Latest news with #CentersForMedicareAndMedicaidServices
Medical News Today
2 days ago
- Health
- Medical News Today
Does Medicare cover an air ambulance?
Medicare may cover air ambulance transportation if a person has a medical emergency and needs to get to a hospital from somewhere a ground ambulance cannot reach. Air ambulances are usually helicopters or small airplanes. Medicare coverage for emergency flightsOriginal Medicare Part B may cover an airplane or helicopter ambulance if a person needs immediate and fast transport that ground transportation cannot Part B pays for 80% of eligible costs once a person pays their deductible, which is $257 in 2025. People are responsible for the remaining 20% of must also pay the Part B monthly premium of $185. This amount may be higher, depending on someone's a person has a Medicare Advantage plan, it is subject to the same rules as Original Advantage copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and premiums can vary by the plan type, provider, and to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the average 2025 Medicare Advantage premium is around $17 per month in addition to the Part B premium that a person must pay directly to much does an air ambulance cost with Medicare?Out-of-pocket costs for transportation via an air ambulance can be to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, one 52-mile air ambulance flight can cost between $12,000 and $25,000. The high costs come from:initial aircraft costs (which can be up to $6 million)on-board medical equipmentmaintenance 24/7 availability for specially trained medical personnel and pilotsHelp with air ambulance costsPeople with Original Medicare can sign up for a Medicare supplement plan (also called Medigap) that may help pay for some of Part B's out-of-pocket costs. Medigap plans have monthly premiums, which vary by plan and can also consider registering with the Life Flight Network, a private air ambulance service that might help with remaining out-of-pocket costs.A basic Life Flight Network air ambulance membership costs $85 per and other ambulance servicesMedicare Part B commonly covers ground ambulances in emergencies, particularly when other transport options are unavailable or may harm a person's may sometimes cover nonemergency transportation if a doctor or healthcare professional deems it medically necessary.»Learn More:What transport options does Medicare cover?
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Medicare data breach exposes 100,000 Americans' info
Healthcare data continues to be a top target for cybercriminals. In June alone, two major breaches compromised over 13 million patient records. Now, a newly confirmed Medicare data breach has affected more than 100,000 Americans. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sent letters this week to those affected, confirming that hackers accessed sensitive data linked to accounts. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my Over 8M Patient Records Leaked In Healthcare Data Breach The breach traces back to suspicious activity starting in late 2023. According to CMS, cybercriminals used stolen personal data from external sources to fraudulently create accounts. That information included: Read On The Fox News App Full names Dates of birth ZIP codes Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBIs) Medicare coverage details CMS began receiving alerts in May 2025 when people reported receiving account confirmation letters for accounts they had not created. This triggered an internal investigation. Hackers not only created unauthorized accounts but, in some cases, accessed additional sensitive data such as: Home addresses Provider and diagnosis codes Services received Plan premium details CMS has deactivated all affected accounts and is mailing new Medicare cards to the estimated 103,000 individuals affected. The agency says no confirmed identity theft cases have been reported yet. CMS stressed the action is being taken out of "an abundance of caution," but the breach raises questions about federal cybersecurity safeguards. If you're one of the people affected by the Medicare data breach: Watch your mailbox for a replacement Medicare card Monitor your account for suspicious activity Report unauthorized services or charges immediately CMS is still investigating how the attackers obtained such accurate personal data and whether more individuals may be at risk. What Is Artificial Intelligence (Ai)? So far, CMS has not identified the attackers. However, the use of valid personal information suggests that the hackers may have obtained data from prior breaches or leaks on other platforms. This breach reveals a troubling vulnerability in the federal healthcare system, where hackers can exploit existing data to create legitimate-looking accounts and access deeply personal medical information. Here are five important steps you can take right now to protect your Medicare information and reduce your risk of identity theft after the breach. Regularly check your Medicare and healthcare accounts for changes you did not make. Be cautious of unfamiliar services, charges or communications from providers you don't recognize. In light of the Medicare data breach, where bad actors used valid personal details to create fake accounts, enrolling in a trusted identity theft protection service can offer an extra layer of defense. These services monitor your Social Security number, email, phone number and other sensitive data to alert you if it's being sold on the dark web or used to open fraudulent accounts. Many top-rated services also help you freeze your credit and bank accounts and offer expert support if your identity is compromised. My top pick includes up to $1 million in identity theft insurance to cover stolen funds and legal fees, plus access to a U.S.-based fraud resolution team that helps you recover faster. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Never share your Medicare number or card details with anyone over the phone or email, unless you initiated the contact and trust the source. Treat it like a credit card. If you believe your information is being misused, remove it from the internet. A personal data removal service can help you remove all this personal information from the internet. It has a very clean interface and will scan 195 websites for your information and remove it and keep it removed. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: If you notice suspicious activity, report it directly by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report Medicare fraud. Also, file a report at to create a recovery plan with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This not only helps you recover faster but also contributes to broader investigations that protect others. This Medicare breach may not have resulted in confirmed cases of identity theft so far, but that does not mean the situation should be taken lightly or dismissed as low risk. It took malicious actors less than two years to create over 100,000 fake Medicare accounts using valid personal information, which suggests a significant weakness in how sensitive data is being protected and monitored at the federal level. Do you think healthcare organizations are doing enough to protect your data? Let us know by writing us at Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my Copyright 2025 All rights article source: Medicare data breach exposes 100,000 Americans' info
