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Sunday, March 1, 2020

Medicare Enrollment 2020 | Your Complete Guide

Medicare Part D are often called Prescription Drug plans.

Medicare Enrollment in 2020

If you’re getting ready to turn 65 this year, you should know the steps needed to enroll in Medicare. If you miss your designated period to enroll you will be able to do so later, but you will incur financial penalties as a result. Read on for everything you need to know so you’re prepared to enroll on time.

When To Enroll

Anyone 65 years or older and has begun collecting retirement benefits is eligible. This is commonly referred to as “aging into Medicare.” You may also enroll if you are younger than 65 and:

  • Have received disability benefits for 24 months.
  • Have end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
  • Have Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS).

Enrolling When 65

If you plan on “aging into” Medicare, your 65th birthday will be important.

You can enroll in Medicare during the month of your 65th birthday as well as three months before and after.

So, if you turn 65 in May, you have the option to enroll in during the months of February, March, April, May, June, July, and August. This time period is known as your Initial Enrollment Period.

If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period because you’re still working, you will qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (read below if you still plan on working). If special enrollment does not apply to you and you missed your Initial Enrollment Period, you may apply for Medicare from January 1 to March 31 but you will likely face a penalty. It’s important to note that you do not get automatically enrolled in Medicare. Just like any program, you have to sign up to start receiving benefits.

If you want to make changes to an existing Medicare plan, you can do that during Open Enrollment from October 15 to December 7.

Enrolling Later Than 65

If you are planning on working and continuing your employer-sponsored health insurance, you can wait to sign up for benefits until the month you quit working. When you sign up for retirement benefits, you will be enrolled in Part A in addition to Part B as long as you choose Part B on your retirement paperwork.

Enrolling Earlier Than 65

If you qualify to enroll in Medicare earlier than 65, you will fall under one of the three categories:

  • Have received disability for 24 months. You are eligible to start receiving benefits during your 25th month on disability.
  • Have end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and have been receiving dialysis for three months or have had a kidney transplant.
  • Have been diagnosed with ALS. Those in this category are enrolled immediately with no waiting period.

You may enroll as soon as allowed by the above regulations.

What Medicare Plans To Choose

Now that you know when to enroll, the next step is knowing what plans to choose.

PLAN COVERAGE PREMIUM
Part A Inpatient hospital coverage Might have premium
Part B Outpatient care

Doctor visits

Lab tests

Home health services

Medical equipment

Will have premium

Medicare pays 80%

You pay 20% of everything else

No cap or maximum

Part C Inpatient hospital coverage

Outpatient care

Prescription drug coverage

Dental*

Vision*

Hearing*

Fitness*

Will have premium

 

Part D Drug coverage % deductible varies

* Not all Medicare Part C plans cover these items.

Medicare Part A

Medicare Part A covers expenses related to hospital visits. This part of Medicare is free for everyone who has worked 10 years and contributed Medicare taxes during that time or had a spouse that did so. If you or your spouse have not worked for 10 years while contributing Medicare tax, you will pay a monthly premium up to $458.

Medicare Part A is mandatory for all eligible enrollees into Medicare health insurance.

Medicare Part B

Medicare Part B is optional but highly recommended. This part of Medicare covers expenses related to doctor visits, lab tests, and other common medical needs. There is a monthly premium and a deductible associated with Part B expenses but will be much more cost-effective than paying everything out of pocket.

You should sign up for Part B when you sign up for Part A. Why? Because if you choose not to sign up for Part B, then switch your mind and sign up later on, you will incur a penalty for every year you waited. This penalty is lifelong, so it pays to sign up instead of delaying to save costs.

If you are eligible to enroll in Medicare in 2020, but you decide to wait to enroll in Part B, your Part B premium will increase by 10% every year you delay. The penalty is permanent, increasing your premium cost for as long as you have Medicare.

  2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Late Fee 0 10% + 10% + 10% + 10% + 10%
Part B Premium $100 $110 $120 $130 $140 $150

 

Medicare Part C

Part C is known as Medicare Advantage. This is a popular option for many people for several reasons.

  • It combines A, B, and D into one plan.
  • It’s less expensive than purchasing A, B, and D individually.
  • It often includes extras such as dental or vision benefits.

In order to qualify for Part C, you must be signed up for Parts A and B. Medicare Advantage is purchased through private insurance companies so it pays to shop around for the best price and the best benefits. Part C can be purchased during your Initial Enrollment Period, Special Enrollment Period, or Open Enrollment Period.

Medicare Part D

Medicare Part D covers prescription drug costs. This is entirely optional but highly recommended, as the number of prescription medications will rise as you age. This part of the plan will come with a premium and deductibles vary. Similar to Part B, if you do not sign up for Part D when you sign up for Medicare initially, you will incur a penalty for each year you wait.

Supplemental Coverage

Supplemental coverage, or Medigap, is the final piece to the coverage puzzle you need to consider.

Medigap is an optional coverage which fills in the gaps not covered by Parts A and B including;

  • Copayments
  • Coinsurance
  • Deductibles

Medigap plans are listed by letters of the alphabet and provide different levels of coverage. Each option will carry a different premium depending on how much is covered. Choosing a Medigap plan is in addition to Medicare Part A, B, C, and D.

Here is a quick breakdown of Medigap plan options.

PLAN COVERAGE
Part B Basic benefits

Medicare Part B coinsurance

Medicare Part A deductible

Preventative Part B coinsurance

Part D Basic Benefits

Medicare Part B coinsurance

Skilled nursing

Medicare Part A deductible

Foreign travel emergency

Preventative Part B coinsurance

Part G Basic benefits

Medicare Part B coinsurance

Skilled nursing

Medicare Part A deductible

Foreign travel emergency

Preventative Part B coinsurance

100% Medicare Part B excess

Part M Basic benefits

Medicare Part B coinsurance

Skilled nursing

50% Medicare Part A deductible

Part N Basic benefits

Medicare Part B coinsurance with a copay

Skilled nursing

Medicare Part A deductible

Foreign travel emergency

Preventative Part B coinsurance

 

It’s important to note that enrollment for Medigap takes place during the Medigap Open Enrollment period. It varies by individual and begins the first day of the month you turn 65 and continues for six months beyond. So, if your birthday is in May, you have May, June, July, August, September, and October to sign up.

It’s crucial to sign up during your Medigap enrollment period. When you sign up during this six-month window, you are guaranteed acceptance into any plan you choose, even if you have pre-existing conditions. 

You can sign up for Medigap after your six-month window, but insurance companies then have the option to ask you medical questions and may deny your application.

Medigap or Medicare Advantage?

Medigap can be chosen instead of Medicare Advantage if you prefer to purchase Medicare Part A, B, and D rather than C. Here is a look at how Medicare Advantage compares to Medigap.

  Medicare Advantage (Part C) Medigap
Doctors/Medical Facilities Must be within HMO/PPO Network Any doctor that takes Medicare
Expense Lower premium

Higher out-of-pocket costs

Higher premium

Lower out-of-pocket costs

Location Localized to a specific region Coverage available in all 50 states + foreign travel

 

Finalizing Enrollment in Medicare

When you enroll in Medicare, you’ll want to have all your information at the ready. So, what do you need to know? You need to know which plans you will choose and, if applicable, which insurance companies you will purchase them through. If thinking through your budget, it’s also wise to know how much each piece will cost you as you go along.

Part/Plan Enrolling – Yes Enrolling – No Insurance Provider Cost
Medicare Part A X   Medicare $0*
Medicare Part B X   Medicare $144.60**
Medicare Part C X   Varies Varies
Medicare Part D   X    
Medigap   X    

* If you worked 10 years and contributed Medicare taxes during that time, your Part A cost will be free. Otherwise, there will be a premium cost associated with Part A.

**This is the standard cost associated with Part B. Your individual cost may vary.

By having this information at the ready, you’ll be able to work through your application in a timely manner without having to stop to conduct research for prices or plan options.

Time to Enroll

Enrolling in Medicare is an important step in your life. Not only are you transitioning from private healthcare to government-funded options, but you’re looking ahead and preparing for the rest of your life. Having the correct amount of healthcare needed is essential to make sure you are covered for any medical issue that may arise. If you will be ready to enroll soon, don’t put it off. 



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Congregants turn their backs on Bloomberg during appearance at Selma church

Congregants of Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma, Ala., held a silent protest by turning their backs on 2020 presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg during his visit on Sunday.

Prior to taking to the pulpit, Bloomberg was introduced to the church (and brought up to the alter) by Reverend Leodis Strong. During a warm introduction to the former New York City mayor, the pastor recalled previously inviting him to the church.

Bloomberg, however, declined that invitation due to a scheduling conflict.

READ MORE: Chuck D responds to Flavor Flav hitting Bernie Sanders’ camp with a cease-and-desist over Public Enemy performance

“I think that it’s important for Mr. Bloomberg, Mayor Bloomberg, to hear from you, listen to you, to learn from you,” Reverend Strong told churchgoers, according to CBS News.

“Let me just say this. I think it’s important that [Bloomberg] came,” Strong continued. “And it shows a willingness on his part to change. And I like that, and I think that that is important.”

After Strong’s introduction, Bloomberg then went on to speak in front of the congregation, addressing everything from voter suppression, to the ongoing fight for civil rights.

However, about 10 minutes into his speech, a number of congregants stood from their seats and turned their backs to the altar, silently protesting Bloomberg. They remained standing until the very end of his remarks.

READ MORE: OPINION: Why My first time at the National Museum of African American History and Culture was Emotional

Brown Chapel AME Church is a historical site in Selma, as it was a frequented meeting place for many activists during the civil rights movement.

Also at the service was former Vice President and fellow presidential candidate Joe Biden, who won Saturday’s South Carolina primary. Former Georgia House of Representative, Stacey Abrams, was also in attendance.

The post Congregants turn their backs on Bloomberg during appearance at Selma church appeared first on TheGrio.



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Letter from Africa: Ethiopia's lost Armenian community

A church and a social club remain as echoes of a once thriving group which played an important role in the country.

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UK military gears up for deployment in Mali

Troops will join a mission in Mali to help combat the world's fastest growing Islamist-led insurgency.

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Pete Buttigieg reportedly ending 2020 presidential campaign

Democrat Pete Buttigieg is ending his campaign for president.

Three people with knowledge of Buttigieg’s decision tell The Associated Press he is informing campaign staff. They were not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.

READ MORE: George Zimmerman sues Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren over Trayvon Martin tweets

His campaign says Buttigieg will speak Sunday night in South Bend, Indiana.

Buttigieg rose to the field’s top tier but failed to notch enough wins in the critical early states necessary to keep his bid moving forward.

READ MORE: Pete Buttigieg’s ‘Invest in Black America’ t-shirt gets slammed on social media

The millennial, Afghan War veteran and former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, defied expectations in a field of better-known candidates for months while becoming the first openly gay top contender for a major party nomination.

“Mayor Pete” burst onto the scene with a blitz of national media a year ago and impressive fundraising. He leaned hard into a next-generation message of urgency on pressing issues while preaching a message of hope and inclusion.

The post Pete Buttigieg reportedly ending 2020 presidential campaign appeared first on TheGrio.



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Chuck D responds to Flavor Flav hitting Bernie Sanders’ camp with a cease-and-desist over Public Enemy performance

Former Public Enemy rapper, Flavor Flav, has served Bernie Sanders‘ campaign a cease-and-desist letter in regards to an upcoming rally featuring Public Enemy.

Last week, Sanders’ campaign announced that the hip hop group, best known for their “Fight The Power” anthem, would be performing at Sanders’ rally on March 1, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

However, Flav, an original member and founder of Public Enemy, has said otherwise.

According to details from the cease and desist, issued by Flav’s lawyer on Saturday, the veteran rapper feels that Bernie is misrepresenting the group’s appearance. This is primarily because Chuck D, co-founder of Public Enemy, is the only one expected and intended to attend.

READ MORE: Public Enemy will perform at Bernie Sanders LA rally

The letter states that “there is no public enemy without Flavor Flav,” and goes on to criticize the terms and conditions of the booking.

“The continued publicizing of this grossly misleading narrative is, at a minimum, careless and irresponsible if not intentionally misleading,” the statement reads.

It continues, “Flav is reaching out, not in the spirit of division, but for the sake of unity in the hope of preserving the integrity of the Public Enemy Movement and the faith and trust his millions of fans around the world have placed in him.”

The letter also goes on to reveal that Flav “has not endorsed any political candidate in this election cycle.” At the end of the formal statement, Flav personally signs off by handwriting, “Hey Bernie, don’t do this!!”

 

Soon after news of Flav’s letter went viral, rapper Chuck D took to his own Twitter to address the matter. He made it clear that although he feels no candidate speaks directly to him or his issues, he can get behind Sanders and various aspects of his agenda.

“I dig aspects of Bern. Hate the party Bulsht. But can relate to half the issues & get forward. Use your minds & be ready to fight whoever in office,” Chuck stated, before ending with, “Wake the f** up get off your asses make yourself important where YOU live.”

READ MORE: Why Black & Brown Bernie Sanders supporters need to hold his campaign accountable

The post Chuck D responds to Flavor Flav hitting Bernie Sanders’ camp with a cease-and-desist over Public Enemy performance appeared first on TheGrio.



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Training troops for the 'world's most dangerous' peacekeeping mission

The British Army is preparing to send troops into Mali, to join a UN peacekeeping mission.

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‘Black Twitter Live’ has got Black Twitter in their feelings + everything we know about the event

Twitter recently announced that they’ll be hosting “Black Twitter Live,” a live streaming event with social media and media influencers alike.

On February 26, the official Twitter for “Twitter Live,” released a flyer for the upcoming event, with the following announcement:

“Twitter is honored to bring together some of the most powerful voices from #BlackTwitter to discuss the impact and influence of this dynamic community. Watch #BlackTwitterLive
right here at 8pm ET on March 3 and 10:30am ET on March 4.”

 

READ MORE: Black Twitter responds to Red Table Talk promo clip of Snoop Dogg episode

While more details surrounding the e-event are scarce, talk of #BlackTwitterLive has not only began making its rounds on social media, it is even equipped with its own black bird logo (a play on Twitter’s blue bird logo). The event expected to have a slew of guest speakers and features, including Dr. Bernice A. King, actress Reagan Gomez-Preston, “Because Of Them” founder Eunique Jones,” and media personalities Gia Peppers, April Reign, Mouse Jones and more.

Yesterday (February 29), another flyer was released in anticipation of the event:

“#BlackTwitterLive is about recognizing everything Black Twitter has done to make this platform what it is, and we’re bringing it right to the timeline. Add your voice to the mix using the hashtag #BlackTwitterLive and Blackheart this Tweet if you don’t want to miss it.

While little else has been revealed about the #BlackTwitterLive agenda, one thing is for certain – Black Twitter is none too impressed with what they know so far. Twitter folks of color made sure to Tweet their speculation and disappointment, particularly as it pertained to the anticipated speakers.

One user, with the handle @RickyRawls, stated, “Everyone tweeting enthusiastically about that #BlackTwitterLive event is either part of the event or a Black Blue Check cheering their own clique or a white liberal who doesn’t know any better and thinks they’re witnessing a slice of authenticity.”

A few more tweets seem to share the user’s sentiment:

READ MORE: Oprah Winfrey falls during ‘2020 Vision’ tour, responds to online jokes

Guess we’ll have to wait and see how things turn out. One thing is for certain, whether you want to support or spectate, the online event will take place on @TwitterLive‘s page, 8pm ET on March 3 and 10:30 ET March 4.

 

The post ‘Black Twitter Live’ has got Black Twitter in their feelings + everything we know about the event appeared first on TheGrio.



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Vanessa Bryant is ‘devastated’ by deputies allegedly sharing Kobe crash photos

Vanessa Bryant‘s lawyer said she is “absolutely devastated” by allegations that Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies shared photos of the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of her husband, Kobe Bryant, her daughter, Gianna Bryant, and seven others in January.

In a statement posted to Bryant’s Instagram page on Sunday, attorney Gary C. Robb called on the sheriff’s office to be investigated by the department’s internal affairs bureau.

READ MORE: Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies allegedly shared graphic photos from Kobe Bryant helicopter crash

What’s more, the family attorney has demanded “the harshest possible discipline” for those responsible for sharing the alleged gruesome photos.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Statement From Gary C. Robb, Legal Counsel on Behalf of His Client, Vanessa Bryant: Our client, Vanessa Bryant, is absolutely devastated by allegations that deputies from the Lost Hills Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department publicly disseminated photos from the helicopter crash site. Mrs. Bryant personally went to the Sheriff’s office on January 26th and requested that the area be designated a no-fly zone and protected from photographers. This was of critical importance to her as she desired to protect the dignity of all the victims, and their families. At that time, Sheriff Alex Villanueva assured us all measures would be put in place to protect the families’ privacy, and it is our understanding that he has worked hard to honor those requests. First responders should be trustworthy. It is inexcusable and deplorable that some deputies from the Lost Hills Sheriff’s substation, other surrounding substations and LACOFD would allegedly breach their duty. This is an unspeakable violation of human decency, respect, and of the privacy rights of the victims and their families. We are demanding that those responsible for these alleged actions face the harshest possible discipline, and that their identities be brought to light, to ensure that the photos are not further disseminated. We are requesting an Internal Affairs investigation of these alleged incidents. Mrs. Bryant is grateful to the individual who filed an online complaint exposing these acts of injustice, and for the choice to protect human dignity. We ask that anyone else who has information as to the facts underlying these alleged grievous and shameful incidents contact our office at 816–474-8080 or email via www.robbrobb.com

A post shared by Vanessa Bryant 🦋 (@vanessabryant) on

Vanessa Bryant, Robb said, personally went to the sheriff’s office after the Jan. 26 tragedy to request a “no-fly zone” near the crash site. She also wanted the area guarded against photographers.

“At that time, Sheriff Alex Villanueva assured us all measures would be put in place to protect the families’ privacy, and it is our understanding that he has worked hard to honor those requests,” Robb said.

The attorney also demanded that the deputies be identified “to ensure that the photos are not further disseminated.”

READ MORE: Kobe Bryant’s sister Sharia Washington gets a tribute tattoo in honor of him and Gianna

“First responders should be trustworthy,” said Robb, who called the allegations “inexcusable and deplorable” and a “breach of duty.”

On Friday, the Times reported that sheriff’s deputies who responded to the scene of the crash took pictures of the victims’ remains, citing two public safety sources.

Such allegations are normally followed up with a formal inquiry or internal affairs investigation, however, the sheriff’s department is accused of quietly asking the deputies involved to admit wrongdoing and delete the photos from their phones to avoid any discipline.

Capt. Jorge Valdez told The Times that his office is investigating the matter and contacted family members of the victims regarding the allegation – not because of the actual allegation but because the newspaper had inquired about it.

It is unclear how many deputies and city officials may have seen or shared the photos.

TMZ reported that the sheriff’s department first learned of this incident by a bartender after a sheriff’s deputy trainee reportedly went to a bar and “tried to impress a girl by showing her the photos,” according to a source.

The bartender allegedly heard the conversation and filed a complaint online with the police.

Robb said Vanessa Bryant is “grateful” to the individual for filing the online complaint and “exposing these acts of injustice, and for the choice to protect human dignity.”

The post Vanessa Bryant is ‘devastated’ by deputies allegedly sharing Kobe crash photos appeared first on TheGrio.



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Mississippi State Penitentiary Being Sued by Inmates With the Help of Jay-Z and Yo Gotti

Mississippi State Penitentiary

More than 150 prison inmates are suing Mississippi officials over “barbaric” prison conditions and “deprivation” of health care at Mississippi State Penitentiary, according to CBS News.

Since December 29, 2019, a total of 19 people have died in state facilities. This figure includes suicides, homicides, and cases that were classified as “natural deaths.” Lawyers who are representing the inmates inside the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman filed a second lawsuit in federal court early Wednesday on behalf of 152 inmates who are alleging that they have been denied adequate medical and mental health care and were being fed contaminated food as retaliation against the inmates for speaking with their attorneys. 

The filed complaint states, “The conditions of confinement at Parchman are so barbaric, the deprivation of health and mental health care so extreme, and the defects in security so severe, that the people confined at Parchman live a miserable and hopeless existence confronted daily by imminent risk of substantial harm in violation of their rights afforded by the U.S. Constitution.”

The pending lawsuit also states that the mental health care is virtually “non-existent” at Parchman. One plaintiff who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder before arriving at the prison has made many unsuccessful attempts to see a psychiatrist. Another prisoner has attempted suicide multiple times but has received little to no mental health treatment.

The proposed class-action lawsuit is being funded by rapper Yo Gotti and Jay-Z‘s Team Roc and was filed in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Mississippi. Eight defendants are named in the suit, including the interim director of of the state’s Department of Corrections, the department’s top medical official, and several officials at the prison, including the superintendent and certain wardens.

The attorneys claim the prison suffers chronic staffing shortages that leave inmates in “constant peril” and there is usually only one guard for every 160 inmates. There are 800 job vacancies in the three state facilities that remain unfilled, according to a department news release from January. “As a result, prisoner-on-prisoner violence is rampant, and, at times, is facilitated by corrupt guards seeking to curry favor with inmates,” the filing read. 

The Justice Department has already opened a civil rights investigation into the conditions of the state’s prisons to determine whether prison officials are doing enough to protect inmates as well as review the quality of mental health care and suicide prevention. 



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Amuneke loses job as coach of Egypt's El-Makkasa after less than a month in role

Egyptian side Misr El-Makkasa remove former Nigeria international Emmanuel Amuneke from post as head coach after less than a month in the role.

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New Lingerie Collaboration Celebrates All Skin Tones

The Lingerie Addict Cora Harrington

Nude is not nude for black women when it comes to lingerie shopping. We are often overlooked when it comes to finding a shade that matches our skin tones. Meet the two black women looking to change that.

Cora Harrington has become a force to be reckoned with in the world of lingerie. Her website, The Lingerie Addict, has become the most popular digital magazine dedicated to lingerie on the internet with thousands of followers looking to her for insight on established and emerging lingerie brands.

Before Rihanna‘s Savage x Fenty lingerie stole everyone’s attention, Harrington had been advocating industry professionals and brands to be more inclusive of women from different sizes and ethnic backgrounds in their glossy campaigns. This week the lingerie blogger announced that she will be collaborating with UK-based Nubian Skin and The Rack Shack for a new collections of nude undergarments designed for black women of all shades.

Cora Harrington

Source: The Lingerie Addict/Cora Harrington

“I’ve been a champion of Nubian Skin since the very beginning as well as a longtime advocate of the concept that ‘beige is not nude,'” says Harrington in a statement. “So I felt it was important for me to do everything I could to support both Nubian Skin and The Rack Shack, and help them be successful in this new initiative.”

Based out of London, Nubian Skin was founded by British-Nigerian entrepreneur Ade Hassan with the idea that it was time for “a different kind of nude.” Inspired by trailblazers like super model Iman, who created Iman cosmetics, Ade wanted to create a lingerie brand with nude lingerie designed for black women of all hues. In 2018, she did a TED Talk talking about taking a leap of faith to start her new venture. The brand has been a huge commercial success, available at luxury stores like Bloomingdale’s and high-end boutiques while gracing the pages of premier fashion magazines.

In 2017 Hassan was awarded an MBE at Buckingham Palace for services to fashion. The award was given in recognition of Ade’s commitment to her mission to redefine nude, and the impact she has consequently made on the fashion industry.

The full collection is exclusively available at The Rack Shack based in Brooklyn, New York.



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Report: Justice Department Establishes Office To Denaturalize Immigrants

immigration, Immigrants

The Justice Department announced on Wednesday. February 26, that it had created a division within its immigration office designed to strip naturalized immigrants of their citizenship. This is a political move that would provide the Trump Administration more power to broaden its efforts to remove immigrants from the country. The division will replace teams of immigration lawyers created to focus on cases that involve revoking citizenship for those who have committed war crimes, human rights violations, acts of terrorism, and sex offenses.

The Denaturalization Section “underscores the department’s commitment to bring justice to terrorists, war criminals, sex offenders and other fraudsters who illegally obtained naturalization,” Joseph H. Hunt, the head of the Justice Department’s civil division, said in a statement. “The Denaturalization Section will further the department’s efforts to pursue those who unlawfully obtained citizenship status and ensure that they are held accountable for their fraudulent conduct.”

The Justice Department has cited successful denaturalization cases as a defense for the formation of the division, which include a naturalized citizen who had recruited for Al Qaeda in the United States and one who had sexually abused a 7-year-old family member. The new office will join the existing sections within the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation—the District Court Section and the Appellate Section.

Critics have argued this is an attempt to further the administration’s agenda on deporting immigrants, pushing the narrative that naturalized citizens have fewer rights than those born in the United States. Some immigration lawyers worry that denaturalizations could be broadly used to strip citizenship. Cases have ramped up under the Trump administration with a 40% increase in new cases between 2017 and 2018.

The department has called the move a step in bringing justice “to terrorists, war criminals, sex offenders and other fraudsters.” It has yet to announce who will lead the new division.



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Oprah Winfrey falls during ‘2020 Vision’ tour, responds to online jokes

Oprah Winfrey took a tumble in front of thousands at her wellness tour stop in Los Angeles on Saturday night.

Winfrey, 66, unexpectedly fell at the start of her “Oprah’s 2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus” cross-country tour, which was held at the Forum arena in Englewood. Ironically, the media mogul was delivering a message about “balance.”

READ MORE: ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show The Podcast’ kicks off March 3

“Here’s my definition of what wellness means to me … Wellness to me means all things in balance. And balance doesn’t mean all things are equal or at peace at all times,” Winfrey said before losing her balance and tripping over her shoes.

The packed arena gasped as the beloved talk show host came tumbling down.

“Wrong shoes!” Winfrey said after the fall in a video shared online.

A stage assistant rushed over to help the billionaire stand back up as the shocked crowd began to applaud, USA Today reports. Winfrey decided to kick off her shoes and continued her talk barefoot before eventually slipping into more comfortable footwear.

READ MORE: Oprah Winfrey gives $5 million to New Jersey-based after school program

Naturally, the Internet had plenty of reactions to Winfrey’s unexpected fall. In particular, rapper 50 Cent took to Instagram to mock Winfrey, and made a reference to her past interview with Michael Jackson‘s male accusers from the documentary, “Leaving Neverland.”

“What the [f**k] happen here,” said 50 Cent, whose real is Curtis Jackson. “michael jackson’s ghost trip her.”

After the show, which featured a sit-down interview with Jennifer Lopez, Winfrey addressed the viral fall in a tweet.

“LA: You were lit! In spite of my fall (which now becomes a meme), you brought me UP with your energy,” she wrote. “Now I’m headed home to ice my knee.”

In other Oprah news, Winfrey’s iconic talk show will be revived as a podcast, The Grio reported last week.

Winfrey’s OWN Network is set to launch “The Oprah Winfrey Show The Podcast” with Apple Podcasts, which will be released starting March 3.

The network said the podcast will open “the vault on the unforgettable and inspirational a-ha moments, ugly cries and surprises” from the daily talk show, which ran weekdays for 25 years.

The first 10 episodes will include past shows that tackle race in America, prescription drug addiction, divorce, and weight loss. It will also include expert advice from people whose careers Winfrey helped launch to meteoric rise, including Dr. Phil McGraw and Suze Orman.

The post Oprah Winfrey falls during ‘2020 Vision’ tour, responds to online jokes appeared first on TheGrio.



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Fits and Starts for Autonomous Vehicles, and More Car News This Week

A federal safety board criticizes regulators' laissez-faire approach to AVs, as California reports 2.9 million miles of robot driving in the state last year. 

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Tina Fey and BTS Top This Week's Internet News Roundup

The 30 Rock creator began trending last week because fans of the K-pop group kept asking who she was.

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Science Has a New Way to Gauge the Universe's Expansion Rate

Cosmologists want to know how fast the universe is growing, but their data doesn't match predictions. Wendy Freedman thinks red giant stars can help.

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Bike Friday Haul-A-Day Review: A Lightweight, Affordable Ride

This slim, small cargo bike is a great pick for families on a budget.

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Biden wins South Carolina, aims for Super Tuesday momentum

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Joe Biden scored a thundering victory Saturday in South Carolina’s Democratic primary on the strength of African American support, a decisive win that could force moderate rivals out of the race and blunt the rise of progressive leader Bernie Sanders.

Biden’s win came at a perilous moment in his 2020 bid as he needed an emphatic rebound after underwhelming performances this month in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada. The race now pivots to the 14 states from Maine to California that vote on Tuesday in what effect will be a national primary.

“We are very much alive,” Biden declared at an exuberant post-election rally. “For all of you who have been knocked down, counted out, left behind — this is your campaign.”

Sanders claimed a distant second place, a loss that gave a momentary respite to anxious Democrats who feared that the democratic socialist would finish February with four consecutive top finishes that would make it difficult for anyone to overtake him.

The Associated Press declared Biden the winner just after the polls closed in South Carolina. The AP based the call on data from AP VoteCast, a survey of the electorate conducted for the AP by NORC at the University of Chicago. The survey showed a convincing win for Biden.

Even with the victory, the shortcomings of Biden’s campaign remain, including a lack of robust funding and organization, and he will face for the first time Mike Bloomberg, a billionaire who has spent more than $500 million advertising in the Super Tuesday states. Bloomberg announced his own plan to deliver a three-minute prime-time address Sunday night on two television networks. He didn’t say how much he paid for the air time, which is unprecedented in recent decades.

Biden is barely running any television advertising in Super Tuesday states. And both Sanders and Bloomberg have many more staff and volunteers.

But Biden is making an aggressive round of media appearances on Sunday in an effort to counter Bloomberg’s massive spending. He’s also working to secure endorsements from prominent Democrats and, shortly after the Saturday results were in, former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe backed Biden.

The South Carolina primary was the first major test of the candidates’ appeal among black voters. That courtship will continue on Sunday when many of the White House hopefuls travel to Selma, Alabama, to participate in ceremonies commemorating civil rights heroism.

A number of states that vote on Super Tuesday, including Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia, have substantial black populations.

One of the candidates who spent recent weeks wooing black voters, billionaire activist Tom Steyer, ended his campaign on Saturday after a disappointing third place finish. He spent more than $24 million on television advertising in South Carolina — more than all of his rivals combined — but never found a clear lane in the crowded contest.

Seven candidates remain in the Democrats’ quest to find the strongest possible nominee to take on President Donald Trump in November. They spent Saturday assessing the impact of Biden’s win.

Aides to Bloomberg’s campaign said they still believe the former New York mayor can win in a handful of states that vote on Super Tuesday, including Arkansas, Alabama, Oklahoma, Virginia and North Carolina.

And Sanders was already looking ahead to the next contests as well, betting he can amass an insurmountable delegate lead. After two consecutive victories and a tie for the lead in Iowa, the 78-year-old Vermont senator’s confidence has surged.

Sanders congratulated Biden on his first win and said it was nothing for his own supporters to worry about.

“That will not be the only defeat. A lot of states in this country. Nobody wins them all,” he told a cheering crowd in Virginia. “Now we enter Super Tuesday.”

Pressure is building on lower performing candidates including former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren to justify staying in the race. None gave any indication on Saturday that they would exit before Tuesday.

Through four contests, Sanders has a healthy, but shrinking, delegate lead.

The AP has allocated at least 54 delegates to Sanders with a few more expected as South Carolina’s remaining votes dribble in. Biden vaulted past Buttigieg into second place with at least 44 delegates and he’s likely to get several more. Buttigieg, Warren and Klobuchar remain stuck at 26, eight and seven, respectively.

Trump was paying close attention to the Democratic race.

Speaking before conservative activists earlier in the day, the president conducted a poll of sorts by asking his audience to cheer for who would be the best Democratic contender for him to face in November.

Sanders was the clear winner.

“How could you be easier to beat than Joe? That guy can’t put two sentences together,” Trump told attendees of the Conservative Political Action Conference in suburban Washington. “But you know he is more down the middle. Everyone knows he’s not a communist and with Bernie there a real question about that.”

But Saturday was all about Biden and whether he might convince anxious establishment Democrats to rally behind him at last.

Elected officials inclined to embrace his moderate politics had been reluctant to support him after bad finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire and a distant second place in Nevada last week. Yet fearing Sanders’ polarizing progressive priorities, they’re still searching for an alternative who’s viewed as a safer bet to defeat Trump in November.

Biden won 63% of the votes cast by African Americans. He also did well with older voters, women, moderates and conservatives and regular churchgoers, according to AP VoteCast.

Sanders earned the support of 14% of African American voters, while billionaire businessman Tom Steyer won 15%.

There was also evidence that Biden’s status as former President Barack Obama’s two-term vice president helped him win over African Americans.

VoteCast found that 45% voters in South Carolina wanted to return to the politics of the past, compared to about a third in Iowa and New Hampshire. That includes the 51% of African American voters who said they want a Democratic presidential nominee who would emulate the Obama presidency.

Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez cautioned Democrats that it’s still early in their presidential primary.

Speaking at a North Carolina Democratic Party fundraising gala, Perez noted that to win the nomination, a Democrat must win 1,991 delegates — and only a fraction of those have been allocated in the party’s first four primaries.

“We have a long way to go,” he said.

___

Peoples reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Brian Slodysko, Will Weissert and Seth Borenstein in Washington, Thomas Beaumont in Columbia and Charleston, South Carolina and Alexandra Jaffe in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed to this report.

The post Biden wins South Carolina, aims for Super Tuesday momentum appeared first on TheGrio.



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African Champions League: Ahly and Wydad win quarter-final first legs

Al Ahly beat Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 in the African Champions League quarter-final first leg as Wydad Casablanca beat Etoile du Sahel by the same score.

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Watford 3-0 Liverpool: Liverpool 'unburdened' as unbeaten run comes to end

Liverpool's trip to Watford was supposed to be a landmark day for the Reds but it ended up being one for the wrong reasons, reports Gary Rose.

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A Fast Walker Gets Stuck in the Slow Lane

Walking in New York used to feel like an exhilarating race to me. Then, a debilitating experience showed me the upside of going slow.

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Welcome to Botnet, Where Everyone’s an Influencer

A social network populated entirely by adoring bots aims to mimic the experience of being a celebrity online—trolls not included.

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Flying Car Developers Get a Boost From the Air Force

The Pentagon wants to make sure the fledgling electric aviation industry doesn't follow the path of small drones and move offshore.

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Saturday, February 29, 2020

A force for health equity

After spending three weeks in Kenya working on water issues with Maasai women, Kendyll Hicks was ready to declare it her favorite among the international projects she’s participated in through MIT.

As a volunteer with the nonprofit Mama Maji, Hicks spoke about clean water, menstrual hygiene, and reproductive health with local women, sharing information that would enable them to become community leaders. “In rural Kenya, women are disproportionately affected by water issues,” she explains. “This is one way to give them a voice in societies that traditionally will silence them.”

The team also planned to build a rainwater harvesting tank, but climate change has transformed Kenya’s dry season into a rainy one, and it was too wet to break ground for the project. During her stay, Hicks lived in the home of the first female chief of the Masaai, Beatrice Kosiom, whom Hicks describes as “simultaneously a political animal and the most down-to-earth-person.” It was this close contact with the community that made the project especially fulfilling.

During MIT’s Independent Activities Period, Hicks also has traveled to South Africa to learn more about the cultural and biological determinants of that country’s HIV/AIDS epidemic, and to Colombia to lead an entrepreneurial initiative among small-scale coffee farmers. Hicks joined the Kenya trip after taking an MIT D-Lab class on water, sanitation, and hygiene. Each experience has been successively more hands-on, she says.

“I’ve been drawn to these experiences mainly because I love school, and I love the classroom experience,” Hicks says. “But it just can’t compare to living with people and understanding their way of life and the issues they face every day.”

Hicks, a senior majoring in computer science and molecular biology, says she has shifted her focus during her time at MIT from more incremental technical discoveries to addressing larger forces that affect how those discoveries contribute — or fail to contribute — to global health.

Her love of biology began with animals and zoology, later expanding into an interest in medicine. “Humans are these amazing machines that have been crafted by nature and evolution, and we have all these intricacies and mechanisms that I knew I wanted to study further,” Hicks says.

At the same time, she says, “I’ve always been interested in health care and medicine, and the main impetus behind that is the fact that when someone you love is sick, or if you’re sick, you’ll do whatever you can.”

As a first-year student she worked in the Lippard Lab at MIT, helping to synthesize and test anticancer compounds, but she soon decided that lab work wasn’t the right path for her. “I made the realization that health care and medicine are extremely political,” she recalls. “Health policy, health economics, law — those can be the drivers of real large-scale change.”

To learn more about those drivers, Hicks has worked two summers at the management consulting firm McKinsey and Company, and will take a full-time position with the company after graduation.

“As someone immersed in the world of science and math and tech, I had this lingering insecurity that I didn’t know that much about this entirely different but super-important area,” she says. “I thought it would be important to understand what motivates business and the private sector, since that can have a huge effect on health care and helping communities that are often disenfranchised.”

Hicks wants to steer her work at McKinsey toward their health care and hospital sector, as well as their growing global health sector. Over the long term, she is also interested in continuing fieldwork that involves science, poverty eradication, and international development.

“Being at MIT, it’s like this hub of tech, trying to venture further into novel breakthroughs and innovations, and I think it’s amazing,” Hicks says. “But as I have started to garner more of an interest in politics and economics and the highly socialized aspects of science, I would say it’s important to take a pause before venturing further and deeper into that realm, to make sure that you truly understand the downstream effects of what you are developing.”

“Those effects can be negative,” she adds, “and they oftentimes impact communities that already are systematically and institutionally oppressed.”

Hicks joined MIT’s Black Students Union as a first-year student and now serves as the BSU Social and Cultural Co-Chair. In the role, she is responsible for planning the annual Ebony Affair fly-in program, which brings more than 30 black high school students to campus each year to participate in workshops, tour labs, and join a gala celebration with BSU students, faculty, and staff. “We’re doing our best as a community to convince young bright black minds to come to a place like MIT,” she says.

It worked for Hicks: She participated in Ebony Affair as a high schooler, and the experience cemented her decision to attend. “When I saw everyone showing out and having such pride in being black and being at MIT, I was like, ‘OK, I want to be a part of that,’” she recalls.

Last year, Hicks planned BSU’s first Black Homecoming event, a barbecue that brought together current and former black MIT students — some who attended the school 50 years ago. The event was a celebration of support and a way to strengthen the BSU network. “You have to do what you can to cultivate communities wherever you are, and that’s what I’ve tried to do here at MIT,” she says.

Hicks also served as the Black Women’s Alliance alumni relations chair and GlobeMed’s campaigns co-director, and was on the Undergraduate Association Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She has discovered a love of event organizing and leadership at MIT, although it has been a change of pace from her former shy, “hyper-bookworm” self, she says.

“I have realized that in my career that I really want to do a lot of good and affect a lot of change in people’s lives, and in order to do that, you kind of have to be this way.”



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What Is The Best Medicare Supplement Plan For You?

Finding The Best Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan

If you qualify for Medicare coverage, you need to know what the best Medicare Supplement insurance plan is for you. Our review will highlight important rules and benefits of Medicare Supplement insurance plans and how to pick the right one for you.

Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan Basics

Medicare Supplement insurance plans are health insurance plans issued by private insurance companies. They work with, or supplement, Original Medicare by helping to cover out-of-pocket expenses. Unlike Medicare Advantage plans, however, they do not replace Original Medicare coverage.

As we’ll discuss below, Medicare Supplement plans fill in some of the cost coverage gaps in Original Medicare. Because of this, Medicare Supplement plans are often referred to as Medigap plans.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Medigap coverage, you must be enrolled in both Part A and B of Original Medicare. In many states, you must be age 65 or older even if you enter Medicare earlier due to health or disability.

Enrollment Windows

The best time to enroll in a Medicare Supplement insurance plan is when you first enroll in Part B. The six months after you enroll in Part B is called your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. During these six months, you cannot be declined for coverage or charged a higher rate due to health issues.

During your Open Enrollment Period, you have Guaranteed Issue rights. If you don’t enroll in a Medicare Supplement insurance plan during this time period you may have to go through underwriting if you want a Medigap plan later.

If you go through underwriting you will be asked health questions. Your coverage could be declined, or you could be charged a higher premium due to health conditions. It is far better to enroll during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period.

There are times when you may be able to have extra Guaranteed Issue rights to a Medigap plan. You may be able to get a Medigap plan with Guaranteed Issue rights in these cases:

  • You enrolled in Medicare Advantage when you first got Part B, and you’ve been on it for less than 12 months (Trial Right).
  • You enrolled in Medigap when you were first eligible but dropped your coverage for your first Medicare Advantage plan, and you’ve been on it for less than 12 months (Trial Right).
  • Your Medicare Advantage plan loses or fails to renew its contract with the government.
  • You permanently move out of your Medicare Advantage plan’s service area.

There can be other reasons you’d qualify for Guaranteed Issue rights. They can be technical, so it’s recommended that you speak with an independent professional if you think you may qualify.

Costs

As mentioned earlier, Medicare Supplement insurance works with Original Medicare. You must be enrolled in both Part A and B in order to get Medigap coverage. You will also need to obtain prescription drug coverage from a standalone prescription drug plan since Medigap plans don’t cover drugs.

When you use Medigap in conjunction with Original Medicare and a standalone drug plan, you can expect to pay the following premiums:

  • Part B premium
  • Medicare Supplement plan premium
  • Prescription drug plan premium

Specifics Of Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans

Medicare Supplement insurance plans fill in some or all of the gaps in Original Medicare. These gaps can include:

  • Part A deductible – $1,408 in 2020
  • Part B deductible – $198 in 2020
  • Part B coinsurance – 20% of the cost for each Part B procedure
  • Emergency services while traveling internationally

Medicare Supplement insurance comes in 10 standardized “plans.” Each plan offers slightly different coverage. The premium for each plan is different, too, increasing with the comprehensiveness of coverage.

Plan A

Plan A provides basic coverage. It covers:

  • Part A coinsurance charges.
  • Part B coinsurance charges.
  • First 3 pints of blood.
  • Part A hospice care charges.

Plan A does not provide coverage for:

  • Skilled nursing care coinsurance.
  • Part A deductible.
  • Part B deductible.
  • Part B excess charges.
  • Foreign travel emergency.

Plan B

Plan B provides slightly more comprehensive coverage. It covers:

  • Part A deductible.
  • Part A coinsurance charges.
  • Part B coinsurance charges.
  • First 3 pints of blood.
  • Part A hospice care charges.

Plan B does not cover:

  • Skilled nursing care coinsurance.
  • Part B deductible.
  • Part B excess charges.
  • Foreign travel emergency.

Plan C

Plan C is a comprehensive plan. It covers:

  • Part A deductible.
  • Part A coinsurance charges.
  • Part B deductible.
  • Part B coinsurance charges.
  • First 3 pints of blood.
  • Part A hospice care charges.
  • Skilled nursing care charges.
  • Foreign travel emergency coverage.

Plan C does not cover Part B excess charges.

Plan D

Plan D is not quite as comprehensive as plan C. It covers:

  • Part A deductible.
  • Part A coinsurance charges.
  • First 3 pints of blood.
  • Part A hospice care charges.
  • Skilled nursing care charges.
  • Foreign travel emergency coverage.

Plan D does not cover:

  • Part B deductible.
  • Part B excess charges.

Plan F

Plan F is the most comprehensive plan available. It fills in every gap in Original Medicare. It covers:

  • Part A deductible.
  • Part A coinsurance charges.
  • Part B deductible.
  • Part B coinsurance charges.
  • Part B excess charges.
  • First 3 pints of blood.
  • Part A hospice care charges.
  • Skilled nursing care charges.
  • Foreign travel emergency coverage.

Plan F is also available in a high deductible version. With High Deductible F, you pay the first $2,340 (for 2020) and then the plan pays the rest of your Medicare-approved expenses. In exchange for the deductible, premiums are much lower than for regular Plan F.

Plan F has been the most popular Medicare Supplement insurance plan over the years. People choose it because they like the ability of not making any out-of-pocket payments for health care services.

Plan G

Plan G is the next most comprehensive. It covers:

  • Part A deductible.
  • Part A coinsurance charges.
  • Part B coinsurance charges.
  • Part B excess charges.
  • First 3 pints of blood.
  • Part A hospice care charges.
  • Skilled nursing care charges.
  • Foreign travel emergency coverage.

Plan G does not cover the Part B deductible. You must pay the first $198 (for 2020) of Part B services. The plan will pay 100% of all other Medicare-approved expenses.

Plan G is available in a high deductible version. For 2020, the deductible is $2,340. After you’ve paid this amount the plan will begin paying benefits for Medicare-approved expenses.

Now that Plan F is no longer available for people new to Medicare (see more below), Plan G is the most popular Medigap plan. People choose Plan G because they know that the most they’ll spend on Medicare-approved expenses is $198 – the Part B deductible.

Plan K

Plan K is a hybrid plan that offers partial coverage with a hard out-of-pocket maximum amount. Plan K covers:

  • Part A coinsurance charges.
  • 50% of Part A deductible.
  • 50% of Part B coinsurance charges.
  • 50% of the cost of your first 3 pints of blood.
  • 50% of Part A hospice care charges.
  • 50% of skilled nursing care charges.
  • Annual out-of-pocket maximum is $5,880.

Plan K doesn’t cover:

  • Part B deductible.
  • Part B coinsurance.
  • Foreign travel emergency coverage.

Plan L

Plan L is another hybrid type with partial coverage for many services combined with a low out-of-pocket maximum. Plan L covers:

  • Part A coinsurance charges.
  • 75% of Part A deductible.
  • 75% of Part B coinsurance charges.
  • 75% of the cost of your first 3 pints of blood.
  • 75% of Part A hospice care charges.
  • 75% of skilled nursing care charges.
  • Annual out-of-pocket maximum is $2,940.

Plan L does not provide any coverage for:

  • Part B deductible.
  • Part B excess charges.
  • Foreign travel emergency coverage.

Plan M

Plan M is a fairly comprehensive plan with coverage for most of the gaps in Original Medicare. It covers:

  • 50% of Part A deductible.
  • Part A coinsurance charges.
  • Part B coinsurance charges.
  • Part B excess charges.
  • First 3 pints of blood.
  • Part A hospice care charges.
  • Skilled nursing care charges.
  • Foreign travel emergency coverage.

Plan M does not cover:

  • Part B deductible.
  • Part B excess charges.

Plan N

Plan N resembles traditional employer-provided health insurance. It covers:

  • Part A deductible.
  • Part A coinsurance charges.
  • Part B coinsurance charges.
  • Part B excess charges.
  • First 3 pints of blood.
  • Part A hospice care charges.
  • Skilled nursing care charges.
  • Foreign travel emergency coverage.

Plan N is unique in that you pay small copays for seeing a doctor or using emergency services. Your copay is no more than $20 to see a doctor and no more than $50 to be seen in the emergency room.

Plan N doesn’t cover:

  • Part B deductible.
  • Part B excess charges.

Changes To Medicare Supplement Insurance In 2020

Plans C, F, and High deductible F will not be available for people who enter Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. If your Medicare coverage began before January 1, 2020 you will always have the right to enroll in these three plans, assuming you qualify for Guaranteed Issue rights, or can be approved by underwriting.

Extra Benefits

The benefits listed above are all standardized; they must be provided by all Medigap plans in every state except Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. These three states have their own rules for Medicare Supplement insurance.

Many insurance companies offer extra benefits to their customers. These benefits can vary by state and are not guaranteed. Some of these extras include:

  • Discounts on vision coverage.
  • Discounts on hearing coverage.
  • Discounts on prescription drugs.
  • Discounts on dental coverage.
  • Gym memberships or fitness programs.
  • Access to 24-hour nurse help lines.

Choosing The Best Medicare Supplement Plan For You

Getting your Medigap coverage right is important for your health and financial future. To get the best Medigap plan for you you’ll need to balance your monthly premium cost with your tolerance for out-of-pocket expenses.

You’ll want a plan that has the right blend of coverage, extra benefits, and price. Not all insurance companies offer plans in every state, so be sure to connect with a professional to get quotes and find a plan in your area.



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