The Medicare Made Simple Podcast

Why does a medication that costs a pharmacy just a few dollars sometimes result in a patient paying hundreds of dollars at the pharmacy counter?   In Season 3, Episode 4 of the Medicare Made Simple podcast, MediConnect CEO Lance O’Brien is joined by Kyle McCormick, Co-Founder of Blueberry Pharmacy, for a behind-the-scenes look at prescription drug pricing and the factors that influence what consum...

In Season 3 Episode 3 of the Medicare Made Simple podcast, Lance O’Brien sits down with MediConnect President Brian Breisinger to discuss the latest Medicare Final Notice from CMS and what it could mean for Medicare Advantage, Part D prescription drug plans, and the 2026 enrollment season.   The conversation breaks down Medicare rate adjustments, risk scores, star ratings, and why last year create...

In this episode, Lance O’Brien is joined by Ashley Mountain, Director of External Distribution at Highmark to discuss how Medicare benefits are used, and why that matters more than most people think.  They break down recent Part D changes, the importance of preventive care, and why choosing the right Medicare plan depends on your individual needs. The conversation also highlights what an ideal mem...

The Medicare Made Simple Podcast – Filmed February 18 In this episode, Host Lance O’Brien (CEO of MediConnect) sits down with Dawn Clark (Call Agent at MediConnect) to talk about important updates affecting Medicare beneficiaries — and what they mean for you. We break down the recent reductions in certain Medicare benefits, including dental, vision, hearing, and over-the-counter allowances. We als...

Countdown to Coverage:Navigating Medicare's annual enrollment Host: Lance O’Brien (CEO, MediConnect) Guest: Alexie Auth (CMO, Andocia) Episode summary  AEP is here—and this year brings more changes than most. Lance and Alexie break down why so many Medicare beneficiaries are seeing plan changes (including Service Area Reductions), what the Inflation Reduction Act means for drug costs in 2026,...

🎙️ Medicare Storm Clouds or Clear Skies? Preparing for AEP In this episode of Medicare Made Simple, Lance O’Brien and Lauren Uran dig into the questions, confusion, and anxiety swirling around Medicare as we head into Annual Enrollment Period (AEP). From rumors about Medicare “going away” to the reality of rising costs and shifting benefits, they break down what’s really happening — and how you ca...

🎙️ Medicare Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All — Let’s Build Your Perfect Plan In this episode of Medicare Made Simple, Lance O’Brien and Sean Horne break down Medicare in a way that finally makes sense. From that red, white, and blue card to the often-overlooked costs that can catch retirees off guard, this conversation walks you through building your Medicare “house” — foundation, walls, and roof included....

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 3 of the Medicare Made Simple Podcast! In this episode, hosts Lance O’Brien and Sean Horne dive into the complexities of Medicare during the Annual Enrollment Period. With only a limited amount of time to navigate a mountain of options, they share how MediConnect simplifies Medicare education through in-person seminars and on-demand webinars. From understanding Medicare...

In season 2, episode 1 of The Inside Connection, hosts Lance O’Brien and Sean Horn return to discuss key updates in MediConnect’s ongoing mission to provide accessible Medicare education. They highlight the expansion of their educational resources, including the introduction of webinars to complement their successful seminars, making Medicare information more available to clients online. The episo...

In Season 2, Episode 2 of The Inside Connection podcast, hosts Lance O’Brien and Mark Clark discuss significant changes coming to Medicare, particularly regarding prescription drug coverage in 2025. The episode dives into the impact of the elimination of the Medicare “donut hole” and how this will affect premiums, plan options, and co-pay structures. While some changes are beneficial, such as capp...

Hang out with Sean Horn and Lance O'Brien on this edition of The Inside Connection Podcast as they discuss everything you need to know ahead of the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period!

Lauren Yuran joins Sean Horn to discuss a lot of the competitive benefits available in the Pittsburgh region for #medicare beneficiaries, available now! Call 888-818-6334 to find out more from the top-rated experts in Pennsylvania. Medicare Made Simple.

On this episode of The Inside Connection Podcast, Lance and Sean go in-depth with the benefits that are available for Southwestern PA #medicare beneficiaries in 2024. Find out more about $0.50/month drug plans for Medigap plans, copay debit cards, flex spend amounts up to $750, dental allowances of $20,000/year, and so much more! Connect with MediConnect today to see how you can get more benefits...

Over the last 5+ years, MediConnect has been a mainstay on KDKA-AM1020 every Saturday at 9 AM and the illustrious Rob Pratte has been our gracious host. We welcome Rob to the Podcast to hear his views on why the partnership works so well, why the Pittsburgh region is so important to us all, and we shower praise upon the man who put us on the map!

In this episode of The Inside Connection, Sean and Lance answer the age-old question that we have to answer most often: "Why does Medicare have to be so difficult and frustrating?" We sort through all of the complexities of #medicare , right here!

In this episode of The Inside Connection Podcast, which can be seen on CBS News Pittsburgh on Sundays at 12 PM (www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh or download the CBS News Pittsburgh App from your phone's app store), Lance and Associate Manager Mark Clark cover #medigap , also known as #medicaresupplements . How do they work, when should you enroll, and who should strongly consider this coverage opti...

Associate Manager Lauren Yuran joins Lance O'Brien, Chief Executive Officer of MediConnect, to break down all of the different enrollment periods of #medicare   Do you need to sign up? If so, when? And when can you make changes, if needed? All of the answers you need, right here!

MediConnect is blessed to have the legendary and incomparable Rob Pratte as not only a guest on the couch, but also as a longstanding partner. Nobody has been a bigger advocate for our mission of #medicare Made Simple, as we've connected with thousands of clients with his help. Learn more in this formatted and edited version of our previous airing of The Inside Connection!

In this episode, Sean Horn and Lance O'Brien discuss all of the complexities surrounding your first time enrolling onto Medicare. How can you take advantage of the special provision of Guaranteed Issue, to get any type of coverage you want? Do you even need to get on Medicare when you turn 65 years old? Get these answers, and more!

MediConnect is proud to welcome the visionary behind our company, Brian Breisinger, to the program! Get an inside look of MediConnect's humble beginnings all the way to becoming the top-rated advisory firm in the state of Pennsylvania, with a view of what's ahead.

MediConnect breaks down how the Medicaid Redetermination will impact hundreds of thousands in Pennsylvania, while also touching on the CMS Final Notice once again. Plus, get to know what makes MediConnect different and why we are passionate about our mission of Medicare Made Simple!

Medicare is often seen as overwhelming and confusing, which makes it very easy to make a mistake that can cost you thousands of dollars. Do you need to enroll onto Medicare? Why is going straight to the insurance company to get a plan a terrible idea? How can you get the most affordable access to your prescriptions? All of this, and more!

The summer is usually a welcomed down-time for most Medicare recipients, so MediConnect gives you a heads up on what you should be thinking about during the warmer months as we look ahead to the upcoming Annual Enrollment Period. We are thrilled to welcome the amazing Lauren Yuran to our show!

*BREAKING NEWS*   Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians, and millions across America, may be losing their Medicaid eligibility in the coming months! Why is this happening? And what are your next steps, if you're impacted? Find out all you need to know, right here.

Big changes are in store for Medicare in 2024, which was outlined by the CMS Final Notice released in early April. MediConnect has all the details, such as the 3.32% increase in funding for Medicare and 2,000+ medical codes being eliminated!  So why might costs go up for you? Find out more here.