Medicare News

September 2021 Edition

My goal with this newsletter is to:

1
Keep You Informed I will be sharing current articles about the changes in Medicare.
2
Answer Your Questions I'm available to answer issues specific to you.
3
Stay Connected I want to make Medicare coverage as simple as possible.

(858) 935-9120

Birthdays

Cathy D
Michael W
Linda Y
Bill D
Janis C
Moises G
Mike Mc
Jan K
Bill W
Linda B
Joy S
Paul V
Donna F
Karen F
Renee T
Eva D
Richard W
Debra J
Gary F
Mark S
Deeann F
Marcia P
Dana C
Patricia R

Referrals

Vicki L referred Sarah J

We try hard to recognize every referral but if we missed anyone, please let us know.

Just send us a quick email so that we can acknowledge you. We want all of you to know that it is our privilege to serve you.

The greatest compliment you pay us is the referral of your family and friends. Thank you!!!

Mature Asian Couple Viewing Laptop Computer Together

Extra Benefits May Be Coming Your Way

Sorry, Joe Namath. Despite what you keep saying in those TV ads, under Medicare, seniors are NOT "entitled to eliminate copays and get dental care, dentures, eyeglasses, prescription drug coverage, in-home aides, unlimited transportation and home-delivered meals — all at no additional cost." But, if Congress has their say seniors could soon be entitled to some of those services.

Namath's commercial is hawking private Medicare Advantage plans, which frequently do offer benefits traditional Medicare does not - in exchange for being limited to certain doctors and hospitals. 'Traditional' or 'Original' Medicare does not cover many of these benefits many rely on, including vision, dental, and hearing care. And drug coverage is available only by purchasing a separate, additional Medicare insurance plan Part D, or having it included in your Advantage plan.

Mounting evidence indicates the importance of dental, vision, and hearing health to overall health. Some recent findings have outlined the following:

Vision – While individuals 70 and older account for about 80% of the 2.8 million Americans with low vision, 43 percent of Medicare beneficiaries who had trouble seeing did not have an eye exam in the past year. Sensory impairments that go untreated, such as vision loss, not only diminish quality of life, but increase the risk of costly health outcomes such as disability, depression, cognitive impairment, and dementia.
Hearing – Among all Medicare beneficiaries, 75 percent who needed a hearing aid did not have one, which can range in cost from $1,000 to $6,000. When Medicare doesn't provide a helping hand, a $4,500 mid-level hearing aid is an unaffordable luxury for too many.
Dental – 70 percent of seniors who had trouble eating because of their teeth, have not gone to the dentist in the past year. Poor oral health can also impede social interactions and worsen other chronic health conditions – acute challenges for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

The Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act would update the Medicare benefits package to ensure that all beneficiaries have access to crucial items and services that are important to their overall health.

Still, when it comes to Medicare, that raises the question: Why has it taken so long to add such obviously needed benefits? As with almost everything to do with the U.S. health system, the answer is complicated, and a combination of policy and politics. The Congressional Budget Office says the vision, hearing and dental benefits included would have a cost estimated at $358 billion over 10 years. Keep your fingers crossed, that this act is passed sooner, rather than later.

But in the meantime, you may already have some amount of coverage for these and other services with your current plan. If you are uncertain about what benefits you have on your plan, please call me at 858-935-9120 or email me at jim@themedicareanswerguy.com.

IMPORTANT: One last thing…if you call 'Joe Namath' and go with whatever plan they are advertising, I will no longer be your agent! You will not have me as your "Advocate" agent any longer…you will have a 1-800 number as your agent.

Young Woman In Glasses and Graduation Cap Looking at Chalkboard with Information

Did You Know?

More than 10,000 "baby boomers" in the U.S. turn 65 years old every day.
Senior citizens are the fastest growing demographic group on Facebook. Recent studies show that more than half of all U.S. seniors are active online, and more than one-third are on Facebook and other social media websites.
Older adults aged 85 and up are the fastest growing age group in the country.
There are more than 55,000 seniors over age 100, and by 2050 the number of "centenarians" is expected to top 600,000. This is roughly the population of Vermont.
Seniors account for 40 percent of all drug prescriptions.
There are more than 11,400 senior centers across the country that together serve more than 1 million older adults every day. The average age of a senior center participant is 75.
More than 15 million older adults are formally recognized volunteers, but nearly half of all seniors volunteer in some capacity.
About 65 percent of all "baby boomers" say they plan to work past age 65.
Studies show that physical activity can slow the elder aging process. By age 75, about 1 in 3 men and 1 in 2 women don't get ANY physical activity.
The ratio of women to men over 65 years old is 100 to 76. The ratio of women to men over 85 years old is 100 to 49.

Personal Note

As we get nearer to the 2022 Open Enrollment period [October 15, to December 7] I wanted to remind you of a couple of important things. First, I wanted to thank you for the privilege of being your "Advocate" agent. You may ask, "What is an 'Advocate' agent?" The meaning of an "advocate" is, "someone who pleads on someone else's behalf." There are over 63 million people on Medicare now and with another approximately 20 million enrolling in Medicare over the next 10 years. You will want to have an agent who can counsel and support you during the many changes that Medicare will go through in the future…an "ADVOCATE agent!"

Second, if you are reading this newsletter and you are currently enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plus Rx drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan you will be receiving a Plan Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) packet in the month of September, 2021. This packet will include any changes in your coverage, costs, or service area that will be effective January, 2022. Don't throw it away…take a minute to review any of these changes. As your Advocate agent I will also review this document and let you know via an email if you should consider making any changes. I view our relationship as a partnership and a partnership works best if both of us work together.

Finally, many of your friends who are also enrolled in a Medicare health plan don't have an "Advocate" agent and I would be happy to answer any of their questions during the upcoming Open Enrollment period…your referrals are always handled with care. Blessings!

Jim Robeson CLU, ChFC

Medicare Made Easy
10755 Scripps Poway Pkwy #617
San Diego, CA 92131| (858) 935-9120
jim@themedicareanswerguy.com
themedicareanswerguy.com

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