Medicare Death Panel

As of January 1, 2011 there is a new Medicare Wellness Benefit that some call a Death Panel.  Let me tell you my story.

In Spring 1986 my Mother was hit by a car while crossing a street.  She was severly injured.  Forehead was crushed…brain damaged, plus a lot of other injuries.  She had turned 67 in January.

A week earlier we were riding around and talking about an older couple who died because of a house fire.   My Mother told me “If something happens to me, don’t put me on life supports.”

Then the accident.  My two sisters and I were in shock.  If she didn’t have brain surgery she would die.  Surgery had to be done immediately.    We wanted our Mother so we said,  “operate”, not knowing that the next 9 years 9 months would be hell.

I won’t go into all of it, but if  there had been an annual check up, where these kind of things could have been discussed,  we may have honored her wishes.  For the record, I am pro-life all the way and do not want any part of assisted suicide or abortion.

But sometimes hard choices have to be made and they are best made while  in our right minds.  Of course she could have had a living will….she did not….and I don’t either.  This is why I am for the new Medicare Annual Wellness check up.  I don’t think of it is a “Death Panel” but a time to discuss a lot of things.  And maybe to prevent something before it is too late.  And now my Doctor will be paid to help me.

I already have a wellness appointment scheduled and will be discussing such things.   How about you?

Medicare Now Requires Face to Face Meeting with Doctor to Receive Home Health Care and Hospice Care

January 1, 2011

A new federal regulation issued by Medicare in November will create a crisis for approximately 4.5 million home health and hospice service patients. Starting on January 1, homebound elderly and disabled patients as well as hospice patients will now need to have a “face-to-face encounter” with a physician or nurse practitioner if they want to receive care under Medicare.  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/211993.php

This is a regulation that needs to be changed.  There are instances where the patient is unable to go to a doctor.  For more information click here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/211993.php

Paper Social Security Checks to Stop

The U.S. government is phasing out paper checks for those on Social Security.

Anyone applying for benefits on or after May 1, 2011 will receive their payments electronically.

For those currently receiving paper checks they will have to change by March 1, 2013.  

For more information click on this link: http://on.wsj.com/epH3pH

Medicare Disenrollment Jan.1-Feb.14

The Medicare Annual Disenrollment Period has started.  This is a change from the 2010 Open Enrollment period which started January 1 and ended March 31.  The options for change are limited in 2011.

Starting January 1, 2011 and ending February 14, 2011  the only change that someone with a  Stand-alone-Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan with Prescription Drug Coverage Plan can make is to return to original Medicare.

After disenrolling  from a Medicare Advantage Plan with Drug Coverage you will be allowed to choose another drug plan.  If the Medicare Advantage Plan did not have drug coverage you will not be allowed to choose another drug plan.

There are two ways to disenroll.  Call Medicare or the plan.  Once disenrolled and back in Original Medicare you may want to consider a Medicare Supplement to cover the copays and deductibles.  These deductibles have increased for 2011.

For more info on those deductibles please visit my website www.deannacarlisle.com