Dave Silver Insurance

Medical alert systems, also known as personal emergency response systems (PERS), medical response systems (MRS), or fall buttons offer peace of mind by allowing the wearer of such a device to call for assistance during an emergency. Anyone who is at risk of falling or having a medical emergency would benefit from having such a device. And there are numerous options and prices for the various systems which are available. One of the most commonly asked questions is whether Medicare pays for the cost of a medical alert system.  The answer, unfortunately, isn’t as straightforward as you might think. Below is a breakdown of options that will help you to cover or defray the costs of a medical alert system. Medicare Part A If you are enrolled in Medicare, then you’re automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A.  Without getting into all of the specifics, you can think of Part A as paying for all hospital expenses. In general, it pays for inpatient care, nursing home stays, and hosp...

Hearing aids can be expensive. Some studies suggest that, depending on the device needed, the costs can range between $1500 all the way up to $6000 if devices are needed for both ears. And that doesn’t even take into account the costs of the exams, doctor visits, and fitting procedures for those devices. So a common question is whether hearing aids and the routine doctor visits associated with hearing tests are covered by Medicare. And unfortunately, the most common type of Medicare which is Part A and Part B (also known as Original Medicare) doesn’t provide any coverage for hearing aids or exams. But that doesn’t mean that coverage isn’t available at all for your hearing needs. You simply have to go beyond Original Medicare and explore the options provided by Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) to find coverage for your hearing aids and exams. What Else Doesn’t Medicare Cover So you might be asking yourself what else isn’t covered by Original Medicare. Some examples of non-covere...

You might think that the question of whether Medicare covers the expense of acquiring a scooter (also known as a powered mobility device) or manually operated wheelchair would be a straightforward one. Either Medicare covers the cost or it doesn’t, right? But unfortunately, as with many things associated with Medicare, the answer is less than clear. So what is the cause of the confusion? And how can you do everything possible to defer the costs if you happen to need mobility assistance? Let’s dig into the details. Medicare Part A If you are enrolled in Medicare, then you’re automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A.  Part A is structured to cover hospital expenses. In general, it pays for inpatient care, nursing home stays, and hospice or in-home health care. Unfortunately, Part A doesn’t cover the costs of a mobility device.  As such, we need to look to Medicare Part B for coverage. Medicare Part B Medicare Part B is an optional plan and has a monthly fee associated wi...

The eligibility requirements for Medicare are complex. The age for eligibility as well as the different open enrollment periods are the cause of bewilderment for many.  But eligibility for immigrants can be especially confusing. Below we discuss what is required for immigrants to receive different Medicare coverage. What is Medicare? First, an explanation of Medicare is needed.  Medicare is the federal government program that provides health care coverage for those 65 years old or older.  It is separated into three different Parts: Medicare Part A is hospital insurance which covers inpatient care, including care received in a skilled nursing facility, and, in some situations, at home. Medicare Part B more closely resembles what many think of as traditional health insurance.  In general, Part B covers medically necessary services and supplies needed to diagnose and treat a medical condition.  This includes preventive services such as screenings, vaccines, a...