Medicare.gov Data Updates
This week the data for the following tools was updated on Medicare.gov:Nursing Home CompareHelpful ContactsMedicare Options Compare
Medicare News
2009 Medicare premiums and coinsurance rates
The following is a listing of the Medicare premium, deductible, and coinsurance rates that will be in effect in 2009: Medicare Premiums for 2009: Part A: (Hospital Insurance) Premium Most people do not pay a monthly Part A premium because they or a spouse has 40 or more quarters of Medicare-covered employment. The Part A … Read more
New Edition of the Guide to Home Health Care Agencies
Home Health Compare can assist in choosing the best local home health agency – based on past performance helping patients get better and improving their ability to function at home. By looking at the type of care the beneficiary needs and seeing what portion of each agency’s patients achieve the best results (“outcomes”) for that … Read more
Order a Medicare Replacement Card Online
Need a Replacement Card? Order a Medicare Card by Phone or Online If you lose or damage your Medicare card, you can obtain a replacement card from Social Security one of the following ways: Log into your MyMedicare.gov account. If you do not have a MyMedicare account, sign up now. Order Online by visiting the … Read more
Medicare Special Enrollment Period
If you didn’t take Medicare Part B when you were first eligible because you or your spouse were working and had group health plan coverage
Know What to do about the Flu – Medicare Help
Seasonal flu shots are available right now. H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine is being shipped and will soon be widely available. Flu refers to illnesses caused by a number of different influenza viruses. Flu can cause a range of symptoms and effects, from mild to lethal. Two strains of flu, seasonal flu and the H1N1 (Swine) flu, … Read more
How to Use Your Medicare Card
Show your card whenever you get medical care. This will assure that a claim for payment is sent to Medicare. Make sure to use your exact name and claim number.
Medicare – What is a Personal Health Record?
A personal health record (PHR) is a confidential and easy-to-use tool for managing information about your health
Step 2 to Get Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
you can get drug coverage and the rest of your Medicare coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan, like an HMO or PPO, that typically provides more benefits at a significantly lower cost through a network of doctors and hospitals. No matter what type of plan you choose, you can choose a plan that reflects what you want in terms of cost, coverage and convenience.
Help Improve the National Mall
Happy President’s Day! Speaking of presidents, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant all have monuments on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Established in 1965, the National Mall and Memorial Parks protects some of the older parkland in the National Park System and accomdates 24 million visitors a year.
Government Closed… Not Really
As you all know, the Washington, DC area is under siege with Snowmageddon 2010, and the federal government in the DC area is officially closed
Medicare – Ways to save money during your coverage gap
Consider Switching to Generics or Other Lower-Cost Drugs – You may wish to talk to your doctor about the drugs you are currently taking to find out if there are generic or less-expensive brand-name drugs that would work just as well as the ones you’re taking now.
Step 1 to Get Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
Because the way that Medicare drug coverage works depends on your current coverage, Medicare has specific information available to help you no matter what type of coverage you have.
Osteoporosis: The Silent Disease – Medicare Help and Information
Current estimates suggest that around 10 million people in the U.S. have osteoporosis, and 34 million more have low bone mass, which places them at increased risk.
VA – Health Care – Readjustment Counseling (Vet Centers)
Readjustment counseling is a wide range of services provided to combat veterans in the effort to make a satisfying transition from military to civilian life. Services include:
Medicare Tip – Older adults are especially vulnerable to hypothermia
Frigid weather can pose special risks to older adults. The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has some advice for helping older people avoid hypothermia — when the body gets too cold — during cold weather.
NIH-Funded Scientists Are Exploring The Different Ways Music Can Influence Our Bodies And Minds
Several well-controlled studies have found that listening to music can alleviate pain or reduce the need for pain medications. Other research suggests that music can benefit heart disease patients by reducing their blood pressure, heart rate and anxiety. Music therapy has also been shown to lift the spirits of patients with depression. Making music yourself—either playing instruments or singing—can have therapeutic effects as well.