Tag Archive for insurance

admin | 07/10/2012
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4 Tips To Help You Save On Prescription Drugs

Medicare Prescription DrugsPrescription drugs can be very costly. Luckily, those who qualify for Medicare have the option to enroll in a Medicare Part D drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan to help alleviate drug costs. These plans can sometimes cover up to seventy five percent of prescription drug costs. But even with three quarters of the cost covered, prescription medication can still be a serious financial concern. If Medicare already covers some of your prescription drug costs, what can you do to reduce the remaining costs after coverage?

There are a few ways to save on prescription drugs beoynd your Medicare plan’s coverage…

  • First and foremost, see if you qualify for Extra Help with drug costs. If you are enrolled in a Medicare drug plan, live in the United States, and have limited resources and income, you may be eligible. Social Security deals with Extra Help claims. They have information regarding eligibility available on their website and you can even apply online.
  • Second, make sure you are making use of generic drugs. They are significantly cheaper and more accessible than many brand names. Generic alternatives to brand name drugs are available throughout the country and will always save you money over regularly priced brand names. Contact your doctor and pharmacist to see what generics will fit your needs.
  • Another way to save some money on medication is to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about free samples. They receive a certain allotment of samples that they can give to patients free of charge. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of this if you find your prescription in sample form. As long as you are not abusing their generosity, most doctors and pharmacists will be happy to help.
  • Finally, many people don’t know that there are coupons available for many name brand drugs. Sometimes finding them can be as simple as a quick search on a search engine. The key to obtaining these coupons is being willing to ask. Ask your doctor, your pharmacists, even try asking the manufacturer directly, either by phone or email. Like the coupons you use at the grocery store, these coupons often have expiration dates. Make sure to be aware of these dates so you don’t miss out on the potential savings.

Hopefully these tips can help you save some money on your prescription drugs. If you have any more money saving ideas that have worked for you or someone you know, feel free to share them in the comments. Do you think you could find another way to save money with a Part D drug plan? Let us know!

Category: Compare Medicare Plans, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Tips, Prescription Drug Coverage | Tags: , , , , ,
Lucy Dylan | 08/17/2010
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Lookin’ Good In Those Genes!

People all over the world are living longer.  Worldwide, few people reach the age of 100, and those who do are often celebrated for their longevity.  Only one out of every six thousand people will blow out the candles on their 100th birthday cake. Even fewer people  (one out of every seven million) have lived beyond age 100 into their 110s or 120s. Currently, the United States and Japan are home to the largest numbers of people aged 100 or older world wide.

But how can you live such a long life?

Part of the credit can go to the improved medical care available after World War II, especially in the United States. Resources like Medicare and nursing facilities specialized in elder care have undoubtedly helped boost those numbers. Still, health care is likely only one small piece of the puzzle.

Such longevity has often proved puzzling to the general public and researchers alike.  Some experts believe that diet and exercise are key to a long, healthy life.  Over 40,000 people over the age of 100 currently live in Japan, quadruple the number from a decade ago. The large population of centenarians and super centenarians in Okinawa, Japan highlights the importance of diet to lifespan. In Okinawa, the standard diet is high in fish, soy, seaweed, and other vegetables, reducing obesity, diabetes, and other diseases.

In Vilcabamba, Ecuador, there is yet another group of centenarians. Allegedly, one man lived for 127 years, and his relatives attribute his longevity to the village’s traditional diet.  Vilcabamba natives drink traditional horchata tea, and low-cholesterol, low fat diets.  The elderly also remain physically active: according to a Boston Globe article, one 92 year old man stopped working the bean fields a year before the reporter’s visit.  The elderly in Vilcabamba continued working, walking, and even romancing well into later life, keeping both minds and bodies active.

Celebrating Longevity: More Active People Living to 100

Celebrating Longevity: More Active People Living to 100

So all you have to do to live to 100 is eat right and exercise?

Not so fast.  Recently, researchers have been looking at a link between certain genes and old age. In Vilcabamba, where the elderly flourish, genes may play a huge part in the story: marriage was often limited to the small village, where many people are related.    Jeanne Calment, the woman who lived to a record 122 years, had parents who lived into their 90s.

Recently, researchers conducted a study which revealed genes related to longevity.  By looking at a group of 150 gene variants, researchers were able to distinguish centenarians from non centenarians over 75% of the time. According to the study, some of the participants’ genes were linked to the delay in cancer, heart disease, and other diseases related to old age. Still, there was no specific “long life” gene; rather, a combination of the 150 genes tended to appear in the centenarians. Still, researchers highlighted the importance of healthy lifestyles, especially exercise and diet, in connection to living long.

Undoubtedly, genetics plays a large role in determining how long you’ll live. However, genetics isn’t everything.  Some studies report that genes determine up to 30 percent of your longevity likelihood.  The environment in which you live has a strong impact on your life span.  Finally, how you fuel your body ultimately has the greatest say.  Eating a healthful diet and remaining active—both mentally and physically—is still crucial in living a long, fulfilling life.

Category: Medicare Tips | Tags: , , , , , , ,
Lucy Dylan | 07/29/2010
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3 Million More Americans Uninsured in 2009

As the health care debate raged onwards in 2009, the number of uninsured American adults rose by 3 million from 2008. Overall, approximately 46.3 million people in this country do not have health insurance covered.  In Texas, over one out of every four people was uninsured in 2009, compared to the 15.4 percent nationally.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) survey found that almost 60 million people went without health insurance for at least part of the year, and 33 million of the uninsured had gone without for over a year.  People who were fortunate to keep their private coverage ended up paying more, while high-deductible plans also grew in popularity—especially among people who purchase their own health insurance plans.

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3 Million More Uninsured in 2009

Fewer children are going without health insurance plans because they are enrolled in public policies.  See my previous article onCHIP and enrollment strategies the government may be using to get more kids into the program. However, almost one third of Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 did not have health insurance, the highest percentage of any other age group. Still, the fact that the ranks of the uninsured actually expanded in 2009 are worrisome to me.

Although individuals can still pay out of pocket for services, health insurance remains the most crucial portal to receiving adequate health care.  People who are enrolled in health insurance plans, regardless of the level of coverage, have far more access to preventative medical services. There is no denying that adequate medical care is expensive—rising medical costs in addition to the economy make insurance critical to obtaining health services.  If you are uninsured, you are more apt to delay health care until your illness is severe. According to research by the Harvard Medical School, around 45,000 Americans die every year because they are uninsured and therefore cannot receive adequate health care.

This study highlights the importance of health insurance in the United States today.  For the most part, people without health insurance are more likely to have lower incomes, and face an uphill battle when it comes to paying for care out of pocket.  Increasing rates of uninsured Americans is undoubtedly linked to the recession, which keeps them away from receiving the care they need. The fact that so many Americans remain uninsured—whether by choice or by economic necessity—proves very relevant to the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Escalating rates of un-insurance and skyrocketing medical costs are huge problems in the United States today.

When 2014 rolls around, enrolling the uninsured in new health insurance plans will be a daunting task.  The Affordable Care Act will broaden insurance to over 30 million citizens, who will likely need a little prodding when it comes time to enroll.  Canvassing campaigns in low-income neighborhoods aim at enrolling uninsured children in CHIP or Medicaid,working as a test run for the 2014 expansion of health insurance coverage.

As in my last blog about Massachusetts Health Care Reform, it is not the broader coverage that I am concerned about. Hopefully, the government will take cues from Massachusetts and ensure that the reform will not grow so costly that expenses outweigh coverage benefits.

Category: Medicare News, Medicare Tips | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Lucy Dylan | 07/26/2010
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We’re Running Out of Primary Care Physicians: What Are We Going to Do About It?

The country’s current health care reforms have underscored the country’s primary care physician deficit. By the time the reforms kick into effect in 2014, the majority of Americans will be insured. In Massachusetts, where all citizens must be enrolled in some health insurance plan, universal insurance has exposed the Commonwealth’s primary care shortage. The dearth of Massachusetts primary care physicians has often made it more difficult for residents to get the care they need.

In an interesting article for Bloomberg Business week, Pat Weschler takes a look at a study of med schools, the amount of primary care doctors produced, and the “social mission” of the institutions. According to the study, Atlanta’s Morehouse School of Medicine is the top ranked med school in terms of “social mission” and primary care physicians.  Meanwhile, Harvard Medical School didn’t even break the study’s top 50, coming in at number 62.  Weschler writes that the study compiled data based on the amount of the med school graduates enter primary care, the number that serve in short-handed regions, and the amount that serve minorities.

The study focused on the “research culture” fostered at many top institutions, where specialists often model behavior to students.  One of the authors of the study, Fitzhugh Mullan, claims that schools could boost the number of primary care physicians by focusing on adding higher numbers of women, minorities, and older med students to the mix. At the same time, shifting the focus of med school curricula from research to primary care may also influence more med students to consider becoming primary care physicians.

I found the study’s claims very compelling. The culture of a college, medical school, or any other institution can very well alter your career path.  Medical schools can help reduce the primary care deficit by steering more students towards primary care. Dr Candice Chen, another one of the study’s authors, emphasizes the role of medical schools in increasing the nation’s number of primary care physicians. Breaking away from typical med school rankings may be able to help build a strong primary care base by the time the new health care reforms kick in for real.

Although I tend to agree with many of the points in the study, I do not think that one should count out the money factor.  The cost to complete medical school is astronomically high and rising higher, on top of loans from undergraduate courses of study. Primary care physicians also make far less than specialists after completing similar courses of study, which serves as another deterrent from the primary care profession. Like it or not, money plays a large role in job selection—although as the study showed, it is not the sole factor involved in the decision.

Our Primary Care Physician shortage is a major national healthcare issue

Our Primary Care Physician shortage is a national healthcare issue

By targeting medical schools in addition to (possibly) improving primary care salaries, perhaps this nation can create a strong foundation of primary care providers.  Ultimately, health care reform hinges on such a base of physicians, especially as over 30 million people will gain health insurance coverage in 2014, many of whom will most definitely seek preventative care.

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