Turning 65 brings a surprising number of decisions, and the Medicare Initial Enrollment Period is the one that matters most. The rules involve birth months, …
Medicare Annual Enrollment vs Open Enrollment: What You Can Change and When
Few phrases cause more confusion than “open enrollment.” Medicare uses it, the ACA Marketplace uses it, and your employer uses it, yet each refers to …
Aca Marketplace Premium Tax Credits: How Subsidies Are Calculated and Who Qualifies
Premium tax credits are one of the most valuable parts of the Affordable Care Act, and one of the most misunderstood. Terms like “benchmark plan,” …
Special Enrollment Periods for Health Insurance: Qualifying Life Events and Documentation Needed
Health insurance rules can feel overwhelming, especially when life changes suddenly and the usual enrollment window closed months ago. A job loss, a move, a …
Turning 65 While Still Working: Choosing Between Employer Coverage and Medicare
Turning 65 while you are still working can feel strangely more complicated than retiring. You have a health plan through your employer that you understand, …
Medicare Part B and Part D Late Enrollment Penalties: How They Are Calculated and Whether You Can Appeal
Medicare enrollment rules can feel like a maze of deadlines, exceptions and percentages, and one missed window can follow you for life. The late enrollment …
How to Appeal a Denied Health Insurance Claim: Internal Appeals, External Review and Medicare Levels?
A denial letter can feel final, especially when it arrives after a stressful procedure or a long illness. The jargon of “adverse benefit determinations,” “redeterminations” …
Marketplace Metal Tiers Compared: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Plans and Cost-sharing Reductions
Choosing a Marketplace plan can feel more complicated than it should. Four metal names, a handful of unfamiliar terms such as deductible, coinsurance and out-of-pocket …
Medicaid vs Marketplace Coverage: Income Limits, Eligibility and How to Switch Between Them
Choosing between Medicaid and Marketplace coverage can feel overwhelming, particularly when your income has changed because of a disability, early retirement, or a reduction in …
Occupational Accident Insurance for Independent Contractors: What It Pays and How It Differs from Workers’ Comp
If you work for yourself, a single on-the-job injury can feel like the ground has shifted beneath you. There is no employer to file a …