MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                         MEDICARE ADVANTAGE OR ORIGINAL MEDICARE: WHICH SHOULD YOU TRUST YOUR HEALTH TO?                                                        News items: Older Americans quit weight-loss drugs in droves!                      Weight-loss pill approved by FDA!                                                          This episode ended with our final Christmas Quiz of the season.                                                         Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com (Most severe critic: A+)                   Visit us on: BabyBoomer.ORG Inspired by: "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2026; SIMPLEST & EASIEST GUIDE EVER!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

   MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                             PHYSICIANS SAY THAT PRIOR AUTHORIZATION STANDS IN THE WAY OF                 MEDICALLY NECESSARY CARE!                                                                       YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                                             THE FINAL ENTRY: X-RAYS      We receive correspondence from "Lazy Man Steve" who is wondering what he ought to do, if anything, about his Medicare supplement and Part D drug plan as the new year approaches.    We wrapped the episode with a another rousing Christmas Quiz!                               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!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

   MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                          HOSPITALS ARE DROPPING MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANSLEFT AND RIGHT!              YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                        WHEELCHAIRS AND SCOOTERS                                                                                    Tragedy struck the Content Curator: Her Part D drug plan was hijacked  by an unscrupulous scoundrel who enrolled her in a Medicare Advantage plan. The goal? Over $600 in ill-gotten sales commissions.  Many Medicare participants and eligibles are being hounded by telemarketers. Some are receiving 50 to 60 phone calls per day and many of those calls can result in fraudulent activity. Finally, another Christmas quiz closes out the episode.              Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com (Most severe critic: A+)                   Visit us on: BabyBoomer.ORG Inspired by: "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2026; SIMPLEST & EASIEST GUIDE EVER!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

 MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                 "DENY, DENY, DENY!" BY REJECTING CLAIMS MA PLANS THREATEN RURAL HOSPITALS AND PATIENTS!                                                                    YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                          WALKERS    Next item is lists of states with the highest percentage and the lowest percentage of new Medicare participants selecting Medicare supplement plans. On a trip to Hawaii in 2000 I learned that the state is likely to be closed to new insurance companies since the approval committee consists entirely of existing insurance companies. In correspondence with current clients, we heard from:      TOM: Noticed a $91 drug plan premium. Since he gets most of his drugs through the VA, he could dodge the IRMAA penalty by dropping his drug plan.      LM: The husband likes to track his Medicare claim activity on the Medicare supplement company website. A recent glitch has taken down that function and she was hoping to see it return quickly.. The bottom line is that each insurance company has irritating qualities that are difficult to  cope with but impossible to fix. The episode ended with a rousing Christmas Quiz!                                                                                                Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com (Most severe critic: A+)                   Visit us on: BabyBoomer.ORG Inspired by: "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2026; SIMPLEST & EASIEST GUIDE EVER!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

   MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                    THE NINE DISADVANTAGES OF MEDICARE ADVANTAGE    YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                             VIRTUAL CHECK-INS                                                 Wrapped up the episode with a festive Christmas quiz! 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!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

      MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                           WATCH OUT FOR THE "MEDIGAP TRAP"                       YOUR MEDICARE BENEFIT 2025:                                                        URGENTLY NEEDED CARE        OBAMACARE: the parties are preparing to wrestle over the imploding health insurance plans we have been stuck with for 15 years. The Dems want to keep it limping along as the next step towards socialized health insurance while the Republicans want to begin a trend toward privatization via establishment of Health Savings Accounts (HSAS). Norb writes to share the advice he got from a local Bay Area Medicare broker who made up some crap about HDG resulting in claim problems as the insured's age. I explained that was not true and used my personal experience as proof. Epilogue: He decided to ignore me and purchase the expensive Plan G rather than my recommended High Deductible Plan G. The episode, which began with sports trivia ends with a rousing series of Christmas trivia questions.                                                      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!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

     MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                         Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: Ill Health often Leads to a Plan Switch                      YOUR MEDICARE BENEFIT 2025:                                                                 Travel Outside the USA  Correspondence from Anita in Fountain Hills, AZ: She has Medicare supplement Plan G but wants to consider switching to High Deductible Plan G. After some thought she... What's the deal with Long Covid anyway? We take a somewhat closer look to see if there is any sign of hope on the horizon. Finally, we close out the episode with a Christmas Quiz!                                                        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!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

     MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                             JUDGE SIDES WITH HUMANA; TOSSES OUT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AUDIT RULE. FAILS TO RECOVER $4.7 BILLION IN GOVERNMENT OVERPAYMENTS TO INSURANCE PLANS.      YOUR MEDICARE BENEFIT 2025:                                                           TRANSITIONAL CARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS. Analysis of the typical situation when it comes to rate increases on Medicare supplement plans. A person paying the high Plan G premium is likely to receive larger and more frequent rate increases, in this case a 25% increase. On the other end of the spectrum, a smart purchaser of a High Deductible Plan G with a relatively small premium is is given a rate increase of only 6.75%. Article: With Medicare premiums set to rise, is Medicare supplement going to be worth it? Toni King reads a letter from a disappointed reader and winds up advising him to investigate biosimilar medications. 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!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

     MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                WHY MA CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS ARE GETTING HEATED      YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                       TRACTION EQUIPMENT Close friend Marlene figured out how to send me a lively online discussion regarding the new Medicare experiment with Prior Authorization. She saw my repeated warnings in some of these online comments. Full disclosure mandated that I read an AI generated list of the exact procedures included within this five year trial program. New client Cal had an unusual introduction to MLM enrollment service. The state of Nebraska, an unfamiliar insurance company and some careless errors conspired to create a less than smooth introduction to my normally stellar client service! 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!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

     MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                             Payors Continue to Predict MA Marketplace Enrollment Losses      YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                         Therapeutic shoes or inserts A review of the magnificent extravaganza that was Toni King's "Confused By Medicare" webinar! I wish she hadn't made up a B.S. story about the Internet crashing and causing her presentation to crash! The question: How successful is the attempt to substitute Plan N for Plan G in order to keep the prices high and to keep sales commissions flowing? The answer is above. Several clients have recently become disgruntled with Plan N rate increases. They have selected High Deductible Plan G as a superior alternative. After that their spouses took note and requested to switch from Plan N to HDG as well!   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!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.  

     MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                  MA plans may limit radiation treatment options for cancer; increase the cost & duration of car!      YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                               Telehealth Major work has begun on "Medicare for the Lazy Man 2026". This is the most difficult time of year to find free time for more than one project but I am forging ahead! And finally, a light review of some of the 2026 Medicare premiums and deductibles. More to come! 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!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.  

     MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                  MA plan member satisfaction facing headwinds!      YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                                TDAP (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis) shots Advice from Diane Omdahl: Review your drug plan in case the government plan finder "glitches". Correspondence: Peter wants to know whether he should consider changing from HDG to Plan G. This is not something I usually recommend. Fr. David takes no prescription drugs but has been paying through the nose for an expensive Part D drug plan. What should he do? Ray has more questions about how to ensure that he has the best PDP (Prescription Drug Plan) next year. Finally, we review a Gallup pole listing the states from highest to lowest for cost & availability of medical treatment. 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!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.  

     MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                   Are Medicare Advantage's glory days over? Some think so!      YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                               Swing bed services How about some obesity drugs? Thanks to Trump, Medicare will cover weight loss medications for the first time in history.                                                           Obesity drugs will be covered for as little as $50. Inspired by: "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2025; SIMPLEST & EASIEST GUIDE EVER!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

     MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                         Informed consent: The key to preventing big Medicare Advantage mistakes!      YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                            Surgical Dressings Enjoy some correspondence from clients or wannabe clients:      Ken & Mrs. Ken sent their heartfelt thanks for the help with various insurance products, including Medicare supplement and life insurance which they shopped for effortlessly and without being irritated by me or any other annoying insurance agent.      A new client, under 65 on SSDI, wrote to request Medicare supplement quotes. Fortunately for her, the rates in her state are quite reasonable.      ANON sent a lengthy message entitled: Two Complaints and Some Serious Foot-Stomping (or words to that effect);      ANON II sent a short, invective-laden complaint.  Finally, we held a short review of a list of the most frequently prescribed drugs in America.      Inspired by: "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2025; SIMPLEST & EASIEST GUIDE EVER!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

     MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE: New United Healthcare CFO plans to restore the company's "swager"!      YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025: Surgery Lipitor (Atorvastatin) has endured a very large recall that may affect hundreds of thousands of users; There might be a pattern of lapses in drugs manufactured overseas. Finally, I examine the very small rate increases enjoyed by those insured by High Deductible Plan G. Inspired by: "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2025; SIMPLEST & EASIEST GUIDE EVER!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

     MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                  MA enrollees have access to only about half of the physicians that would be available to traditional Medicare participants                                                     (those in Original Medicare with a Medicare supplement)      YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                           Supplies Article: "Challenges of Choice in Medicare"                                                                  Many people struggle with the Medicare decisions the must make. Finally, a prospective client has four questions for which he seeks answers. 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!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

Correction: Its "Medicare for the Lazy Man; BARE BONES" (not BIG BONES)! MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                                  MA premiums drop in 2026; Here's how hidden costs could still hit your wallet!      YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                           Speech-language pathology services! Four states have issued cease and desist orders to several insurance companies who have cleverly thought of ways to trick customers into not buying some of their plans. That way the plans aren't withdrawn from the market but nobody can buy them. Finally, we present a quiz in which we identify the most & least overweight and obese states. 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!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

     Medicare Advantage Minute:                                                                          Major Insurers Scale Back MA and Part D Drug Plans for 2026.      Your Medicare Benefits 2025:                                                                          Social Determinants of Health Risk Assessment Ten year Medicare supplement rate increase history used as a sales tool, from BC/BS of Texas. Smallest increases: 0%. 2025 increase: 14+%. Yikes! New client Sydney's husband Paul came to recognize that he had been misinformed about the many advantages of Medicare + Medicare supplements. The reality is much brighter than he had been led to believe.                                        His only regret: not purchasing High Deductible Plan G when he had the opportunity! Finally, Randy wants to confirm his understanding that when a person has an MA plan snatched away without their consent, the door opens to the wonderful world of Medicare supplements with no medical underwriting!             Medicare Advantage Minute: Major Insurers  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!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

     Medicare Advantage Minute:                                                                         House Democrats Introduce Legislation to Stop Prior Authorization Pilot!      Your Medicare Benefits 2025:                                                                          Sleep Studies How the government shutdown affects Medicare! (Spoiler alert: It doesn't) Concierge medicine described, with pros & cons for patients and doctors. 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!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

      Medicare Advantage Minute:                                                                      United Healthcare Projects A 1,000,000 Member Drop in Medicare Advantage Enrollment      Your Medicare Benefits 2025:                                                                              Skilled Nursing Facility Care Correspondence with client Richard: He wondered whether he had to "re-up" (re-enroll) in his Medicare supplement and/or his Part D drug plan. Turns out he received a very scary "scam" e-mail raising concern that his insurance was about to lapse. Correspondence with soon-to-be client Kelly: She is worried about the level and quality of customer service she will have with a particular company. In my view she was misled by a government website. 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!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.