What to Know when you Qualify for Medicare due to Disability in New Jersey

In New Jersey, when you are eligible for Medicare due to disability, you are limited in what Medicare Supplement options are available to you.  Medicare Supplement plans have a monthly fee and pay secondary to your Medicare Parts A and B coverage which comes from the government.  New Jersey residents under age 65 and eligible for Medicare due to disability only have one Medicare Supplement option available to them.  Medicare Supplement Plan D will pay for all doctor and hospital bills not paid for by Medicare Parts A and B except for a $203 deductible and Part B Excess charges.  

What to Know About Medicare and COBRA 

Health insurance is overwhelming, especially when you're faced with picking a plan that covers your providers, medications, and medical needs. Additionally, you would like to keep your finances intact and not make a mistake.

If you are eligible for both Medicare and COBRA in New Jersey, it is very important to fully understand your options so you are not penalized or accidentally have a gap in health insurance.  In order to make an informed decision you'll need to know what each program is and which plan fits your needs and eligibility status.

What to Know About Visiting a New Jersey Social Security / Medicare Office

The New Jersey Medicare Brokers office is looking forward to meeting people in person again soon.  We can help guide you through the process of applying for Medicare, Extra help, or answer your Medicare questions.  Our agents are well versed in the Medicare enrollment process and will contact your local Social Security office with you to help guide you through the process.  

Options for New Jersey Prescription Help

Paying out-of-pocket for prescriptions, particularly when you have an ongoing illness that necessitates monthly medications, can become a hardship when you have budgetary constraints, or you're going through a period of low or no employment. 

How Important is the Medicare Star Rating?

The Medicare Star Rating is put into place to help you determine which plans are most highly rated as a whole in terms of coverage and costs, among other factors. Since there are numerous plans to pick from in New Jersey, the Medicare Star Rating can help you whittle down your choices easily.

Medicare Assignment

Researching Medicare plans and premiums can be overwhelming, and you may come across terms you're not quite sure of. Understanding Medicare assignment will help you determine what your costs will be and which doctors you will be able to see.  Knowing all of your options is important when choosing a Medicare plan in New Jersey.

Medicare Assignment in New Jersey 

Medicare assignment is when your doctor accepts a determined price for Medicare approved medical services, checkups, procedures, and screenings. Doctors that accept Medicare Assignment  agree to the Medicare payment— the payment is "assigned" and non-negotiable. You won't get any surprise bills for this service and will receive statements from Medicare saying how much they paid.

Why Should You Engage with a Medicare Broker?

With there being over one thousand potential combinations of ways you can take your Medicare in New Jersey, there is a lot to go over all at once—and by yourself. You might worry you're not making the right decision or choosing too hastily. This is where a Medicare broker can step in and help—at no cost to you.

President Biden’s Medicare Plan

With each new president, changes are made to the healthcare system. President Biden is no exception. Read on to learn about the plans President Biden has for Medicare and what President Biden hopes to achieve regarding Medicare during his tenure in the White House.  Many of his goals would have to pass through Congress which makes them becoming a reality more difficult.

A Guide to Medicare HMO and PPO Options

When you're looking for the right plan for your Medicare coverage in New Jersey you may see phrases like Medicare HMO or PPO. There are significant differences between these two types of plans and understanding them can help you choose the best coverage for your healthcare needs in the most affordable way possible.

Medicare Part D Senior Savings Model: An Overview

Medicare recipients who take insulin to control their diabetes know the cost for this life saving medication in previous years has become outrageous.  A vial of insulin can cost patients as much as $250, and some people require multiple insulins per month. The average person simply can not afford these prices without aid. 

This year, in response to the rising price of insulin, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced the Part D Senior Savings Model. This program reduces the out of pocket cost for a 30 day supply of insulin to $35! 

Medicare Costs for 2021

What are your out of pocket costs on Medicare? What you pay out of your pocket will come from premiums (your monthly bill), deductibles (what you pay before Medicare pays), copays (a fee for using a service), and coinsurance (paying a percentage of the bill), but depending upon your income and the plan you choose these costs can vary drastically. 

Do You Need Help with Medicare.gov? 

When you or a loved one becomes eligible for Medicare, often the first place you look for information is online. Medicare.gov is the government website most people in New Jersey, and Americans in general, go to for information.  Websites like Medicare.gov can cause anxiety of navigating a confusing website to find answers, forms, and more. 

Medicare and Acupuncture

As recently as December of 2019, acupuncture was not a treatment covered by Medicare in any shape or form. It was only in late January of 2020 that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ruled that acupuncture could finally be covered, but only for patients with chronic lower back pain. 

This comes on the heels of recent efforts to curb opioid dependency and abuse in healthcare, with acupuncture among those non-medicated treatments that could go toward pain management plans for those suffering from chronic conditions. 

Medicare vs Medicaid: What's the Difference? 

Have you asked yourself, “Am I on Medicaid or Medicare?” In discussions of government healthcare, these two words always come up and can even sometimes be mistaken for each other. In discussing Medicare vs Medicaid, the distinct difference between the two programs is how to qualify: Medicare is for individuals age 65 and older or on Social Security Disability, while Medicaid is entirely income and asset based. There is no competition between the two; they serve completely different groups of people however you can have Medicare and Medicaid if you meet the qualifications for both!

What to Do When Helping Parents with Medicare

Whether you're a custodial guardian or just giving mom or dad a hand, you and many people like you all over New Jersey assist their parents with their Medicare concerns every year. They may be new to Medicare, doing a review during the enrollment periods, or maybe there's a problem that needs solving.