Senior Living

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Health

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ArcaMax

It is extremely important that the 69 million Americans who are on Medicare visit www.medicare.gov to verify that ALL of their prescriptions are covered, whether they have a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage HMO/PPO plan with a Prescription Drug plan included. (Dreamstime/TNS)

Toni Says: Help! My brand-name prescription drug is not covered by Medicare’s 2026 Part D plans

Senior Living / Toni Says /

Hello, Toni:

You helped me sign up for a Medicare Supplement Plan G and a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan; both plans started January 2021. These two plans have served me well so far.

I just received information that my current Part D plan will no longer cover the Humira that I take twice a month as an injection for ...Read more

The Medicare skilled nursing qualification rule is explained on page 28 of the 2026 Medicare & You handbook in the section headed “Am I an inpatient or outpatient?” One must learn that a stay in the hospital does not always mean you are an inpatient and that you qualify for Medicare Part A skilled nursing facility care. If not, you may have to pay 100% out of your own pocket. (Dreamstime/TNS)

Toni Says: Who pays for a skilled nursing stay, Medicare or you?

Senior Living / Toni Says /

Dear Toni,

My husband recently fell from a ladder, shattered his hip and broke his right leg. After having emergency surgery, Jim is having a stay in a skilled nursing facility for his rehab to learn how to walk on his repaired hip.

A friend recently had a skilled nursing stay and was billed more than expected because she did not have the ...Read more

Use www.medicare.gov to verify that your prescription drugs are covered in your 2026 Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage Part D plan formulary. (Monkey Business Images/Dreamstime/Tribune Content Agency)

Toni Says: Help … Need to disenroll from a Medicare Advantage Plan!

Senior Living / Toni Says /

Toni:

In August, my husband and I enrolled in a Medicare Supplement, which has not paid a medical claim because we were in a Medicare Advantage plan when we applied for the Medicare Supplement. We could not leave the Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare due to Medicare rules.

I was told that Medicare’s Open Enrollment is when Sonny...Read more

Talk to your primary care and specialty doctors about which brand-name drugs can be changed to generics. (Dreamstime/TNS)

Toni Says: Is America ready for the changes to 2026 Medicare Part D plans?

Senior Living / Toni Says /

Toni:

Currently, I am on a stand-alone Part D plan with a Medicare Supplement because of my serious health issues. Last week, I received information about the changes to the 2026 Medicare Part D plan I am currently enrolled in, and the premium is increasing by $50 per month, from $44.80 to $94.80 beginning January 1. The Part D ...Read more

 

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