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October 19, 2018
New Mexico’s Legal & Financial Weekly
Vol. 8.89 No. 42
FORECLOSURE SALES: 2 PROBATE: 29 AUCTIONS: 5 NOTICE OF SUITS: 6 OTHER: 45 SPANISH NOTICES: 0
Your Medicare Open Enrollment To-Do List
M
edicare’s annual enrollment period is now underway, and runs from October 15 to December 7, 2018. You may be happy with your current Medicare coverage, but it pays to shop around. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
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Don’t shy away from shopping. Plan details change each year, so the Prepaid copy copy provided Prepaid providedby:by: policy that was best for you in 2018 may not be your best option for 2019. TheTime Health City Sun llc. 2012 Prime Publishing 2018 Changes to premiums, deductibles and co-pays can be costly. An analysis of more than 17,000 people using Medicare.com to compare Medicare plans found that just 10 percent were enrolled in the lowest-cost plan for their prescription drug needs. Those who switched to a new drug plan stood ers won’t cover out-of-network providers at all, except in an emergency. to save an average of $611. Compare services. MedicareAdvantage plans tend to offer additional benWatch for changes in drug coverage. Read any letters from your insurance efits you can’t get with Original Medicare. These can include dental, vision, company outlining changes in your prescription drug coverage. Insurance hearing and even fitness benefits. companies often tweak their formulary, or list of covered drugs, each year. That can mean higher out-of-pocket expenses for you. Compare coverage Shopping for Medicare plans can seem daunting, but there’s a range of for your prescriptions under any new Medicare plan you consider. services out there to help enrollees navigate them. Read up on your options and don’t hesitate to work through a licensed agent to help match you with Be sure your doctors participate in your plan. Double-check to make sure the best plan for your needs. your preferred doctors will still be part of your health plan’s network next -(NAPSI) year. You’ll pay more to see non-network providers, and some health insur-
After Stroke Strikes, What Comes Next?
T
he American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, the world’s leading voluntary health organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular disease and stroke, wants stroke survivors to know that while life may be different after a stroke, rehabilitation can help them regain some independence, decrease chances of another stroke and provide new goals to work toward. Worldwide, stroke is the No. 2 cause of death and is a leading cause of long-term disability. Stroke is more disabling than it is fatal. However, stroke is largely beatable through high-quality rehabilitation and patient support and implementation of the Association’s Rehabilitation Guidelines.
The acronym “F.A.S.T.” represents the most common stroke warning signs and stands for: • Face Drooping—Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven? • Arm Weakness—Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? • Speech Difficulty—Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” • Time to Call 9-1-1—If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital immediately. (Tip: Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.)
“Rehabilitation is key to recovery after stroke,” said Olajide Williams, M.D., chief of staff of Neurology, associate professor of Clinical Neurology Columbia University Medical Center and an American Stroke Association Education about F.A.S.T is a part of the American Stroke Association’s Tovolunteer. “But up to a third of people who have a stroke do not participate gether to End Stroke initiative, nationally sponsored by Medtronic. Together, the two organizations aim to help people to easily recognize the most in a rehab program.” common stroke warning signs to improve stroke outcomes. Stroke rehabilitation can help patients build their strength, capabilities and confidence, potentially regaining skills and returning to independent living. Rehab can also help patients better manage other conditions they have, which may affect daily living or their risk for a second stroke. “Stroke recovery begins the moment you suspect a stroke,” said Williams. “The sooner a person can be treated for stroke, the more likely he or she is to have a successful outcome.” He advises everyone to be ready to respond F.A.S.T. if they suspect a stroke.
The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Together to End Stroke™ initiative, nationally sponsored by Kindred Rehabilitation Services, raises awareness that stroke is largely beatable through high-quality rehabilitation, patient support and implementation of the AHA/ASA’s Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery Guidelines. For more information and a full list of the stroke warning signs, visit www. StrokeAssociation.org/WorldStrokeDay.-(NAPSI)