Every year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issues an Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) final rule to update Medicare payment policies, rates, and quality programs for acute care hospitals. This comprehensive rulemaking process allows CMS to adapt hospital payments to changing costs, technologies, regulations, legislation, and quality improvement priorities. On August 1, … Read more
If you’re shopping for specialty insurance like mobile home or motorcycle coverage, you may come across Foremost Insurance. This company provides policies for RVs, boats, manufactured homes, motorcycles, and other recreational vehicles. But you may notice Foremost’s website and materials mention an affiliation with Farmers Insurance. So are Foremost and Farmers the same company? Or … Read more
Medicare is a federal health insurance program that provides coverage for people aged 65 and older as well as some younger individuals with disabilities. The various parts of Medicare help cover specific healthcare costs and services. Two components that often cause confusion are Medicare Part C and Part G. This guide will explain: What Part … Read more
The cost of living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security benefits is one of the most anticipated economic announcements each year. The COLA is based on the inflation rate and aims to help Social Security beneficiaries keep up with rising prices. For 2023, the COLA was a historically high 8.7% – the fourth-largest increase since automatic … Read more
Providing quality health insurance for yourself and your employees is crucial for any business. But the rules around who can receive tax-free health benefits vary depending on your corporate structure. Specifically, C corporations have unique advantages when it comes to deducting health insurance costs for owners and shareholders. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain how … Read more
Life insurance plays an important role in financial planning for many individuals and families. It provides a tax-advantaged way to leave an inheritance, fund estate taxes, support dependents and more. A common strategy is transferring ownership of an existing life insurance policy to an irrevocable life insurance trust or another party. But does transferring a … Read more
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) oversees various healthcare regulations and requirements for providers participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, CMS instituted vaccine mandates for healthcare staff in many facilities. However, CMS has now ended this federal vaccine mandate as of 2023. Below we’ll cover the background on CMS’ … Read more
UnitedHealthcare and WellMed Medical Management have an affiliation through which WellMed manages certain administrative services for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans in select states. However, WellMed operates as a separate company from UnitedHealthcare with its own provider network and clinical services. Below we’ll explain the relationship between WellMed and UnitedHealthcare, how they collaborate on Medicare Advantage … Read more
Blue Shield of California offers a variety of health insurance plans to meet the diverse needs of individuals, families, and employers across the state. Two of their most popular HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plans are the Trio HMO and Access+ HMO. But what exactly is the difference between these two plans? In this comprehensive guide, … Read more
Medicare undergoes changes each year to adjust costs, benefits, and coverage. However, 2023 marks one of the most significant years for adjustments to the Medicare program. This article will explain the most notable Medicare rule changes going into effect in 2023. Part A Cost Changes Medicare Part A covers hospital insurance services, including inpatient hospital … Read more