Holmes Medicare Navigation

04/19/2021

For more info on how to best use the preventive features of your Medicare Plan, call your Certified Medicare Professional- Don Holmes 972-259-0395 or [email protected]

The problem with getting older, especially after the Medicare age of 65, is that none of us want to admit that we are finally getting older. We go about this denial in some interesting ways, as illustrated below:

04/12/2021

Already received your second Covid 19 Vaccine? Protecting yourself and others is still important (see below). Have questions about your Medicare coverage, call your Certified Medicare Professional - Don Holmes 972-259-0395 or [email protected]

----------------------------------------------------
After you're vaccinated, it's critical to keep masking up in some places (for now). Here's why



By Holly Yan, CNN
Updated 4:08 PM ET, Tue March 16, 2021

Hear what changed Trump voters' minds about vaccine 02:49
(CNN)The fastest way to get back to a safe, mask-free life is for everyone to get a Covid-19 vaccine.
But just because you've gotten a shot of protection doesn't mean you should rip off your mask immediately. That could actually set you back and put your friends and family at risk.
Here's why you should keep masking up in many cases -- and when it's safe to go mask-free:
It takes weeks for vaccines to really kick in
You're not fully vaccinated until two weeks after your last dose of vaccine, according the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That means at least two weeks have passed since your second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, or at least two weeks have passed since your single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
So ditching your mask too soon could leave you with little or no protection against getting infected or infecting others.
Your friends and family might not be vaccinated yet
Vaccines are great at helping protect you from getting sick with Covid-19.
While there's growing evidence suggesting vaccines can also help prevent transmission, the CDC says there's not enough data yet to prove whether vaccinated people could still carry the virus and infect others.
So unless your friends and family are also fully vaccinated or at low risk of severe Covid-19, you might put them at risk if you see them without wearing a mask.
What can I do without wearing a mask?
The CDC says fully vaccinated people can:
• Visit other vaccinated people indoors without masks or physical distancing
• Visit indoors with unvaccinated people from a single household without masks or physical distancing, if the unvaccinated people are at low risk for severe disease
• Skip quarantining and testing if you're exposed to someone who has Covid-19 but are asymptomatic. (You should still monitor for symptoms for 14 days, though.)
But full vaccination doesn't mean you can run wild and ditch all safety precautions. Health experts say you still need to:
• Wear a mask and keep good distance around those who are unvaccinated and at increased risk for severe Covid-19
• Wear masks and physically distance when visiting unvaccinated people who are from multiple households
• Keep physical distance in public
• Avoid medium- and large-sized crowds
• Avoid poorly ventilated public spaces
• Wash your hands frequently
• Get tested for Covid-19 if you feel sick
Wearing a mask helps businesses and schools stay open
The faster everyone wears a mask and gets vaccinated, the faster we can crush Covid-19 -- and have businesses and schools safely open at full capacity, mask-free.
"People say, 'When is it going to get back to normal and I don't have to wear my mask anymore?'" said CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician.


Why you should wear a face mask even if your state doesn't require it
"That's not the right way to think about this. We want our businesses to come back. We want our churches to be open for in-person service and our schools open for in-person learning. We need masks to do that."
Wearing a mask can also set a good example for everyone who hasn't been fully vaccinated -- especially children.
Americans will need to keep wearing masks until we reach herd immunity, Wen said.
About 70% to 85% of people must achieve immunity -- either by surviving Covid-19 or receiving a vaccine -- to reach herd immunity, the point at which enough people are protected against a disease that it cannot spread through the population.
If enough people get vaccinated, it's possible we could reach herd immunity by this summer.
So health experts urge everyone to go get your vaccine once you're able to.
"We are so close to the finish line," Wen said. "If you just hang in there for a bit longer, we'll put an end to this pandemic."
CNN's Alaa Elassar and Jen Christensen contributed to this report.

03/01/2021

As we leave the month of February (Heart Health Month) let me leave you with the following article supplied by Cigna Medicare dealing with heart health. For Medicare help, contact your Certified Medicare Professional- Don Holmes 972-259-0395 or [email protected]

Article | February 2021

Recognizing the Signs of a Heart Attack
One Cigna employee shares her story to help others

The signs of a heart attack can be easily overlooked. Chest pain can be mistaken for heartburn, stress or a muscle pull — all small aches that can be easy to dismiss. For one Cigna employee, the pain was manageable until one night, she found herself in the emergency room facing a diagnosis that had been showing warning signs for a month. She was having a heart attack.

“I was in the best shape of my life,” said Vicki Wheeler, chief operations officer, Accredo® (a Cigna company) and a registered nurse. “I had moved to Florida, so I was outside more often. I was training for a 5K and eating a plant-based diet. I had lost 35 lbs.”

Wheeler, 51, would notice her chest pain more while working out but wrote it off as heartburn. She said the pain was on and off for a month before she experienced her heart attack.

“I didn’t listen to my body after repeated warnings,” said Wheeler, whose heart attack happened on Father’s Day in 2020 (June 21) after playing a round of pickle ball. “I’m a nurse, I know the signs of a cardiac episode but I ignored them. Even when I was having my heart attack and having a hard time catching my breath, I was fighting my husband the whole way to the emergency room. I didn’t think I needed to go.”

Wheeler said they immediately started tests when she arrived at the hospital, confirming that she was indeed having a heart attack. She learned her heart was 95 percent blocked in one artery, and they prepped her for a cardiac stent procedure the next morning.

“It was traumatic, being in the hospital alone in the middle of the pandemic,” said Wheeler. “After three days, I was sent home and started to make serious changes in my lifestyle.”

She said that those changes included committing to 45 minutes of exercise every single day, even if she has to get up at 4 a.m. to do it. Wheeler makes sure to meal prep whole foods on the weekends so she has healthy choices while she’s working during the week, because processed foods like chips and snack bars won’t help her cardiac health. She credits her Cigna case manager for keeping her accountable and helping her stay on track with new healthy habits, as well as coaching her through the anxiety she felt after experiencing the heart attack.

“Women are caregivers. I had a million reasons to take care of everyone else and ignore the signs of my heart attack,” said Wheeler. “I would have made my husband go in to the emergency room the first time he complained of chest pain. But when it came to my own heart health, I didn’t listen to my body.”

Eight months after surgery, Wheeler says she feels great and is healthier than she’s ever been. She’s back to running, playing pickle ball and doing everything she was before her heart attack – except that now she’s paying more attention to her health. And she’s sharing her story to prevent other women from experiencing what she did.

“I know I’m lucky to be alive, and I want to make sure other women know and understand the signs of a heart attack,” said Wheeler. “I put off care, made excuses and it almost cost me my life. I want to make sure other women prioritize themselves like I am now.”

According to the American Heart Association®, cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women, claiming more women’s lives than all forms of cancer combined. The most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort, but women may also experience shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting and back or jaw pain more frequently than men. Visit Go Red for Women this February to learn more about heart health awareness and stand together with Go Red.

Taking care of your health now can help prevent future heart attacks. Here are some ways to protect yourself against heart disease:

Know your numbers: Start getting screened for cardiovascular disease at the age of 20, and know your numbers – total cholesterol, HDL, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index to better understand your risk for heart attack or stroke.
Take action: Healthy living can cut your risk of heart disease by as much as 80 percent. Start eating more nutritious food like vegetables and fruits, and take more time to exercise. Both of which not only help prevent heart attacks but can make you feel better too – both physically and mentally.
Heart health can also translate to greater resiliency, read this article to better understand the correlation between preventive care and resilience.

recognizing-the-signs-of-a-heart-attack-1-16x9-lg

02/15/2021

Almost 2 years ago, after 3 decades working for Health Care Costs Containment companies in Chicago, Atlanta, and Dallas-Fort Worth, it was time to be my own boss. Drawn to the Medicare supplement market, and shocked by t...

10/15/2020

October 15th, 2020- Today begins Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) for Medicare plans. From today until December 7th, 2020 you can make any changes you wish to your Medicare coverage and those changes will take effect on January 1st 2021. You should, at the least, check your Medicare Prescription Drug Program (PDP) to make sure that your medications are still on your insurance company's formulary and that they have not moved to a higher costs "tier" which will cost you more money for the same medications! Contact your Certified Medicare Professional (CMP) today for a totally "free to you" review. Don Holmes -Holmes Medicare Navigation. 972-259-0395

09/03/2020

More good news for America’s Seniors regarding payment for innovative technology in their Medicare Plans.

From CMS.Gov on August 31, 2020... today the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that unleashes innovative technology so Medicare beneficiaries have access to the latest, most cutting-edge devices. Today’s action represents a step forward that will help demolish the existing bureaucratic barriers that have created a “valley of death” for innovative products, resulting in lag times and lack of access for America’s seniors.

“For new technologies, CMS coverage approval has been a chicken and egg issue. Innovators had to prove their technologies were appropriate for seniors, but that was almost impossible since the technology was not yet covered by Medicare and thus not widely used enough to demonstrate their suitability for Medicare beneficiaries,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “These efforts will ensure seniors get access to the latest technologies while lowering costs for innovators. Arcane bureaucratic requirements have no business preventing seniors’ access to a technology that might save their lives.”

Today’s announcement of the Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology (MCIT) (CMS-3372-P) proposed rule, would provide Medicare beneficiaries access to the latest medical technology faster than ever. Under current rules, FDA approval of a device is followed by an often lengthy and costly process for Medicare coverage. The lag time between the two has been called the “valley of death” for innovative products, with innovators spending time and resources on FDA approval, only to be forced to spend additional time and money on the Medicare coverage process. This represents not only an unnecessary waste of resources for innovators, but also a significant problem for America’s seniors, who are prevented access to these potentially lifesaving technologies during the existing Medicare coverage determination process.
Need advice on how to best use your Medicare program. Talk to a Certified Pro.
Call Don Holmes at Holmes Medicare Navigation. 972-259-0395 or [email protected]
www.HolmesMedicareNavigation.com

Helping you safely navigate Medicare!

08/24/2020

The Slippery Slope of maintaining Employer Health Coverage after age 65

06/06/2020

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced a new program that will benefit Seniors using insulin purchased through their Part D Medicare prescription drug program. Effective January 2021, the...

05/14/2020

For your information, the following was released recently by CMS regarding a Special Election Period (SEP) that has been granted to those Medicare Beneficiaries affected by Covid 19

-----------------------------------------

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) confirmed that the Special Election Period (SEP) for Individuals Affected by a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Declared Emergency is applicable to individuals affected by COVID-19 who meet certain criteria. With this announcement, Medicare Advantage and Part D beneficiaries affected by COVID-19 nationwide may be eligible for a Special Election Period (SEP) beginning March 1 that runs through June 30.

Who is eligible? Any beneficiary who had another valid election period at the time of the incident period, but did not make an election during that other valid election period.

----------------------------------------

The implication seems to be for those who made an election at the end of 2019 for a Medicare Advantage plan but for whatever reason had determined to make a change to that plan during the Open Enrollment Period (normally running from January 1st- March 31st of each year). It could also apply to anyone who had any other SEP that was disrupted. The interruption of that period of time by Covid 19 extends the time period to June 30th. You should contact your Medicare Consultant for further information. Don Holmes 972-259-0395.

Helping you safely navigate Medicare!

05/04/2020

So… you finally enrolled in Medicare and now find yourself having to be admitted to a hospital. Financially, you feel secure because Medicare should take care of everything, right?

04/01/2020

FINALLY - Some Good News for Medicare Beneficiaries Amid COVID-19

03/04/2020

3 Ways to Anticipate, Adapt to & Insulate Yourself from Changes
March 3, 2020
Have you ever noticed that as you get older, the idea of change is not viewed with the same optimism that it was in your youth? We, the Boomer generation, have worked hard, hopefully saved enough and attempted to carefully manage our resources in hopes that future changes will not derail our future.

And yet… the Medicare health program that we depend on most after age 65 is in constant flux.

The following is just a partial list of changes for 2020.

· Part B premium increased to $144.60 per month from $135.50 in 2019

· Part B deductible increased to $198 per year from $185 in 2019

· Part A premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance increased for 2020

· Medicare Supplemental Plans C and F are no longer available to those who become 65 after 1/1/2020.

· Part D plans (prescription drug programs) also had increases for 2020, including a deductible increase to $435.00 per year

With every change for 2020, there is a consistent theme… More Money Out of Our Pockets. Unfortunately, this trend is not likely to reverse in coming years.

But REJOICE! There are ways to stay ahead of future Medicare increases. How?

1. Access a full list of 2020 costs by clicking https://www.medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/medicare-costs-at-a-glance

2. Review your Medicare Supplemental program to see how the 2020 changes have impacted you.

3. Consult with a Certified Medicare Professional (CMP)to make sure that your choices are staying ahead of future Medicare increases.

Call Don at Holmes Medicare Navigation today! 972-259-0395 or email [email protected].

Medicare Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D costs for monthly premiums, deductibles, penalties, copayments, and coinsurance.