The open enrollment period is here. If you are 65 and over it’s time to review and update your health care coverage with help from our annual guide.
When creating your personal fitness training at home, don’t neglect the upper body muscles. We use pushing, pulling and reaching movements daily. Without strengthening those muscles, the lower back muscles often have to compensate for the arms and shoulders, which can result in straining and overuse injuries. Having upper body strength makes everyday activities easier to perform by meeting the demands that are placed on the chest, arms, shoulders and the back. Strengthening shoulders and back promotes better balance and posture.
To maximize your workout time, design an upper body workout that targets opposing muscle groups with push-pull movements. This kind of a workout is usually spread out over several days of training, with shorter workouts. Day one might be a push upper body day and day two an upper body pull day. However, you could also combine the pushpull exercises in the same workout session.
• Always warm up first and begin with light weights
• A push-pull routine makes it easier to have a balanced workout
• When ready, repeat 2-3 sets of each exercise
The muscles that perform the upper body pushing movements are the chest, shoulders and triceps. Exercises that work muscles for this area extend the elbow joint, pushing the resistance away from your body. An example would be when doing a chest press or a pushup.
Upper body pull exercises are the opposite of the push movements. They are strength training moves that focus on bringing the weight or arms in towards you. Pull workouts train the back, biceps and forearms. Examples of pull exercises include bicep curls and lat pull downs.
When during a push-pull workout, perform 8-12 repetitions of each exercise. If you wanted to introduce leg work into your push-pull training, you would include the entire lower body, the quads, hamstrings, calves and abdominals. Squats, lunges and leg presses belong to the push group, while glutes, bridges, hamstring curls and back extensions are pull training.
CHEST PRESS - A push day: targets chest, shoulders, triceps
• Lying on the floor, mat or bench, bend knees with feet flat on the floor.
• Contract abdominals to stabilize the spine.
• Holding weights, begin with elbows on the floor by your shoulders with palms facing inward.
• Push weights upward until arms are fully extended; avoid locked elbows.
• Slowly return to starting position.
• Repeat pattern 8-10 times.
Tip: May perform one arm at a time repeating 8-10 reps with each arm.
BENT OVER ROW - A pull day: strengthens the back
• Holding weights, place feet hip-width apart.
• Bend at the waist keeping a flat back.
• Keeping knees slightly bent, extend the arms and the weights out in front of you.
• Contract abdominals.
• Squeeze shoulder blades together as you pull the weights to your torso.
• Keep elbows close to your sides and pointed upward.
• Slowly return the weights to the starting position, repeating 8-10 times.
Tip: You can also perform this movement using a workout bench or a chair.
STANDING TRICEP EXTENSION - A push day: strengthens the back of upper arms and helps to stabilize the shoulders and elbow joints
• Contract abdominals to maintain good posture.
• Hold the center of one weight in both hands.
• Lift the weight to bring it behind your head.
• Elbows should be bent and close to your head.
• This is your starting position.
• Straighten arms as you extend forearms.
• Slowly bend arms to lower weight back to starting position.
• Repeat pattern 8-10 times.
Tip: You can also perform tricep extensions sitting or lying on the floor.
BICEP CURL - A pull day: works front of upper arms and also muscles of lower arms.
• Standing or sitting, have a weight in each hand at the sides of your body with palms facing forward.
• Keeping elbows close to your sides and without moving your upper arms, bend elbows and slowly lift weights toward shoulders.
• Pause, then moving with control, lower the weight back to the starting position.
• Each time you return to the starting position, completely straighten your arms.
• Repeat 8-10 times.
Tip: Avoid allowing wrists to roll inward.
Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program. Sally Anderson is happy to hear from readers but can’t respond to individual inquiries. Contact her at slafit@tampabay.rr.com.
Type: These charts show three types of health plans with drug coverage: HMO, PPO and HMOPOS. They are explained below.
Counties served: Indicates whether plans are available in Hernando (Her.), Hillsborough (Hills.), Pasco and Pinellas (Pin.) counties.
Premium: Medicare recipients will see a reduction in their Medicare Part B premiums for 2023. The new monthly premium will be $164.90, a decrease of $5.20 per month. The lower premium is a welcome change after the jump that recipients experienced in 2022. Part B reduction: Some plans pay part of the monthly Part B premium. This “premium reduction” also called a rebate or a “premium give back” is considered an additional benefit offered by a plan. It’s usually returned to consumers in their monthly Social Security checks. The charts indicate whether a plan offers a premium reduction. Since reductions can differ based on each beneficiary’s situation, please contact the insurer to find out the amount.
Drug deductible: In some plans, a deductible is paid before drug coverage kicks in. A drug deductible may not apply to all medications or tiers.
Doctor copay: This is the cost of every visit to the doctor. The first dollar figure is for primary care physicians; the second is for specialists. Costs are listed for physicians inside the network (Net) and outside the network (Out).
Hospital copay: This is the cost every time a patient is admitted to a hospital both inside the network (Net) and outside the network (Out). For outpatient hospital coverage, refer to Medicare’s Plan Finder: bit.ly/2YDQU40.
Yearly cost (Est.): Medicare’s estimated out-of-pocket costs under this plan, including the Part B premium and drug costs. It is based on an average person in good health, but could vary greatly depending on the actual drugs and services needed. The best way to project costs is to use Medicare’s Plan Finder.
Out-of-pocket cap: The maximum of payments for the year inside the network (Net) and outside the network (Out). The lower the cap, the better.
IMPORTANT: These out-of-pocket limits do not apply to prescription drug costs.
This special section is online at
Generics in the gap: Once you and your plan have spent $4,660 on covered drugs in 2023, you’re in the coverage gap. Once you reach the coverage gap, you’ll pay no more than 25 percent of the cost for your plan’s covered brand-name prescription drugs. Some plans may offer you even lower costs in the coverage gap. The discount will come off the price that your plan has set with the pharmacy for that specific drug.
Rating: Medicare rates plans from 1 to 5 stars, based on customer satisfaction and certain health measures. The top rating is a 5. People with Medicare can switch into a 5-star plan at any time during the year, even if it’s not during an enrollment period.
Private Fee for Service Plans (PFFS) and Special Needs Plans (SNPs): See explanation below and medicare.gov for details.
Medicare supplement plans: Also known as Medigap, this coverage helps pay some health care costs that original Medicare doesn’t cover. Shop for those plans here: https://bit.ly/3CrU377.
Copayments for other services: Plans usually charge copayments for drugs, skilled nursing homes, ambulances, emergency rooms and many other services. Check individual plans for these details.
Goodies: Some plans offer some dental, hearing and vision coverage, exercise classes, transportation to the doctor and other extra benefits. Check plans for details.
Health plans without drugs: A few plans are cheaper because they do not offer drug coverage. Unless one has comparable coverage elsewhere, using these plans can result in stiff penalties if that person ever wants Medicare drug coverage in later years.
Medicare allows several types of private health plans, which cover all care. Here is how they differ:
HMO (Health Maintenance Organization): Generally requires the use of providers within a network. A personal physician usually coordinates care and may need to approve visits to specialists.
PPO (Preferred Provider Organization): Encourages the use of providers within a network, with low copayments, but also allows the use of providers outside the network at a higher cost. Usually allows the use of specialists within the network without prior approval of a personal physician. Some bigger companies allow the use of their PPOs in other states. Verify before signing up.
HMO-POS (HMO-Point of Service): A hybrid between an HMO and PPO. Usually requires staying within a network and may require the approval of a personal physician before seeing network specialists. It may cover some care outside the network. Some POS plans approve very little coverage outside the network, so check plans for details.
PFFS (Private Fee for Service): Has network, but allows members to get care outside the network if the provider will accept the plan’s payment, which many do not. Make sure provider will accept payment before incurring bills.
SNP (Special Needs Plan): People with certain chronic conditions like diabetes and COPD can sometimes qualify for a Special Needs Plan, which may include extra services for managing their disease. The consumer should make sure they qualify before purchasing. People living in nursing homes may also qualify for special plans, as can those on Medicaid.
AARP Medicare Advantage HMO- Her., Hills., $0 No $0 Net: $0, $35 Net: $200 Net: Yes 1/2 H1045-028 POS Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A daily for 6 days $4,000 Contact: 800-555-5757 Out: N/A Out: N/A
AARP Medicare Advantage PPO Her., Hills., $0 No $0 Net: $0, $35 Net: $295 daily Net: Yes 1/2 Choice Pasco, Pin. Out: $45, $70 for 5 days $4,900 H2406-011 Out: 40%/stay In and Out Contact: 800-555-5757 of network: $8,950
AARP Medicare Advantage PPO Her., Hills., $0 No $195 Net: $0, $50 Net: $395 daily Net: Yes 1/2 Choice Plan 2 Pasco, Pin. Out: $40, $70 for 4 days $6,700 R0759-001 Out: 40%/stay In and Out Contact: 800-555-5757 of network: $10,000
AARP Medicare Advantage HMO-POS Hills., $0 No $0 Net: $0, $20 Net: $150 daily Net: $2,900 Yes 1/2 Focus H1045-045 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 4 days Out: N/A Contact: 800-555-5757 Out: N/A
AARP Medicare Advantage HMO-POS Her. $0 No $0 Net: $0, $15 Net: $100 daily Net: $2,900 Yes 1/2 Premier H1045-043 Out: N/A for 5 days Out: N/A Contact: 800-555-5757 Out: N/A
Aetna Medicare Choice HMO-POS Hills., Pin. $0 No $195 Net: $0, $35 Net: $365 daily Net: $6,700 Yes H1609-028 Out: N/A, $50 for 4 days In and Out Contact: 833-859-6031; TTY 711 Out: 50%/stay of network: $10,000
Aetna Medicare Credit HMO Her., Hills., $0 Yes $0 Net: $0, $30 Net: $200 daily Net: $3,450 Yes H1609-060 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 7 days Out: N/A Contact: 833-859-6031; TTY 711 Out: N/A
Aetna Medicare Premier PPO Her., Hills., $0 No $300 Net: $15, $50 Net: $395 daily Net: $6,700 Yes 1/2 H5521-033 Pasco, Pin. Out: $50, $50 for 4 days In and Out Contact: 833-859-6031; TTY 711 Out: 50%/stay of network: $10,000
Aetna Medicare Premier Plus PPO Her., Hills., $0 No $150 Net: $0, $30 Net: $275 daily Net: $5,500 Yes 1/2 H5521-270 Pasco, Pin. Out: $55, $70 for 6 days In and Out Contact: 833-859-6031; TTY 711 Out: 50%/stay of network: $8,950
Aetna Medicare Select HMO Her., Hills., $0 No $0 Net: $0, $5 Net: $50 daily Net: $1,900 Yes H1609-034 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 7 days Out: N/A Contact: 833-859-6031; TTY 711 Out: N/A
BayCarePlus Complete HMO Hills., $0 No $0 Net: $0, $15 Net: $175 daily Net: $3,100 No 1/2 H2235-001 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 5 days Out: N/A Contact: 866-508-7148; TTY 711 Out: N/A
BayCarePlus Premier HMO Hills., $34 No $0 Net: $0, $15 Net: $150 daily Net: $2,500 No 1/2 H2235-003 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 5 days Out: No Contact: 866-508-7148; TTY 711 Out: N/A
BayCarePlus Rewards HMO Hills., $0 Yes $0 Net: $0, $40 Net: $250 daily Net: $4,500 No 1/2 H2235-002 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 6 days Out: N/A Contact: 866-508-7148; TTY 711 Out: N/A
Note: Shading on the chart indicates plans offered by the same company.
Chart continued on
BlueMedicare Choice PPO Her., Hills., $49.90 No $250 Net: $10, $50 Net: $345 daily Net: $6,500 Yes R3332-001 Pasco, Pin. Out: 45%, 45% for 5 days In and Out Contact: 855-601-9465 Out: $495 daily of network: for 27 days $12,450
BlueMedicare Classic HMO Her., $0 No $0 Net: $0, $40 Net: $210 daily Net: $4,900 Yes 1/2 H1035-021 Hills., Pasco Out: N/A for 8 days Out: N/A Contact: 855-601-9465 Out: N/A
BlueMedicare Premier HMO Hills. $0 No $0 Net: $0, $10 Net: $85 daily Net: $1,900 Yes 1/2 H1035-023 Out: N/A for 6 days Out: N/A Contact: 855-601-9465 Out: N/A
BlueMedicare Premier HMO Her., $0 No $0 Net: $0, $10 Net: $85 daily Net: $2,400 Yes 1/2 H1035-034 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 6 days Out: N/A Contact: 855-601-9465 Out: N/A
BlueMedicare Saver HMO Hills., Pin. $0 Yes $50 Net: $0, $45 Net: $260 daily Net: $6,700 Yes 1/2 H1035-037 Out: N/A for 7 days Out: N/A Contact: 855-601-9465 Out: N/A
BlueMedicare Select PPO Hills, Pin. $108.70 No $305 Net: $5, $45 Net: $225 daily Net: $5,900 Yes 1/2 H5434-002 Out: 40%, 40% for 7 days In and Out Contact: 855-601-9465 Out: $200 daily of network: for 27 days $8,950
BlueMedicare Value PPO Pin. $0 No $150 Net: $0, Net: $295 daily Net: $4,500 Yes 1/2 H5434-023 $30-39 for 5 days In and Out Contact: 855-601-9465 Out: 47%, 47% Out: 47%/stay of network: $8,950
BlueMedicare Value PPO Hills. $0 No $150 Net: $0, Net: $275 daily Net: $4,000 Yes 1/2 H5434-034 $35-45 for 6 days Out: $8,950 Contact: 855-601-9465 Out: 47%, 47% Out: 47%/stay
BlueMedicare Value PPO Her., Pasco $0 No $150 Net: $0, Net: $295 daily Net: $4,500 Yes 1/2 H5434-035 $30-$40 for 5 days Out: $8,950 Contact: 855-601-9465 Out: 47%, 47% Out: 47%/stay
Bright Advantage Health Dollars HMO Pasco $0 No $0 Net: $0, $0 Net: $0 Net: $1,199 Yes Too new to H4709-011 Out: N/A Out: N/A Out: N/A measure Contact: 844-679-2028
Bright Advantage HMO Pasco $0 Yes $0 Net: $0, $0 Net: $195 daily Net: $2,500 Yes Too new to Part B Savings Plan Out: N/A for 5 days Out: N/A measure H4709-029 Out: N/A Contact: 844-679-2028
Bright Advantage PPO Pasco $0 Yes $110 Net: $0, $20 Net: $235 daily Net: $4,900 Yes Too new to Part B Savings Plan Out: $30-$60 for 7 days Out: $8,950 measure H3281-010 Out: 40% Contact: 844-679-2028 days 1-90
Note:
CareFree HMO Hills., $0 Yes $0 Net: $0, $20 Net: $125 daily Net: $2,500 Yes H1019-104-002 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 4 days Out: N/A Contact: 855-450-1352; TTY 711 Out: N/A
CareOne PLATINUM HMO Hills., $0 No $0 Net: $0, $10 Net: $40 daily Net: $3,000 Yes H1019-111 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 5 days Out: N/A Contact: 855-450-1352; TTY 711 Out: N/A
CareOne PLUS HMO Her., Hills., $0 No $0 Net: $0, $5 Net: $20 daily Net: $1,700 Yes H1019-103-002 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 5 days Out: N/A Contact: 855-450-1352; TTY 711 Out: N/A
Cigna Preferred Medicare HMO Her., Hills., $0 No $0 Net: $0, $0 Net: $85 daily Net: $2,200 No ½ H5410-029 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 6 days Out: N/A Contact: 800-313-0973 Out: N/A
Cigna Preferred Savings HMO Her., Hills., $0 Yes $0 Net: $0, $15 Net: $190 daily Net: $2,700 No ½ Medicare Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 7 days Out: N/A H5410-030 Out: N/A Contact: 800-313-0973
Cigna Primary Medicare HMO Her., Hills., $18.60 No $505 Net: $0, $0 Net: $25 daily Net: $3,500 No ½ H5410-035 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 6 days Out: N/A Contact: 800-313-0973 Out: N/A
Cigna True Choice Medicare PPO Her., Hills., $0 No $0 Net: $0, $25 Net: $230 daily Net: $5,200 No H7849-048 Pasco, Pin. Out: $40, $55 for 7 days In and Out Contact: 800-313-0973 Out: 40% per stay of network: $8,950
Devoted CHOICE GIVEBACK PPO Her., Hills., $0 Yes $150 Net: $0, $30 Net: $295 daily Net: $5,500 Yes Too new to Tampa Pasco, Pin. Out: $45, $60 for 5 days In and Out measure H9884-005 Out: $295 daily of network: Contact: 800-376-5889 for 5 days $8,950
Devoted CORE Tampa HMO Her., Hills., $0 No $0 Net: $0, $10 Net: $50 daily Net: $2,900 Yes ½ H1290-036 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 7 days Out: N/A Contact: 800-376-5889 Out: N/A
Devoted ESSENTIALS Tampa HMO Her., Hills., $0 Yes $0 Net: $0, $35 Net: $250 daily Net: $3,400 Yes
H1290-051 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 6 days Out: N/A Contact: 800-376-5889 Out: N/A
Devoted PRIME HMO Her., Hills., $32 No $505 Net: $0, $0 Net: $0 Net: $2,900 Yes
½ H1290-037 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A Out: N/A Out: N/A Contact: 800-376-5889
Freedom Medicare Plan Rx HMO Hills., $0 No $0 Net: $0, $35 Net: $150 daily Net: $2,750 Yes
½ H5427-060 Pasco Out: N/A for 7 days Out: N/A Contact: 888-300-9318 Out: N/A
Freedom Medicare Plan Rx HMO Pin. $0 No $0 Net: $0, $30 Net: $225 daily Net: $3,000 Yes
½ H5427-059 Out: N/A for 7 days Out: N/A Contact: 888-300-9318 Out: N/A
Note: Shading
Through Dec. 7, eligible individuals can switch from original Medicare to Medicare Advantage; from Medicare Advantage to original Medicare; from one Medicare Part D prescription drug plan to another; and enroll in a Medicare Part D plan if they did not enroll when they first were eligible for Medicare.
Overall, the changes will be welcome news for the estimated 31.8 million Americans that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expects to enroll in the federal health insurance program for those 65 and older.
CMS released the 2023 premiums, deductibles and other key information for Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans in late September There are many options and many rules, which makes Medicare a challenge to navigate.
The Tampa Bay Times’ Medicare Guide breaks down the various parts of Medicare and offers charts for plan comparison to help beneficiaries, who have a wide array of choices this year. Here are some points to consider at the outset.
Last year, premiums for Medicare Part B, which covers both medically necessary services and preventive services, rose close to 15 percent, the largest increase in history. In 2023, for the first time in more than a decade, Part B premiums are slated to drop, decreasing from $170.10 to $164.90 per month. Additionally, the annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries will drop from $233 to $226.
While Medicare Part A, which provides coverage for hospital inpatient care, skilled nursing facilities, hospice and home health care, is free for most people, the premium does increase each year In 2023, the Medicare Part A deductible will be $1,600 for each benefit period, a $44 increase over last year
Meanwhile, the number of plan choices continues to increase both nationally and locally The 4.9 million Floridians enrolled in Medicare will be able to choose from 627 Medicare Advantage plans compared to 583 plans in 2022.
Every Floridian eligible for Medicare will have access to a Medicare Advantage plan with a $0 monthly premium even as the average monthly plan premium increases from $8.86 to $9.41.
Through the CMS Innovation Center’s Value-Based Insurance Design Model, 201 plans will offer Medicare Advantage enrollees throughout the state additional options up from 163 in 2022 including reductions in cost sharing for certain covered benefits, such as eliminated Medicare Part D cost sharing; rewards and incentives programs related to healthy behavior; and customized benefits that address social determinants of health, such as food insecurity and social isolation, for enrollees who receive low-income subsidies and/or chronically ill enrollees.
Additionally, Floridians with Medicare can select from among 23 stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans with a lower premium than what they paid in 2022. Monthly premiums for stand-alone prescription drug plans in 2023 will range from $8.40 to $170.10.
The deductible for Part D coverage will be $505 for the year The initial coverage limit will increase to $4,660, and the out-of-pocket threshold will increase to $7,400.
Unlike original Medicare, which does not have a cap on out-of-pocket costs, Medicare Advantage plans are required to cap enrollees’ outof-pocket costs for Part A and Part B services. The cap does not include the cost of prescription drugs, since those are covered under Medicare Part D, even when it’s integrated with a Medicare Advantage plan.
For several years, the cap was $6,700, although most plans have had out-of-pocket caps below that level. For 2021 and 2022, the maximum out-of-pocket limit for Medicare Advantage plans increased to $7,550 (plus out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs). For 2023, the cap is increasing to $8,300, but most plans will continue to have out-ofpocket caps below the government’s maximum.
The Inflation Reduction Act will start to benefit Medicare Part D enrollees in 2023. Recommended vaccines covered under Part D no longer will have cost sharing; they’ll be free. Additionally, all Part D plans will provide all of their covered insulin products with copays of no more than $35 per month, essentially extending the existing optional Senior Savings Model to all Part D plans, including Medicare Advantage plans with integrated Part D coverage.
All the providers who offered Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans in Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties are returning with similar or enhanced plans for 2023.
Cigna, which earlier this year announced a 22 percent growth in its geographic footprint, is expanding into 106 new counties nationwide, including several in Florida. The companywilloffera$0premiumplan in each county, and most customers will pay the same or lower premiums compared to last year Benefits include caregiver, companion and social support programs and broader financial wellness incentives.
“By leveraging the full capabilities of our enterprise, Cigna is able to offer Medicare Advantage customers a range of affordable, personalized plans,” said Aparna Abburi, president of Medicare and CareAllies for the company. “We take a thoughtful and targeted approach to our Medicare Advantage footprint, adding new markets where we have strong provider partnerships that will ensure our customers get quality care.”
After pledging earlier this year to identify $1 billion in cost savings to invest in its Medicare Advantage program, Humana has expanded this year into 260 new counties with the goal of serving an additional 4.6
million Medicare-eligible individuals across the country.
Touting its focus on combining the benefits of original Medicare with additional options such as dental, vision, hearing and prescription drugs, Humana is promoting a flexible allowance for these items that will help members pay out-ofpocket expenses.
“When you sum up what Humana is offering this year, it’s as simple as this: Our members spoke, and we listened,” said George Renaudin, Medicare president for Humana. “We conducted extensive research to ensure our changes align with consumer wants and needs. This research resulted in investments focusedonwhatconsumerswant,like dental coverage, which is consistently a No. 1 priority in supplemental benefits for our members.”
Aetna, a CVS Health company, is debuting more affordable medical and prescription drug coverage and expanded money-saving benefits that support members’ well-being. New Medicare Advantage plan options include those designed with veterans in mind.
“In addition to the health challenges that typically come with getting older, we recognize the heavy financial strain on older adults and people with disabilities who often live on fixed incomes,” said Christopher Ciano, president of Aetna Medicare.
“To help lower their health care costs, we expanded our Aetna Medicare Solutions portfolio of products to include improved prescription drug coverage that will save members money, more essential benefits that make a meaningful difference in members’ lives and plans that fit their unique needs and budget..”
Part A and Part B generally are the most popular programs and tend to offer the most free services for individuals who qualify.
Part A covers inpatient hospital care, nursing home care, hospice care and home health care. These services usually are free, which means there’s no premium to pay.
PartB covers two types of services: those that are medically necessary, such as outpatient hospital care, doctor bills, physical therapy and more; and preventive services and detection of illnesses at an early stage when treatment is likely to work best.
Part B is optional and costs most people a monthly premium, which is projected to decrease in 2023 from $170.10 per month to $164.90. The premium is higher for some, depending on income. The premium is a bit lower for those who choose to have the premium deducted from their Social Security checks.
Unless you are still on an employer’s health plan, it makes sense to sign up for Part B when you first become eligible for Medicare regardless of how healthy you are. You will face a penalty if you decide you need this coverage later up to 10 percent for each year you could have had Part B but didn’t sign up for it, a penalty that will last for as long as you have Part B.
Part C refers to Medicare Advantage plans. These plans, subsidized by taxpayers, are managed by private insurance companies through either an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) or a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization).
Individuals choose medical providers from a predetermined list. The plans offer bundles that include Part A, Part B and usually a prescription drug program (Part D).
Medicare Advantage plans will continue to offer a wide range of supplemental benefits in 2023, including eyewear, hearing aids, both preventive and comprehensive dental benefits, access to meals, overthe-counter items, fitness benefits and worldwide emergency/urgent coverage.
The Medicare Advantage enrollment process varies slightly by plan, but in all cases, you must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan during the annual enrollment period and later change your mind, you can drop the plan and go back to original Medicare (Parts A and B) during the Medicare Annual Disenrollment Period, which begins Jan. 1. If you don’t unenroll during this period, you must keep your plan for the rest of the year unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment.
It’s important to note that Part A and Part B services under original Medicare come with deductibles and copays. These costs can be covered by buying private Medicare supplement policies known as Medigap. Premiums tend to be high, but the extra coverage can be worth it in the event of catastrophic illness.
Medicare Part D plans help pay for prescription drugs and protect you from high prescription drug costs. If you are eligible for Medicare Parts A or B, you are generally also eligible for Medicare Part D.
While all Part D plans are required to cover certain common types of drugs, the specific prescription drugs covered by a Medicare Part D plan vary by plan type and insurance carrier. Every plan has its own list of covered medications, called a formulary. Before enrolling, you should review each Medicare Part D plan’s formulary to understand which of your drugs are covered. The drugs you take may not be covered in every Medicare Part D formulary.
The Affordable Care Act closed the doughnut hole in Medicare Part D, so there is no longer a “hole” for brandname or generic drugs. Enrollees in standard Part D plans pay 25
percent of the cost after meeting their deductible until they reach the catastrophic coverage threshold.
Prior to 2010, enrollees paid their deductible, then 25 percent of the costs until they reached the doughnut hole, then they were responsible for 100 percent of the costs until they reached the catastrophic coverage threshold.
That amount gradually declined over the next several years, and the doughnut hole closed one year early in 2019 instead of 2020 for brandname drugs. The doughnut hole is still relevant, however, in terms of how drug costs are counted toward reaching the catastrophic coverage threshold, and in terms of who covers the costs of the drugs the drug manufacturer or the enrollee’s Part D plan.
A standard plan’s maximum deductible will increase to $505 in 2023, and the threshold for entering the catastrophic coverage phase (where out-of-pocket spending decreases significantly) will increase to $7,400. But the Inflation Reduction Act will ensure that Part D enrollees no longer have to pay for covered vaccines and will have access to insulin for no more than $35 per month.
Star ratings are released annually and reflect the experiences of people enrolled in Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans. Individuals can compare perceived quality through the star ratings, along with other information, such as cost and coverage, on the online Medicare Plan Finder tool available on Medicare.gov.
CMS changed the methodology for the 2023 star ratings and removed guardrails that protected plans during the height of the pandemic. In all, 57 contracts earned five stars, down significantly from 74 last year. There were 67 contracts that earned 4.5 stars, down from 96 last year; 136 that earned four stars compared to 152 last year; 116 that earned 3.5
stars compared to 122 last year; and 90 that earned three stars, up from 25 last year.
Coverage: Original Medicare covers most medically necessary services and supplies in hospitals, doctors’ offices and other health care facilities but does not cover benefits like eye exams, most dental care and routine exams. You can join a separate Medicare drug plan to get Medicare drug coverage (Part D). In most cases, you don’t have to get a service or supply approved ahead of time for original Medicare to cover it.
Medicare Advantage plans must cover all the medically necessary services that original Medicare covers. Most plans offer extra benefits that original Medicare doesn’t cover, such as some routine exams and vision, hearing and dental services. Medicare drug coverage (Part D) is included in most plans. In some cases, you must get a service or supply approved ahead of time for the plan to cover it.
Doctor and hospital choice: Original Medicare allows you to see any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare, anywhere in the United States. In most cases, you don’t need a referral to see a specialist.
Medicare Advantage plans in many cases require you to use doctors and other providers who are in the plan’s network, at least for non-emergency care. Some plans offer non-emergency coverage out of network but typically at a higher cost. You may need to get a referral to see a specialist.
Cost: For Part B-covered services, original Medicare usually requires youtopay20percentoftheMedicareapproved amount after you meet your deductible; this is called your coinsurance. You pay a premium (monthly payment) for Part B. If you choose to join a Medicare drug plan, you’ll pay a separate premium for your Medicare drug coverage (Part D). There is no yearly limit to what you pay out of pocket unless you have supplemental coverage such as Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap).
With Medicare Advantage, outof-pocket costs vary; plans have different costs for certain services.
You pay the monthly Part B premium and may also have to pay the plan’s premium. Plans may have a $0 premium and may help pay all or part of your Part B premium. Most plans include Medicare drug coverage (Part D). Plans have a yearly limit on what you pay out of pocket for services that Medicare Part A and Part B cover. Once you reach your plan’s limit, you’ll pay nothing for services Part A and Part B cover for the rest of the year
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provides information as well as an updated Medicare Plan Finder at https:// www.medicare.gov/ to allow people with Medicare to compare their personalized options for health and drug coverage. Additionally, a tollfree line 1-800-MEDICARE is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide help in English and Spanish with language support in more than 200 other languages. Medicare enrollees also can contact their State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (https:// www.shiphelp.org/) for one-on-one assistance.
To help with their Medicare costs, low-income seniors and adults with disabilities may qualify to receive financial assistance from the Medicare Savings Programs. The MSPs help pay Medicare premiums and may also pay Medicare deductibles, coinsurance and copayments if people meet eligibility conditions. Individuals interested in learning more can visit https:// www.medicare.gov/basics/costs. Or you can call the Social Security Administration toll-free at 1-800-772 1213.
Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders is a free offering from the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the local Area Agency on Aging. Specially trained volunteers can assist with Medicare, Medicaid and health insurance questions by providing one-on-one counseling and information. SHINE services are free, unbiased and confidential. Visit www.floridashine.org or call 1-800 963-5337 toll-free.
As you make your way through the world each day, balance plays a quiet but critical role. It’s a delicate dance of multiple body systems working in concert: Strength and flexibility support you while your senses of touch, sight and hearing, as well as the vestibular system in your inner ear, keep you informed about where you are in three-dimensional space. You might not even realize how much you take your sense of balance for granted until you fall. A fall can injure you in any number of ways, some of them quite serious, but even if it doesn’t, it really does a number on your confidence
your confidence in simply getting around. The likelihood of this sort of thing happening increases with age, but you don’t have to be a se nior to be vulnerable.
Consider this: When 775 women and men tried to stand on one leg for 60 seconds without extra support for a 2017 Duke University study, the outcomes revealed a big age divide. Participants in their 30s stayed upright for 57 seconds and 40-somethings lasted 52 seconds. Those in their 50s lost their balance after 44 seconds, 60-yearolds wobbled after 40 seconds and 70-year-olds after just 27 seconds.
Alternately, in a 2019 Canadian study of 344 older adults, those who followed an at-home strength and balance regimen for one year
went on to have 74 percent fewer falls the following year compared to those who didn’t (per AARP. org).
In other words, this age-related decline doesn’t have to be in evitable. Get regular checkups to ensure your Vitamin D levels are good (which is believed to improve balance and posture), and your eyesight and hearing are well-supported, and introduce some low-impact exercise and movement into your routine. One discipline that is well-known to benefit balance is tai chi, a slow meditative series of controlled movements. Studies have shown that tai chi reduces falls in seniors by up to 45 percent, according to Peter Wayne, Ph.D., author of (The
Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi.) Tai chi is typically practiced in a group setting, giving participants the bonus of social interaction.
Two more activities that benefit balance and coordination are wa ter-based: swimming and water aerobics. Considered low-impact exercises, swimming and water aerobics are great alternatives for people who suffer from chronic joint pain and would like to avoid injury (as well as sweat). But the benefits don’t stop there: Swimming and water aerobics strengthen cardiovascular health, are gentle on joints while improv ing flexibility, mobility and core strength, and are miraculous at reducing stress and helping sleep.
Yoga and Pilates are two more full-body, low-impact activities that can work separately (or to gether) to improve balance and core strength, and like the other activities mentioned here, they can be started at any age If you take them together, so much the better: Strengthening your core in
Pilates classes will give you better balance in yoga. And the increased flexibility that yoga brings will enable you to make bigger, stronger moves in Pilates.
Whatever you decide, if you do fall, don’t let it intimidate you into inactivity. That will only make you more prone to future falls. Get ad vice from your doctor, of course, but ease into one or more of these low-impact, high-benefit group activities so you can keep your sense of balance humming and your body working for you well into your senior years. The bonus? You might even make some new friends.
Information for this article was gathered from health.harvard. edu, cdc.gov, hopkinsmedicine.org, aarp.org,healthline.com,elderguru. com and discoveryvillages.com.
Times Total Media is the sales and marketing division of the Tampa Bay Times. Contact timestotalmedia@tampabay.com with questions.
HumanaChoice
PPO Her., Hills., $111 No $100* Net: $5, $45 Net: $250 daily Net: $6,700 No R5826-005 Pasco, Pin. Out: $65, $65 for 7 days In and Out of Contact: 800-833-2364 Out: 40%/stay network: $10,000
HumanaChoice
PPO Her., Hills., $4 No $395* Net: $35, $50 Net: $625 daily Net: $7,550 No R5826-074 Pasco, Pin. Out: 50%, 50% for 3 days In and Out Contact: 800-833-2364 Out: $725 daily of network: for 14 days $10,500
HumanaChoice Florida
PPO Her., Hills., $0 No $150* Net: $5, $40 Net: $290 daily Net: $4,900 Yes 1/2 H5216-072 Pasco, Pin. Out: $65, $65 for 4 days In and Out Contact: 800-833-2364 Out: $495 daily of network: for 27 days $8,900
HumanaChoice Florida PPO Her., Hills., $0 No $0 Net: $0, $30 Net: $275 daily Net: $4,700 Yes 1/2 H5216-304 Pasco, Pin. Out: $55, $65 for 4 days In and Out Contact: 800-833-2364 Out: $495 daily of network: for 27 days $8,900
Humana Gold Plus HMO Her., Hills., $0 No $0 Net: $0, $5 Net: $20 daily Net: $1,800 Yes 1/2 H1036-025 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 5 days Out: N/A Contact: 800-833-2364 Out: N/A
Humana Gold Plus HMO Her., Hills., $0 Yes $0 Net: $0, $10 Net: $125 daily Net: $2,400 Yes 1/2 H1036-265 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 4 days Out: N/A Contact: 800-833-2364 Out: N/A
Molina Medicare Choice Care HMO Hills., Pasco, $0 No $125 Net: $0-10 Net: $295 daily Net: $8.300 No 1/2 H8130-010 Pin. Out: N/A for 6 days Out: N/A Contact: 866-403-8293 Out: N/A
Molina Medicare Choice Care HMO Hills., Pasco, $0 Yes $450 Net: $0-50 Net: $450 daily Net: $8,300 No 1/2 Select H8130-011 Pin. Out: N/A for 4 days Out: N/A Contact: 866-403-8293 Out: N/A
Optimum Gold Plus Plan HMO Her. $0 Yes $0 Net: $0, $15 Net: $75 daily Net: $1,900 Yes
H5594-032 Out: N/A for 5 days Out: N/A Contact: 888-300-9317 Out: N/A
Optimum Gold Rewards Plan HMO Her., Hills., $0 Yes $0 Net: $0, $15 Net: $95 daily Net: $1,900 Yes
H5594-001 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 5 days Out: N/A Contact: 888-300-9317 Out: N/A
Optimum Platinum Plan HMO Her., Hills., $0 No $0 Net: $0, $0 Net: $0 Net: $1,000 Yes
H5594-002 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A Out: N/A Out: N/A Contact: 888-300-9317
Premier by Ultimate HMO Her. $0 Yes $0 Net: $0, $10 Net: $60 daily Net: $1,900 Yes
1/2 H2962-001 Out: N/A for 5 days Out: N/A Contact: 855-858-7526 Out: N/A
If there’s one thing that keeps your brain alive and making new connec tions, it’s learning something new and challenging. Staying mentally sharp requires taking on unfamiliar and challenging activities that provide broad stimulation mentally and socially. Learn a new language, or how to play the piano. Take a cook ing class in your favorite cuisine.
Learn macrame or American Sign Language. Dig into some challenging reading, as well as crosswords, sudo ku, cryptoquips and other puzzles.
Thirty minutes of aerobic activity most days of the week increases the flow of blood to the brain and can
lower the risk of Alzheimer’s by 30 to 50%. Regular exercise is even better for you when you do it with friends, or in a group setting, because a strong social network keeps depression and loneliness at bay (both of which heighten the risk of developing de mentia). Power walk your neighborhood with your partner or a friend.
Take up Zumba or Jazzercize. Join a water aerobics class. While you’re at it, strengthen your handgrip. Recent medical studies have noted poorer grip strength was associated with increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Furthermore, as you age, the stronger your grip, the more likely you are to survive diseases like cancer.
In many studies, those who eat a plant-based diet rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and other sta-
ples of the Mediterranean diet had a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (as much as 72% lower) than those who eat more animal proteins, processed foods, and sugars.
A similar approach that is more targeted to boosting brain health is the MIND diet (a hybrid of the Mediterranean diet and the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. MIND stands for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay.
Studies suggest that healthy Vitamin D levels are connected to a lower in cidence of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Vitamin D may play a role between muscular and cognitive function. Vitamin D deficiency is strongly linked to muscle weakness and loss. Whether that’s cause or effect, or both, is still not known. But keeping your levels of Vitamin D in the healthy range is a good idea.
5. Yoga and meditation Yoga can improve posture, flexibility, balance and coordination and is beneficial for bone density, and meditation helps reduce stress and
improve awareness and mindfulness. Together, they can slow the physical and mental declines often seen with aging. A weekly routine of yoga and meditation may bolster brain activity and help delay cognitive decline.
Per Dr Andrew Weil, take a supplement high in folic acid and other B vitamins. They help the body get rid of homocysteine, a toxic amino acid formed by the breakdown of animal protein that has been linked to heart attack and stroke, and more recently with increased risk of Alzheimer’s. Turmeric + black pepper, curcumin and CDP-choline may also benefit mental fitness.
7. Eliminate or reduce your in takeofalcohol (One drink/day for women; two drinks/day for men.)
Alcohol is implicated in falls and general loss of balance, which can cause fractures; and is a factor in forgetfulness, confusion and depression. Alcohol does not mix well with a number of medications, and heavy alcohol use decreases bone density. Alcohol can weaken your immune system. Heavy drinking over time can raise your
blood pressure to unhealthy levels, shrink brain cells and lead to alco hol-related brain damage (ARBD), as well as certain types of dementia.
If you like breathing, are not a fan of cancer or emphysema and don’t want to look way older than your age quitting smoking is a must and one of the best gifts you can give yourself.
Commonly held beliefs about aging do not have to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Focus on personal growth and healthy habits. If you believe in yourself and your natural gifts, keep learning new things, and approach life with a youthful, curious, grateful attitude, these could be some of the most rewarding years of your life.
Information for this article gath ered from health.harvard.edu, cnbc .com, drweil.com, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, betteraging.com, pubs.niaaa.nih.gov, webmd.com, mayoclinic.org, active puzzles.com
Times Total Media is the sales and marketing division of the Tampa Bay Times. Contact timestotalmedia@ tampabay.com with questions.
Premier by Ultimate HMO Pasco $0 Yes $0 Net: $0, $10 Net: $95 Net: $1,900 Yes ½ H2962-013 Out: N/A for 5 days Out: N/A Contact: 855-858-7526 Out: N/A
Premier by Ultimate HMO Hills., Pin. $0 Yes $0 Net: $0, $15 Net: $90 Net: $2,800 Yes ½ H2962-045 Out: N/A for 5 days Out: N/A Contact: 855-858-7526 Out: N/A
Premier Plus by Ultimate HMO Her., Pasco $0 No $0 Net: $0, $0 Net: $0 Net: $1,200 Yes ½ H2962-032 Out: N/A Out: N/A Out: N/A Contact: 855-858-7526
Simply Extra HMO Her., Hills., $0 Yes $0 Net: $0, $30 Net: $175 daily Net: $3,450 Yes ½ H5471-108 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 6 days Out: N/A Contact: 855-679-0556 Out: N/A
Simply Freedom PPO Her., Hills., $0 No $150 Net: $0, $30 Net: $250 daily Net: $5,000 Yes Too new H9469-008 Pasco, Pin. Out: $40, $70 for 5 days In and Out to measure Contact: 855-679-0556 Out: 40%/stay of network: $8,950
Simply Freedom Extra PPO Her., Hills., $0 Yes $150 Net: $0, $40 Net: $350 daily Net: $6,100 No Too new H9469-005 Pasco, Pin. Out: $50, $75 for 5 days In and Out to measure Contact: 855-679-0556 Out: 40%/stay of network: $11,000
Simply More HMO Her., Hills., $0 No $0 Net: $0, $0 Net: $50 daily Net: $3,450 Yes
H5471-078 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 8 days Out: N/A Contact: 855-679-0556 Out: N/A
SOLIS SPF 009
HMO Hills. $0 No $0 Net: $0, $5 Net: $60 daily Net: $3,400 Yes
H0982-009 Out: N/A for 7 days Out: N/A Contact: 844-447-6547 Out: N/A
WellCare Giveback HMO Her., Hills., $0 Yes $0 Net: $0, $20 Net: $100 daily Net: $2,500 Yes
H1032-200 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 5 days Out: N/A Contact: 844-917-0175 Out: N/A
WellCare No Premium HMO Her., Hills., $0 No $0 Net: $0, $0 Net: $50 daily Net: $1,200 Yes
H1032-201 Pasco, Pin. Out: N/A for 10 days Out: N/A Contact: 844-917-0175 Out: N/A
WellCare No Premium Open PPO Her., Hills., $0 No $100 Net: $0, $25 Net: $275 daily Net: $3,400 Yes
H5199-012 Pasco, Pin. Out: 40%, 40% for 6 days In and Out Contact: 844-917-0175 Out: 40% of network: days 1-90 $5,100
WellCare Premium PPO Her., Hills., $99 No $0 Net: $0, $15 Net: $225 daily Net: $3,500 Yes
Enhanced Open Pasco, Pin. Out: 40%, 40% for 6 days In and Out H5199-010 Out: 40%/stay of network: Contact: 844-917-0175 $5,000
For the first time in a decade, Americans will pay less in 2023 on monthly premiums for Medicare’s Part B plan, which covers routine doctors’ visits and other outpatient care.
The rare 3 percent decrease in monthly premiums is likely to be coupled with a historically high cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits perhaps 9 or 10 percent putting hundreds of dollars directly into the pockets of millions of people.
“That’s something we may never see again in the rest of our lives,” said Mary Johnson, the Social Security and Medicare policy analyst for The Senior Citizens League. “That can really be used to pay off credit cards, to restock pan tries that have gotten low because people can’t afford to buy as much today as they did a year ago and do some long-postponed repairs to homes and cars.”
The 2023 decrease in monthly Medicare premiums comes after millions of beneficiaries endured a tough year of high inflation and a dramatic increase to premiums this year. Most people on Medicare will pay $164.90 a month for Part B coverage starting in 2023, a savings of $5.20.
The decrease helps to offset last year’s $21.60 spike, which was
driven in large part by a new Alz heimer’s drug, Aduhelm, administered intravenously in doctors’ offices and introduced to the market last year with a $56,000 price tag Medicare set strict limitations on the drug’s use earlier this year and the drugmaker has since cut the medication’s cost in half.
Medicare paid less for that drug than it expected this year, helping shore up reserves that allowed the agency to set the Part B premiums lower for 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said in a recent statement. Spending on other Medicare services and items was lower than expected, too. The annual deductible for the Part B program will also decrease $7 to $226.
The lower Medicare premiums were announced as 66 million Americans await the announce ment of next year’s Social Security cost-of-living increase for 2023.
Monthly premium: The monthly charge for each Medicare Part D drug plan. This is in addition to Medicare’s monthly Part B premium.
Annual deductible: What is paid out of pocket before coverage begins.
Generics in the gap: Once you and your plan have spent $4,660 on covered
drugs in 2023, you’re in the coverage gap. Once you reach the coverage gap, you’ll pay no more than 25 percent of the cost for your plan’s covered brandname prescription drugs. Some plans may offer you even lower costs in the coverage gap. The discount will come off the price that your plan has set with the pharmacy for that specific drug.
Rating: Medicare rates plans from 1 to 5 stars, based on customer satisfaction and certain health measures. The top rating is a 5.
Medicare health costs: Drug plans are for people on original Medicare, who also have expenses for doctors, hospitals and, sometimes, supplemental
plans. People with higher incomes may also pay higher Part B premiums and drug plan premiums.
Total drug costs: Out-of-pocket costs can vary widely depending on which drugs you use. For an estimated total cost of different plans, enter your specific drugs into Medicare’s online Plan Finder and search for drug plans.
AARP MedicareRx Preferred $109.60 $0.00
Contact: 800-753-8004; TTY 711
Yes
1/2 S5820-010
AARP MedicareRx Saver Plus $64.40 $505.00 No
S5921-356
Contact: 800-753-8004; TTY 711
AARP MedicareRx Walgreens $28.20 $350.00 No
S5921-383
Contact: 800-753-8004; TTY 711
Humana Premier Rx Plan (PDP) $83.40 $300.00 Yes S5884-157
Contact: 800-281-6918; TTY 711
Humana Walmart Value $36.50 $505.00 No
Rx Plan (PDP) S5884-190
Contact: 800-281-6918; TTY 711
Mutual of Omaha Rx Essential $20.20 $505.00 No S7126-113
BlueMedicare Complete Rx $170.10 $0.00 Yes
1/2 S5904-002
Contact: 888-902-5708; TTY 800-955-8770
Contact: 800-961-9006; TTY 711
Mutual of Omaha Rx Plus $91.30 $505.00 No S7126-010
Contact: 800-961-9006; TTY 711
BlueMedicare Premier Rx $80.40 $505.00 No
1/2 S5904-001
Contact: 888-902-5708; TTY 800-955-8770
Cigna Extra Rx $70.50 $100.00 Yes
S5617-256
Contact: 800-735-1459; TTY 711
Cigna Saver Rx $13.50 $505.00 No
S56-17-361
Contact: 800-735-1459; TTY 711
Cigna Secure Rx $33.80 $505.00 No
S5617-053 Contact: 800-735-1459; TTY 711
Mutual of Omaha Rx Premier $95.80 $505.00 No
S7126-080
Contact: 800-961-9006; TTY 711
SilverScript Choice $32.50 $505.00 No
1/2 S5601-022
Contact: 833-537-3386; TTY 711
SilverScript Plus $70.40 $0.00 Yes
1/2 S5601-023
Contact: 833-537-3386; TTY 711
SilverScript SmartSaver $8.40 $505.00 No
S5601-186
Clear Spring Health Premier Rx $20.80 $505.00 No
1/2 S6946-037 Contact: 877-317-6082
Contact: 833-537-3386; TTY 711
WellCare Classic $31.80 $505.00 No
S4802-083
Clear Spring Health Value Rx $29.60 $505.00 No
1/2 S6946-008
Contact: 877-317-6082
Contact: 888-293-5151
WellCare Medicare Rx $71.30 $0.00 No
Elixer RxSecure $71.00 $505.00 No
1/2 S7694-011
Contact: 888-377-1439; TTY 711
Humana Basic Rx Plan (PDP) $64.30 $505.00 No
S5884-105
Contact: 800-281-6918; TTY 711
Note: Shading on the chart indicates plans offered by the same company.
Value Plus S4802-214
Contact: 888-293-5151
WellCare Value Script $11.20 $505.00 No
S4802-146 Contact: 888-293-5151
BY MADISON MULLER, JEANNIE BAUMANN Bloomberg News (TNS)
COVID-19 booster vaccinations can save tens of thousands of lives in the weeks and months ahead, Biden administration officials said, citing new data that shows the impact of previous shots on hospitalizations and deaths among older Americans.
Primary immunizations were associated with up to 680,000 fewer COVID hospitalizations and between 330,000 to 370,000 fewer related deaths among Medicare beneficiaries in 2021, according to research from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Prevention of COVID hospitalizations was associated with savings of more than $16 billion in direct costs, the report found.
Just over one-third of Americans have received their first booster dose, creating concerns about the lag in uptake for updated shots that experts warn leaves the U.S. more vulnerable to a winter surge as COVID variants continue to emerge and the Biden administration struggles to convince Republicans that another $22 billion in funding is needed to keep fighting the virus.
“Given that we have a highly contagious virus that’s still circulating, the single biggest thing people can be doing to protect themselves and their families is getting vaccinated,” White House COVID response coor dinator Ashish Jha said. “We need everybody to pull in that direction.”
While the dollar saving of COVID shots are significant, those numbers don’t show the full impact of vaccination, according to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.
“You can’t really put a price tag on the value of saving someone’s life,” he said.
In September, the U.S. began roll ing out updated bivalent boosters that target the BA.4 and BA.5 versions of the omicron variant, the currently dominant COVID strain. As many as 15 million Americans have gotten the new shots, half of them seniors, health officials said.
People older than 75 who are unvaccinated or not up-to-date on boosters continue to account for 70 percent of deaths occurring today, although overall COVID death rates have dropped significantly from earlier in the pandemic.
© 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Millions of older adults are having trouble making ends meet, especially during these inflationary times. Yet many don’t realize help is available, and some notable programs that offer financial assis tance are underused.
A few examples: Nearly 14 million adults age 60 or older qualify for aid from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (also known as food stamps) but haven’t signed up, according to recent estimates. Also, more than 3 million adults age 65 or older are eligible but not enrolled in Medicare Savings Programs, which pay for Medicare premiums and cost sharing. And 30 to 45 per cent of seniors may be missing out on help from the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy program, which covers plan premiums and cost sharing and lowers the cost of prescription drugs.
“Tens of billions of dollars of benefits are going unused every year” because seniors don’t know about them, find applications too difficult to complete or feel conflicted about asking for help, said Josh Hodges, chief customer offi cer at the National Council on Aging, an advocacy group for older Americans that runs the National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment.
Many programs target seniors with extremely low incomes and minimal assets. But that isn’t al ways the case: Programs funded by the Older Americans Act, such as home-delivered meals and legal assistance for seniors facing home foreclosures or eviction, don’t re quire a means test, although peo ple with low incomes are often prioritized. And some local programs, such as property tax breaks for homeowners, are available to anyone 65 or older.
Even a few hundred dollars in
assistance monthly can make a world of difference to older adults living on limited incomes that make it difficult to afford basics such as food, housing, transportation and health care. But people often don’t know how to find out about benefits and whether they qualify. And older adults are often reluctant to seek help, especially if they’ve never done so before.
“You’ve earned these benefits,” Hodges said, and seniors should think of them “like their Medicare, like their Social Security.”
Here’s how to get started and some information about a few programs.
Getting help. In every com munity, Area Agencies on Aging, organizations devoted to aiding seniors, perform benefits assess ments or can refer you to other organizations that conduct these evaluations. (To get contact information for your local Area Agency on Aging, use the Eldercare Loca tor, a service of the federal Admin istration on Aging, or call (800) 677-1116 on weekdays during business hours.)
Assessments identify which federal, state and local programs can assist with various needs food, housing, transportation, health care, utility costs and other essential items. Often, staffers at the agency will help seniors fill out application forms and gather necessary documentation.
A common mistake is waiting until a crisis hits and there’s no food in the refrigerator or the power company is about to turn off the electricity.
“It’s a much better idea to be prepared,” said Sandy Markwood, chief executive officer of USAging, a national organization that represents Area Agencies on Aging.
“Come in, sit down with somebody and put all your options on the table.”
Older adults who are comfortable online and want to do their own research can use BenefitsCheckUp, a service operated by the National Council on Aging, at benefitscheckup.org Those who prefer using the phone can call (800) 794-6559.
Some aging organizations are adapting to heightened demand for help from seniors by focusing attention on core benefits such as food stamps, which have become even more important as food in flation runs around 10 percent.
The potential to help seniors with these expenses is enormous.
In a new series of reports, the AARP Public Policy Institute estimates that 71 percent of adults age 60 and above who qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program haven’t signed up for benefits.
In some cases, older adults may think benefits are too small to be worth the hassle. But seniors who
lived alone received an average of $104 in food stamps per month in 2019. And at least 3 million adults age 50 and above with very low incomes would receive more than $200 a month, AARP estimates.
To combat the stigma that some older adults attach to food stamps, AARP has launched a marketing campaign in Atlanta and Houston explaining that “food prices are rising and we’re all trying to stretch our grocery budgets,” said Nicole Heckman, vice president of benefit access programs at the AARP Foundation.
If the effort alters seniors’ per ception of the program and increases enrollment, AARP plans to do a major expansion next year, she said.
Aid with health care ex penses. AARP is also working closely with community organizations in South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi that help older adults apply for Medicare Savings Programs and low-income subsidies for Part D prescription drug plans. It plans to expand this pro-
gram next year to as many as 22 states.
The value of these health care benefits, targeted at low-income seniors, is substantial. At a mini mum, Medicare Savings Programs will cover the cost of Medicare’s Part B premiums: $170 a month, or $2,040 annually, for most seniors. For older adults with the lowest incomes, benefits are even broad er, with cost sharing for medical services also covered.
“Even if you think you might not qualify, you should apply because there are different rules across states,” said Meredith Freed, a se nior policy analyst for the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Program on Medicare Policy.
Low-income subsidies for Part D prescription drug plans, also known as Extra Help, are worth $5,100 annually, according to the Social Security Administration.
Currently, some seniors get only partial benefits, but that will change in 2024, when all older adults with incomes below 150 percent of the federal poverty lev el ($20,385 for a single person in 2022) will qualify for full Extra Help benefits.
Because these health care programs are complicated, getting help with your application is a good idea. Freed suggested that people start by contacting the State Health Insurance Assistance Program in their state (contact information can be found at https:// bit.ly/3rLqSqH). Other potential sources of help are the Medicare hotline at (800) 633-4227 and your state’s department of aging, which can direct you to community or ganizations that help with applications. A list of the state departments can be found at https://bit. ly/3SXvOF2.
Other kinds of assistance. Be sure to check out property tax relief programs for seniors in your area as part of a broader “benefits checkup” pro cess.
Older adults with low incomes also can get assistance with high energy bills through the Low In come Home Energy Assistance Program. Your local utility compa ny may also provide emergency relief to seniors who can’t pay their bills. It’s worth making a call to find out, advised Rebecca Lerfelt, the retired assistant director of a Chicago-area Aging and Disability Resource Center. These resource centers help people seeking access to long-term care services and are another potential source of assis tance for older adults. You can find one in your area at https:// bit.ly/3EvVV1u. For veterans, “this may be the time to take a look at using your Veterans Affairs bene fits,” said Diane Slezak, president of AgeOptions, an Area Agency on Aging in suburban Cook County, Illinois. “I run into a lot of people who are eligible for veterans’ benefits but not taking advantage of them.”
Advocates for many programs note that agencies serving older adults are facing staff shortages, which are complicating the efforts to provide assistance. Low pay is a commonly cited reason. For exam ple, 41 percent of Area Agencies on Aging report staff vacancies of up to 15 percent, while an additional 18 percent report vacancies up to 25 percent, according to Markwood. Also, agencies have lost significant numbers of volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the same time, demand for help has risen, and clients’ needs have become more complex because of the pandemic and grow ing inflation.
“All of this is being amplified by the financial strains older adults are feeling,” Markwood said.
KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Anal ysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). KFF is an endowed nonprofit orga nization providing information on health issues to the nation.
Join Feeding Tampa Bay for an interactive happy hour event where we blend your love of the arts with the issue of hunger. Empty Bowls will feature beautiful handmade bowls crafted by children from Glazer Children’s Museum, live art installations from local artists, live music and interactive exhibits. The event costs $35 for adults, and children are welcome free of charge. 4-5:30 p.m. Oct. 25. Armature Works Gathering Space, 1910 N. Ola Ave., Tampa. Visit feedingtampabay.org or call (813) 254-1190.
Tampa Theatre has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the most haunted buildings in Tampa. Earlier this year it caught the attention of Dalen Spratt, Juwan Mass and Marcus Harvey otherwise known as TV’s Ghost Brothers who visited with a camera crew to investigate the claims for themselves. What did they discover?
Join us on Wednesday, Oct. 26 for a special FREE screening of the resulting episode of discovery+’s Ghost Brothers: Lights Out Then, you’ll hear from Spratt, Mass and Harvey themselves, LIVE on stage to talk about their experience and take questions from the audience. Free. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26. Tampa Theatre, 711 N. Franklin St., Tampa. Visit tampatheatre.org or (813) 274-8286.
Voices of Jazz is a 22-piece big band jazz band featuring modern arrangements of popular tunes.
Beverages and food trucks available. Please bring your lawn chairs and arrive early for the best seat and to enjoy your food and drink. Friday, Oct. 28, 7-9 p.m. Free Safety Harbor Waterfront Park, 110 Veterans Memorial Lane, Safety Harbor. (727) 724-1545 ext. 4112. www.SafetyHarborLibrary.com.
Opera Tampa’s annual drop-dead funny cult favorite returns to the scenic Riverwalk Stage at the Straz. This family-friendly celebration of the spooky season features musical selections from opera and pop culture. Oct. 28-29. Riverwalk Stage, Old Water Street, Tampa. (813) 731-4508. strazcenter.org.
The Palladium presents the third-annual La Luchaween! A spooktacular evening of music and film. The ghastly trio, La Lucha, will perform live in the haunted Hough Hall, scoring classic horror films of the silent film era. Hosted by the illustrious and thrilling Eugenie Bondurant, La Luchaween is reminiscent of classic Halloween TV specials. Costumes encouraged! #LaLuchaween2022 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29. The Palladium, 253 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. (727) 822-3590.
In its 18th year, this event features 50 food trucks, a full midway carnival with rides and games, a fall pageant, a pet costume contest, pony rides, petting zoo, hay rides, strolling characters, an inflatable
kids zone for charity, stage shows and the largest trunk-or-treat in the area. Adults cost $10 and children under 18 get in free. Oct. 29-30. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 2300 Grand Cypress Drive, Lutz. (727) 674-1464.
Watch 11 vignettes detailing satirical experiences of African American culture come to life on stage. $45. Nov. 2-27. American Stage. 163 Third St. N., St. Petersburg. (813) 520-0083. americanstage.org
Studios and galleries in five arts districts open new exhibitions and stay open late. Find a map that includes trolley stops on the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance website at stpeteartsalliance.org Free. 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12. Various locations, St. Petersburg.
Jukebox Saturday Night is a big musical review of the great big bands during the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s. Performances celebrate America’s Swing Era, featuring the greatest hits recorded by Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Jimmie Lunceford, Artie Shaw, Harry James, Les Brown, Woody Herman and many others. 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13. Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center. 324 Pine St., Tarpon Springs. (727) 942-5605.
WASHINGTON (AP) Seventy-year-old Cassandra Gentry is looking forward to a hefty cost-of-living increase in her Social Security benefits not for herself but to pay for haircuts for her two grandchildren and put food on the table.
The three live in a Washington apartment building that houses 50 “grandfamilies” where grandpar ents take care of children who do not have parents present.
Gentry, who took in her grandkids to keep them in a safe environment, says the boost in benefits will help her make ends meet. “I never thought about contributing to Social Security when I was working, but now that’s what I depend on,” the communica tions retiree said. “I depend on my Social Security to care for these kids.”
Social Security’s cost-of-living adjustment, otherwise known as the COLA, for 2023 is expected to be around 9 percent or even higher, the highest in 40 years, analysts estimate.
It’s not just old people who will gain. About 4 million children re ceive benefits, and an untold number of others also will be helped because they’re being cared for by Social Se curity beneficiaries, sometimes their grandparents.
The impact will be immense, especially for low-income retirees like Gentry, who feels the painful sting of high food and energy costs as she cares for a growing 12-year-old granddaughter and 16-year-old grandson. “They eat everything,” she joked.
She said the financial boost “is go ing to help us, and it’s going to be a benefit because the cost of everything has gone up.”
High inflation remains a burden on the broader economy, which has caused the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates in hopes of cooling high prices.
But in many ways, inflation hits older Americans harder than the rest of the population. Medical costs are a
big part of the burden.
Coupled with a decline in the Medicare Part B premium, the Social Security COLA will put more money in the hands of the 70 million Amer icans who receive benefits, including the growing number of grandfamilies like Gentry’s. According to the U.S. Census, in 2020, there were about 2.4 million grandparents responsible for their grandchildren.
That number has increased exponentially since the government has adopted a “kinship care” approach to child welfare, which centers on keeping kids in homes with their next of kin, as opposed to foster care.
And in turn, while Social Security is generally regarded as a program for older Americans, it also is the nation’s largest children’s support program.
Since the pandemic, Social Security has become even more important for children, as “COVID has taken a lot of parents,” said Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, a nonresident senior fellow at Brookings Metro, which is part of the Brookings Institution, and the CEO of Global Policy Solutions, a social change strategy firm.
The National Institutes of Health reported last October that at least 140,000 U.S. children under age 18 had lost a parent or guardian due to COVID.
Cummings says she estimates the actual number is much higher. “We should understand the increase in the COLA will have a positive net benefit on the entire household not just older members of the family,” she said.
Gentry is an advocate for grand parents who raise their grandkids, and the building her family lives in is at capacity. She said many of the grandparents, who are African American and support each other in their tight-knit community, rely solely on Social Security for their income.
A study by Global Policy Solutions shows that African American children are in the greatest need of
the added help from Social Security benefits.
Grandparent caregivers are 60 percent more likely to live in pover ty than are grandparents not raising grandchildren, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
The Child Tax Credit program, which was expanded during the pandemic, helped tens of millions of kids and their families, contributing to a 46 percent decline in child poverty since 2020, according to a September Census report.
But that program has ended and already there are indications that child poverty is increasing.
Nancy Altman, co-director of So cial Security Works, an advocacy group, said “benefits in many other federal programs are eroding but the COLA makes Social Security unique.”
“And for the children who receive Social Security benefits,” both directly and indirectly, “low-income kids benefit the most,” she said.
William Arnone, CEO of the Na tional Academy of Social Insurance, an advocacy organization for Social Security, said while the expected COLA is “generous, it is just a catchup” for many older Americans who are often more impacted by price hikes caused by inflation, especially grandparents taking care of grand kids.
“With Social Security, all generations benefit,” Arnone said.
Gentry said she hopes more grandfamily communities like hers pop up around the country so residents can provide support for one another when resources are not readily available.
She said she’d also like to see more federal programs factor in grandpar ents like her when making policy de terminations.
“I always say our grandparents are heroes, because we stepped in when nobody else would,” she said. “And we did the job.”
“The Mysterious Benedict Society” on Disney+ (Words in parentheses not in puzzle)
(Mr.) Benedict Number Two Reynie (Muldoon)
“Sticky” (Washington) Kate (Wetherall)
(Tony) Hale (Kristen) Schaal (Mystic) Inscho (Seth B.) Carr (Emmy) DeOliveira
(L.D.) Curtain Orphans
Kidnapped Scavenger (Hunt) (Save the) World
V E E A M W G N I S Y I C H A
A H K E C Q S H E N D E A P M R E A S X O S Q U P Z G F W A P W T H E D F M D S I O B N R O C E L U O B V T N B I E Y S W V N R L E D I V A R L N P O H E D I R A C N U O I R E Y N I E X T A K Y S R R L G D E D L R W S Y N C P A L V T I C U E O K U T A H S A D J S C H A A L I G V A L G T F Z R T E V M L V E N Q S B N C U O G R K M N N S O K I D N A P P E D S U G M J E C V M J R T X T Z L E D E O L I V E I R A O V I R
