Medicare For The Lazy Man Podcast

Ep 729 - Which drug plan would you prefer: $1,500 or $0? How about your agent?

If your agent doesn't know or doesn't care, you could wind up with a very expensive Part D prescription drug plan.

Medicare Advantage Minute: 500,000 Americans are about to lose their plans in 2025.

Perplexity.AI has some very nice things to say about Yours Truly as well as Medicare for the Lazy Man 2024!

Finally, a valued client and man of the cloth in Missouri was almost taken to the cleaners by his drug plan. Lulled into a sense of security and inactivity, his plan was preparing to jack his monthly premium sky high!

 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.

Ep. 728 - Why is Insulin becoming harder to obtain through Part D plans?

Thanks to the government for squeezing insulin makers to give away their product below cost. Many plans are dropping one or more types.

In the Medicare Advantage Minute, we hear that the battles between hospitals and insurance companies are predicted to grow.

This episode's visit to the Medicare Wikipedia page will be the last! The subject for this final visit is the effort to add dental and vision as official Medicare benefits.

More bad news for Medicare Advantage members: Trinity Health looks like it may be parting company with CVS's Aetna insurance company.

Client correspondence includes a plea for help from a Florida pediatrician who needs guidance in starting his Medicare enrollment. He wants to know where to start?

Finally, Stuart writes to express his and Francine's thanks to MLM for having suggested such ideal insurance plans for them. I'll take it! 

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.

Ep. 727 - Deadly diagnosis: what can or should be done about your insurance?

The short answer: If you can't predict exactly what drugs you are likely to need, picking a better plan will be a shot in the dark. 

Switch to a more expensive Medicare supplement? That would likely be counterproductive: HDG premium savings offset the out-of-pocket costs and save big bucks during healthier times.  

Medicare Advantage Minute: hundreds of thousands are going to be thrown off their plans by financially stressed insurance companies.

The Medicare Wikipedia page discusses proposed limitations on Medicare supplement plans and whether they might not be effective.

Finally, our favorite non-insurance selling Medicare advisor Diane Omdahl draws a connection between government price controls and a reduced insulin availability.

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.

Ep. 726 - $0 or $1,510: which drug plan would your agent suggest?

Those who don't know about Medicare for the Lazy Man can be duped. If the agent is new or not trained, he won't know how to properly search for the best drug plan for you.

Medicare Advantage Minute: One plan in Missouri has been ordered by the government to stop enrolling new clients. Their infraction? Showing too much profit. Welcome to America!

"Perverse incentive theory": according to Wikipedia, Medicare supplement plans encourage overutilization of medical services and drive up Medicare costs when the benefits are too generous.

Finally, MLM Podcast fan Linda has done some research on behalf of her husband. They both kind of like plans from Blue Cross/Blue Shield for him but after seeing what MLM has to offer, they purchase excellent insurance at much less cost.

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.

Ep. 725 - Premier US cancer center divorced from BC/BS TX networks!

This might explain why Medicare Advantage plans are losing their support.

More former supporters from each side of the aisle are wavering.

The Wikipedia entry for Medicare makes the point that the public expresses more support for government programs that are universal than those that are means tested.

MD Anderson, in Houston, has failed to come to agreement and will not remain in Medicare Advantage networks of the Texas Blues.

Thanks to a security breach and the evil HIPPA legislation, about one million Medicare participants will be getting new cards with new identifiers (numbers).

Finally, I was able to view graphs illustrating the dramatic effect that inflation has had on the premium rates of Plans G and N. Too bad those poor victims weren't enrolled in the High Deductible Plan G (HDG) plans touted by Medicare for the Lazy Man!

 

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.

Ep. 724 - Stand-alone dental insurance: the best option for Medicare participants!

In the Medicare Advantage Minute segment, we learn that 23 health systems (as of the publishing date) are refusing to accept MA plans for reimbursement in 2025.

The Wikipedia page about Medicare discusses the possibility and ramifications of reforming care for "Dual Eligibles", those who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.

Finally, choosing the best prescription drug plan for an individual on Medicare involves following some rules and adhering to some important principles.

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.

Ep 723 - "More Medicare Advantage trouble ahead" says CVS while bathing in red ink!

More recently, CVS fired another CEO who they just finished paying $21,000,000. What's wrong with this picture?

The Medicare page of Wikipedia describes the Federal government negotiating the prices of prescription drugs. In my opinion the government doesn't negotiate; they dictate!

Toni (with an "i") advises a heart patient to dump COBRA ASAP and enroll in Medicare with a supplement for the best insurance protection.

Finally, esteemed client Bob sets a great example for all of us. He read his ANOC and learned that his current drug plan will perform well for him next year.

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.

Ep 722 - $3000 annual savings after a scientific search for the best Part D plan.

Many new, naive agents have not been taught the scientific way to save clients a great deal of money by choosing the best Part D drug plan!

Medicare Advantage Minute:

"Where health systems are going wrong with MA" turns out to be a promotion of the basic, very silly theories behind HMO plans.

Wikipedia's Medicare page explores the projected savings vs. costs of changing the eligibility age of Medicare. 

Finally, what are some of the characteristics of those who have Medicare supplements rather than Medicare Advantage? Med supp holders are more likely to be: white, more prosperous and more healthy. 

Y'all come on over and join us, everyone!

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.

Ep. 721 - Advantage plans even harder to collect from, hospital execs say!

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.

Ep. 720 - Medicare for the Lazy Man again in 2025? You bet your booties, Granny!

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.