It looks like you can now order your free Covid At-home test kits via the USPS.
This is the confirmation text...
"COVID-19 tests will start shipping in late January.
"USPS will only send one set of 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests to valid residential addresses. "Thank You! "Your order #: (28 alpha-numeric code) has been placed. "If you provided your email address, we'll send you an order confirmation email and delivery updates."
Much of the research I'm doing these days related to issues encountered by older adults like myself involves finance. Especially now, the Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP), which will end December 7th, this topic is important and requires immediate attention. Most agents now are very busy, and require an appointment to answer questions and make suggestions for either Medicare Advantage Plans (MAPs) or Medicare Supplement Plans (MSPs), two very different entities.
As a way of promoting this blog and my beginning YouTube channel, I'm creating a short pdf with some suggestions about how to approach senior finance.
You can sign up for this download my shooting me an email: info at 3rdActJourney dot com. I expect this download will be available towards the end of this month, but it surely will be worth your while.
Stay tuned for the official launch of my YouTube channel!
This is the typical government strategy of releasing bad news on a late Friday afternoon.
Departing from the Medicare Trustees' recommendation, the out-patient Part B premiums will increase 14.8%, or more than an extra $260 per year for 2022. The 2021 Medicare Part B premium cost was $148.50 per month, but for 2022 it will be $170.10. It was anticipated that the increase would be to $158.50 per month. The Trustees' report recommended a $215 to $217 increase in the yearly cost. The deductible will be increasing from $203 to $233. (The increase in Social Security is 5.9%.)
For those on a fixed income, or those not able to work overtime, will have this added to the extra burden of food costs due to increasing inflation.
The new Alzheimer's drug, Aduhelm (aducanumab), is a Part B administered drug, and therefore not a Part D drug administered through a separate plan. It is being suggested that CMS is anticipating billions of dollars in extra cost due to this drug, which merits the 14.8% increase in the Part B premium.
It's also being suggested that the anticipate costs of free Covid-19 care is driving this.
People who are choosing their new Medicare Advantage Plans, who still must pay their Part B premium despite some deceptive advertisements, should check the summary of benefits for Part B drugs to see if the cost of this new drug will be passed to them directly.
"Medicare Part B premiums for 2022 jump by 14.5% from this year, far above the estimated rise in cost," CNBC is reporting.
Another cause for worry will be the ending of the waivers for Covid-19 treatment and care by private insurers which is not mandated by Congress.
This Zoom meeting is scheduled for today at noon, EDT. A John A. Hartford Foundation grant supports KHN's Aging & Improving Care of Older Adults coverage.
Panelists include:
Dr. Louise Aronson, a geriatrician, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and author of “Elderhood.”
Dr. Michael Wasserman, a geriatrician, advocate for vulnerable older adults through the Covid-19 pandemic, and leader of the public policy committee of the California Association of Long Term Care Medicine.
Dr. Javette Orgain, a family physician, medical director for Longevity Health Plan of Illinois, which serves nursing home residents. Former president of the National Medical Association, which represents African American physicians and their patients, and former dean of University of Illinois College of Medicine Urban Health Program.
Dr. Rebecca Elon, a geriatrician and current caregiver for her mother, who has dementia, and husband, who passed away during the pandemic.
Jess Mauer, a lawyer and co-chair of the Maine Council on Aging, which promotes an anti-ageism pledge.
I'll be live Tweeting and then adding to this post afterwards.
New companies or organizations begin to build their brand with a mission/vision statement that succinctly indicates their reason for being. Let me do this simply with this list of reasons...
1. To inspire hope and positivity.
When I tell people about my experiences in medical school, and then training in pathology and general surgery, I often hear their healthcare system horror stories where a poor or unexpected outcome happened to family or friends. Because we live in a climate where the delivery of healthcare is fraught with challenges, we as patients or caretakers of patients need to take an active role in pulling the healthcare team together. This includes not only doctors and nurses, but extends to pharmacists, physical & occupational therapists, and the money folks: hospital financial services, insurance reps and maybe a financial advisor or lawyer skilled in elder law. We all hope this doesn't necessitate a bankruptcy attorney.
2. To give practical approaches to solving the many problems of aging in the USA.
As a medical writer, my core competency is studying the medical language, which can be vague at times, and certainly evolving. We don't have to use a Latin dictionary anymore. In fact, we don't need to buy a medical dictionary, since the Internet is readily available for most of us.
As patients and/or caregivers, we need to develop a skill in communicating our needs and concerns, and this requires knowing the relevant terms. I find myself having to educate my personal physician about the intricacies of Medicare reimbursement, a subject woefully ignored in medical training. What happens sometimes if a patient doesn't take a medication for whatever reason including not having the money, he/she is labeled "non-compliant."
This is not a theoretical exercise for me as what I'm presenting are problems that I need to solve, and I think I've found a way to a workable answer. I don't preach or teach or give advice, but rather try to give you the right questions to ask of the right people. Sometimes just letting them know that you're on top of things works in your favor. But, you've got to know their language.
3. To make my life more interesting by engaging a widening circle of people.
My strongest trait is curiosity, and I like to write about a variety of topics including food, movies, music, all the cultural things that are worth exploring. I'm a firm believer in lifelong learning. The Ancient Greeks had a notion, predating Aristotle, of "eudaimonia," or living a flourishing life. It's about growing and thriving in the world, expanding your universe. I find in my elder years (I'm 67), I have the perspective to embrace complexity without feeling frustrated or daunted by the task. I'm learning a new language (Italian), taking keyboard lessons, and pursuing my passion for the visual arts by doing ink drawings and watercolor painting.
Besides, this blog, I'll be producing some written material for download and creating a YouTube channel. I hope that you'll support this effort so that I can share my vision and spread my message to as many folks as possible.
Take care.
