Page 10 - Copyright 2013 - Pamplin Media Group

Page 10 September 25, 2013 Senior Lifestyles
E ach year, Medicare open
enrollment brings with it
changes that can affect
nearly 50 million people. The
limited enrollment timeframe of
just 54 days – Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 –
gives all Medicare beneficiaries
the opportunity to change their
Medicare plans for the coming
year to better match their needs
and potentially save on health
care costs. This includes anyone
u s i n g o r i g i n a l Me d i c a r e ,
Medicare Advantage or Part D
prescription drug plans.
If your Medicare coverage
worked well during the previous
year, it may seem simple to con-
t i nue wi t h t ho s e ex i s t i ng
Medicare plans.
But there are many reasons
why this annual enrollment sea-
son should grab the attention of
Medicare beneficiaries, accord-
ing to Paula Muschler, manager
of the Allsup Medicare Advisor,
a Medicare plan selection service
that includes customized re-
search and enrollment assistance.
“In the broadest terms, your
Med i ca r e p l ans may have
changed what they cover, or your
own needs may have changed, or
both,” Muschler said. “If you
continue with the same plan next
year, you could find your plan
doesn’t cover things you thought
it did or that you need, leaving
you holding the bill.”
Muschler outlined the follow-
ing six reasons why beneficiaries
should review their Medicare
plans during the annual open en-
rollment season.
— Your health situ-
ation has changed.
Perhaps you have de-
veloped a health con-
dition in the previous
12 months that re-
quires a new prescrip-
tion drug or ongoing
visits to a specialist. It’s impor-
tant to know whether the plan
you have, or decide to purchase,
covers these health needs.
— Your health care provider
situation has changed. Physi-
cians may retire or relocate, and
medical facilities may change
their terms. A number
of developments could
lead your plans to no
longer include the
doctors you see or the
medical center you
visit. “If your doctor
choice is important to
you, this is a good rea-
son to study your options and
possibly switch Medicare plans,”
she said.
— Your coverage changes.
Plans can alter the drugs, proce-
dures and conditions they cover.
For example, your prescription
drug Part D plan may no longer
cover the prescription drugs you
need to purchase in the coming
year, or puts restrictions on how
and where you purchase them.
“Questions about prescription
drug costs are one of the top con-
cerns our … specialists en-
counter,” Muschler said. “This is
especially critical for those who
fall into the prescription drug
donut hole.” The donut hole is
the gap of coverage in which the
individual pays a greater percent-
age of the drug cost.
— Your plan premiums, co-
pays or deductibles are increas-
ing. Price changes occur year to
year, so examine the prices you
have been paying and what you
can expect to pay in the coming
year.
There may be alternative plans
with lower costs available in
your area that an experienced
Medicare specialist can locate.
— You have moved or are
planning to move. It’s important
to consider your Medicare plans
when moving because you may
leave the plan’s service area or
have additional options.
— Your current plan no longer
will be available. In these in-
stances, beneficiaries must select
a new plan, or they may default
to another plan chosen by the
Centers for Medicare & Medic-
aid Services.
“Sometimes plans are elimi-
nated because the provider offers
a similar plan, but it’s still im-
portant to compare that coverage
to what you actually need in the
coming year,” she said.
Each fall, Medicare partici-
pants receive their Annual Notice
of Change (ANOC) and Evi-
dence of Coverage (EOC) from
their current Medicare Advantage
and Part D providers.
“It’s important you read this
information,” Muschler said.
“Take time to review your cur-
rent health care needs, and then
compare this to the plan’s cover-
age for the coming year.
Reviewing your Medicare
plan options earlier rather than
later will put you in a better posi-
tion to make changes during the
annual enrollment window.”
Brandpoint Media
The enrollment period
begins Oct. 15 and lasts
less than two months for
people to adjust their
plans
Six reasons to switch Medicare plans for 2014
Some seniors may want to have family members or friends help them make choices in their Medicare planning.
There’s no time like Healthy Aging
Month – September – for a reminder
that exercise and healthful eating can
help prevent disease and injury as we get
older.
Here are a few tips from Dr. David Per-
imutter — a board-certified neurologist,
fellow of the American College of Nutri-
tion and author of “The Better Brain Book”
and “Power Up Your Brain” – on how
older adults can increase longevity and
maintain their health.
Take 800 to 1,000 milligrams of DHA
(docosahexaenoic acid) every day. Studies
have shown that DHA (an omega-3 fatty
acid) is associated with a reduction in risk
for Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally,
omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the risk of
death in the elderly and may even increase
lifespan, according to recent research from
the Harvard School of Public Health and
the University of Washington.
Get 20 minutes of aerobic exercise, un-
interrupted, at least six times a week. Re-
search shows that exercise activates genes
that create enhanced levels of BDNF, the
brain’s growth hormone. Increased BDNF
translates into increased growth of new
cells in the brain’s memory center and is
correlated with improved memory func-
tion.
Find out if you are gluten sensitive. As
many as 30 percent of Americans may be
gluten sensitive and some research sug-
gests that gluten sensitivity might increase
the risk of dementia.
Healthy aging among seniors: It’s all about diet and exercise
“In the broadest
terms, your Medicare
plans may have
changed what they
cover, or your own
needs may have
changed, or both. ”