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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 Oct 24, 2024
Thursday Oct 24, 2024
A recent survey of health system CFOs revealed that it is becoming even more difficult to collect reimbursement payments due from patients insured by Medicare Advantage plans.
Wikipedia page "Medicare" explores several ideas for procedures that might reduce the burden Medicare places on the US treasury. One of the theories is called the "Premium Support" model.
Enjoy a list of four things to know about drug plan changes in 2025.
Finally, if your agent fails to do a thorough search of all drug plans available to you, the out-of-pocket cost might just be shocking!
Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com
(Most severe critic: A+)
Inspired by:
"MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2024; Simplest & Easiest Guide Ever!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.
Wednesday Oct 23, 2024
Wednesday Oct 23, 2024
Jones family trips had plenty of room for improvement!
Headline encountered in the Medicare Advantage Minute:
MA Plans Propose Cuts While Continuing to Maximize Overpayments!
The Wikipedia page for Medicare details some of the changes in the program wrought by Obamacare.
Tom wrote to ask if there would be an MLM 2025 edition. When he was assured there would be, he decided to spend his time listening to podcast episodes until that book hits the store shelves.
Finally, large pharmacy chains are having profitability problems and will likely shrink the number of stores in their brands.
Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com
(Most severe critic: A+)
Inspired by:
"MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2024; Simplest & Easiest Guide Ever!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.
Sunday Oct 20, 2024
Sunday Oct 20, 2024
After a short time in MA, almost all of those desiring to escape to Medicare with a supplement must show evidence of good health.
If they cannot satisfy the underwriters, they cannot enjoy the freedom of traditional Medicare with a supplement.
An esteemed client in Colorado insisted on purchasing Plan G when I advised him to opt for HDG. His Plan G started at around $157 but here he is later at $210 looking at a 15% rate increase next month.
If he had HDG there would have been no rate increase at all. Told ya so!
Finally, tragedy strikes a new Jersey town, filling local residents with sadness & grief: the Dominick Reginas are pulling up stakes and heading south to Georgia.
In the Wikipedia listing for Medicare we learn more about the burdens Obamacare has placed on the government health insurance plan.
Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com
(Most severe critic: A+)
Inspired by:
"MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2024; Simplest & Easiest Guide Ever!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.
Friday Oct 18, 2024
Friday Oct 18, 2024
If your agent doesn't perform a scientific search for the best Part D drug plan for you, don't believe his recommendations!
Wellcare plan cost $0 while a Humana plan cost $1,760!
Same guy, same generic drug, same little town in Missouri produced dramatically different results:
In the Medicare Advantage Minute, some insurance companies say they are "shrugging off the headwinds" of the current MA turmoil that has the big firms dropping hundreds of thousands of current clients!
Wikipedia page "Medicare" discusses the ACA (Obamacare) in very sterile terms.
How are injections covered under Medicare?
Finally, the story of two new MLM clients:
One is a renowned Medical doctor whose MA plan refused his prior authorization request then booted him out.
The other wonders whether her husband should stay on her employer plan or should he get the boot?
Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com
(Most severe critic: A+)
Inspired by:
"MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2024; Simplest & Easiest Guide Ever!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.
Tuesday Oct 15, 2024
Tuesday Oct 15, 2024
In the Medicare Advantage Minute we learn about a survey: 50% do not know the difference between original Medicare and MA plans.
Wikipedia page on "Medicare" addresses legislation and reforms.
Next we present a couple of sad stories illustrating the fact that, while the VA can be a valuable health resource, veterans should not avoid enrolling in Medicare and a supplement.
Finally, one political party is attempting to spend $20 billion in an effort to dodge the ire of Medicare participants as their misguided edicts dramatically increase the pressure on drug plans!
Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com
(Most severe critic: A+)
Inspired by:
"MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2024; Simplest & Easiest Guide Ever!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.
Monday Oct 14, 2024
Monday Oct 14, 2024
Medicare Advantage Minute article: Changing to a Medicate Advantage plan can be stressful!
Medicare Wikipedia page: Hospital accreditation and where the cost of residency training comes from.
Finally, enjoy some interesting correspondence and questions submitted by prospects and actual clients.
Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com
(Most severe critic: A+)
Inspired by:
"MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2024; Simplest & Easiest Guide Ever!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.
Thursday Oct 10, 2024
Thursday Oct 10, 2024
The entire episode is a discussion of the process for selecting the best Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) for you.
Master this skill without any annoying insurance agents pestering you.
Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com
(Most severe critic: A+)
Inspired by:
"MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2024; Simplest & Easiest Guide Ever!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.
Tuesday Oct 08, 2024
Tuesday Oct 08, 2024
Medicare Advantage Minute consists of an article decrying the increase in prior authorization denials. Of 46 million prior authorization requests, over 3 million (7+%) were denied in 2022.
"Medicare" on the Wikipedia page discusses criticisms of Medicare and the principles behind having participants of various ages contribute to the cost of the program.
Finally several clients write in with questions related to drug plans and Medicare supplement plans offering discount gym memberships.
Spoiler alert: the gym membership deal through an AARP sponsored plan did not work out so well!
Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com
(Most severe critic: A+)
Inspired by:
"MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2024; Simplest & Easiest Guide Ever!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.
Monday Oct 07, 2024
Monday Oct 07, 2024
Medicare Advantage Minute: Prior authorization denials have been more numerous in recent years. Only 10% of those denials are formally appealed but of that number, 83% are reversed.
According to Wikipedia, only 5% of Medicare claims are audited so there is plenty of opportunity for fraud, waste and abuse.
Finally, Bob from Arizona will be turning 65 and enrolling in Medicare in about six months. He had many questions about the procedure. These were clearly stated and almost seemed designed to make yours truly look like an intellectual giant!
Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com
(Most severe critic: A+)
Inspired by:
"MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2024; Simplest & Easiest Guide Ever!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.
Thursday Oct 03, 2024
Thursday Oct 03, 2024
Medicare Advantage Minute: Prior authorization requests are increasing and so are denials. For those with the moxie to file official appeals, the success rate approaches 83%!
Wikipedia "Medicare" page: More on funding projections. Actuaries find it impossible to predict future solvency without the assumption that current laws will be followed.
How does one decide whether Medicare is better than the company plan? Look at contribution vs. premium cost, match deductible and cost sharing and finally consider drug coverage.
Finally, an article from AMAC: Understanding Medicare coverage; what is and is not included.
Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com
(Most severe critic: A+)
Inspired by:
"MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2024; Simplest & Easiest Guide Ever!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers.
Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.