Category: Uncategorized
Changes Are Coming to Medicare Part D
November 14, 2024 | Cathryn Reher
The Good and Bad of These Changes First, the good news: the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will cap the out-of-pocket maximum at $2,000 for all Medicare Part D plans starting January 1, 2025. Medicare Part D plans provide coverage to enrollees for prescription drugs. This will enable Medicare Part D enrollees to better budget if they have had historically high out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. The difficulty of the law change will be the impact for those who are Medicare-eligible but are enrolled through an employer or other health insurance plans. These plans are required to provide health insurance coverage that is just as good or better than Medicare standards. A plan that is as good or better than Medicare standards represents “creditable alternative coverage.” If a plan is not creditable, individuals run the risk of accruing a Late Enrollment Penalty (LEP) for each month they are not enrolled in a plan providing creditable coverage. The specific concern with the Part D law change is that prescription drug coverage under alternative insurance plans may not be as good as the new Medicare Part D coverage and therefore may not meet the creditable alternative coverage requirement. This would then require individuals to drop their employer or other health insurance plans, which are generally more cost-effective than Medicare health insurance plans. The…
Read More10 Things to Remember in the Zoom Court Era
November 1, 2023 | Jason C. Brown
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we live, shop, and work. It also changed the way we head to court. To its credit, the Minnesota Judicial Branch took just a month or so to adjust following the COVID-19 outbreak. While online communication appeared to be a Band-Aid® at the time, remote court hearings have since become the norm. With the exception of trials, almost all other family court hearings are now handled via Zoom. The fact that we have become amateur broadcasters requires attention to how you appear on camera. Here are 10 things to remember in the Zoom court era. Turn on your camera. Many litigants opt to keep their camera off during hearings. However, part of the judge’s job is to assess credibility, and they can hardly do so looking at a blank screen. Dress appropriately. Appearing in court from your living room does not grant the freedom to dress in your sweats. Business casual is fine. Master the mute button. Stay muted unless and until the judge asks you a question. When asked, remember that you are muted and unmute yourself. Even if you are muted, it’s good practice to assume the microphone is on to avoid saying something that would make a bad impression. Lock up the pets. If…
Read MoreFamily Court Hearings: Tips and Strategies
October 13, 2022 | Jason C. Brown
Courtrooms are not meant to be friendly or comfortable. They exist for one purpose: decision-making. How do you stand the best chance at making a good impression on the judge? Here are ten things to keep in mind: Dress the part. The court does not expect you to wear formal attire to the hearing. At the same time, t-shirts and blue jeans are probably best kept for another day. Business casual is just fine. Refer to the court as “your honor.” Over the years, I’ve observed litigants call the judge “madam,” “sir,” or “judge.” All are tactful, but the path of least resistance is to simply use “your honor.” That way, the court’s train of thought won’t be disrupted. Leave your phone in the car. Cell phones are quite disruptive in a quiet courtroom setting. Some judges confiscate ringing phones and charge the owner to get it back – even when they thought it was on silent mode. Don’t take a chance. Speak only when spoken to. The judge is trying to manage a courtroom full of people as efficiently as possible. Follow their lead. If you are asked a question, answer it. But don’t try to take control of the situation. Don’t argue. It may sound counterintuitive, but there is a time…
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