Archive for the 'Health Insurance' Category
January 19th, 2012 by Trisha Torrey
This column first appeared
in the Syracuse Post Standard
January 17, 2012
During both the 2008 and 2010 elections, the issue of reforming the American healthcare system was the focus of overwhelming amounts of misinformation and disinformation.
Remember the email about Senior Death Panels? It explained that the healthcare reform bill would allow Medicare to save money by refusing to pay for lifesaving treatment for older Americans. Of course, it wasn’t true.
Another email stated that the Muslim belief in dhimmitude (surrender or appeasement) would mean American Muslims would be allowed to opt-out of the mandatory insurance rule. Also untrue.
Both inflammatory statements were horribly upsetting! But it wasn’t a huge leap to figure out who wanted us to believe them.
Now primary season is here again, and some candidates continue to focus on repealing the Affordable Care Act (healthcare reform). Whether or not you believe healthcare reform should be the law of the land, you owe it to yourself, and those you influence, to separate facts from fiction.
If someone shares “facts” with you that seem inflammatory, upsetting or don’t make sense, then there may be something askew. It’s possible they are true. Or, they may be only partially true, subjective interpretations of the truth, or even out-and-out lies.
Three websites provide neutral, objective analyses of political statements for our review. The best way to determine the veracity of information about healthcare reform, or any other political statements, is to scrutinize them at one, two or all three sites.
One site is the Pulitzer Prize winning Politifact.com. Its “Truth-o-Meter” scores statements on a range from True, to Flip-Flop, to Pants-on-Fire, along with supporting documentation for how the score was determined.
Factcheck.org is provided by the Annenberg Public Policy Center. One section focuses specifically on email rumors. Another section examines statements made by candidates and their high-profile supporters to establish their accuracy.
Finally, Snopes.com is a great resource, too. While it originally examined only urban legends, in recent years it has expanded into political claims as well.
If you see, hear or read a statement from any organization or individual during the election season or any other time, be sure to review it carefully before you share it with someone else. You don’t want to foolishly believe things that aren’t true, nor do you want to share misinformation or disinformation with others. Using one of these statement-auditing websites will help you sort out the real facts.
Here is more information about reviewing email claims:
How to Confirm or Debunk Claims
Made in Email, Blogs or Social Media
From Conspiracy Theories to Bogus Claims
How Can You Ascertain the Truth?
Have you confirmed or debunked a political email claim?
Share your findings!
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November 23rd, 2011 by Trisha Torrey
This column first appeared
in the Syracuse Post Standard
November 22, 2011
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You may be among the millions of Americans who will travel during the upcoming holidays. Travel takes you out of your normal environment and disturbs your routine. If you have health issues, like a chronic disease, an injury, or even a short-term illness, it’s smart to prepare ahead of time for those changes and accommodate for them where possible. You’ll want to be sure your travel doesn’t upset your health, and your health doesn’t upset your travel.
Drugs, supplements and supplies: Pack enough to cover the days you’ll be away, plus extra, in case flights are delayed or a blizzard closes the roads. If you fly, remember that airlines can lose checked bags, so keep all medical supplies with you in your carry-on bag. Any time difference at your destination may require an adjustment of your drug routine. Make yourself a chart ahead of time to keep your regimen on schedule.
Airport security: The TSA has strict rules about what can, or cannot go through security. Medications, oxygen, inhalers and other medical items must be packed in certain ways, and will be screened through x-ray machines. Go online before you fly to learn to learn how to get your medical equipment or materials through security. http://1.usa.gov/TSAMedical
Foods: Alert your host ahead of time if you have special dietary requirements, or if certain foods upset your digestion. Mention any food allergies you have or conflicts with drugs you take. Plans can be made to accommodate your needs when they are discussed ahead of time.
Contagious diseases: Of course, holiday time is often cold and flu time, too. Get your flu shot prior to travel. Wash or sanitize your hands as often as possible, and keep them away from your mouth, nose or eyes. If you are highly susceptible or your immune system is compromised, consider wearing a face mask to protect yourself from others who might be contagious. If you have a cold, then cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands, to prevent infecting others.
Long Distance Travel: If you’ll be sitting for great lengths of time in a car or plane, you risk potentially deadly blood clots in your legs called DVT (deep vein thrombosis.). Keep your blood circulating by taking hourly breaks to walk around and stretch.
These travel preparations will keep you healthier and will make your visit more enjoyable, too.
Here are some additional resources for
making sure you stay healthy while traveling:
• Tips for Healthy Travel
Before You Go, As You Travel, and At Your Destination
• Tips for Healthy International Travel
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November 10th, 2011 by Trisha Torrey
This column first appeared
in the Syracuse Post Standard November 8, 2011
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Last column we looked at Medicare Open Enrollment and how Medicare recipients can find great resources for helping them choose which health plan is right for them.
Unfortunately, the rest of us, those who are under age 65 and face Open Enrollment for private health insurance, aren’t so lucky. While resources do exist to help us choose, not many of them are objective. Most are offered by health insurers themselves and tend to be biased.
This year, one of the biggest Open Enrollment questions we under-65ers have is whether it makes sense to choose a high deductible plan. These plans have much lower monthly premiums, but require us to pay thousands more from our pockets before insurance pays its portion.
Those lower premiums are so tempting! But they may also end up being very expensive. There is a reason the alternate term for “high deductible” is “catastrophic.” “Catastrophic” is supposed to refer to the fact that you will be covered if you or your family member suffers a catastrophic accident or diagnosis. But if it’s not the right plan for you, it can be catastrophic for your wallet.
So how can you determine if a high deductible plan is the right choice? Get out your crystal ball, and try to predict how much medical care you and your family members will need in 2012. How many doctor visits? How many prescriptions? Are you due for expensive tests? Will your 10-year-old soccer star get a concussion? Will you fall off the roof while scraping ice?
The more medical care you require, the less likely a high deductible plan will save you money. If your medical needs eventually cost more than the deductible amount, then, in total, you will probably lose money over choosing a regular plan with a lower deductible, even though the premium is higher. Remember, the total deductible isn’t all you’ll pay when you need care. Once the deductible is met, your additional co-pay may be as much as 40 percent of each medical bill.
If you and your family are mostly healthy, and you decide a catastrophic insurance plan will serve your needs, then establish a Health Savings Plan, too. It’s tax-favored savings you may use for any health-related need, and even if you don’t spend it, does not disappear at the end of the year.
Here are some additional resources for making smart choices during Open Enrollment:
• Choosing the Right Insurance Plan During Open Enrollment
• Should I Choose a High Deductible or Catastrophic Health Insurance Plan?
• What Is a Health Savings Account?
• Medicare 101 and Medicare Open Enrollment
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October 27th, 2011 by Trisha Torrey
This column first appeared
in the Syracuse Post Standard October 25, 2011
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If you’ve watched TV, read the newspaper, or logged on to any health-related website recently, then you may already know that it’s Medicare Open Enrollment time.
Open Enrollment means you have the opportunity to make choices that affect both your access to the healthcare you need, and the cost of that care, by choosing a payer plan that fits your needs.
Too many Medicare recipients simply default to whatever plan they used the year before, perhaps because they didn’t understand how to assess which plan would work best for them.
But it doesn’t have to be so difficult. There are some excellent resources available. So why not take the time this year to figure out which plan fits you the best?
If you are a do-it-yourselfer, begin with the Medicare Find-A-Plan website. It will walk you through your options, including pricing for the drugs you take, then will reveal your options and their costs. You can compare Original Medicare against many Medicare Advantage plans. From customer service to co-pays and health ratings, you can weigh cost and coverage against quality to make your choice.
Another way to do your research is to attend plan presentation programs offered by the many insurers that offer Medicare Advantage Plans. They can be very informative, but remember that the speakers are salespeople. Their paychecks depend on enlisting new customers. Don’t be swayed by coffee, cookies and promises! Ask good questions and compare many plans before you sign a contract.
For those who need an additional helping hand, personal, tailored, free assistance is offered to help you sort out the options. Called SHIP programs (State Health Insurance Counseling and Assistance Programs), they are staffed by volunteers who walk you through your decision making.
If Medicare Open Enrollment seems a bit early this year, it is. The process was started earlier so it could end earlier, too – December 7th. Ending the process early means you’ll be sure to get your Medicare ID card in time for early January appointments.
With so many ways to find help, you owe it to yourself to spend some time this Fall to review your Medicare options for 2012 and make needed adjustments. It’s “only” your health and money, after all.
……………… ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON THIS TOPIC ………………
Medicare 101 – The Basics
Open Enrollment (Fall 2011) for Medicare 2012
What’s the Difference Between
Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans?
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