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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
Thursday May 01, 2025
Thursday May 01, 2025
Lots of chat about Dr. Oz and his plans for the future of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Unfortunately, the articles I prepared fell into what might be a bottomless pit.
In the Medicare Advantage Minute, Democrats sent a nasty letter to Dr. Oz questioning his support for Medicare Advantage and criticizing his substantial holdings in the biggest MA slut: United HealthCare.
From the pages of "Your Medicare Benefits 2024" we learn the short story of how Medicare covers flu shots.
CMS (the Federal Government) in a magnificent return to sanity ordered that questions catering to Binary, non-Binary and other confused individuals be stricken from Medicare Advantage applications.
Finally, a listener whose wife must have badgered him mercilessly, asked whether gym memberships were an included freebie with their Medicare supplement plan.
My answer was that a competing product had the benefit they seek but there would be an endless amount of paperwork and insurance foolishness to deal with. He decided to shine it on and hope that his wife forgets the whole thing.
We'll see!
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.
Monday Apr 28, 2025
Monday Apr 28, 2025
During the prelude to our "Medicare Advantage Minute" segment, I erred in identifying the surgeon given credit for the first heart transplant, which was performed in South Africa.
Eventually, our subject centered an article with the headline: "Insurers Brace for Continued Medicare Advantage Medical Costs" which was abandoned due to being out of date.
In the "Your Medicare Benefits 2024" we learn about Federally Qualified Health Center Services.
The final subject centered on an article listing "The 8 Things That Medicare Does Not Cover" which included a surprising number of items demonstrating trouble with Medicare Advantage plans.
Poetic justice!
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 27, 2025
Sunday Apr 27, 2025
"Health Systems Brace for More ... Uncompensated Care"
- Medicare Advantage Minute
"Fecal Occult Blood Test Screenings"
"Flexible Sigmoidoscopy screenings"
- Your Medicare Benefits 2024
The rest of this episode is dedicated to those with body mass indexes over 30 and health problems related to excess weight.
Medical science has started to provide pharmaceutical solutions. As with most new developments, it will take time for the price to become more affordable.
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 24, 2025
Thursday Apr 24, 2025
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.
Wednesday Apr 23, 2025
Wednesday Apr 23, 2025
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.
Sunday Apr 20, 2025
Sunday Apr 20, 2025
"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.