Traditional Medicare includes  Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). Under this plan, Medicare pays patients' health care providers directly for treatment such as inpatient and outpatient care, hospice services, home health care, physicians' services and some preventative care. This differs from the Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C), under which patients receive coverage from the program indirectly via Medicare-approved private insurance companies.

Agency Leverages Technology to Meet Customer Service Expectations

 Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, today announced the agency is offering a new mobile optimized website, specifically aimed at smartphone users across the country.  People visiting the agency’s website, www.socialsecurity.gov, via smartphone (Android, Blackberry, iPhone, and Windows devices) will be redirected to the agency’s new mobile-friendly site. Once there, visitors can access a mobile version of Social Security’s Frequently Asked Questions, an interactive Social Security number (SSN) decision tree to help people identify documents needed for a new/replacement SSN card, and mobile publications which they can listen to in both English and Spanish right on their phone.

Writing a will is something many adults avoid for as long as possible. A will is one of those things our parents always intend to do to pass on assets, but do not always find the time to do. There are excuses and too many other things “to do”. Waiting until one is faced with having to write a will creates stress and undue pressure. Some parents and seniors never create a will and in those cases, their children and heirs are often left with much administrative work and complications in trying to obtain the inheritance their parents planned for them.

Medicare beneficiaries who need skilled nursing or therapy to maintain their condition should benefit from a federal court settlement in Jimmo v. Sebelius approved on January 24, 2013. With the settlement now officially approved, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is revising its Medicare Benefit Policy Manual and numerous other policies, guidelines and instructions to ensure that Medicare coverage is available for skilled maintenance services in the home health, nursing home and outpatient settings. CMS must also develop and implement a nationwide education campaign for all who make Medicare determinations to ensure that beneficiaries with chronic conditions are not denied coverage for critical services because their underlying conditions will not improve. (Download the Fact Sheet here).