More Generic Drugs Rather Than Branded Ones Under Medicare?

The announcement last year by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services was that only US FDA approved drugs would be covered under these schemes when it came to any particular health problem. So if you want a particular drug for a particular ailment, it has to be in the Medicare formularies list.

However, many of the drug plans under Medicare are not too clear about which drugs they cover so it means that seniors could very well be in a quandary about what to buy and what not to when it comes to prescription drugs for their ailments. Read more

Are Healthcare Costs Affected When Moving?

Many seniors move to sunnier climes when they retire and this process seems to more a matter of how brightly the sun shines than whether or not their healthcare plans will change or not. Do these plans really change when someone moves from one place in the US to another?

The thing is that costs do vary from place to place and it might be a good idea if seniors were to look at this aspect as well when they decide to move after retiring. There should be a checklist that includes a lot more than just the weather though it is an important reason for the move. Read more

Medicare Changes To Affect Oxygen Users

If you started renting oxygen equipment in January 2006 or later, then you would have to pay rent on it for 36 months, after which it would be considered sold to you. The 36-month rental period is going to be reduced to 18 months if the U.S. House of Representatives has its way.

What are the ramifications of this move? It means that you have to be very careful when you choose your oxygen equipment so you will have to do a great deal of research before you get one. Any switching will mean costs involved. Read more

December Decision Could Mean Great Expansion For Fisher & Paykel Healthcare

Come mid-December and CMS or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will decide whether OSA or obstructive sleep apnea that is treated at home can be covered. This will mean a huge step forward for F & P Healthcare with its headquarters in New Zealand.

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare are among the leaders in treating OSA and they manufacture heated humidification devices which are used in respiratory care and portable monitoring machines. Under the Medicare conditions currently prevalent, anyone with this condition has to go to a registered laboratory to get it diagnosed and treated. Read more

Medicare Fraud: How To Be Aware Of It

The first and most important thing to remember when it comes to Medicare fraud is not to give out any personal information. You might have people coming to your door trying to sell you Medicare products but you must remember that they can give you information about what they are selling – they have no right to ask you for any personal information and they do not have the authority to enroll you in any plan.

Just in case you are not sure about any plan, do call 1-800-MEDICARE and make sure. Whoever comes to the door selling plans has to do just that – he can give you or mail you information but he cannot sell you a plan at the door. So the onus is on you to keep yourself safe from anyone who is trying to steal your personal information. Keep tabs on your coverage plans and read the Medicare Summary Notice carefully, paying attention to all the items listed. Read more

December 31 Last Day For Medicare Part D

Till the end of the year, you can chop, change or add to your Medicare plans for 2008. The Medicare Part D program has been working well for Medicare beneficiaries and the success rate so far stands at 86%. Till December 31st, beneficiaries can enroll for this program or they can make changes to the one they have already, according to the Department of Public Health and Social Services.

Come January 1, 2008 and the new plans will be put into place. What beneficiaries should do is to take stock of their current health plans with Medicare and compare them with the options that they have now. The Medicare Part D plan is a federal program that subsidizes prescription drugs for the ones who enroll. Read more

Long-term Care: Should Private Players Remain In The Fray?

Medicare is significantly conspicuous by its absence in the long-term care arena. With Medicare coverage, it is expected that you fall ill and recover. However, with a population that includes so many older people, this isn’t always the case. Then where do they go for their medical coverage?

It was therefore to fill the gap that private insurance companies entered this vacuum and offered policies that promised long-term care. These policies provided a wide-spectrum coverage of long term care – both in the home or in a nursing home. However, the premiums were high and there were instances of fraud which resulted in these plans not being really feasible. Considering that over 40% of senior U.S. citizens can afford to pay for long-term coverage and less than 10% are actually covered speaks volumes for the faith people have in these instruments. Read more

The Rite Aid And WellPoint Alliance Means A Lot More Information Dissemination

The announcement on November 15 by WellPoint Inc. and Rite Aid Corporation could mean that many more people who are eligible for Medicare, especially senior citizens, could hope for lot more information during the open enrollment period.

This collaboration means that printed material will be made available at over 5100 participating pharmacy stores across the country. The materials available provide comprehensive information in clear, concise language so people can make an informed choice when it comes to healthcare for themselves or their families. Read more

Can Hospitals Be Ousted From The Medicare Fold?

If Medicare can prove that hospitals under their aegis are guilty of mishandling and misrepresenting cases, they could face penalties as well as corrective action and in the worst case scenario, be ousted from the Medicare program. The very recent case has brought this to the forefront.

Three hospitals are involved and while the names of the patients involved are secret, three patients who received organs from an HIV and hepatitis infected donor are now suffering from the diseases. In the normal course of events, this is really a far-fetched occurrence but in this case, the high-risk donor was checked and not found infected. Read more

What Is Hospice Care and Is it Covered?

Health care is something that people needs in order to stay healthy and also to regain their health. However, time comes where the different kinds of treatments will become futile and will have no effect anymore. If a person reaches this kind of condition, they may choose to spend their last months on hospice care.

Hospice understands that dying is the last stage of life and that the patient receiving hospice care should die with dignity. Hospice care will provide terminally ill people help on easing the thought of death. Here, life of the patient will not be prolonged but will be improved even when facing death. Read more

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