When Will My New Insurance For 2021 Begin?

December 28, 2020

Question: When will my new insurance for 2021 begin? Answer: During open enrollment many people evaluate their insurance coverage and make a change to a better plan for their needs in the coming year. Once this has been done, the first thing that usually happens is you receive a welcome letter from the new plan. If you received that welcome letter, you are all set. The new company received your enrollment and the rest of your material is on its way. The next item you will receive is a packet with your material, the evidence of coverage, and summary of benefits. Your ID card is ...

Why Is Pricing Marked N/A On The 2021 Drug Plans?

November 4, 2020

Question: Why does the medicare.gov website show n/a for pricing of 2021 prescription drug plans No. 1 and No. 2? Answer: Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment is until Dec.7 and using the medicare.gov website is always an interesting time for us and all those with Medicare. This year enrollment began on Oct. 15 and the website was live, there were two insurance companies, ExpressScripts and Cigna plan pricing details indicated N/A. When reaching out to find out why, I was informed that the computer programing for these two companies was listing inaccurate pricing, so both were taken ...

New Medicare Model Offers Savings On Insulin Prescription

October 26, 2020

Question: How may insulin be less expensive in 2021? Answer: Insulin has been very expensive for a number of years. I have seen many Medicare eligible people spend thousands of dollars each year to pay for their insulin. This year the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has developed a new Model, the Part D Senior Savings Model, so 2021 will be different. This model provides an opportunity for insurance companies to offer a significant savings to their enrollees on the types of insulin the insurance company includes on their formulary. The participating plans will offer ...

New Benefit Offered For Diabetic Medicare Enrollees

October 19, 2020

Do you have a Medicare Advantage Plan? Are you a diabetic who takes insulin? If you answered YES to both questions, you may be able to apply for a Medicare Part D plan choice that offers insulin co-payments of no more that $35 for a 30-day supply. These choices apply to Medicare Part D and a Medicare Advantage Plan that covers insulin by mail or locally. The plan must cover vial and pen dosages for rapid, short, intermediary, and long acting insulin. This new benefit is voluntary for drug manufacture plans and beneficiaries are limited to a drug classified as insulin. ...

Try To Be Prepared For The Coming Flu Season

October 19, 2020

The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine. Everyone over 6 months of age should get a flu vaccine every year according to the New York state Health department. The campaign slogan says, “Stop the Flu It’s Up to You”. And it really is! Get your flu shot now in the autumn-time and follow all the safety precautions you know so well. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or clean them with alcohol-based hand rub Use a mask when around others and use distance between you and others Cover your mouth/nose when coughing or sneezing Stay at home if you ...

An Icon In Senior Nutrition Retiring After 31 Years Of Service

October 19, 2020

I have been fortunate to work side-by-side with someone I consider a mentor with a gentle strength. Don’t let her calm, soft-spoken demeanor fool you; she is a force and has been integral to the Chautauqua County Office for Aging Services Senior Nutrition Program for the past 31 years. We want to use this article to share with you a little about the Dietitian who helped make Chautauqua County’s Senior Nutrition Program well-known and respected throughout the state. Cheryl Wahlstrom had initially wanted to be a veterinarian, but a chance encounter with the former Dietitian for ...