T HE F INISH L INE Arizona’s Leader in Senior Fitness Turning 65? Know Your Medicare Options By Dr. Mark Kiffer, Arizona Medical Officer for Humana’s Senior Products Approximately 11,000 adults be- that provides the health care coverage come eligible for Medicare every day, you need and maximizes your health reflecting a dramatically increasing care dollars. Your options include senior population, and that number Original Medicare (Parts A and B); is only going to grow. Here in Ari- Medicare Supplement plans; a Medizona, the state’s senior population is care Prescription Drug Plan (PDP), estimated to climb to 2.4 or Medicare Part D; and Medicare million by 2030, accordAdvantage (Part C), which typically ing to Administration on provides extra benefits, services and Aging, 2005 data. prescription drug coverage and may Nine of 10 older or may not require an additional preadults are living with at mium. least one chronic condiKnow Your Enrollment Timetion, according to the National Coun- frame. This year, during the Annual cil on Aging 2011 fact sheet. Mak- Election Period (AEP) from Oct. 15, ing matters worse, these conditions to Dec. 7, seniors who are eligible for place a significant financial burden Medicare can review Medicare Adon seniors and caregivers. As a result, vantage and Medicare Part D plan there’s a clear need for access to af- options and select health care coverfordable health care that meets the age for 2015. However, people turning needs of individuals as they age. 65 before October can enroll earlier. Arizona seniors should keep an eye They have a seven-month window— out for materials from the Centers the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)— for Medicare and Medicaid Services to enroll, including the three months (CMS) in the months leading up to before their 65th birthday, the month their 65th birthday. Following are tips of their birthday and the three followto help seniors and their caregivers ing months, says Medicare.gov. learn about their Medicare options, Know Your Medical Cost Hisincluding when they can enroll and tory. Review your records to see how the types of health plans available, as much you spent on health care durthey begin the Medicare plan selec- ing the past year, including hospital tion process: expenses, pharmacy costs and doctor Know Your Options. Find a plan bills. Then try to calculate your best
Join the Ambassadors! Arizona Lifelong Fitness Foundation (ALFF) needs you! The Arizona Senior Olympics’ parent corporation needs volunteer ambassadors to spread the word about health and fitness to seniors in their area. What does an ambassador do? • Tells the Senior Olympics story • Invites other seniors to participate • Shares brochures, fliers and
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posters in their area • Attends expos and events where seniors gather and represent the ALFF and ASO. Qualified ambassadors must be friendly, outgoing, interested in people, enthusiastic and a good communicator. To sign up for the September ambassador training workshop, call (602) 274-7742.
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estimate for health care costs in the year ahead. Know Your Resources. If you are considering a Medicare Advantage plan, research the costs, benefits and network of doctors and hospitals associated with each plan. The government’s Medicare website, www. medicare.gov, is a good resource that lets you find and compare Medicare health and prescription drug plans. CMS makes it easier to navigate the Medicare landscape by rating health plans on a five-star assessment grade. Compare Benefits. Insurers often offer multiple Medicare Advantage plans from which beneficiaries can choose to fit their specific life, income and health situations. Benefits from these plans may include primary care and specialty office visits, routine physical and preventive care and membership in fitness classes and lifestyle enrichment programs. If you’re approaching your 65th birthday, it is important to start considering Medicare options to select the plan that best fits all of your needs. Editor’s Note: This article was submitted by Humana. For more information on Humana’s senior products in Arizona call (602) 760-1700.
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The Finish Line Newsletter is produced by Arizona Senior Olympics, founded by:
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602-274-7742
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July 2014 : : Lovin’ Life After 50 : : page 41