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Why Are Some Medications Not Costing Anything?

Senior News

Question: I just picked up my medication and the cost was $0? Did they charge me the right price? Answer: A little more than a year ago, I wrote an article talking about how Medicare Part D was going to change in 2024. I am beginning to talk with individuals who are benefiting from that change we talked about a year ago. Medicare Part D has four phases of coverage: Deductible, Initial Coverage, Coverage Gap and Catastrophic Coverage. The retail cost of your medication moves you through those phases of coverage. The amount you pay is different in every phase. The Inflation Reduction ...

How To Help The Wildlife

Nature

Baby birds on the ground, turtles in the road, and fawns seemingly abandoned by their mothers. It is that time of year when all sorts of wildlife seem in desperate need of our help. But do they really need us? Most of the time, the answer is easy: no. Seeing a helpless animal, especially ...

Senior News

Question: I recently got a phone call from someone who said they were from Medicare to talk about my insurance. How can I protect myself from Scammers? Answer: In response to that particular question, that individual was definitely not from Medicare. Staff from Medicare (Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services- CMS) will not call you ever, unless you have called CMS and they are calling back to address your situation. In that case, you will be expecting the call. In response to your question, how can you protect yourself from Scammers, I want to talk about an upcoming event that will ...

Forced Perspectives In The Outdoors

Nature

The grasses, ferns, and flowers have really hit their stride and they are continuing to grow taller as we head into summer. As I was out with a group of sixth-graders on a field trip to Audubon, one of the students commented offhand that the plants around us were like a miniature forest under ...

Road Ecology

Nature

There’s over 4 million miles of road in the United States. We are tied to our vehicles like they are a part of our family. We even name our vehicles. Roads and vehicles are logistically essential for our technologically advanced fast-paced lives. When I was growing up, getting your license ...

Do I Need Welcome To Medicare Medical Exam?

Senior News

Question: I got information about a “Welcome to Medicare” medical exam. Do I have to do that? Answer: Medicare provides for the “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit with your primary physician when you first enroll in Medicare. This physical is offered to you in the first year (12 months) of your Medicare Part B enrollment. The idea behind this program is that some individuals have not gone to a physician or the same physician with any regularity. Medicare knows that if you find out about medical problems early on, they are easier to treat. This physician visit may find some ...