Staying healthy is one of the most important prerequisites for getting the most from life after 60. And, while we all have a responsibility to eat right and exercise, it simply isn’t possible to avoid illness and injury altogether. For this reason, Medicare is one of the most essential programs in the U.S. for older adults.

Unfortunately, in recent years, both Medicare and Medicaid have been hit by quite a bit of bad news. For example, according to this report by the Office of the Inspector General, from 2011 to 2015, Medicare spending on brand-name drugs increased ty 77%. In addition, the number of people paying $2,000 or more in out-of-pocket expenses doubled during this time period.

And, that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

Finally, Some Medicare Good News

Well, today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) came out with a little good news… and, since we don’t often hear the words “good news” and “Medicare” in the same sentence, I thought that I would share it with you now.

According to the CMS, in 2019, the basic Part D Medicare premium is projected by fall just over 3%, from $33.59 to $32.50. Obviously, this isn’t a massive decrease, but, it’s good news all the same. It’s especially good news since this will be the second year in a row that this premium fell.

Of course, the actual premium that you pay will depend on a number of factors, including the medications covered by your plan and where you live.

In the same report, the CMS claimed that the decrease could be attributed to rule changes that allowed generic drugs to be more quickly added to the plan.

Let’s Take Control of Health

Of course, there are plenty of things that we can do to keep our bodies and minds healthy in the years ahead. To help you get started, I’ve included a few links to our most popular fitness and health related articles. I hope that you find them useful!

12 Ways to Deal with Chronic Pain After 50 – Without Medication

5 Foods that Naturally Lower Cholesterol for Women Over 50

Healthy Aging Tips: How Your Humble Egg Timer Could Save Your Life

I hope that you have a wonderful, healthy and happy day!

Do you use Medicare? What do you think is working well about the program? And, what could be improved? Let’s have a chat!