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Lighthearted Medicare advice and opinions from longtime expert Douglas B. Jones, CLU, RHU. Drawn from his book: Medicare for the Lazy Man (an Amazon best seller), Doug's advice provides a simple road map to the best Medicare insurance protection available on the market today!
Episodes
24 hours ago
24 hours ago
Medicare Advantage Minute: MA in the headlines...10 recent updates!
Your Medicare Benefits 2024: Are routine eye exams covered? How about with diabetes? How about with macular degeneration?
How about some correspondence from clients?
Brian wanted some details about the Medicare supplement application process. One important fact is that the insurance company will draw the initial premium right away on the date of approval.
Also, after discussing the Medicare situation with friends, he confirmed a fact featured in Medicare for the Lazy Man: Many people are not told about the High Deductible Medicare supplement plan option. Their loss!
Finally, an explanation of the fact that Aetna or any other supplement is almost immaterial. Medicare itself does the approvals, the Medicare supplement is just along for the ride.
It makes very little difference what company sold you the plan.
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!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.
3 days ago
3 days ago
In Medicare Advantage Minute: we learn about a prestigious study conducted in Boston. The results showed that patients with MA have out-of-pocket expenses that are very close to those with Medicare supplement coverage, in spite of all the crowing about additional free benefits.
In the "Your Medicare Benefits 2024" segment we learn how Medicare covers "enteral" nutrition supplies and equipment.
Unfortunately, we never hear a definition of the term "enteral"!
In response to a valued client, I share my dissection of the cost advantage of HDG over Plan G. This is an esoteric concept with tangible, real world monetary profits to be enjoyed no matter how much or how little medical treatment is needed.
New client Mark wrote an Amazon review of the 2025 edition of MLM. He was surprised to fine out that Amazon rules forbid carrying reviews forward from the prior year's edition.
Finally, I stretch Randy's brain with another contest: identify the best and worst states in which to work from home. Hint: unless you have an outdoor swimming pool, your location is not considered to be among the preferred work-at-home sites.
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!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.
5 days ago
5 days ago
"10 Key Questions Facing Medicare Advantage" is the subject for our Medicare Advantage Minute.
More trouble ahead? This is the reason we spend time in every episode warning listeners of MA plan dangers!
In "Your Medicare Benefits 2024" we learn about how Emergency Department Services are reimbursed by Medicare. As usual they ignore the fact that my clients, and all responsible Medicare participants, will have acquired a Medicare supplement plan to enhance the Medicare reimbursement amount.
Average earnings of Medical Doctors by specialty in an interesting way to decide whether you could have chosen a more lucrative path in life!
The lowest earning specialties are: Public Health & Preventive Medicine (lowest at $257K per year) Pediatrics and Family Medicine.
Highest earners are: Orthopedic & Ortho Surgery ($543K per year) followed by Radiology, Plastic Surgery and Cardiology out of a total of 29 different branches of medicine.
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!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.
Thursday Apr 17, 2025
Thursday Apr 17, 2025
A whistleblower snitched on an allegedly cheating MA plan, leading to a huge negotiated settlement, in our Medicare Advantage Minute.
EKGs, ECGs and how Medicare covers them is the subject of our tribute to:
"Your Medicare Benefits 2024"
The balance of the episode is given over to an analysis of the recorded and requested Medicare supplement rate increases. Conclusion?
Medical inflation is still with us and Medicare supplement rate increases exceeding historical averages will plague the industry for the foreseeable future.
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!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.
Tuesday Apr 15, 2025
Tuesday Apr 15, 2025
Medicare Advantage Minute:
MA stocks soared following the 2024 election. The implication is that the new administration is more friendly to the evil Medicare Advantage plans.
I am not convinced that is true and I have faith that Medicare supplement plans will remain available for responsible, discriminating Medicare participants!
DME: Durable Medical Equipment is paid for by Medicare under certain circumstances. Very important: make sure the supplier is enrolled in Medicare!
Tragedy strikes Medicare for the Lazy Man: Alert reader Dominick Regina noticed that all of the many customer reviews earned by MLM 2024 were missing from MLM 2025. He thought it was a mistake until I explained.
Every year the book starts out with no reviews at all. I then hope and pray that the first bunch of readers are inclined to tell others about their beneficial experience via customer reviews!
Which are the best and worst states when it comes to childrens' health? Typical of our experience with WalletHub surveys, those in conservative states take it in the shorts!
Two of the many reasons one is likely to be very happy with a Plan HDG purchase over a Plan G:
1) The insured will only pay the low, low HDG premium, socking away the savings in case they are needed!
2) Future rate increases are likely to be smaller and less frequent if historic trends hold true.
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!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.
Sunday Apr 13, 2025
Sunday Apr 13, 2025
The Medicare Advantage Minute points out more trouble for Medicare Advantage plans. Hospitals have seen increasingly aggressive denials of payments with every expectation of more denial pressure to come!
In Your Medicare Benefits 2024 we learn how Medicare covers doctor services. No secret, their fees are Part B expenses.
Finally, we hear from Linda, wife of a happy MLM Medicare supplement client. Two years away from Medicare age herself, she is concerned because her favorite hospital and long-time doctor have been deemed "out of network" due to a merger or an acquisition.
Turns out she has a PPO plan, not an HMO. Even though these providers are "out-of-network" they are not out-of-bounds to Linda. For a somewhat less robust insurance coverage she will still be able to use them at will.
Two years from now, with original Medicare plus a supplement, her network concerns should be a thing of the past.
I am looking forward to helping Linda join her husband as another happy client!
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!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.
Thursday Apr 10, 2025
Thursday Apr 10, 2025
The government has proposed more crackdowns on Medicare Advantage marketing and agent payments.
We list these proposals in the Medicare Advantage Minute.
In "Your Medicare Benefits 2024" we learn how Medicare is likely to cover kidney dialysis services and supplies.
Then we present an editorial that compares and contrasts the annual celebrations that are held for medical professionals. Were all of those years of med school, internship and residency really worth it?
Finally, the listener will hear some solid evidence proving that HDG is a much more cost effective supplement plan than regular Plan G.
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!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.
Tuesday Apr 08, 2025
Tuesday Apr 08, 2025
Medicare Advantage Minute: The Feds propose "health equity" mandates that will address a couple of the worst elements of MA plans...for poor people only!
What about all of the non-poor victims of Medicare Advantage plans?
In the "Your Medicare Benefits 2024" we learn all about kidney dialysis for children. These victims of ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease) are eligible for Medicare coverage in spite of their youth due to a special clause in the Medicare regulations.
New clients are disappointed to hear the wife's primary care physician (or the staff) assert that the practice will not accept patients covered by supplement plans. In the opinion of one expert, there is a misunderstanding or possibly a deliberate attempt to discourage patients with supplement plans. If there is an interesting explanation to this quandary, it will be presented in the future.
Client Howard expresses concern about the future of Medicare supplement in light of recent political events. I expressed confidence that there will be a secure future for the best coverage available in the Medicare-verse.
Finally, a situation that had been brewing for some time came to a head: a large chain of hospitals & doctors failed to renew their contract with BC/BS of Texas. On the 7th of April they patched things up and renewed their vows.
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!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.
Sunday Apr 06, 2025
Sunday Apr 06, 2025
The Federal Government, specifically CMS, proposed some rule changes for MA plans. We list ten of them in the Medicare Advantage Minute.
Your Medicare Benefits 2024: This segment tells us how Medicare will cover laboratory and non-laboratory diagnostic tests.
An inquisitive prospective client named Jim has studied legal insurance documents and has a million questions to ask. A 50+ year veteran of the health insurance biz is able to field almost all of them without too much difficulty. However, Jim has a revelation during one Q & A session. Apparently, the excellent benefits of High Deductible Plan G had not been adequately explained to him until today.
Finally, we take the WalletHub quiz to learn which they think are the healthiest and unhealthiest cities in the USA.
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!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.
Thursday Apr 03, 2025
Thursday Apr 03, 2025
In the Medicare Advantage Minute: Proposed regulations would mandate that MA agents should tell their sales prospects about Medicare supplement plans. The thought is that this might ease some of the confusion in the Medicare marketplace.
In the "Your Medicare Benefits 2024" segment we learn how Medicare covers diabetic services and diabetic supplies.
Finally, learn about the blood test that may confirm the presence of Alzheimer's disease with 90% accuracy.
The most accurate current tests have maxed out at about 73% accuracy while primary care doctors doing in-office memory tests top out at 63%.
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!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.