Limited income will no longer stand between Medicare beneficiaries and the health care treatment they need, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

The Low-Income Subsidy Program - or "Extra Help" - effective this year will keep generic drug costs at $2.50 or less for Medicare beneficiaries, while brand-name drugs will cost no more than $6.30. About 1.8 million people with Medicare could be eligible for these savings, according to the report.

"These changes to the 'Extra Help' program make it easier for more people to get help paying for their prescription drugs," Marilyn Tavenner, CMS principal deputy administrator, said. "Even if you were turned down for 'Extra Help' before, you should reapply."

The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 also makes Medicare more affordable for many individuals by changing income calculation to exclude life insurance coverage and financial assistance from family and friends used toward food, rent, utilities and mortgage payments.

Medicare beneficiaries must have income below $16,245 and no more than $12,510 in resources, which includes stocks, bonds and bank accounts. This government-sponsored health insurance program will also benefit from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

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Shopping for auto insurance sometimes seems like an overwhelming process. Hundreds of auto insurance specialists constantly vie for your business, making the decision of which one to choose complicated.

But choosing one that will always be there to meet your needs, answer your questions and give you the personalized service you want can be done. Here's how.

Company Stability

Company stability is one of the most important elements to consider when searching for the right car insurance company, and is easily determined by visiting a few key Web sites. The first place to check is your state department of insurance, easily found by conducting a search on your favorite search engine. Your state's DOI can tell you whether insurers are licensed to conduct business in your state, and how particular providers rate, according to consumers who have already done business with them.

Check each company's ability to pay claims by examining its financial strength rating. Independent ratings companies like Standard & Poor's, A.M. Best and Moody's provide categories against which you may compare insurers' stability. You can contact the insurers themselves for their company ratings, or request them from these ratings services.

Customer Service

Many DOIs create a complaint ratio that takes into account both business volume and overall customer satisfaction. It is important to compare insurers of equal size to get a true feel for how they rate in both categories comparatively.

But complaint rate is only one important measure of customer service. Other issues to consider include insurer claims hours, convenience and ease in finding an office near you, and customer service philosophy. You want an insurer who will work to meet your needs, making it easy to file a claim or get reimbursed for repairs following an accident.

It is important to determine what is most important to you before selecting a company to fit your particular situation. Often, the customer service you receive depends upon carrier size. Local or regional carriers have far fewer offices but may give you more personalized service. Larger, national specialists may have many offices but make you feel like just another number, rather than a valuable customer.

Become knowledgeable about how others rate providers before deciding to use their services yourself. What friends, family and other consumers have to say could help you find the best insurer around—or save you a lot of heartache.

Making the Final Choice

Don't let finding an auto insurance specialist confuse you. Find out how stable and reliable each insurer is before you make that final decision. Then proceed with confidence, knowing you've done everything possible to ensure a positive experience.

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Many people lament the purchase of auto insurance. So we’re here to make it less painful. Check out these six money-saving tips and take the sting out of buying insurance.

#1 Raise your deductible. It’s a gamble, sure. You’ll be responsible for a larger amount of the bill should you get into an accident. However, this is a guaranteed way to lower your annual insurance costs.

#2 Shop around. Staying with the same insurance company year after year may not be in your best interest. You can cancel or change your policy at any time—you don’t need to wait for the policy to expire. So shop your insurance every six months and compare prices to ensure you are getting the best deal.

#3 Remove unneeded extras. Although knowing you have towing and rental car coverage may help you sleep at night, those add-ons are rarely used and not necessarily worth the cost. You pay between $10 and $30 a year over the life of your policy to cover towing. And in the unlikely situation that you need a tow, you’ll pay about $100. Likewise, a small economy car costs $20-$25 a day to rent and car rental tacks on another $20-$40 to your insurance bill each year. So you can sleep well knowing that you saved yourself some money.

#4 Protect your credit. More insurers have begun using credit-based insurance scores to determine what you pay for your policy. So paying the water bill on time will actually keep your insurance costs down.

#5 Research discounts. Cars with safety and anti-theft devices cost less to insure. You can also knock off a few bucks if you insure your car and home with the same company. People who abstain from alcohol, get good grades in school or take a driver education course are also rewarded with lower premiums.

#6 Get informed. The easiest way to save on any insurance is to research before you buy. And get recommendations from family and friends.

And now for the shameless plug: shop here to find quotes and matched with agents from your area!