Moving in a new direction . . . more variety in topics . . . short narratives encourage you to follow the link for more details  . . . covering things you may not know about your valuable traditional Medicare coverage . . . discover benefits that are EXCLUSIVE to Medicare and not found in PPO/HMO managed care plans.

Some readers appreciated the “long form focused topic”, some didn’t.

Did you get a medical bill you don’t recognize? Don’t pay it until you verify that you are responsible for the debt!

This will make you smile!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CoT5DEZqU/

COLLECTIONS!!

Yes, providers really do sue for non-payment, even when they are dead wrong . . .

About a week ago we received a notice from a debt collection service. There was very little detail, just something about an unpaid lab bill from 9/2025 for $684.

Medicare showed 2 lab bills on that date, both small, both approved and paid.

We had to complete a form and wait for a response with more detail.

The bill is from a provider in another town, someone we never heard of, Medicare has no record of charges from that provider.

So we contested it.

Waiting now on the appeal which I am certain will be in our favor. But I wonder how many folks just pay the bill and move on?

NOTE: Traditional Medicare providers have up to 12 months from the date of service to file a claim with Medicare before forfeiting the right to collect payment.

If you get a bill, or collection notice, for a claim you do not recognize, CHECK YOUR MEDICARE.GOV ACCOUNT before doing anything. You may not owe anything if the provider did not follow Medicare rules.

FEEDBACK AFTER POSTING ON AN AGENT INSURANCE FORUM . . .

>> I received a radiologist's bill for reading a CT scan that I never had. It was about a three month process fighting with an overseas call center utilized by the billing company before they finally dismissed the charges.

>>We had a "billing" dispute with a local hospital who used an overseas calling center for billing that drug out for over a year. Finally found out that the hospital didn't bill the insurance company for the Part A deductible which was about $1,400 that year correctly.

The insurance company was Manhattan and I found out that the hospital needed to bill them directly in a Texas address for the deductible separately. Who knew?

Finally got it resolved when we called the Missouri State Attorney General who sent the hospital a letter and got a call from the hospital the next day and then they fixed it that day after a year of haggling.

Make sure that CT and the reason for it isn't still on your medical records. If it is,  get it removed ASAP so it doesn't keep surfacing as a medical issue that you don't have.

Do NOT pay ANY medical bill until you have VERIFIED it is true.

What Does Medicare Cover Care While Out of the Country?

Getting sick or injured when you're on vacation is upsetting at the moment and could leave you with an unwanted souvenir — a big medical bill.

Whether it's a tumble over some cobblestones or a serious medical event, such as a heart attack, accident or food allergy, sometimes you need emergency health care abroad.

When an emergency happens, you can't put off medical care until you get home. You have to be treated where you are and sort out the expenses after the emergency subsides. But that doesn't mean you can't plan. Understanding what your Medicare insurance does and doesn't cover when you are away from home is the first step.

Beneficiaries with original Medicare have access to more care when in the U.S. and can shop around for limited international coverage that's included in some Medigap plans.

Those enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans (MA) are at a significant disadvantage because their care is tied to a defined network of doctors and hospitals. If you have an MA plan, you'll likely pay more domestically for care.

Too often seniors pick travel medical plans based on which one has the lowest premium. That can be a big mistake that can cost you a lot more than the few dollars you save by going cheap. Don’t make that mistake! I am happy to help you compare plans and offer advice. No charge!

When you travel out of the country, original Medicare has very limited coverage. Always consider an international travel medical plan. The only travel medical plan we recommend is Blue Cross Blue Shield Global SolutionsSM. Please use this direct link (below) to review and price plans plus enroll.

Many travel medical plans have exclusions for pre-existing conditions. Make sure the plan you choose includes coverage for prior medical conditions.

BCBSGLOBAL single trip Platinum covers pre-existing medical conditions, BCBSGLOBAL single trip Gold does not cover pre-ex.

Also, travel medical plans have termination limits. Coverage is good from your departure date until your planned return date. In case of a return delay you don’t want to be stuck in a foreign country without medical coverage. I always suggest adding 2 - 3 days on the back end of your trip to allow for contingencies. 

https://bcbsglobalsolutions.com/individuals-and-families/?link_id=160173

Feel free to contact me if you have questions.

https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/medicare/what-medicare-covers-when-you-travel-in-the-us-and-abroad

Online Pharmacy Scams are Real

According to the Partnership at Drugfree.org, as many as 36 million Americans have purchased prescription drugs without a valid prescription (a telltale sign of a counterfeit pharmacy). “Rogue pharmacies,” as we call them, can pop up under one name, disappear, and reappear days later under a new pseudonym. They are out to steal sensitive financial information (at worse) and peddle counterfeit medications (at worst).

Seniors are the most susceptible to these types of scams. This is mainly because people above the age of 65 are more likely to need medication, maybe even several kinds of daily medication. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 89% of adults over 65 report taking at least one medication. Nearly one quarter (23%) of those seniors taking medication reported finding it “difficult” to afford it. This difficulty leads to the one great cheap-ifying destination: the internet, with its vast pots of quicksand.

https://www.pharmacychecker.com/askpc/avoid-online-pharmacy-scams/

Long-term Use of Melatonin Supplements to Support Sleep may have Negative Health Effects

Long-term use of melatonin supplements, often used to promote sleep and address insomnia, was associated with a higher risk of heart failure diagnosis, heart failure hospitalization and death from any cause in chronic insomnia, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025.

Among adults with insomnia, those whose electronic health records indicated long-term melatonin use (12 months or more) had about a 90% higher chance of incident heart failure over 5 years compared with matched non-users (4.6% vs. 2.7%, respectively).

https://newsroom.heart.org/news/long-term-use-of-melatonin-supplements-to-support-sleep-may-have-negative-health-effects

Will Medicare Pay for Chemotherapy?

A few parts of Medicare cover chemotherapy and other medications, services, and equipment you may need. Your out-of-pocket costs may depend on your insurance provider and the Medicare parts you’re enrolled in.

Most specialty cancer treatment centers such as Memorial Sloan Kettering, MD Anderson, Johns Hopkins, Mayo, etc are generally OUT OF NETWORK with Advantage plans but all participate in traditional Medicare and Medigap plans.

When you’re undergoing cancer treatments, it can be hard to know which treatments are covered under your Medicare plans and which are not. While there may be some variations, such as some of the extras in a Part C (Advantage) plan, the following services generally are not covered:

in-home caregivers to help with daily activities (bathing, meals, dressing)

long-term care or assisted living facilities

room and board expenses while receiving treatments away from home

certain treatments given during clinical trials

The cost of chemotherapy can vary depending on many factors, such as:

where you receive it (at the hospital, at a doctor’s office or clinic, or at home as a prescription) how it’s given (through an IV, as an oral medication, or as an injection)

what kind of insurance coverage you have (traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap) the kind of cancer you have and what type of treatment you need for it

When you have chemotherapy and a Medicare Advantage plan you are responsible for paying 20% of the cost of treatment. Your 20% share also applies to outpatient rehab and recovery services. Plan copays do not apply.

Patients with traditional Medicare and a Medigap G plan do not have to pay 20% coinsurance . . . your Plan G covers it for you.

https://www.healthline.com/health/medicare/does-medicare-cover-chemotherapy

Paying Too Much for Prescription Medications? 

Stop wasting money!

PharmacyChecker helps patients compare prices and identify accredited pharmacies that meet our strict verification standards.

Review our recommended list of reputable pharmacy websites accredited and monitored through the PharmacyChecker International Pharmacy Verification Program.

Accredited online pharmacies partner with dispensing pharmacies in Canada, Australia, India, Mauritius, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

PharmacyChecker.com today announced the expansion of its prescription drug price comparison platform to include pricing from U.S. mail-order pharmacies that dispense medications solely within the United States, giving patients and caregivers more information to compare affordable prescription drug prices in one place.

The new listings include pricing from trusted U.S. mail-order providers, such as nationwide nonprofit pharmacy Rx Outreach, expanding PharmacyChecker’s mission to empower consumers with comprehensive information about accessing affordable prescription medications.

Buy prescriptions from pharmacies you can trust.!

https://www.pharmacychecker.com/

In Closing . . .

We are half way through the year and what a year it has been. Medicare is a mess and probably won’t improve until the folks in DC stop trying to “fix it”. Look for more changes to MA (Medicare Advantage) and PDP (Part D) in 2027. I should know more in late August to early September.

Please forward this newsletter to your friends & relatives. This kind of information is not easily found on the web.

Take care,

Bob & Rachel

[email protected]

[email protected]

Two ways to reach me!