Part D drug plan as the new year approaches.    We wrapped the episode with a another rousing Christmas Quiz!                               Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com (Most severe critic: A+)                   Visit us on: BabyBoomer.ORG Inspired by: "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2025; SIMPLEST & EASIEST GUIDE EVER!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on...

   MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                          HOSPITALS ARE DROPPING MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANSLEFT AND RIGHT!              YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                        WHEELCHAIRS AND SCOOTERS                                                                                    Tragedy struck the Content Curator: Her Part D drug plan was hijacked  by an unscrupulous scoundrel who enrolled her in a Medicare Advantage plan. The goal? Over $600 in ill-gotten sales commissions.  Many Medicare participants and eligibles are being hounded by telemarketers. Some are receiving 50 to 60 phone calls per day and many of those calls can result in fraudulent activity. Finally, another Christmas quiz closes out the episode.              Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com (Most severe critic: A+)                   Visit us on: BabyBoomer.ORG Inspired by: "MEDICARE F...

 MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                 "DENY, DENY, DENY!" BY REJECTING CLAIMS MA PLANS THREATEN RURAL HOSPITALS AND PATIENTS!                                                                    YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                          WALKERS    Next item is lists of states with the highest percentage and the lowest percentage of new Medicare participants selecting Medicare supplement plans. On a trip to Hawaii in 2000 I learned that the state is likely to be closed to new insurance companies since the approval committee consists entirely of existing insurance companies. In correspondence with current clients, we heard from:      TOM: Noticed a $91 drug plan premium. Since he gets most of his drugs through the VA, he could dodge the IRMAA penalty by dropping his drug plan.  ...

   MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                    THE NINE DISADVANTAGES OF MEDICARE ADVANTAGE    YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                             VIRTUAL CHECK-INS                                                 Wrapped up the episode with a festive Christmas quiz! Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com (Most severe critic: A+)                   Visit us on: BabyBoomer.ORG Inspired by: "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2025; SIMPLEST & EASIEST GUIDE EVER!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

      MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                           WATCH OUT FOR THE "MEDIGAP TRAP"                       YOUR MEDICARE BENEFIT 2025:                                                        URGENTLY NEEDED CARE        OBAMACARE: the parties are preparing to wrestle over the imploding health insurance plans we have been stuck with for 15 years. The Dems want to keep it limping along as the next step towards socialized health insurance while the Republicans want to begin a trend toward privatization via establishment of Health Savings Accounts (HSAS). Norb writes to share the advice he got from a local Bay Area Medicare broker who made up some crap about HDG resulting in claim problems as the insured's age. I explained that was not true and used my pers...

     MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                         Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: Ill Health often Leads to a Plan Switch                      YOUR MEDICARE BENEFIT 2025:                                                                 Travel Outside the USA  Correspondence from Anita in Fountain Hills, AZ: She has Medicare supplement Plan G but wants to consider switching to High Deductible Plan G. After some thought she... What's the deal with Long Covid anyway? We take a somewhat closer look to see if there is any sign of hope on the horizon. Finally, we close out the episode with a Christmas Quiz!                                                        Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com (Most severe critic: A+)                   Visit us on: BabyBoomer.ORG Inspired by:...

     MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                             JUDGE SIDES WITH HUMANA; TOSSES OUT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AUDIT RULE. FAILS TO RECOVER $4.7 BILLION IN GOVERNMENT OVERPAYMENTS TO INSURANCE PLANS.      YOUR MEDICARE BENEFIT 2025:                                                           TRANSITIONAL CARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS. Analysis of the typical situation when it comes to rate increases on Medicare supplement plans. A person paying the high Plan G premium is likely to receive larger and more frequent rate increases, in this case a 25% increase. On the other end of the spectrum, a smart purchaser of a High Deductible Plan G with a relatively small premium is is given a rate increase of only 6.75%. Article: With Medicare premiums set to rise...

     MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                WHY MA CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS ARE GETTING HEATED      YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                       TRACTION EQUIPMENT Close friend Marlene figured out how to send me a lively online discussion regarding the new Medicare experiment with Prior Authorization. She saw my repeated warnings in some of these online comments. Full disclosure mandated that I read an AI generated list of the exact procedures included within this five year trial program. New client Cal had an unusual introduction to MLM enrollment service. The state of Nebraska, an unfamiliar insurance company and some careless errors conspired to create a less than smooth introduction to my normally...

     MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                             Payors Continue to Predict MA Marketplace Enrollment Losses      YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                         Therapeutic shoes or inserts A review of the magnificent extravaganza that was Toni King's "Confused By Medicare" webinar! I wish she hadn't made up a B.S. story about the Internet crashing and causing her presentation to crash! The question: How successful is the attempt to substitute Plan N for Plan G in order to keep the prices high and to keep sales commissions flowing? The answer is above. Several clients have recently become disgruntled with Plan N rate increases. They have selected High Deductible Plan G as a s...

     MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                  MA plans may limit radiation treatment options for cancer; increase the cost & duration of car!      YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                               Telehealth Major work has begun on "Medicare for the Lazy Man 2026". This is the most difficult time of year to find free time for more than one project but I am forging ahead! And finally, a light review of some of the 2026 Medicare premiums and deductibles. More to come! Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com (Most severe critic: A+)                   Visit us on: BabyBoomer.ORG Inspired by: "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2025; SIMPLEST & EASIEST GUIDE EVER!" "ME...

     MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                  MA plan member satisfaction facing headwinds!      YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                                TDAP (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis) shots Advice from Diane Omdahl: Review your drug plan in case the government plan finder "glitches". Correspondence: Peter wants to know whether he should consider changing from HDG to Plan G. This is not something I usually recommend. Fr. David takes no prescription drugs but has been paying through the nose for an expensive Part D drug plan. What should he do? Ray has more questions about how to ensure that he has the best PDP (Prescription Drug Plan) next year. Fin...

     MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                   Are Medicare Advantage's glory days over? Some think so!      YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                               Swing bed services How about some obesity drugs? Thanks to Trump, Medicare will cover weight loss medications for the first time in history.                                                           Obesity drugs will be covered for as little as $50. Inspired by: "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2025; SIMPLEST & EASIEST GUIDE EVER!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareFo