Life After 50 Expo

Glaucoma Awareness!

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January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma—a group of diseases that causes optic nerve damage, sight impairment, and eventual vision loss—is most common in individuals over 60. Glaucoma cannot be cured, but symptoms can be lessened or prevented with early detection and treatment. Some optometrists say that regular exercise, not smoking, and eating more dark green vegetables can lessen an individual’s risk of getting glaucoma. Medicare covers once-a-year glaucoma screenings for those at risk, including individuals with diabetes or a family history of glaucoma, African American individuals aged 50+, and Hispanic American individuals aged 65+. The Glaucoma Foundation recommends that at-risk individuals see their doctor to be screened, as symptoms of the disease are not always immediately apparent.

Need to Know

Dear Marci,

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Dear Marci,

I switched from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan during Fall Open Enrollment last year, but now I realize that I preferred my Original Medicare coverage. Are there any options available to switch back, or do I have to wait until Fall Open Enrollment in 2016?

– Lindsey (Lincoln, NE)

Dear Lindsey,

You do not have to wait until Fall Open Enrollment to switch back to Original Medicare from your Medicare Advantage Plan. You can use the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP) to disenroll from your Medicare Advantage Plan and enroll in Original Medicare. The MADP runs from January 1 to February 14 of each year.

If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you will be able to switch to Original Medicare with or without a stand-alone Part D plan. Any changes you make during this period will take effect the first of the following month. For example, if you disenroll from your Medicare Advantage Plan and switch to Original Medicare in February, your coverage takes effect March 1. You will maintain your Medicare Advantage Plan coverage until the new effective date for your Original Medicare coverage. You can call 1-800-MEDICARE to make changes during this enrollment period.

It is important to think about how these changes could affect your Medigap enrollment rights. Medigaps are supplemental insurance policies that work with Original Medicare to cover certain cost-sharing obligations. According to federal laws, there are certain protected times when you can buy a Medigap, including the first six months that you have Part B, or within 63 days of losing certain types of coverage. Protected means that insurance companies must give you the best available rate and cannot deny you coverage. These federal regulations do not extend to changes made during the MADP, but some states may offer additional enrollment protections. Depending on where you live, you may or may not be able to buy a Medigap if you disenroll from your Medicare Advantage Plan to switch back to Original Medicare. To learn more about the Medigap enrollment rules in your state, you can contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).

Before making any changes, make sure you know how changing your health and drug coverage may affect you. There are certain differences between Medicare Advantage Plans and Original Medicare. For instance, Medicare Advantage Plans may restrict coverage to provider networks, while Original Medicare covers services as long as you go to a provider who accepts Medicare and takes assignment. On the other hand, some Medicare Advantage Plans include coverage of services that are otherwise excluded from Medicare coverage, such as basic vision and dental benefits.

It is important to weigh your health care options before making changes during this period. You may not have a chance to change your coverage again until Fall Open Enrollment in October 2016, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period during the year.

– Marci

New Year’s Thoughts on Healthy Body, Mind and Spirit !

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The New Year is a time for resolutions and review. What is the state of our healthy body, mind and spirit?

I give thanks for family and friends. For opportunity and challenge. For blessings and road blocks.

So much to be thankfull for .  Most of us are blessed far more than we deserve and yet less than we desire.

Let this be the year that we resolve to do better and to be better.

With all the trouble spots around the world, let us  hope and pray for peace for all those who desire peace.  And let us give thanks for those who serve in the military and other areas that guard our safety.

Now is the time to move forward individually and collectively to achieve more, to love more and to give more

Drug Spending Dashboard

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Part of an ongoing effort to provide more transparency and health care data, the White House recently announced a new tool called the Medicare Drug Spending Dashboard. The tool provides public information about how much money is spent on prescription drugs in Medicare Part B and Part D. The tool can be used to learn key facts about prescription drug spending, including the top Part D prescription drugs with the highest total spending, medicines with the largest percent increase in price, and prescription drugs with the highest cost-sharing for beneficiaries.

Conference on Aging 2015 Summary

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Last week, the final report for the 2015 White House Conference on Aging was released summarizing the work done by the conference and the feedback received by older adults, caregivers, and advocacy groups. Taking place during the 50th year of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act, and the 80th year of Social Security, the conference and the report highlight the importance of these programs and initiatives to improve benefits for today’s seniors and future generations.

Leading up to the conference, Medicare Rights advocated for enhanced support for people with Medicare, including better information for people nearing Medicare eligibility and transitioning from existing coverage. The report highlights the Administration’s response to this advocacy through a combined effort by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Social Security Administration to improve education materials about Medicare enrollment and creating online information and frequently asked questions to prevent Medicare enrollment confusion.

Additionally, the report recognizes the concerns express by Medicare Rights and others surrounding the level of confusion about when to enroll in Part B and the adverse financial consequences of inappropriately delaying enrollment. The report takes note of recommendations to create a federal interagency process to further improve notification for people nearing Medicare eligibility and expresses a commitment to finding better ways to educate this population as well as employers about Medicare enrollment.