Mellen Benefit Solutions LLC

Mellen Benefit Solutions LLC Specializing in Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Prescription Drug Plans

To explore Medicare plans in your area, visit: https://medicareful.com/JenniferMellen

To explore dental options with Dental Dental, visit: https://www.deltadentalcoversme.com/s/?agency=1796915615

To explore vision options with VSP, visit:
https://www.individualbrokervision.com/Enroll/MbrEnroll.aspx?AgtCode=VSP23535

To explore dental and vision plan options with Humana, visit https://www.humana.com/AOADV/1823807

08/26/2026

WHY WEDNESDAY 🥼

Why does Medicare Advantage have different networks?

One Medicare Advantage plan may include your favorite doctor… while another plan doesn’t.

Why?

Because Medicare Advantage plans have their own provider networks. Each insurance company—and sometimes each plan from the same company—contracts with different doctors, hospitals, and specialists.

That means a doctor who accepts Medicare may not be in-network with every Medicare Advantage plan.

And this is why checking the network BEFORE you enroll is so important.

Before choosing a plan, make sure your:

✔️ Primary care doctor is in-network
✔️ Specialists are in-network
✔️ Preferred hospital is in-network
✔️ Other important providers are covered

The “best” Medicare Advantage plan isn’t necessarily the one with the lowest premium—it’s the one that works for YOU and your healthcare needs.

Have questions about Medicare Advantage networks? I’m here to help you understand your options before you enroll.

MEDICARE MYTH MONDAY“I can switch Medicare Advantage plans whenever I want.”❌ MYTH!You generally can’t switch Medicare A...
08/24/2026

MEDICARE MYTH MONDAY

“I can switch Medicare Advantage plans whenever I want.”

❌ MYTH!

You generally can’t switch Medicare Advantage plans whenever you feel like it. Medicare has specific enrollment periods when you can make changes.

But here’s the good news: you don’t necessarily have to wait until AEP!

📅 Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15–December 7�You can switch Medicare Advantage plans, return to Original Medicare, or make other coverage changes.

🔄 Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP): January 1–March 31�If you’re already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare.

⭐ Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs): Certain life events—like moving, losing other coverage, or qualifying for certain assistance—may give you an opportunity to make a change outside of these periods.

The bottom line: You may have more opportunities to change your coverage than you realize. The key is knowing when you’re eligible and what options are available to you.

08/21/2026

❓FAQ Friday❓

Why Does My Medicare Part B Premium Increase Every Year?

Have you ever looked at your Medicare Part B premium and thought, “Why does this keep going up?” 🤔

You’re not alone!

Medicare Part B premiums can change from year to year because the cost of providing Part B-covered healthcare services changes too.

Part B helps cover things like:
�👩‍⚕️ Doctor visits�🏥 Outpatient care�🩺 Preventive services�💊 Certain medications administered in a doctor’s office�🦽 Durable medical equipment

Each year, Medicare looks at the projected costs of the Part B program and sets the premium accordingly. Changes in healthcare costs and how much healthcare services are being used can all play a role.

And there’s another important piece: some beneficiaries pay more than the standard Part B premium because of their income. This is known as IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount).

👉 Bottom line: Your Part B premium isn’t necessarily guaranteed to increase every year, but Medicare recalculates the cost each year based on the projected expenses of the program.

08/19/2026

💊 Why Wednesday: Why Do Formularies Change?

Have you ever gone to refill a prescription and suddenly found out that your plan doesn’t cover it the same way anymore? 😳

You may be wondering… WHY?!

One reason is that your plan’s formulary can change.

A formulary is simply the list of prescription drugs your health plan covers. Plans review these lists regularly and can make changes for several reasons, including:
🔹 New medications become available�🔹 Generic versions become available�🔹 Drug costs change�🔹 A medication may move to a different coverage tier�🔹 The plan may add or remove certain medications based on its coverage rules

And here's the important part: formulary changes don't necessarily mean your medication won't be covered at all.

Your medication could still be covered but may have a different copay, require prior authorization, have quantity limits, or require you to try another medication first.

👉 That's why it's so important to check your plan's Annual Notice of Change and formulary each year—and not assume that your prescriptions will be covered the same way next year.

💡 Why Wednesday Tip: If you take several prescriptions, don't wait until January to find out what changed. Review your medications during the Annual Enrollment Period and make sure your plan still works for your prescriptions.

🚨 Medicare My Monday: Medicare covers long-term care.MYTH! ❌One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that once you ha...
08/17/2026

🚨 Medicare My Monday: Medicare covers long-term care.

MYTH! ❌

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that once you have Medicare, you’re covered if you eventually need long-term care.

Unfortunately, that’s not how Medicare works.
Medicare may cover short-term skilled nursing or rehabilitation after a qualifying hospital stay and when certain requirements are met.

But Medicare generally does NOT cover ongoing custodial long-term care — things like:

• Help with bathing and dressing�• Assistance with eating or using the bathroom�• Supervision because someone can no longer live safely on their own�• Long-term care in a nursing home or assisted living setting

And this is an important distinction: needing help with daily activities is not the same thing as needing skilled medical care.

Long-term care can be incredibly expensive, so understanding what Medicare does—and does not—cover is an important part of planning for your future.

👉 Don’t assume Medicare will pay for everything you may need later in life. Knowing the difference between skilled care and custodial care can make a BIG difference.

❓FAQ Friday❓Do I have to enroll in Medicare if I’m still working?Not necessarily! If you’re still working when you turn ...
08/14/2026

❓FAQ Friday❓

Do I have to enroll in Medicare if I’m still working?

Not necessarily! If you’re still working when you turn 65, you may be able to delay Medicare enrollment—but it depends on your employer coverage.

Here are a few important things to know:

👉 If you’re covered by an employer with 20 or more employees, your employer health plan may be your primary coverage, and you may be able to delay Part B without a late enrollment penalty.

👉 If your employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare generally becomes the primary payer, so enrolling in Medicare when you’re first eligible is usually important.

👉 Have an HSA? Be careful! Once you enroll in Medicare, you generally can no longer contribute to a Health Savings Account. There are also rules about when you should stop HSA contributions before enrolling.

And one of the biggest misconceptions? Simply having employer insurance doesn’t automatically mean you can safely postpone Medicare.

Your situation can depend on your employer, the type of coverage you have, and whether you're contributing to an HSA.

💡 FAQ Friday takeaway: Before deciding to delay Medicare at 65, make sure you understand how your current coverage coordinates with Medicare. A decision that seems simple can have costly consequences if you get it wrong.

💊 WHY WEDNESDAY: Why is prescription coverage so important when choosing a Medicare plan?One of the biggest mistakes you...
08/12/2026

💊 WHY WEDNESDAY: Why is prescription coverage so important when choosing a Medicare plan?

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when choosing a Medicare plan is looking only at the monthly premium.

If you take prescription medications, your drug coverage can be just as important—if not MORE important—than the premium you pay each month.

Here’s why:

💊 Formularies: Each Medicare drug plan has a list of medications it covers. Just because your medication is covered by one plan doesn't mean it will be covered the same way—or at all—by another plan.

💰 Drug tiers: Medications are placed into different tiers, and the tier your medication falls into can have a BIG impact on what you pay.

🏪 Pharmacies matter: The pharmacy you use can affect your out-of-pocket costs. Some plans offer preferred pharmacy pricing that can save you money compared with other pharmacies.

📋 The same medication can cost VERY different amounts: Two Medicare plans may both cover your prescription, but your copay or coinsurance could be dramatically different.

That's why when reviewing Medicare coverage, it's important to look at YOUR medications, YOUR pharmacy and YOUR expected costs—not just the plan's monthly premium.

👉 A plan that looks great on paper may not be the best plan for YOU.

This is one of the reasons I recommend reviewing your Medicare coverage each year during Annual Enrollment Period.

💡 MEDICARE MYTH MONDAY Myth: “Medicare is completely free.”❌ MYTH!While many people qualify for premium-free Part A, Med...
08/10/2026

💡 MEDICARE MYTH MONDAY

Myth: “Medicare is completely free.”

❌ MYTH!

While many people qualify for premium-free Part A, Medicare is not completely free.
For 2026, the standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 per month, and the annual Part B deductible is $283. After the deductible, Medicare generally pays 80% of the Medicare-approved amount for covered services, leaving you responsible for the remaining 20%.

And that's not all. Depending on your coverage, you may also have costs for:�• Prescription drug coverage�• Copays and coinsurance�• Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement premiums�• Other out-of-pocket expenses

💡 The good news? There are different Medicare coverage options, and understanding your costs can help you choose coverage that fits your needs and budget.

❓ FAQ Friday❓Welcome to the first edition of FAQ Friday!Each Friday, I'll answer one of the most common questions I rece...
08/07/2026

❓ FAQ Friday❓

Welcome to the first edition of FAQ Friday!

Each Friday, I'll answer one of the most common questions I receive about health insurance and Medicare to help make things a little less confusing.

This week's question:
"Do I have to wait until Medicare Annual Enrollment to make a change?"

Answer: Not always!

While many people can make changes during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7), there are several Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) that may allow you to change your coverage at other times during the year.

Examples include:�✅ Moving to a new area�✅ Losing employer coverage�✅ Qualifying for Extra Help or Medicaid�✅ Other life changes that meet Medicare guidelines

Every situation is different, so it's important to know what options are available before making a decision.

💬 Have a health insurance or Medicare question you'd like answered in a future FAQ Friday? Drop it in the comments or send me a private message. Your question may be featured in an upcoming post!

📞 I'm always happy to help you understand your options—at no cost and with no obligation.

**PROFESSIONAL UPDATE**🎉 2027 AHIP & FWA Certification Complete!While most people are enjoying summer, I'm already worki...
08/06/2026

**PROFESSIONAL UPDATE**

🎉 2027 AHIP & FWA Certification Complete!

While most people are enjoying summer, I'm already working on 2027. Today I completed my AHIP and FWA certification—one of the annual requirements that keeps me qualified and up to date to serve my Medicare clients.

There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes to stay current, and I believe my clients deserve someone who invests the time to keep learning. It's one of the ways I make sure I'm prepared long before Annual Enrollment (October 15–December 7, 2026) begins.

If you have questions about your Medicare options for 2027, I'm always happy to help.

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Trenton, NJ
08650

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