When teens begin to drive, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Safety Council, the sobering statistics start to pile up: Car crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens ages 14 through 18. A teen’s crash risk is three times that of more experienced drivers. Being in…
As days get shorter and nights get longer, our habits begin to change. Most of us typically spend more time hunkering down at home and less time frolicking at the beach. That usually means resuming favorite fall pastimes like huddling through college football games on Saturday. Arriving along with the Fall season is a host…
Imagine how devastating it would be to lose your home in a fire. Now imagine not being able to rebuild it completely because you didn’t have the correct amount of homeowners insurance coverage. Selecting the proper amount of coverage is the single most important decision you can make with your home insurance policy. Without it,…
Spring is right around the corner, and the warmer weather often prompts people in the Carolinas to hop in their cars for weekend (or longer) road trips. Unfortunately, too many of those trips will end up being memorable for the wrong reasons, due to crashes and other risks that drivers face anytime they hit the…
Medicare Costs for 2021 What does Medicare cost? Is Medicare free? Is Medicare Part B free? What are my Medicare premiums in 2021? Many don’t realize that Medicare isn’t free. The costs for Medicare Part B and Part D, as well as supplemental coverage, are something that many don’t anticipate in retirement. It can surprise…
Medicare Advantage plans were created under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and signed into law by President Bill Clinton. These plans are commonly called Part C of Medicare. There are some important things to know if you are thinking of purchasing a Medicare Advantage plan. We will explain those things below. Medicare Advantage plans…
Health insurance never covers everything. Neither does Medicare. You will need to meet deductibles, copays and coinsurance. So, what is a Medicare Supplement? A Medicare Supplement is a type of health insurance sold by private insurers to cover the gaps in Medicare. This is why we refer to the plans as “Medigap Plans”. Part B…
Medicare Supplement plans are lettered A – N and each plan covers a different set of the gaps in Medicare. You can compare Medicare Supplement plans side-by-side using the Medicare Supplement plans comparison chart below. This makes comparing Medicare Supplement plans pretty easy. So there is clarity, Medicare Supplements and Medigap plans are the same…
Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs. Medicare Part D is a federal program that began in 2006. It provides Medicare beneficiaries with access to retail prescription drugs at affordable copays. Prior to 2006, people on Medicare had to pay high retail prices for their medications. This program helps seniors pay for much needed medications. Medicare…
Medicare Part C is strictly voluntary. It is the official name for the program we now know as Medicare Advantage. Medicare Part C plans provide you an alternative to traditional Medicare. Not everyone will feel like Part C is the best fit for them. It is important to understand how this plan works before you…
What is Medicare Part B coverage? It is your outpatient medical coverage for medically necessary healthcare services. What is Medicare Part B? What does Medicare Part B cover? Many people think of it as medical coverage, but it actually covers things both in and out of the hospital. Think of Part B coverage as any…
Medicare Part A is your hospital coverage. It provides you with affordable inpatient care. So, what’s does Part A cover? It’s going to cover a semi-private room with a bed for you, and all your regular meals while you are there. It will cover medications furnished to you by the hospital and any necessary lab…
The Trump Administration has issued a new rule that will require greater price transparency on the part of health insurers, including the rates charged by in-network physicians and copays and costs of drugs. The final rule requires health plans and health insurers to disclose on a public website their in-network negotiated rates, billed charges and…
What are your options for affordable small business health insurance? Small businesses are always looking for ways to stay competitive against its larger competitors. Trying to keep and attract quality employees is part of that focus. One thing employees are looking for is quality, affordable health insurance as a benefit. That said, what are…
There are fewer Medicare Advantage plans receiving high-quality ratings for their 2021 offerings than for this year’s. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has reported that 49% of 400 Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage received four stars or more (the maximum is five), compared to 52% in 2020. Also, there are fewer people…
As health insurance costs rise and our workforce ages, fewer employers are providing retiree health insurance benefits to their older workers, and are instead asking them to sign up for Medicare. It’s a delicate situation as some older workers may resent being pushed to Medicare, especially if they’ve worked for their employer for a long…
Prescription Drug Discount Programs VS Medicare Part D Prescription drug discounts programs are popular today. You may say, which one is better for someone on Medicare? Below, we will make a comparison, Prescription Drug Discount Programs vs Medicare Part D. Could it be both? Making a decision between Medicare Part D or a Prescription Drug…
Click Here to Watch the Short Video Instead How Does Disability Insurance Work? Questions Your Employees Ask Disability insurance provides a source of income to people who are unable to work due to an accident or illness. The average disability claim lasts almost 13 months and mortgage foreclosures due to disability occur 16 times as…
Small business is the backbone of the US economy. Without it, the economy would collapse. That doesn’t mean we don’t have our struggles. Competition with larger employers is one of those and is a statement I often hear. How to stay competitive and keep good employees? It’s not that hard and it’s not one of…
Why Does My Medicare Supplement Insurance Rates Keep Going Up? It is never easy to absorb a rate increase on anything, especially during retirement. One question I often get is why does my Medicare supplement rates keep going up? Watch the short video below on why that happens and what you can do. …