Medicare 2025: How to choose, who to trust and why-when you're new to Medicare
David Thiessen • March 1, 2025

Host:
Cary Hall, America’s Healthcare Advocate
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Episode 2127 notes Barron Roberts is my expert today on this Blue Cross Blue Shield Kansas City update show. How will it play out for all of you out there in the audience for your coverage in '26? We will cover the individual side and what Blue Cross is doing to lead the way. They're actually going to have premium reductions on the individual side, and we'll talk about what are the answers to the employers out there, the small group employer, the employer under the 100 lives. Get all the details and find the best way to go now, because come January 1st, all the Aetna plans are pulling the pin on ACA. They're going to be gone. And I will cover what's going to happen with the other plans. They're going to be significant increases across the board. BlueKC continues to lead the way as the local hometown carrier. This is Ep2127 of America's Healthcare Advocate. Learn more at https://www.bluekc.com/ or 833-467-2145 Learn about me, Cary Hall: America’s Healthcare Advocate: I have a strong desire to empower my fellow Americans and cancel the noise and confusion surrounding the US healthcare system. My goal is to enable you to become the expert for your own healthcare management, saving you time, money, and effort. Learn even more: https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com As always, if you need help or have something to share? Contact me with this form on my website and let me know what's on your mind, the issues you are dealing with, or other health, healthcare, and health insurance questions and concerns. https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us
S21 E04 - Medicare 2025: How to choose, who to trust and why-when you're new to Medicare
Episode 2104 notes
Join me as we lay out how to start, what to choose and what are your options.
My expert guest is Carolee Steele from RPS Benefits by Design.
Learn more:
visit https://www.rpsbenefitsbydesigninc.com/
or call 913-385-2224
Need help or have something to share? Contact me, Cary Hall, America's Healthcare Advocate: https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us
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Episode 2127 notes Barron Roberts is my expert today on this Blue Cross Blue Shield Kansas City update show. How will it play out for all of you out there in the audience for your coverage in '26? We will cover the individual side and what Blue Cross is doing to lead the way. They're actually going to have premium reductions on the individual side, and we'll talk about what are the answers to the employers out there, the small group employer, the employer under the 100 lives. Get all the details and find the best way to go now, because come January 1st, all the Aetna plans are pulling the pin on ACA. They're going to be gone. And I will cover what's going to happen with the other plans. They're going to be significant increases across the board. BlueKC continues to lead the way as the local hometown carrier. This is Ep2127 of America's Healthcare Advocate. Learn more at https://www.bluekc.com/ or 833-467-2145 Learn about me, Cary Hall: America’s Healthcare Advocate: I have a strong desire to empower my fellow Americans and cancel the noise and confusion surrounding the US healthcare system. My goal is to enable you to become the expert for your own healthcare management, saving you time, money, and effort. Learn even more: https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com As always, if you need help or have something to share? Contact me with this form on my website and let me know what's on your mind, the issues you are dealing with, or other health, healthcare, and health insurance questions and concerns. https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us

Episode 2124 notes Today we learn about Bexa: A Revolutionary Early Detection Option that Dr. Monique Gary tells me is closing the gap and delivering peace of mind. Dr Gary says women have been in need of another early detection option and reminds us that to many women delay routine exams or avoid them all together. But unlike the common experience, Bexa is accurate and pain free and companies should include this benefit to their employees. This is a "Must Hear" episode. Please listen and share, because breast cancer is the most common cancer among women—yet over 60% of those eligible aren’t getting mammograms. And for women who are under 40, pregnant, or avoiding mammograms, no real alternative has existed until now with this Doctor-led and developed Bexa Solution. Also joining us is Elizabeth Vire, Bexa Chief Revenue Officer, who works with HR directors to bring this option to their workers. Learn how you could do it as a broker, as a TPA, or a human resource director.: 1-888-469-2392 or visit https://www.mybexa.com/ This is Ep: 2124 of America's Healthcare Advocate. Learn about me, Cary Hall: America’s Healthcare Advocate: I have a strong desire to empower my fellow Americans and cancel the noise and confusion surrounding the US healthcare system. My goal is to enable you to become the expert for your own healthcare management, saving you time, money, and effort. Learn even more: https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com As always, if you need help or have something to share? Contact me with this form on my website and let me know what's on your mind, the issues you are dealing with, or other health, healthcare, and health insurance questions and concerns. https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us

Episode 2123 notes Why is Medicare Going Broke, Can Medicare Survive? We separate Medicare Fact from Fiction This episode was carefully and exhaustively researched by our assistant producer, Nate Haldeman. When you watch or listen to the episode, you can refer back here and using the list below, click the links to read the actual sources we have drawn the information from. Most are government sites, some are verified news stories that quote the data used. We hope you find this useful! Please contact the show (links below) to comment on any of the information presented. Thank you! -Cary Hall By 2033, the Medicare Hospital Trust Fund will be unable to pay full benefits. [i] More people are retiring, and fewer workers are replacing them. [ii] Waste and Fraud – Medicare wastes $50-$60 Billion per year with improper payments [iii] Case example, Florida man convicted for scamming Medicare out of $61 million. [iv] Solutions for Medicare: Raise the eligible age to 67 or 68. [v] Obamacare & ACA has doubled the cost of individual health insurance [vi] Federal Subsidies for ACA now exceed $100 Billion annually [vii] Short term (non ACA) health plans cost 50%-80% less than ACA plans for healthy people [viii] [i] https://apnews.com/article/social-security-medicare-trust-fund-trump-74e13292f510739724a555d7ded7c1a3 [ii] https://www.medpac.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Mar25_MedPAC_Report_To_Congress_SEC.pdf [iii] https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/fiscal-year-2024-improper-payments-fact-sheet [iv] https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/durable-medical-equipment-owner-sentenced-12-years-61-million-medicare-fraud-scheme [v] https://www.crfb.org/blogs/cbo-lowers-estimate-increasing-medicare-eligibility-age [vi] https://www.heritage.org/health-care-reform/report/obamacare-has-doubled-the-cost-individual-health-insurance# [vii] https://www.pgpf.org/article/how-does-the-federal-government-subsidize-healthcare-under-the-aca-and-what-does-it-cost/ [viii] https://www.dpcare.org/about-dpc and https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/pdf/IF/IF11345/ This is episode 2123 of America's Healthcare Advocate . Learn about me, Cary Hall: America’s Healthcare Advocate: I have a strong desire to empower my fellow Americans and cancel the noise and confusion surrounding the US healthcare system. My goal is to enable you to become the expert for your own healthcare management, saving you time, money, and effort. Learn even more: https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com As always, if you need help or have something to share? Contact me with this form on my website and let me know what's on your mind, the issues you are dealing with, or other health, healthcare, and health insurance questions and concerns. https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us