Anxiety disorders are often a product of stress. From GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) to panic disorder, you can cut back on the anxiety in your life simply by reducing stress. Stress is normal in daily life no matter who you are, but if you let your stress take control of your life, serious problems will arise. Fortunately, ongoing stress is easy to overcome, but it is important to know the steps to doing so.
Stress is an internal reaction triggers by external factors, like pressure. One of the best ways to overcome these reactions is with plenty of exercise. Daily exercise can help you learn to physically deal with stress by improving your tolerance to stress during exercise. During a panic attack, most people feel short of breath and a pounding heart. A hard workout gives you these same experiences, but in a healthy way. AS you exercise more and more, you push your body to accept these conditions without panicking.
Getting a good night’s sleep is also very important to reducing stress. Stress can physically wear out a person’s body, and without sleep, you will feel the effects of stress much more readily. This can lead to anxiety disorders very easily. To get enough sleep, make sure that you schedule at least 8 hours for sleeping. Don’t eat or drink lots of sugar or caffeine products before bedtime and try to do relaxing activities in the few hours before bedtime. If necessary, see your doctor for help with sleeping problems.
Another key to reducing stress is to schedule time for non-work related activities. Take vacations or at least days off in order to have fun. Work is a major cause of stress, and with that stress comes worry about money, health, and many other things. By setting aside specific time to enjoy yourself with loved ones or on your own, you can physically and mentally set aside the stress for at least a few hours. Try to have at least an hour to yourself every day and an entire long weekend every few months to purely enjoy fun activities.
Lastly, work to reduce stress by learning to think a bit differently about life. Some of the most stressed-out people are perfectionists. While this can be a good trait, it can also go too far. Know when to let something go. Also, think positively about your life. When you worry that you aren’t good enough or are upset about little things, they really add up to hurt you. Managing your thought process is just part of the battle, but if you work at reducing stress, you can avoid developing anxiety problems.
Dear Marci,
| Dear Marci, I received a health care service that I believe should be covered by Medicare, but a few months ago, I got a notice saying that it would not be covered. Because I was very sick at the time, I missed the deadline for appealing that is listed on the notice. Is there any way I can still appeal the denial? -Evelyn (Durham, NC) Dear Evelyn, You may still be able to appeal Medicare’s decision to deny coverage for your care. An appeal is a formal request for review of a decision made by Original Medicare or your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. When initially filing a Medicare appeal (and at each level of appeal), there is a limited time to file. However, after the deadline has passed, if you can show good cause for not filing on time, your late appeal may be considered. You can request a good cause extension at any level of appeal, and it is available for Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Part D appeals. Extension requests are considered on a case-by-case basis, so there is no complete list of acceptable reasons for filing a late appeal, but some examples include:The notice you are appealing was mailed to the wrong address.A Medicare representative gave you incorrect information about the claim you are appealing.Illness—either yours or a close family member’s—prevented you from handling business matters.The person you are helping appeal a claim is illiterate, does not speak English, or could not otherwise read or understand the coverage notice.If you think you have a good reason for not appealing on time, follow the instructions on the notice for appealing, and include a clear explanation of why your appeal is late. If the reason has to do with illness or other medical condition, a letter or supporting documentation from your health care provider can be helpful. Some other general rules to follow when appealing the denial of a health service or item are:Try to understand the reason that your plan is denying coverage for your health service or item.Address any relevant coverage rules in your appeal letter, and encourage your doctor to do the same.If you need assistance understanding the coverage rules surrounding the service or item in question, you can contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for assistance by calling 877-839-2675 or visiting www.shiptacenter.orgKeep good records of all your communications throughout the appeals process. Some ways to do this are:Submit your requests in writing.Keep proof of when you send your appeal.Keep all fax transmission reports, mail information by certified mail, or return receipts.Write down details about phone calls regarding your appeal. This includes what you discussed, who you spoke to, and the date and time of the call.If you think you need help appealing, you can appoint a representative. The representative can be a friend, family member, doctor, or lawyer.-Marci |
10 ways to reach your self improvement goals!
One of the best ways to self improve is to accomplish your goals. This can lead to pride, to self-respect and to a better sense of responsibility.
1) Recognize your own path- when it comes to reaching your goals and improving your life, you need to be the leader. You are in control of what you want and your goals should come down to you and you alone. Just because your Dad wants you to be a lawyer and your Mom wants you to have 5 children does not mean this is what you have to do- it’s your life and thus, you are the boss.
2) Disassociate yourself from negativity- in the same way positive thoughts lead to positive results, negative thoughts leads to negative results. Negativity may be all around you- bitchy co-workers; unhappy neighbors; a depressing partner. Disassociate yourself from those types of people. You are in a happy, positive place- no negativity allowed.
3). Define your goals clearly- goals are what make life worth living. Think long and hard about what you want to accomplish and how you are going to get there. Make steps, include financial costs and put in as much detail as possible- the more defined your goals are, the easier they will be to achieve (and the more rewarding when you get there).
4) Push jealously aside- when you watch someone on a parallel path reaching their goals a lot sooner, it can be hard to sit back and be happy for them. But this is what you are going to have to do. Getting rid of this envy and resentment is a big hurdle in improving your self. But, once you overcome these feelings, you are a lot closer to reaching a state of Zen-like success.
5) Use visual reminders as boosters- being able to clearly see your goal can help motivate you and keep you focused on your game plan. Many people will post a picture of their ‘dream body’ on the fridge when they are trying to lose weight. Others will use their ‘dream car’ as their computer screen saver at work when those tough days get them down. A visual reminder can boost your motivation and drive to succeed.
6) See yourself at the end- as mentioned above, visualization is vital to reach your goal and improve your self. This is why it’s important to visualize yourself there. See yourself fitting into that size 10. Feel the breeze on your cheeks as you drive that sports car. Seeing is believing.
7) Use timelines- tracking your success can help you put your goal into perspective and see how far you’ve already come. It’s important for self-improvement that you recognize your feats and be proud of what you have doing, or are planning to do.
8) Reward yourself on the way- be happy with your progress. Whether your goal will take you twenty days or twenty years doesn’t matter- the important thing is that you are doing it. You are getting there. To keep yourself motivated every step of the way, you need to reward yourself with small treats. Be proud of how far you have come and prepare for the journey ahead.
9) Look for role models- look to those who are on the same path as you for inspiration. Perhaps this is a CEO of the company; perhaps this is your father. Try to immerse yourself in their life and ask questions. Their positive energy may just rub off on you. And, if not, at least you are learning from the experts how to get where you want to go.
10) Make room for failure- it can’t be a smooth road all the time- there has to be plenty of bumps along the way. In fact, it is these bumps that make the road worth traveling. Failure is a big part of our lives and we need to learn to live, love and laugh at failure rather than give in to it. Henry Ford once said that every failed attempt is just another opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently. Failure is experience and experience is power.
Dear Marci,
| Dear Marci, My doctor believes I need a medical procedure, but a representative from my Medicare Advantage Plan said that it will not be covered. Is there anything I can do to ask my plan to reconsider? -Isabel (Dover, DE) Dear Isabel, If your Medicare Advantage Plan denies coverage for a health service or item before you have received the service or item, you can appeal to ask your plan to reconsider its decision. Follow the steps below if you feel that the denied health service or item should be covered by your plan. Note: You will follow different appeal processes if your plan has denied coverage for care you have already received or a prescription drug.Before you can start your appeal, you will need to get an official written decision from your plan, called a Notice of Denial of Medical Coverage. You are typically first told verbally that your plan will not cover a service or item when you or your doctor call to confirm coverage before the service is provided. If the plan tells you that the service or item will not be covered, they should also send you the Notice of Denial of Medical Coverage. You should receive this written denial within 14 days.You can request a fast (expedited) appeal if you or your doctor feel that your health could be seriously harmed by waiting the standard timeline for appeal decisions. If your plan approves your request to expedite, it should issue a decision within 72 hours. For this and the following levels of appeal, your doctor can ask that the plan follow the expedited timeline.Start your appeal by following the instructions on the Notice of Denial of Medical Coverage. Make sure to file your appeal within 60 days of the date on this notice. You will need to send a letter to your plan explaining why you need the service or item. You may also want to ask your doctor to write a letter of support, explaining why you need care and addressing the plan’s concerns. Your plan should make a decision within 30 days. If you file an expedited appeal, your plan should make a decision within 72 hours.In some cases, your plan can extend its decision deadline up to 14 days. You should be notified if this happens.If you don’t receive a Notice of Denial of Medical Coverage within two weeks (or 28 days if your plan extended its decision deadline), you can file an appeal without it. Start your appeal by sending a letter to your plan explaining that it has been two weeks since you initially requested an item or service, and you have not received a denial notice. If possible, include a doctor’s letter of support. You may also want to file a grievance.If you have a good reason for missing your appeal deadline, you may be eligible for a good cause extension.If the appeal is successful, your service or item will be covered. If you appeal is denied, you should receive a written denial notice. Your plan should also automatically forward your appeal to the next level, the Independent Review Entity (IRE). There are several further steps in the appeals process that you may be able to follow if your appeal continues to be denied. Remember to keep good records of all your communications throughout the appeals process. You should submit all requests in writing, and keep fax transmission reports, mail information by certified mail, or return receipts. Write down the details of any phone calls you make related to your case, including what you discussed, who you spoke to, and the date and time of the call. If you need assistance understanding the coverage rules surrounding a health service or item, or help completing your appeal, you can contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for assistance by calling 877-839-2675. -Marci |
Dear Marci,
Dear Marci,
I have Medicare, and my doctor has recommended getting several vaccines in the coming year. How will Medicare cover these vaccines?
-Lorelai (Lancaster, PA)
Dear Lorelai,
Vaccines that you receive in an outpatient setting may be covered by Medicare Part B or Part D. Part D covers most vaccines that your doctor recommends you get, with a few exceptions (see below). Part D plans must include most commercially available vaccines on their formularies, including the vaccine for shingles (herpes zoster).
The amount you pay for your vaccine may vary depending on where you are vaccinated. Make sure to check your plan’s coverage rules and see where you can get your vaccine at the lowest cost. Typically, you will pay the least for your vaccinations at:
- In-network pharmacies
- A doctor’s office that
- Coordinates with a pharmacy to bill your Part D plan for the entire cost of the vaccination process (the drug and its injection)
- Or, can bill your plan directly for the vaccination process using an electronic billing system
When you are vaccinated in either of the above settings, you should only need to pay the plan’s approved coinsurance or copay for the drug and vaccination process. When you get a vaccine, ask the provider to call your Part D plan first to find out if your provider can bill your Part D plan directly. If this is possible, you should not have to pay the full out-of-pocket cost and later request reimbursement from your plan.
You may end up paying more for your vaccination if your provider:
- Cannot coordinate with a pharmacy to bill your Part D plan for the entire cost of the vaccination process (the drug and its injection)
- And/or, cannot bill your plan directly for the vaccination process using an electronic billing system
In these circumstances, your provider will bill you for the entire cost of the vaccination (the drug and its injection). You will have to pay the entire bill up front and request reimbursement from your Part D plan. It is important to know that your provider may charge you more than the Part D-approved amount for the vaccination, but your plan will only reimburse up to the approved amount—and you will not be refunded for any amount you pay the provider above the Part D-approved amount.
If you have Extra Help, the federal program that helps pay for some to most of the out-of-pocket costs of Medicare prescription drug coverage, you can go to any provider or in-network pharmacy to get vaccines. You will be covered for your vaccination and will only be responsible for the Extra Help copay. However, if you get your vaccine from a provider who does not directly bill your plan, you may need to pay the entire bill up front and then request reimbursement from your plan.
Part B covers the vaccines for the flu, pneumonia, and hepatitis B in the following situations:
- Flu: Part B covers one flu shot every flu season. The flu season runs from November through April. Depending on when you choose to get your flu shot, Medicare may cover a flu shot twice in one calendar year. For example, if you get a shot in January 2019 for the 2018/2019 flu season, you could get another shot in October 2019 for the 2019/2020 flu season.
- Pneumonia: Part B covers two separate pneumonia vaccines. Part B covers the first shot if you have never received Part B coverage for a pneumonia shot before. You are covered for a different, second vaccination one year after receiving the first shot. You are not required to provide a vaccination history when receiving the pneumonia vaccine. You can verbally tell the health care professional administering the shot if/when you have received past shots.
- Hepatitis B: Medicare Part B covers the hepatitis B vaccine if you are at medium or high risk for hepatitis B (If you are at a low risk, the shot will be covered under Part D).
If you qualify for Part B coverage of a flu, pneumonia, or hepatitis B shot, Original Medicare covers these vaccinations at 100% of the Medicare-approved amount when you receive the service from a participating provider. This means you pay nothing (no deductible or coinsurance). Medicare Advantage Plans are required to cover these vaccines without applying deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance when you see an in-network provider and meet Medicare’s eligibility requirements for the service.
Part B also covers certain vaccines after you have been exposed to a dangerous virus or disease. For example, Part B will cover a tetanus shot if you step on a rusty nail, or a rabies shot if you are bitten by a dog. Original Medicare covers 80% of the Medicare approved amount for these vaccines after you meet the Part B deductible, and you will be responsible for a 20% coinsurance charge. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, contact your plan to learn about the cost-sharing for vaccines like these.
-Marci
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- …
- 169
- Next Page »