You First Medicare Inc.

11/03/2026

Why Medicare for All Wouldn’t Work:

Medicare ( federal govt) already pays doctors and hospitals too little. Hospitals get about 82 cents back for every dollar it costs them to treat a Medicare patient.
They stay open mainly because private insurance (the kind most people get through work) pays a lot more, often double or more.
That higher private money covers the losses from Medicare.
The government doesn’t just raise the rates because it doesn’t want to spend more of your tax money.
Paying enough to cover real costs would make Medicare way more expensive.. tens or hundreds of billions extra every year.
That money has to come from higher taxes, more debt, or cutting other things. Most politicians know voters hate higher taxes more than they care if a hospital makes money, so they keep the rates low on purpose to control spending.

Medicare for All means the government takes over and pays everyone at those same low rates. No more high private payments to make up the difference, and no automatic raise in the rates (because that would blow up the cost even more).

What happens next:
• Hospitals and doctors lose a huge chunk of money.
• Many close, cut services, or stop taking patients.
• You wait longer for care (or can’t get it), like people already do in places that tried this.
• The government has to raise taxes a ton (tens of trillions of dollars) to try to cover it, and even then the system is short.
• Doctors make less, so fewer people become doctors.
That’s basically it. The low rates that already cause fights (like Brown Health walking away from United’s Medicare Advantage deal) would apply to the whole country. Providers can’t stay in business if everything pays like Medicare does now.

How you could fix the low payments: Someone has to put up more money.
The realistic ways are:
• Congress just raises the Medicare rates (hospitals and doctors get paid more). This costs a lot and gets paid with higher taxes, higher Medicare premiums, or more debt.
• Cut the extra paperwork and prior-authorization rules that eat into what providers actually keep (especially in Medicare Advantage plans).
• Keep private insurance around so the higher private payments can still cover the gaps from low Medicare rates.
• Raise Medicare taxes or premiums specifically to fund better rates.

There is no way for providers to get paid a lot more without taxpayers, beneficiaries, or private insurance paying more somewhere. 💫🧐

10/24/2026

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Looking for a new companion? Explore dog breeds for seniors and learn what to consider before bringing a dog home.

10/03/2026

I’m being told that a rumor is circulating that independent, licensed Medicare agents in Rhode Island cannot submit Medicare Advantage enrollments to Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.

That is not correct.

Independent agents who are properly licensed, appointed, contracted, and certified with BCBSRI are authorized to assist clients with BlueCHiP for Medicare enrollments and to submit those applications through the carrier’s approved process.

I am a licensed independent Medicare agent in Rhode Island, contracted and certified with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Aetna & United Healthcare for Medicare Advantage (Part C) in Rhode Island.
I can review plan options with you, complete the required scope of appointment, and process an enrollment if BCBSRI is the right fit.

Enrollment is available during a valid election period, including the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7), and outside that window when you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

If you would like a no-cost review of your Medicare Advantage options, you are welcome to reach out.
Thank you,
Stacia
You First Medicare
Independent licensed Medicare agent

https://youfirstmedicare.com/

Disclaimer : (we do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information provided is limited to the plans we do offer. Contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE for information on all of your options).

10/02/2026

BREAKING NEWS!

South County Health is Rhode Island's First & Only Member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network

Discover South County Hospital, a leading independent, non-profit healthcare provider in southern Rhode Island. Offering innovative treatments, advanced…

10/02/2026

Everyone is asking me this question: “Why are the costs going up while they keep chipping away at my Medicare Advantage plan?”

If your plan looks more expensive this year, or the extras feel thinner, you are not imagining it.
Here is what is going on, in plain English, for people on Medicare in Rhode Island.

About 253,000 Rhode Islanders are on Medicare. Roughly 6 in 10 are in a Medicare Advantage plan.

A Medicare Advantage plan is a private plan that takes a set payment from Medicare to cover your care, plus extras like dental, vision, hearing, rides, and an over-the-counter allowance. They rebuild that package every year. When the cost of care rises faster than what they are paid, something has to give: the premium, the copays, or the extras.

Three things are pushing costs up here, same as everywhere else.
Medical care costs more. Hospital and specialist prices in Rhode Island have been climbing. People are also using more care. The plan pays those bills. When claims go up, there is less left for a $0 premium and rich extras.

Prescription drugs are a big driver. Newer, high-cost drugs, including popular diabetes and weight-loss medications, are expensive. Federal rules cap what you pay out of pocket for drugs each year. That protects you at the pharmacy counter. The plan still has to pay the rest, and that cost shows up in next year’s plan design.

Medicare’s payment to plans is not keeping up everywhere. Medicare does raise what it pays plans each year, but in many markets that increase is smaller than the rise in medical and drug costs. Plans then tighten the package: a higher specialist copay, a smaller dental allowance, less transportation, or a smaller Part B giveback.

The national average Medicare Advantage premium is projected to drop in 2027, from about $14 to about $12 a month.
Rhode Island does not look like that average.
Premiums here still run from $0 up into the $150 range, depending on the plan. One plan can be $0. A richer plan can be $40 or $100. Averages hide your actual plan. Your copays, dental, and out-of-pocket maximum can change even if the premium stays $0.

What to do: read your ANOC (Annual Notice of Change) document. Do not auto-renew on autopilot. Check that your doctors and hospitals are still in network. Rhode Island networks are not all the same. Recheck your drugs, your dental, and your out-of-pocket maximum. A plan that fit last year may not be the best fit this year.
Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7. Coverage changes take effect January 1.
If you want a second set of eyes on your Rhode Island options, that is what I’m here for.

https://youfirstmedicare.com/

You First Medicare - Stacia Huyler, Independent Medicare Advisor in Charlestown, RI. Honest help with Medicare Advantage, Medigap, Part D, vision, hearing & dental plans. Call (401) 871-4570

07/31/2026

⚠️ DRUG RECAL
Levothyroxine sodium tablets (a generic form of the common thyroid hormone replacement medication used for hypothyroidism). 

In mid-July 2026, Major Pharmaceuticals initiated a voluntary nationwide Class II recall of certain lots of its Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets, USP (distributed under the Major and Cardinal Health labels).
The FDA classified it as Class II on or around July 17 because testing showed the tablets may be subpotent—meaning they contain less active ingredient than labeled. This could lead to under-dosing and temporary or reversible symptoms of hypothyroidism (such as fatigue, sensitivity to cold, or weight changes), though serious outcomes are considered remote. 

The recall covers specific strengths (25, 50, 75, 88, 112, 125, and 150 mcg) in 100-tablet cartons (10x10 blister packs) and some 10-tablet unit-dose packs, with lot numbers such as N02212, N02200, N02172/N02296/N02288, N02310, N02203, N02266, and N02167 (plus related Cardinal variants), and expiration dates generally from July 2026 through January 2027. These were distributed nationwide starting around January 2025.
Lupin Pharmaceuticals is noted as the manufacturer in some reports. 

Important guidance: Do not stop taking prescribed thyroid medication without consulting a doctor or pharmacist. Check your bottle’s lot number, NDC, strength, and expiration date against the recall details (available via FDA enforcement reports or pharmacy). Contact your pharmacist or healthcare provider for a replacement if affected, and report any symptoms.
Older recalls of other thyroid products (e.g., certain NP Thyroid or desiccated thyroid lots) have occurred in prior years for similar potency issues, but the current widespread news concerns this levothyroxine recall. Always verify the latest details with the FDA or your pharmacist, as recall status can update.

See the latest recalls and warnings for vitamins and dietary supplements, and ConsumerLab.com's complete list of past dietary supplement recalls and warnings. If you have experienced an unexpected and adverse reaction to a dietary supplement, nutritional product, or generic drug, we would like to he

06/17/2026

https://riag.ri.gov/medicare-advantage

Information Regarding UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage, Brown University Health Contract Negotiation Brown University Health and UnitedHealthcare have announced that, without a contract agreement, Brown University Health physicians will be out-of-network for certain UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adva...

06/02/2026

05/15/2026

“Half of the fraud, we believe, in the federal government could be coming out of healthcare services.”

$100 billion of estimated theft just from Medicare and Medicaid.”

“We would be able to double the life expectancy of the Medicare trust fund if we could deal with the fraud issues just in Medicare.”

04/30/2026

Medicare does not cover long-term care (LTC).
This is one of the most important things to understand in retirement planning. 

What Medicare Actually Covers:
• Original Medicare (Parts A & B ) pays for short-term skilled nursing care (e.g., rehab after a hospital stay) — up to 100 days in specific cases, with limited coverage after day 20.
• It does not cover custodial care — the most common type of long-term care, which includes help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, or transferring.
• Medicare also does not cover most assisted living, adult day care, or ongoing nursing home stays. 
Result: You (or your family) pay 100% out of pocket for most long-term care needs.

Why Planning Before Medicare (Ideally in Your 50s–Early 60s) Matters:

1. Sky-High Costs
• National median costs (as of recent 2025–2026 data):
• Assisted living: ~$5,400–$6,200/month
• Home health aide: ~$34/hour (or $80,000+ annually for full-time)
• Nursing home (semi-private): ~$9,800–$11,300/month�These costs rise faster than inflation and can quickly drain savings. 

2. High Likelihood of Needing Care�About 70% of people turning 65 will need some form of long-term care in their lifetime. Women often need it longer due to greater life expectancy. 

3. Protecting Your Assets and Family�Without a plan, you may spend down savings until qualifying for Medicaid (which has strict asset limits and often limited choices). Early planning preserves your nest egg, gives you more care options, and reduces the burden on family members who might otherwise become unpaid caregivers. 

4. Better and Cheaper Options When Younger/Healthier
• Premiums for long-term care insurance (or hybrid life/LTC policies) are much lower in your 50s–early 60s.
• Pre-existing conditions can make it harder (or impossible) to qualify later.
• Waiting until after 65 often means higher costs or denial. 
Smart Ways to Prepare Before Medicare
• Long-term care insurance or hybrid policies (life insurance/annuities with LTC riders).
• Self-funding strategies: Dedicated savings, HSAs, or home equity.
• Medicaid planning (with an elder law attorney) as a backup.
• Discuss wishes with family and update legal documents (power of attorney, advance directives).

Comprehensive LTC policies (the most common type sold today) cover a wide range of settings, including:
• Home health aides for help with activities of daily living (ADLs) — bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring, and continence.
• Homemaker/companion services — meal prep, light housekeeping, medication reminders, and companionship.
• Skilled services — nursing, physical/occupational therapy (when needed).
• Other supports like adult day care, respite care for family caregivers, or even some home modifications. 

You choose where to receive care. The policy does not require nursing home placement. Many people use benefits exclusively at home to age in place. Early policies (1980s) focused only on nursing homes, but since the 1990s, coverage expanded to home and community-based care. 

How Benefits Typically Work for Home Care:
1. Benefit Trigger — You qualify when a doctor certifies you need help with 2 out of 6 ADLs (or have cognitive impairment like dementia). This applies whether care is at home or in a facility.

2. Elimination Period (Waiting Period) — Like a deductible, but in days (commonly 30–90 days). You pay out-of-pocket during this time. Some policies use “calendar days” (easier for intermittent home care); others use “service days” (only counts days with paid care).

3. Benefit Payment —
• Reimbursement (most common): You pay for care upfront, submit receipts, and the insurer reimburses up to your daily/monthly maximum.
• Indemnity/Cash Benefit (some policies): You get a fixed daily amount regardless of actual expenses.
• Limits are often daily or monthly (e.g., $150–$300+/day). Home care may have the same or slightly different limits than facility care.

4. Benefit Period — Benefits last for a set number of years (e.g., 3–5 years) or until a total dollar maximum is reached. Inflation protection helps benefits grow over time. 
Important Tips

• Check your policy (or when shopping): Confirm it includes home care, the daily benefit is high enough for your area (home health aide costs average $30–$35+/hour), and whether family caregivers can be paid (some policies allow it with training).
• Home care is often less expensive per day than nursing homes, so your benefits can last longer.
• Not all policies are the same — some older or limited ones may favor facilities. Hybrid life/LTC policies also commonly cover home care.

LTC insurance gives you the flexibility and financial power to stay at home as long as possible instead of defaulting to a nursing home. Review your specific policy details or consult an independent LTC specialist for personalized advice. If you have a policy already, contact the insurer to understand exact home care provisions.

Bottom line: Medicare is great for hospital and doctor visits, but it leaves a major gap for the custodial care most people eventually need. Planning before you turn 65 gives you the most control, flexibility, and affordability. The earlier you start (while healthy), the better protected you’ll be.

Consider speaking with a financial advisor or insurance specialist who focuses on retirement planning.