The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) recently released a favorable advisory opinion, OIG Advisory Opinion No. 24-01 (the “Opinion”), to a Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance...more
Is Medicare Advantage really a Disadvantage for seniors and taxpayers? Our nation is graying rapidly. Every day, 10,000 baby boomers, members of one of the largest generations in U.S. history, hit the traditional...more
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) recently released key Medicare figures for 2021 that will affect all elderly and disabled individuals who receive program benefits. This notice summarizes the changes...more
You are turning 65 and enrolling in Medicare, but as a healthy senior do you really need to also sign up for Medicare's supplemental coverage? Not signing up initially can be very costly down the road. Medicare pays for...more
Medigap premiums can vary widely depending on the insurance company, according to a new study, so be sure to shop around before choosing a policy. When you first become eligible for Medicare, you may purchase a Medigap...more
With Advisory Opinion 18-09, the OIG continued its trend of approving arrangements between Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance (Medigap) insurers and preferred hospital network organizations (PHOs). As in prior advisory...more
The Office of Inspector General (OIG), Health and Human Services, issued an Advisory Opinion allowing an arrangement between a licensed offeror of Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance policies (Medigap Offeror) and a...more
With Advisory Opinion 17-04, issued August 24, 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) adds to the ever-growing number of favorable advisory opinions regarding an agreement...more
Recent rulings suggest insurers face increased risk of suits predicating breach of contract and state unfair trade practices claims on alleged violation of state insurance laws, notwithstanding the lack of an express private...more
As you get ready to turn 65, you may be inundated with information about Medicare. All this information is confusing, but it is important to do your research before choosing your plan. If you aren’t fully informed, you could...more
On June 12, 2015, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued Advisory Opinion 15-08. This opinion continues the well-established pattern of favorable advisory opinions which...more
On April 22, 2015, the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued Advisory Opinion 15-05 [PDF], approving a Medigap insurer’s proposed contract with a preferred hospital network. The...more
OIG Advisory Opinion 15-03 approves a Medigap insurer’s program that, among other things, calls for (a) network hospitals to waive the deductible for Medicare enrollees, (b) the insurer to pay the hospital network a fee each...more
On September 17, 2014, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued Advisory Opinion 14-08 [PDF]. This opinion is yet another favorable advisory opinion approving a Medicare...more
On August 25, 2014, the OIG released an advisory opinion declining to impose civil monetary penalties on a Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance – or Medigap – insurer that planned to discount inpatient hospital deductibles...more
In spite of a slow start, the OIG has issued a number of interesting advisory opinions to date in 2013. Here are a few of the highlights. The OIG reiterated its long-standing concern about arrangements which “carve out”...more