Include Medigap in Your 2012 Medicare Review
Basic Medicare includes Part A, for hospital and in-patient expenses, and Part B, which covers physician, out-patient, and equipment costs. It includes deductibles and co-pay requirements that can expose retirees to big out-of-pocket payments. With this year's earlier timetable for 2012 Medicare open enrollment--October 15 to December 7--your coverage review should include Medigap policies that ...

Health 411: How to shop for best 'Medigap' coverage
Also: When does doctor's behavior cross the line? I'm an 84-year-old man on Social Security with original Medicare and Mutual of Omaha gap insurance. My insurance premium was raised from $262 to $363 a month, a 39% jump. After all my monthly expenses, I have just $240 left. What can I do in the event of another increase in my premiums?

Familiar themes, deadlocks emerge in deficit panel developments
USA Today reports on the strategies interest groups are employing to reach the "super committee's" members. And, Reuters reports the Medigap plans are one of the items being considered by the panel for cuts.

Insurance commissioners plan to challenge efforts to extract more money from Medigap plans
Members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners are developing a letter to members of Congress in which they will oppose attempts to extract more money from Medicare enrollees who buy Medigap insurance -; an option the president has now backed for new enrollees.