There is a significant amount of mystery and misunderstanding about the differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage that can be harmful when seniors and individuals who are eligible for Medicare consider what plan is best for them. What is…
It is that time of year again – Fall Open Enrollment for Medicare. Fall Open Enrollment, also referred to as the Annual Coordinated Election Period, runs from October 15 through December 7. During this period you can join a…
Medicare recipients who reside in New York should keep an eye out for their new Medicare card. In an effort to prevent fraud, and fight identity theft, the federal government is issuing new Medicare cards to all Medicare beneficiaries that…
In 2018, recipients of Social Security will see a 2 percent increase in benefits due to the rise of cost-of-living. This adjustment in cost-of-living is the highest of its kind since 2012. Last year, there was only a .3 percent…
Russo Law Group, P.C. is pleased to share this article on behalf of guest author Jack Halpern. Jimmo v. Sebelius Settlement Agreement. For about 30 years, home health agencies and nursing homes that contract with Medicare have routinely terminated the Medicare…
This update provides new Medicare figures for 2017. This is the first of a four-part series of updates for 2017. Medicare Part A: Hospital Services Inpatient hospital deductible $1,316/illness Daily co-insurance $0/day 1-60 $329/day 61-90 $658/day 91-150 Skilled Nursing Facility…
Unlike a general practice attorney who may execute wills and trusts, elder law attorneys are versed in the complex issues the elderly face. Elder law attorneys also use a holistic approach to aid their clients. What does this mean? Actions…
Caring for a loved one at the end of his or her life is both a duty and a privilege.
Hospice is a type of care for individuals who have 6 months or less to live. Instead of trying to cure the illness, pain management & symptom relief become the focus of the patient’s medical team. Hospice care can be obtained in home or in a facility.
The federal government recently addressed a very expensive glitch in the systematic treatment of patients in hospitals throughout the country, which mandates that hospitals provide notice as to a patient’s observation status.
As we discussed in our blog post on May 31, 2013, “Status Does Matter: Observation v. Admission”, there is a big problem that many Medicare recipients have been facing: patients are footing the bill. The problem is that patients are footing the bill for rehabilitation services in a skilled nursing facility when they are under the impression that these services are covered by Medicare. At the heart of the problem is that the hospital never actually admitted the patient, and coded them with a status of “under observation.”
Many people often get confused what the two programs entail because their names are so similar. Although both programs provide health coverage, the two are very different. Medicare is a federal program that is offered to everyone 65 and over…