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 ...

This Year Has Been All About Changes For Everyone

October 19, 2020

2020 has been all about change for all of you as well as our office. Late last year before the pandemic hit, our advisory council voted to change our name to the Office for Aging Services. A small change that we hoped would better emphasize the services we provide rather than “aging” which no one seems to want to do. We had hoped to have a big celebration to accompany this change but like everything else this year, it was sidelined by COVID-19. Since then our office has been consumed by making sure that people have the information and services they need to get through the pandemic ...

Prescription Drug Plans May Change In New Year

October 12, 2020

Question: What happens now that my prescription drug plan will not be offered in 2021? Answer: This year there are only three plans that will not be offered in 2021. The three monthly plans are Magellan Rx Medicare Basic, $35.80, Journey Rx Standard, $32.80, and Journey Rx Value, $26.10. These plans haven’t been the most popular plans. It sounds like you have Original Medicare, a Medicare Supplement Plan (Medigap) and a standalone drug plan. The plan that changes the most year to year is your prescription drug plan (PDP). This PDP change each year in the monthly premiums, the ...

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 ...