Health Care Benefits for Older Adults

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An older aged woman is sitting at her dining table, talking on her cell while also paying medical bills.

May 7, 2021

What Is Medicare and How Do I Get Started? Read Article

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Oct 12, 2022

Medicare Enrollment Periods Read Article

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Mar 11, 2021

A Complete Guide to Medicare Open Enrollment Read Article

BenefitsCheckUp®

Find out how BenefitsCheckUp connects millions of older adults and people with disabilities with benefits programs that can help pay for health care, medicine, food, utilities, and more.

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BenefitsCheckUp® makes it easy to find benefits to help you pay for food, medicine, health care, and more. Find out how to get help today.

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Medicare Advantage and Medigap are not the same. Learn how these plans work, the differences between the two, and the pros and cons of each.

Dec 2, 2022

What Is the Difference Between Medicare Advantage and Medigap? Read Article

Nov 30, 2022

Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage: What Older Adults Need to Know Read Article

Nov 30, 2022

What Is a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP)? Read Article

Nov 22, 2022

What Medicare Covers for Dental, Vision, and Hearing: A Guide for Older Adults Read Article

Medicare Open Enrollment Is Here

Medicare's Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7. Get help understanding your Medicare plan options, how much it might cost you, and when you are required to make a decision. Explore NCOA's Age Well Planner's resources, tools, and experts.

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Before choosing a plan, it’s important to have a good understanding of what your Medicare out-of-pocket costs might be for the year.

Nov 18, 2022

What You'll Pay in Out-of-Pocket Medicare Costs in 2023

There’s Medicare Open Enrollment, 10/5-12/7, and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment, 1/1-3/31. Find out how they differ and how to make the most of these options.

Nov 12, 2022

What's the Difference Between Medicare's Open Enrollment Period and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment?

Does Medicare cover you anywhere you go? From Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, find out how portable your benefits are.

Nov 10, 2022

Does Medicare Cover You Anywhere?

During Medicare Open Enrollment (Oct. 15-Dec. 7), ads for Medicare Advantage plans may intentionally or unintentionally mislead you into thinking one plan is better for you than another. Here's what to look out for.

Nov 4, 2022

Misleading Medicare Marketing: Don't Be Fooled During Medicare Open Enrollment

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is a great time to consider whether a Medicare Advantage plan is right for you. Here’s what you should know.

Oct 31, 2022

3 Things You Should Know About Medicare Advantage Plans

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Oct 27, 2022

What Are the Costs of Medicare Advantage?

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Oct 24, 2022

Medicare Parts A and B Costs

Non-medical supplemental benefits are something to think about when choosing a Medicare Advantage plan. Learn about some of the latest extra coverages available.

Oct 21, 2022

The New, Non-Medical Benefits of Medicare Advantage Plans in 2023

Most Medicare Advantage (MA) plans include Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D). Here’s what you should know when choosing an MA plan.

Oct 17, 2022

Are Prescriptions Covered Under Medicare Advantage Plans?

Use this handy checklist from NCOA and Aetna if you’re considering making changes to your current Medicare Advantage plan or enrolling in a new one during the Annual Enrollment Period.

Oct 3, 2022

A 7-Point Checklist for Choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan

Learn what you may pay for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage.

Sep 30, 2022

What Medicare Part D Costs in 2023

A close up shot of a prescription bottle, money, pills, demonstrating the high-cost of prescriptions.

Aug 9, 2022

Prescription Help from States and Drug Manufacturers

A telehealth service is a full visit with a provider that requires real-time communication through audio and video technology. Find out how Medicare covers telehealth.

Aug 6, 2022

How Medicare Covers Telehealth Services

Introduced in 2011, the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is a free benefit focused on health promotion and preventive care.

Jul 28, 2022

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit: What Older Adults Should Know

For people enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A & B) the differences between a participating provider, a non-participating provider, and an opt-out provider, are important to understand.

Jul 28, 2022

What the 3 Types of Health Care Providers Mean for Medicare Beneficiaries

With rising costs, it’s natural to be worried about affording your insulin. Learn what Medicare covers and how you can save on your diabetes medication.

Jul 11, 2022

Diabetes and Insulin: A Guide to Paying with Medicare

Make sure you read your Medicare notices. They include important information, such as why your care was denied and how you can appeal.

Jul 11, 2022

How to Appeal a Medicare Coverage Denial

A senior Caucasian woman is at her mailbox collecting letters, looking straight on at the camera.

May 25, 2022

Did You Receive a Letter from the Social Security Administration? Here’s What You Need to Know

Benefits Enrollment Centers (BECs) help Medicare-eligible, low-income older adults and younger adults with disabilities find and enroll in all the benefits programs for which they qualify.

May 19, 2022

How Do Benefits Enrollment Centers Help Older Adults?

Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals that work together to give you better care.

May 3, 2022

Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs): What You Need to Know

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Jan 26, 2022

Medicaid and Medicare Savings Programs

A black female pharmacist is returning the credit card to female senior woman after receiving the payment.

Jan 20, 2022

Medicare Part D: How to Get 'Extra Help' Paying for Prescriptions

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Jan 19, 2022

How to Get Help Paying for Food, Housing, and Healthcare

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Dec 22, 2021

How to Avoid the Medicare Part D Donut Hole

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Oct 18, 2021

How to Move from Expansion Medicaid to Medicare

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Sep 28, 2021

Junk or Not? How to Sort Your Medicare Mail

A caucasian male doctor is giving medical advice to his older adult patient.

Sep 22, 2021

Transitioning from the Health Insurance Marketplace to Medicare

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Sep 15, 2021

Turning 65? Follow Your Path to Medicare

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Aug 31, 2021

Checklist to Help You Choose a Medicare Part D Plan

A senior Caucasian woman is listening to her healthcare options from a Black female doctor.

Jul 16, 2021

Choice Error: How Choosing A Medicare Plan Could Impact Your Finances and Health

A senior Caucasian man is at his doctor's office receiving a wellness exam. The Black doctor is examining the man's throat.

Jul 7, 2021

Using Medicare Benefits Post-COVID

A close up shot of a handbook with the words "Federal Employees Health Benefits Program" on the face.

Jun 29, 2021

How Medicare Works with Federal Employee Health Insurance

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Jun 17, 2021

What Is Medicaid Estate Recovery? And How Does It Work?

Two people, whose faces can't be seen, are sitting at a table discussing finances together with their computers.

Mar 18, 2021

What Is a SHIP and How Can It Help Me?

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Jun 22, 2020

Medicare Part D Late Enrollment Penalty

A young pharmacist behind the counter is giving prescription instructions to her senior female client.

Apr 28, 2020

What Is a Part D Indication-Based Formulary?

Close up shot of a person holding a cell phone, looking at their calendar trying to make a decision.

Nov 23, 2019

About the Medicare General Enrollment Period

A senior man is looking up, where many question marks surround him - indicating that he's trying to make a decision.

Oct 31, 2019

How to Choose a Medicare Plan During Open Enrollment

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Aug 1, 2019

4 Tips to Stop Scammers Now

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May 12, 2019

Medicare for Federal and State Employees and Retirees

Older Caucasian couple reviewing medical information with doctor on a tablet.

Mar 30, 2019

Differences Between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage

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Nov 1, 2018

Understanding the Medicare Enrollment Periods

An older Asian woman is holding a red thought bubble sign in her hand that has a yellow question mark inside of it.

Mar 30, 2018

Questions to Ask Before Joining a Medicare Advantage Plan

A large question mark is in the center of the screen on a digital tablet that a senior person is holding.

Mar 30, 2018

Questions to Ask Before Purchasing a Medigap Policy

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