We will be publishing a series of tips on Medicare fraud. Let’s start with the tools you have. A group of highly trained volunteers can help Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries avoid, detect and prevent healthcare fraud. They are called SMPs or Senior Medical Patrol. There are SMPs in every US state. You can locate an SMP in your area at www.smpresource.org or call 1-877-808-2468. Your health insurance agent can also help you with this information.

If there are some health care costs that the Original Medicare doesn’t cover, a Medigap health insurance policy will cover those costs. There are 12 standard Medigap policies (Medigap Plans A – L). Insurance agencies selling Medigap must follow state and Federal laws that prevent seniors from being ripped off. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you don’t need to buy a Medigap policy. In this case you will not be able to purchase one either. For more information about Medigap policies, visit www.medicare.gov.

The Affordable Care Act now supports Medicare and seniors even better. There are now important benefits: free preventive services, free annual wellness visits, a 50% discount on prescription drugs for Medicare recipients in the coverage gap known as the "donut hole." You may be able to get benefits not covered by Medicare through a Medigap policy (Medicare supplemental insurance) or through private Medicare health plans.  If you are a Medicare beneficiary, contact an experienced health insurance agent in your area who can help you come up with an insurance plan to cover all your needs.

 In case of guaranteed issue health insurance states, companies operating in the state must provide the opportunity to get health insurance coverage regardless of preexisting health conditions. This interpretation varies from state to state. Sometimes it can mean that you should be able to prove no breaks in health insurance coverage up to the point of applying in the guaranteed issue state. Before switching any health insurance plans check with a licensed health insurance agent.

The good news is that due to recent tax law changes the self employed can now deduct the health insurance costs as expense just as big businesses do. However the cost cannot exceed your total income. You can deduct the cost from your federal taxable income. It is important to have a go-to health insurance agent for advice to stay on top of such changes if you are self employed.