Great news – whether or not you retire at age 65, you are still eligible for Medicare! If you, or your spouse, are still employed you may have health insurance through that employer. The first step you should take before you enroll in Medicare is to talk with your human resources department. You will need […]
What are Air-Fluidized Beds and Who Needs One?
Anyone that has spent more than a week or two sick or injured in bed knows just how uncomfortable being bedridden can be. Fortunately, there are solutions for patients that need bed sore relief, including air-fluidized beds. Air fluidized beds are therapy beds that provide an ideal healing environment for patients with compromised skin. They […]
Does Medicare Cover Acupuncture?
Years ago I worked in a very high stress job that caused me to have severe headaches. However, the job came with a very unusual perk; We had a full-time acupuncturist on staff. Once a week I had a thirty minute session with Victor for treatments, including massage therapy, acupuncture, acupressure and electro-acupuncture. He helped […]
Does Medicare Cover Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screenings?
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a bulging, weakened area in the wall of the aorta resulting in an abnormal widening (ballooning) that’s in excess of 50 percent of the normal diameter. Most arterial aneurysms form in the abdominal aorta below the kidneys. This is called an infrarenal aneurysm. Aneurysms frequently continue to increase in size […]
Your Medicare Benefits During The Government Shutdown
While it looks like there may be a little progress being made in Washington between the Left and the Right, the “Government Shutdown” continues. No one likes uncertainty, so I thought today would be beneficial to summarize how the government shutdown is affecting Medicare beneficiaries. While Medicare as a whole is largely unaffected by the […]
Not so fast, Marco! Medicare only sets Medicare Advantage ‘basic requirements’
For the past two years U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio has vigorously opposed the new health care law for a lot of reasons. Now, he’s touring Florida shouting that his mother may be harmed by the president’s health care plan because she’s enrolled in Medicare Advantage. Not so fast, Sen. Rubio, you might have your facts […]
Medicare settlement helps seniors slow disease symptom progression with skilled care
The ruling of a recent court settlement helps Medicare beneficiaries in need of physical therapy coverage through skilled care. In Jimmo vs. Sebelius, the Center for Medicare Advocacy (CMA) claimed that contractors were denying Medicare claims for skilled care based on improvement standards used by therapists. The improvement standard requires that a patient must show […]
New 2013 Medicare Benefits Help You Stay Healthy.
If you have Medicare, read about what’s new for 2013. There are a few new benefits that you may not be aware of. 1. Get Healthier! If you need assistance to quit smoking or loose weight, your Original Medicare can help! Medicare beneficiaries are now entitled to a number of beneficial free preventive services that […]
Millions Paid to Ineligible Doctors by Medicare
According to the My San Antonio website, documents show primary care physicians in Hidalgo County, Texas were overpaid $64 million from 2003 until last year. “Doctors at 31 other Texas locations, including parts of San Antonio and North Central Bexar County, also received a still-undetermined amount in bonuses for providing medical and mental health care.” […]
Seniors In Medicare Stop Heart Drugs in the Gap!
The Medicare Part D Plan was put in place to provide “basic coverage,” but more and more senior use their policy as a safety net for all prescription medications. For many seniors this spells real trouble when they hit the coverage gap (aka, “donut hole”). According to a new story on NPR’s Health Blog, SHOTS, […]