Why Do Flu Shots, Shingles Vaccines Have Different Prices?

September 28, 2020

Question: Why is there a difference in price between a shingles vaccine and a flu shot? Answer: Immunizations are covered by different parts of your Medicare coverage. The flu shot, along with the pneumococcal vaccine are covered under Original Medicare Part B. Both of these vaccines have been around a long time, before Prescription Drug coverage was required. Both of these vaccines are free under Medicare and most Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. You may find that in some situations you are charged a fee for the administration of the vaccine. We often see walk-in clinics for these of ...

Medicare Summary Notices And Explanation Of Benefits

September 21, 2020

A Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) is not a bill. It is a notice mailed quarterly to Medicare Beneficiaries which includes a list of services provided during the past 3 months. It will also list any services that were denied or not covered by Medicare. An Explanation of Benefits (EOB), is a monthly statement and includes a list of services provided, how much the provider billed, how much the plan pays and how much you may owe. In reading your MSN’s and EOB’s, make sure you look for: Provider Location Date of Service Duplicate Billing If the insurance company rejected a ...

We Can’t Live Without It, Hydration And The Older Adult

September 21, 2020

Water makes up about 70% of the human body. From our bloodstream to inside each and every cell, it is required in every life-sustaining body process. Water is very important to our health, yet is often overlooked in our diets. In addition to providing cushion and temperature control, water also function as transportation of nutrients and waste, maintains proper volume of blood, keeps the urinary tract flushed, and promotes improved digestion and intestinal function. Dehydration is one of the leading causes of hospitalization in the older adult and approximately half of those ...

Stay Safe During COVID And Don’t Forget To Vote

September 21, 2020

As COVID numbers start to surge in our county, it’s important to remember that older adults with and without underlying health conditions are the most at risk for severe consequences and death from this disease. We have already had 10 deaths in our county and all of these people were over the age of 60. In fact COVID-19 has become the third leading cause of death in the US in 2020 after heart disease and cancer. That is something that cannot be down played or disputed. This means we all need to do everything we can to avoid getting COVID-19 for our own health and so that we ...

What Will Insurance Look Like Next Year?

September 14, 2020

Question: When do we find out what our insurance looks like in next year? Answer: Well school has started and that means we are fast approaching my favorite time of year, Annual Open Enrollment Period for the Medicare insurance products. Individuals with Medicare in the coming weeks will be receiving the 2021 information packets. Medicare along with the Medicare Advantage Plans, the Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, and the Medicare Supplements all have slightly different coverage pricing and benefits each year. Many of those changes are announced Oct. 1 for the upcoming year. The ...

When Am I Able To Collect Social Security Benefits?

September 7, 2020

Question: I am still working but curious about collecting Social Security benefits, so when am I eligible to collect Social Security? Answer: I feel like Labor Day is the perfect day to address this question. To collect Social Security benefits you must “file a claim” with the Social Security Administration (SSA). This contact with SSA can be via phone call, or using the ssa.gov website. The SSA office at this time is not open for individuals to come into the office. If you are calling the SSA office you will find you get through quickly and the staff is very helpful. If you ...