Medicare News

Come here to find the latest news about changes made by Congress, the State of Wisconsin, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding Medicare and Medicaid.

Original Medicare includes Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance).
Original Medicare covers things like inpatient hospital care, doctors’ services and tests, and preventive services.
You pay for services and items as you get them.
You must be lawfully present in the U.S. for Medicare to pay for Part A and Part B covered services.

From Medicare.Gov

A Medicare Advantage Plan is another way to get your Medicare Part A and Part B coverage.
Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called “Part C” or “MA” Plans, are offered by Medicare-approved private companies that must follow rules set by Medicare.
Most Medicare Advantage Plans include drug coverage (Part D).
There are several types of Medicare Advantage Plans.
- Each of these Medicare Advantage Plan types have special rules about how you get your Medicare-covered Part A and B services and any supplemental benefits your plan covers.
  - If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you’ll still have Medicare, but you’ll get most of your Part A and Part B coverage from your Medicare Advantage Plan, not Original Medicare.
  - You’ll have the same rights and protections you would have under Original Medicare.
You must use the card from your Medicare Advantage Plan to get your Medicare-covered services.
- Keep your red, white, and blue Medicare card in a safe place because you may need to show your Medicare card for some services.
  - Also, you’ll need it if you ever switch back to Original Medicare.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
(n.d.). "When can I join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan?"
Medicare.gov. Retrieved from

Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) is extra insurance you can buy from a private insurance company to help pay your share of out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare.
You can only buy Medigap if you have Original Medicare.
- Generally, that means you have to sign up for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) before you can buy a Medigap policy.
You get a 6-month “Medigap Open Enrollment” period, which starts the first month you have Medicare Part B and you’re 65 or older.
- During this time, you can enroll in any Medigap policy, and the insurance company can’t deny you coverage due to pre-existing health problems.
  - After this period, you may not be able to buy a Medigap policy, or it may cost more.
- Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period is a one-time enrollment.
  - It doesn’t repeat every year, like the Medicare Open Enrollment Period.
All Medigap policies are standardized.
- This means policies with the same letter offer the same basic benefits no matter where you live or which insurance company you buy the policy from.
There are 10 different types of Medigap plans offered in most states, named by letters: A-D, F, G, and K-N.
- Price is the only difference between plans with the same letter sold by different insurance companies.
- In some states, you may be able to buy another type of Medigap policy called Medicare SELECT*.
  - If you buy a Medicare SELECT policy, you have the right to change your mind within 12 months and switch to a standard Medigap policy.

*Important: In Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, Medigap policies are standardized differently.

Every Medigap policy must follow federal and state laws designed to protect you.
It’s essential to watch out for illegal practices by insurance companies and protect yourself when shopping for a Medigap policy.

From Medicare.Gov

CMS Releases 2025 Part A & B Premiums and Deductibles
Click on PDF below to read further

CMS Releases 2025 Medicare Part D Bid Information and Announces Premium Stabilization Demonstration

Click on PDF below to read further

Medicare News

CMS Releases 2025 Part A & B Premiums and Deductibles Click on PDF below to read further

CMS Releases 2025 Part A & B Premiums and Deductibles
Click on PDF below to read further