Hospitals facing big fines for readmitted Medicare patients | Watch the video – Yahoo! News

Hospitals facing big fines for readmitted Medicare patients | Watch the video – Yahoo! News.

This is a serious problem for Medicare Beneficiaries.  The doctor sends you home….. you get worse and have to go back to hospital……Hospitals will be fined or not paid.

Something else needs to be done!!!

Seniors are Reminded That October 15 Begins the 2013 Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage Plan Annual Open Enrollment Period | Press Releases

Q1Medicare.com reminds seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries that the annual Open Enrollment Period will begin on Monday, October 15, 2012 and will continue through Friday, December 7, 2012. During the 2013 Open Enrollment Period, Medicare beneficiaries can join a new 2013 Medicare prescription drug plan or Medicare Advantage plan, drop their Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, return back to Original Medicare from their Medicare Advantage plan, or change their existing Medicare Part D prescription drug or Medicare Advantage plan coverage.

via Seniors are Reminded That October 15 Begins the 2013 Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage Plan Annual Open Enrollment Period | Press Releases.

Getting outpatient therapy? Be sure you know Medicare’s limits « The Medicare Blog

Getting outpatient therapy? Be sure you know Medicare’s limits « The Medicare Blog.

These are 2012 therapy cap amounts posted 10-1-2012, wonder when the 2013 will post!

Are you getting physical therapy after a hip replacement? Speech-language pathology services after a stroke? Anytime you get outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech-language pathology services, be sure you know the limits for how much Medicare will pay.

Medicare helps pay for medically-necessary outpatient physical and occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services. There are limits, called “therapy caps,” on these services when you get them from most outpatient providers.

The therapy cap amounts for 2012 are:

• $1,880 for physical therapy (PT) and speech-language pathology (SLP) services combined
• $1,880 for occupational therapy (OT) services

You may qualify to get an exception so that Medicare will continue to pay its share for your services after you reach the therapy cap limits. Your therapist must document your need for medically-necessary services in your medical record, and your therapist’s billing office must indicate on your claim for services above the therapy cap that your outpatient therapy services are medically necessary.

New Report: Medigap Continues to Be a Popular Coverage Option for Medicare Beneficiaries

New Report: Medigap Continues to Be a Popular Coverage Option for Medicare Beneficiaries.

The number of people choosing Medigap coverage is increasing, according to an annual report by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). The report found that enrollment in Medigap coverage increased by 100,000 individuals, from 9.7 million in December 2010 to 9.8 million in December 2011. The report also highlights which Medigap options are most popular.

Medigap coverage provides seniors with financial security and peace of mind about their health care coverage. By filling in some of the holes that traditional Medicare does not cover, Medigap policies help budget for the predictable and unpredictable costs associated with an injury or illness. Seniors have a variety of Medigap coverage options that allows them to pick the plan that best fits their individual needs.

Key findings from the report include:

• Most Medicare beneficiaries obtain coverage that provides benefits beyond traditional Medicare (Part A or B), whether through Medigap, Medicaid, employer-based retiree plans, or comprehensive coverage through Medicare Advantage.

• In 2011, most Medicare beneficiaries with Medigap coverage were enrolled in Plan F (51 percent) and fourteen percent were enrolled in Plan C. Both of these plans cover 100 percent of the deductibles and coinsurance not covered by Medicare.

• Many new Medicare beneficiaries are choosing to enroll in plans that contain at least some cost-sharing. High-deductible Plan F, and newer standardized Medigap plans K, L, M, and N—which have copayments, coinsurance or deductibles—made up 23 percent of new Medigap purchases in 2011. Plan N, which includes cost sharing of up to $20 for physician office visits and up to $50 for certain emergency room visits, represented 18 percent of newly purchased Medigap policies in 2011 and was the most popular of the newer plans.

The study examined data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and from an AHIP member survey of newly purchased cost-sharing policies issued through 2011 by Medigap carriers representing about 45 percent of the national Medigap market.

For more information about the Partnership to Protect Medigap, visit www.protectmedigap.org.

June is Cataract Awareness Month

If you have Medicare this short video will give you helpful info concerning eye care.

 

5 Best Toothpastes | Yahoo! Health

 

5 Best Toothpastes | Yahoo! Health.

Good oral hygiene can help you fend off a host of health problems, including heart disease,” says Kenneth Young DDS, NY.

Regular checkups are necessary for prevention and to spot problems. But could something as simple as choosing the right toothpaste also be what you need?

There are toothpastes for sensitive teeth, whitening teeth, fluoride protection. I didn’t know about the Natural Health Tooth Paste or the SuperSmile. Will have to check them out!

The top 5 according to Yahoo! Health are:
1. Sensodyne: Best for sensitive teeth

2. Colgate Total: Best for Gum Health

3. Crest Pro Health: Best All Around

4: Natural Health: Best for Natural Healthy Teeth & Gums

5. Super Smile: Best for Whitening

Seniors Need Exercise

 

I find myself getting stiffer and stiffer the older I get and the longer I sit at my computer.  My husband had a terrific idea……set the timer and when it goes off get up and exercise.  That is what I am doing.

Sometimes I walk around and do stretches.  That really helps.  Exercise gives me better mobility and helps with pain.

CMS NEWS: Medicare redesigns claims and benefits statement

Medicare Redesigns Medicare Summary Notice

Medicare has redesigned the Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) that a beneficiary receives when a claim has been filed.  Many have found the old forms confusing.

The new forms will be easier to read and understand.  They will not be used until 2013,  they will be sent out quarterly and be available online.

To see a side-by-side comparison of the former and redesigned MSNs, please visit:  Old Form and New Design

Medicare adds Five New Preventive Services

Five new preventive benefits were added to the list of free services available to people with Medicare. These newly-covered services include:

• Annual depression screening;

• Intensive obesity screening and behavioral counseling;

• Annual cardiovascular screening;

• Annual alcohol misuse screening; and

• STD/STI screening.

  For a complete list of Preventive Services Click Here.

  A word of caution…..some Preventive Services are Free….but others have copays. 

   Be sure and ask your provider if there is a charge.

Boomers not confident they can pay medical expenses in retirement | BenefitsPro

Boomers not confident they can pay medical expenses in retirement | BenefitsPro.

Boomers will be rethinking their retirement.  Many will continue working or find other ways to cut back to pay for health care.

Another way to cut down on the expenses of health care  would be to do those things that keep us healthy.  Watch our weight, exercise, stay happy and content.

Sometimes that that takes work, but anything worth while takes work.