Medicare Part B Costs in 2026: Premiums, Deductibles & What You Need to Know
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the official Medicare costs for 2026, and beneficiaries will see modest increases in both premiums and deductibles. Key 2026 Medicare Part B Costs: Standard monthly premium: $202.90 (up from $185 in 2025) Annual deductible: $283 (up from $257 in 2025) These increases are primarily due […]
Elise Ann Daniel, AFC®
I am proud to be a part of the pilot program matching Accredited Financial Counselors with Savers who take the pledge to save during America Saves Week 2019. Visit America Saves to learn more!!
Unwanted calls and door knockers
I have received many calls in the past 6 weeks about aggressive insurance agents trying to schedule appointments with my clients. In most cases, what these agents are doing is actually against the law and violates CMS codes related to marketing. I highly encourage you to file a complaint with the Idaho Department of Insurance either […]
Transportation offered by many Medicare Advantage plans
There is a current trend for Medicare Advantage plans to work with members in arranging transportation for medical care. Here in the Treasure Valley, there are several plans that have a transportation benefit built into the plan. Note this article by Jennifer Bresnick describing national trends and Lyft getting involved to help people: Rideshare company […]
New Medicare Cards
The New Medicare Card mailing is complete! Everyone currently on Medicare should have their new card with the randomly-generated Medicare number replacing Social Security Numbers on Medicare cards and in Medicare systems. This number is also known as the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI). The biggest reason CMS took the SSN off of Medicare cards is […]
Healthcare Reform
Healthcare reform is complicated. There has been a quiet, steady rise in employer coverage (call it group coverage) which is the largest insured group in the United States. Medicaid coverage comes in second, Medicare third, and then individuals who have to purchase their own insurance plan. While a Medicare for all plan would help the […]
September is Life Insurance Awareness Month!
To make sure Americans are reminded of the need to include life insurance in their financial plans, the nonprofit organization Life Happens coordinates Life Insurance Awareness Month. Each September, Life Happens is joined in this educational initiative by more than 100 of the nation’s leading insurance companies and industry groups. The main reason to buy […]
Your Personal Resource
There is great value in having an independent agent at your fingertips. At absolutely no cost to you, you have a local advocate when you need it most. I am here to assist you each and every year in evaluating new plans and plan changes that may affect you. I value our relationship and am […]
Medicare Advantage Plans continue to grow.
Medicare Advanatage Plans have grown from 18% to 30% as a proportion of the total Medicare spending from 2007 to 2017. Enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans has been steadily increasing over the measured decade from 2007 to 2017. 33% of Medicare beneficiaries were covered by Medicare Advantage plans in 2017, when ten years earlier, just 19% […]
Hang up on Medicare scams!
I had a client call me today to touch base and see if a call he had received was really from his Medicare plan or if it was a scam. Based on our conversation it was definitely a scam! The caller kept requesting more information from him and luckily he realized it was a scam […]