An Invitation

Don't you just love getting invited to a party or being asked to join a group of like-minded friends in a new adventure?  

     Normally, I do but this is one invitation I wasn't quite ready to get......one dictated solely by my age.   And it made me feel so old, because since I've hit that magic number -- 64.5 years of age --
I've been invited by the Federal Government to begin the MEDICARE application process.  

And what a process!!    Let's face it -- the Government sends out your notice 6 months in advance, because it takes that long just to review the complicated maze of paperwork. 

Parts A, B, C or D --- what do I really need? 
It's like trying to figure out a jigsaw puzzle with my eyes closed!   And I even have an advantage over other Boomers because as a retired Federal employee, I'm used to the terminology and their long-winded way of explaining a simple procedure.  Still I get a headache just reading through the Government brochures and the numerous private supplemental policy offerings I've been receiving daily in the mail.
One thing I know for sure - though it's expensive, I'm keeping my Anthem-Blue Cross Federal Plan as my supplemental coverage as many of the nationally offerred plans just don't cover enough.

And please be wary of those "FREE" supplemental plans.   That's right - FREE -  no monthly charge, but just how good could that be?     NOT MUCH!!
        I found this out the hard way recently when my 87-year old mother was hospitalized.   She'd been bragging for years about the free supplemental plan she had.   Well, I never could get her to change plans and her recent hospital stay cost her over $2,000 when it probably would have cost her ZERO had she been paying for a better supplemental plan.

If you're on MEDICARE and have any tips to effortlessly get through the process, please share them.

Some helpful websites: 
Medicare:   http://www.medicare.gov/
AARP:  http://www.aarphealthcare.com/understanding-health-products/medicare-supplement.html

OBAMA's Health Plan

I voted for Obama and supported his platform of "Universal Health Care" because I sincerely believe that everyone should have access to medical care regardless of their income. But now comes the hard part -- what's going to be covered and who's going to pay for it?

As the oldest of 9 kids, things were often financially difficult for my family. We did without a lot of extras, but my parents always stressed the importance of health insurance. They provided medical care for us through Blue Cross (which they paid for) and a medical clinic paid for through my father's union dues. Since we always had our medical needs met, I just assumed that everyone got to go to the doctor or hospital when they were sick.

But as I try to wade through the numerous articles and many emails I've received regarding the confusing Health Care proposal, I have several very serious concerns:

1. Will it cost me more than my current plan?

2. How will the doctors and hospitals absorb the work load created by the sudden influx of new patients?

3. Who's picking up the tab? Will middle American taxpayers bear a larger share of the financial burden?

4. Should abortions be covered? If not, are we penalizing low-income women who may need need one but can't afford it.

5. What about the "right to die" ? Should a final stay in an Euthanasia clinic be covered?

BUT my #1 concern is the potential loss of my freedom in selecting my health care providers and selecting a plan I feel best meets my own needs. That's probably the biggest worry for those of us who have coverage, because under the current legislation being considered in the House, it will eventually force all Americans into a government-approved plan after a 5 year grace period. I'm definitely against that!

How about you?

Have you taken the time to review the Health Care Reform proposals?
Are you concerned enough to contact your representatives? If so, you can find them at:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Let's be sure our opinions are heard during this critical time or we might find ourselves paying a higher price for health care that provides us with less coverage!

Medical Questions

Have you ever been sick for a long time, did
everything the doctors ordered and still didn't get well?

Well, that's what I've been through for the past 11 months! I'm so frustrated... I've been to several specialists, spent thousands of dollars of my own money, had numerous tests and still don't have a definitive answer as to what's wrong with me. I've found that most of the doctors hated it when I asked questions regarding prescriptions or tests.

It seems like some of them still have that God-like attitude and wanted me to do whatever they told me. When I refused to stay on antibiotics for the rest of my life, I got labeled a 'difficult patient' just like they did to Elaine on a Seinfeld episode. I had to then explain to next doctor why I wasn't a difficult patient, but just an extremely frustrated one.
So, if you're experiencing similar problems, begin by asking your doctors the following questions:
FOR A TEST:
1. What is this test for?
2. How many times have you done this?
3. Any side effects from this test?
4. When will I get the results?

FOR SURGERY:
1. Why do I need this surgery?
2. Are there any alternatives to surgery?
3. How many times have you performed this operation?
4. Are you familiar with the latest techniques?
5. What are the possible complications?
6. Which hospital is best for my surgery?

FOR MEDS:
1. What is the drug supposed to do?
2. What are the possible side effects?
3. Are there any side effects?
4. How will this medicine interact with other meds I'm currently taking?

Don't be intimated by your Doctor or any other health professional......it's your health at risk so it's up to you to be a very persistent advocate to ensure that you are getting proper care!
For an interesting article on questioning your doctor:
http://www.steve-olson.com/always-question-your-doctor-three-stories-show-why/

The Gift of Time

Everyone loves to get a gift.........but the most precious gift of all is someone's time!

Think about -- one size fits all, it's always the right color, and it's something that everyone can use.

As we age, we usually need more help especially with some of our daily activities. If you're like me and live away from your family, it's wonderful to have friends who generously give you their time. My friend, Carole, is always there for me and I really appreciate that. She spent several hours with me yesterday as I couldn't drive home after a test at the doctor's office.

We're all given the same amount of time every day -- 1440 minutes. Unlike other resources that are continually diminishing, each day our time bank is replenished with another 1440 minutes. It's how you use those minutes that counts!

Why not take a few minutes today and think about who in your family or circle of friends might need some help? Give them a call now and offer a few hours of your time. You'll feel good about it and the offer of your time will definitely brighten their day!

If you're retired, you might have more time than money, so please consider volunteering with the Senior Services in your area. Whether you need help or want to volunteer, you can find out about Senior Services offered in your State on Google.

Just type in: Senior Services + your state For example: Senior Services + Colorado (which gave me the following link)

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GZHY_enUS243US243&q=senior+services+%2b+colorado

There I found numerous links on everything from recreation services to health care.