Medicare Minutes

Medicare for People with Chronic Conditions

On our March, 2010 edition of Medicare Minutes, we will discuss Medicare coverage for people with long-term, or chronic conditions.

For more information, see: http://www.medicareadvocacy.org/InfoByTopic/ChronicConditions/ChronicMain.htm

Medicare Beneficiaries: Don't be Afraid of Health Care Reform

Medicare beneficiaries already have good access to comprehensive health care.  Why, then, would the Center for Medicare Advocacy, whose mission is to advocate for Medicare beneficiaries, support such an undertaking?  There are several answers:  First, there are many specific improvements to the Medicare program for beneficiaries; second, it will improve the solvency of Medicare itself; and finally, health care reform is a matter of fundamental fairness. For more on reform, see http://www.medicareadvocacy.org/InfoByTopic/Reform/ReformMain.htm.

HEALTH DISPARITIES 101

Today, on our January, 2010 edition of Medicare Minutes, we offer a basic examination of the issue of health disparities.   For more information, visit our health care disparities page.

December 2009 - A Trio of Medicare Updates

On our December, 2009 edition of Medicare Minutes, we offer updates on current Medicare topics including cost-sharing, therapy caps, and some timely news for residents of skilled nursing facilities.

Medicare Minutes November, 2009

When Medicare Advantage Plans Do Not Renew Their Contracts This month on Medicare Minutes we offer advice to those beneficiaries whose private Medicare plans have chosen to leave the Medicare market.  We discuss what these individuals need to do, and the rights they have. For more on Private Medicare plans, see our "Medicare Privatization (and Occasional Reform)" page.

Medicare Minutes, October 2009 - Medicare Enrollment Periods

On this edition of Medicare Minutes, we will explian the upcoming Medicare enrollment periods.

Medicare Minutes, September 2009 - the Myth of Medicare Cost Shifting, and Facts on Private Profits

On this edition of Medicare Minutes, we will examine the myth of so-called "cost shifting" in Medicare, one of the arguments being used to denounce calls for a public plan option in health care reform. to read more on Medicare and health care reform, visit our Privatization and Occasional Reform page. Or you can speak out in favor of a public option at medicareworks.org.

Medicare Minutes, August, 2009 - The Indispensible Dozen

The President made it clear that the country needs health care reform now – this year. For the health of the people and the economy. This month on Medicare minutes we discuss essential elements for real reform. For more on Medicare reform, visit our Medicare Privatization (and Occasional Reform) page.