What’s New for Medicare Advantage in 2027
Every fall, Medicare Advantage plans reset for the year ahead, and premiums, benefits, drug coverage, and provider networks can all change. For 2027, a few updates stand out, especially on the prescription side. Here are the highlights worth knowing before the enrollment window, in plain language. For the plan-by-plan details, including what each Blue Medicare […]
How to Compare Medicare Plans from NC Carriers Before Open Enrollment
Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026, and anything you change during those seven weeks takes effect January 1, 2027. It is the one window each year when almost everyone with Medicare can switch Medicare Advantage plans, change Part D drug coverage, or move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. […]
Medicare Advantage vs Medicare Supplement: How to Choose in North Carolina
Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) are the two main ways North Carolinians build on their Medicare coverage, and they take opposite approaches. Medicare Advantage usually costs little or nothing per month and you pay as you go, within a network, up to an annual cap. A Medicare Supplement plan charges a real monthly premium […]
BCBS vs Humana Medicare Advantage in North Carolina: How to Compare
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and Humana are two of the biggest names in Medicare Advantage across the state, and neither one is the better choice for everyone. Both offer plans with $0 premiums, drug coverage, and extra benefits, but the right plan depends on which doctors you see, which prescriptions you fill, […]
Does Medicare Cover Oxygen and Portable Oxygen Concentrators?
Yes. Medicare Part B covers home oxygen equipment, including oxygen concentrators, as durable medical equipment (DME) when your doctor documents a health condition that requires supplemental oxygen and a blood oxygen test confirms your levels fall below Medicare’s qualifying range. Coverage works differently from most equipment, though. Medicare never buys oxygen equipment for you. Instead, […]
Does Medicare Cover Walkers and Rollators?
Yes. Medicare Part B covers walkers and rollators as durable medical equipment (DME) when a doctor or other treating provider prescribes one as medically necessary for use in your home. After you meet the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), you pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount and Medicare pays the other 80 percent, […]
Does Medicare Cover CPAP Machines?
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, a CPAP machine is often the first treatment your doctor recommends. It is also a device you use every night, so the cost matters, and so does a compliance rule that catches many people off guard. Medicare does cover CPAP therapy, but coverage starts with a trial […]
Does Medicare Cover Hospital Beds?
When a doctor recommends a hospital bed for use at home, after surgery or to manage a chronic condition, the next question is usually about cost. The features that matter most, a head section that raises to ease breathing, a height that adjusts for safer transfers, and side rails to prevent falls, are not luxuries […]
Does Medicare Cover Hearing Aids?
A good pair of hearing aids can cost as much as a used car, often $2,000 to $8,000, and most people need two devices, not one. So, the first question almost everyone asks is simple: will Medicare help pay for them? The short answer is that Original Medicare will not, but that is not the […]
Does Medicare Cover Stair Lifts?
Your Comprehensive Guide to Medicare Lift Chair Coverage If getting up from your favorite chair has become a struggle, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans face mobility challenges that make simple activities like standing up feel impossible. Lift chairs offer a solution, but at $500 to $3,000 each, they’re not cheap. The good news? Medicare […]