Things You Need to Know About Medicare

Medicare Services

Annual lab limitations- scammers- Medicare changes in 2026/being dropped? Losing medication subsidies

Beware of Social Security Scammers!

Social Security Scam Attempts Are Always There

Social Security recipients are being targeted more aggressively than ever. In 2024 alone, over 330,000 people reported Social Security–related scams, and that number keeps climbing. These criminals are getting bolder, more sophisticated, and more convincing.

They often impersonate the Social Security Administration (SSA), using official‑looking logos, fake “urgent notices,” and threatening language to trick you into giving up personal information. Their goal is simple: steal your identity, your benefits, or your money.

If you receive ANY unexpected email claiming to be from Social Security… STOP.

Scammers frequently send messages saying things like:

• “We have an important message about your benefits.”

• “Your Social Security account is at risk.”

• “We need to verify your information immediately.”

These messages are designed to scare you into clicking a link or responding. Do not engage. Do not click. Do not reply.

The safest and smartest action you can take:

Ignore the email completely and log in to your official SSA.gov account directly.   If Social Security truly needs to contact you, the message will be in your secure account — never through a random email.

Remember:

Even emails that look “official,” complete with SSA logos and formatting, are often fake. Scammers rely on urgency and fear. Don’t give them the chance.

Protect Yourself, Your Privacy and Your Benefits

• If contacted, go to SSA.gov directly — never through a link in an email.

• Enable two‑factor authentication on your account.

• Report suspicious messages immediately.

• Share this warning with anyone who receives Social Security benefits — especially older adults who are targeted most often.

Your benefits are too important to risk. Stay alert, stay skeptical, and stay safe.

Here are Some Things You Need to Know About Medicare:

Did You Know This About Medicare Annual Physical Exams? They Don't Cover a Lot

Just some Interesting takes on Medicare B and Medicare Advantage Plans...An annual Medicare Wellness Exam is not a traditional annual physical exam. Medicare does not cover a traditional physical exam. During a wellness exam, your healthcare provider is NOT required to listen to or do a hands-on head-to-toe exam. That is, the provider does not have to listen to your heart and lungs, check your abdomen, your ears, skin, or anything else during your annual Medicare Wellness Exam. The only way you get those things covered is to visit your healthcare provider with a complaint of a medical symptom(s). Then Medicare should cover most, if not all, of your visit, depending on the plan.

Many annual screening lab tests covered by commercial insurance are not covered by Medicare B unless medically necessary (the patient has a complaint or medical history suggestive of a medical problem)

• No vitamin levels, including vitamin B and D, unless you currently have a medical condition, symptoms, or preexisting medical problem.

• No thyroid panels (TSH, T3, T4), unless you currently have a medical condition or preexisting medical problem.

• No testosterone levels without symptoms or a related diagnosis

• Medicare B and Medicare Advantage Plans do not routinely cover usual annual wellness labs. Most tests are only covered when medically necessary or when they fall under a specific preventive‑screening schedule with strict frequency limits (i.e., some are covered if done every year or every 5 years).

• Others not covered for healthy people 65+ include: a CBC (commonly done for anemia, infection, or blood dyscrasias) and a CMP (electrolytes like sodium and potassium, kidney function, liver function, fasting blood sugar, and protein levels). They do not cover an A1C (which shows your average blood sugar over the last 90-120 days). Medicare B and Advantage Plans will cover a lipid (cholesterol) panel every 5 years as a screeninwith conditions like hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, or any condition requiring metabolic or organ‑function monitoring, the latter tests (CBC, CMP, A1C)sts (CBC, CMP, A1C tests should be done annually and are typically covered by Medicare B and Medicare Advantage Plans.

  
  

This is very disconcerting because some people do not have or recognize symptoms leading up to a serious illness (1)(2)

If you have traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage and want these routine tests done, you either need a prior diagnosis (as above) or symptoms, or you need to get your wallet out.

Medicare Advantage Plans: Will You Be Dropped?​ Are You Losing Benefits?

Check your policy and notifications - there are things you need to know about Medicare.

7/30/2026 - While the temporary drug assistance for patients under Medicare Part D (medication subsidies)— part of Biden's Inflation Reduction Act— could have been extended, the current administration is planning to phase them out this year. This is expected to result in higher Part D premiums in 2027, especially for standalone drug plans.

And if you are like me, you toss most of the "notifications" you get every few weeks from your insurance company, thinking they are the same old ones. But in the fall of 2025, a huge disruption occurred with many Medicare Advantage plans. Many insurance companies claimed that they were not making enough profits. Letters went out to 3 million Medicare Advantage recipients telling them they would be dropped or moved to a different plan. Some plans are leaving certain areas. And others are cutting some of their benefits.

United Healthcare is dropping the largest number of members - nearly 600,000. Additionally, United sent letters to some primary care providers, asking them to confirm a patient's medical history. United warned the provider that if the letter were not completed, the patient would risk being dropped. Who knows how many providers didn't complete them, deleted them, or left them in the fax machine to rot?

The moral of this story is:

1. It's too late to elect a new plan, but you can check your insurance to be sure it is still active before you use it and before you get sick.

2. Check your benefits for changes: If you were getting non-medical or lifestyle "perks" - like credits to use for "non-healthy" foods like chocolate chip cookies, potato chips, soda (ugh), lower monthly food allowances, rides to appointments and non-medical transportation, some in-home support, some gym memberships not related to medical need, humidifiers, and plenty of other things. Check your policy.

3. Some copays will be increasing.

So, where does all that money we pay for insurance go? True, the cost of healthcare is going up; most likely, it is lining the pockets of insurance CEOs. Most, if not all, earn more than $15 to $20 million a year. Does it ever dawn on them that they should cut down on all the paperwork they send us in the mail? They send out reams of paperwork that members have to try to sift through. All it does is make things more complicated and reduce their liability. Maybe that's the point: making it more difficult for the average consumer to read.

Check your current policy to be sure you know what you are getting and what to expect.

Typically, if you have had the following occur, you may qualify for SEP (a special enrollment period) for two months after your enrollment ended or your plan was changed to another:

• Plans that exit your county

• Plans that terminate their contract

• Plans that don’t renew for 2026

• Plans that auto‑move you into a different plan you didn’t choose

  
  

  By the way, if you cannot understand what your coverage or letters from the insurance company say, have a family member or friend help you out.