Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) at home is a difficult task and can become overwhelming at times. Each day brings new challenges as the caregiver copes with changing levels of ability and new patterns of behavior.
Research has shown that caregivers themselves often are at increased risk for depression and illness, especially if they do not receive adequate support from family, friends, and the community.
One of the biggest struggles caregivers face is dealing with the difficult behaviors of the person they are caring for. Dressing, bathing, eating—basic activities of daily living—often become difficult to manage for both the person with AD and the caregiver.
Having a plan for getting through the day can help caregivers cope. Many caregivers have found it helpful to use strategies for dealing with difficult behaviors and stressful situations. Through trial and error you will find that some of the following tips work, while others do not. Each person with AD is unique and will respond differently, and each person changes over the course of the disease. Do the best you can, and remind yourself to take breaks.
Warm Regards,
Mark A. Bowman,
President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
This site content is copyright 2009 by http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
Friday, March 20, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Dietary Guidelines For Seniors
Dietary Guidelines
Make smart choices from every food group.
The best way to give your body the balanced nutrition it needs is by eating a variety of nutrient-packed foods every day. Just be sure to stay within your daily calorie needs.
A healthy eating plan is one that:
Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products.
Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts.
Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.
DON'T GIVE IN WHEN YOU EAT OUTAND ARE ON THE GO
It's important to make smart food choices and watch portion sizes wherever you are—at the grocery store, at work, in your favorite restaurant, or running errands. Try these tips:
At the store, plan ahead by buying a variety of nutrient-rich foods for meals and snacks throughout the week.
When grabbing lunch, have a sandwich on whole- grain bread and choose low-fat/fat-free milk, water, or other drinks without added sugars.
In a restaurant, opt for steamed, grilled, or broiled dishes instead of those that are fried or sautéed.
On a long commute or shopping trip, pack some fresh fruit, cut-up vegetables, string cheese sticks, or a handful of unsalted nuts—to help you avoid impulsive, less healthful snack choices.
Mix up your choices within each food group.
· Focus on fruits. Eat a variety of fruits—whether fresh, frozen, canned, or dried—rather than fruit juice for most of your fruit choices. For a 2,000-calorie diet, you will need 2 cups of fruit each day (for example, 1 small banana, 1 large orange, and 1/4 cup of dried apricots or peaches).
· Vary your veggies. Eat more dark green veggies, such as broccoli, kale, and other dark leafy greens; orange veggies, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and winter squash; and beans and peas, such as pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, split peas, and lentils.
· Get your calcium-rich foods. Get 3 cups of low-fat or fat-free milk—or an equivalent amount of low-fat yogurt and/or low-fat cheese (1½ ounces of cheese equals 1 cup of milk)—every day. For kids aged 2 to 8, its 2 cups of milk. If you don't or can't consume milk, choose lactose-free milk products and/or calcium-fortified foods and beverages.
· Make half your grains whole. Eat at least 3 ounces of whole-grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice, or pasta every day. One ounce is about 1 slice of bread, 1 cup of breakfast cereal, or ½ cup of cooked rice or pasta. Look to see that grains such as wheat, rice, oats, or corn are referred to as "whole" in the list of ingredients.
· Go lean with protein. Choose lean meats and poultry. Bake it, broil it, or grill it. And vary your protein choices—with more fish, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds.
Know the limits on fats, salt, and sugars. Read the Nutrition Facts label on foods. Look for foods low in saturated fats and trans fats. Choose and prepare foods and beverages with little salt (sodium) and/or added sugars (caloric sweeteners).
NUTRITION:
Most packaged foods have a Nutrition Facts label. For a healthier you, use this tool to make smart food choices quickly and easily.
Try these tips:
Keep these low: saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, and sodium.
Get enough of these: potassium, fiber, vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron.
Use the % Daily Value (DV) column when possible: 5% DV or less is low, 20% DV or more is high.
Check servings and calories. Look at the serving size and how many servings you are actually consuming. If you double the servings you eat, you double the calories and nutrients, including the % DVs.
Make your calories count. Look at the calories on the label and compare them with what nutrients you are also getting to decide whether the food is worth eating. When one serving of a single food item has over 400 calories per serving, it is high in calories.
Don't sugarcoat it. Since sugars contribute calories with few, if any, nutrients, look for foods and beverages low in added sugars. Read the ingredient list and make sure that added sugars are not one of the first few ingredients. Some names for added sugars (caloric sweeteners) include sucrose, glucose, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, maple syrup, and fructose.
Know your fats. Look for foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol to help reduce the risk of heart disease (5% DV or less is low, 20% DV or more is high). Most of the fats you eat should be polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. Keep total fat intake between 20% to 35% of calories.Reduce sodium (salt), increase potassium. Research shows that eating less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium (about 1 tsp of salt) per day may reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Most of the sodium people eat comes from processed foods, not from the saltshaker. Also look for foods high in potassium, which counteracts some of sodium's effects on blood pressure
Warm Regards,
Mark Bowman
President
FreeSCS.com
Make smart choices from every food group.
The best way to give your body the balanced nutrition it needs is by eating a variety of nutrient-packed foods every day. Just be sure to stay within your daily calorie needs.
A healthy eating plan is one that:
Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products.
Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts.
Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.
DON'T GIVE IN WHEN YOU EAT OUTAND ARE ON THE GO
It's important to make smart food choices and watch portion sizes wherever you are—at the grocery store, at work, in your favorite restaurant, or running errands. Try these tips:
At the store, plan ahead by buying a variety of nutrient-rich foods for meals and snacks throughout the week.
When grabbing lunch, have a sandwich on whole- grain bread and choose low-fat/fat-free milk, water, or other drinks without added sugars.
In a restaurant, opt for steamed, grilled, or broiled dishes instead of those that are fried or sautéed.
On a long commute or shopping trip, pack some fresh fruit, cut-up vegetables, string cheese sticks, or a handful of unsalted nuts—to help you avoid impulsive, less healthful snack choices.
Mix up your choices within each food group.
· Focus on fruits. Eat a variety of fruits—whether fresh, frozen, canned, or dried—rather than fruit juice for most of your fruit choices. For a 2,000-calorie diet, you will need 2 cups of fruit each day (for example, 1 small banana, 1 large orange, and 1/4 cup of dried apricots or peaches).
· Vary your veggies. Eat more dark green veggies, such as broccoli, kale, and other dark leafy greens; orange veggies, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and winter squash; and beans and peas, such as pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, split peas, and lentils.
· Get your calcium-rich foods. Get 3 cups of low-fat or fat-free milk—or an equivalent amount of low-fat yogurt and/or low-fat cheese (1½ ounces of cheese equals 1 cup of milk)—every day. For kids aged 2 to 8, its 2 cups of milk. If you don't or can't consume milk, choose lactose-free milk products and/or calcium-fortified foods and beverages.
· Make half your grains whole. Eat at least 3 ounces of whole-grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice, or pasta every day. One ounce is about 1 slice of bread, 1 cup of breakfast cereal, or ½ cup of cooked rice or pasta. Look to see that grains such as wheat, rice, oats, or corn are referred to as "whole" in the list of ingredients.
· Go lean with protein. Choose lean meats and poultry. Bake it, broil it, or grill it. And vary your protein choices—with more fish, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds.
Know the limits on fats, salt, and sugars. Read the Nutrition Facts label on foods. Look for foods low in saturated fats and trans fats. Choose and prepare foods and beverages with little salt (sodium) and/or added sugars (caloric sweeteners).
NUTRITION:
Most packaged foods have a Nutrition Facts label. For a healthier you, use this tool to make smart food choices quickly and easily.
Try these tips:
Keep these low: saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, and sodium.
Get enough of these: potassium, fiber, vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron.
Use the % Daily Value (DV) column when possible: 5% DV or less is low, 20% DV or more is high.
Check servings and calories. Look at the serving size and how many servings you are actually consuming. If you double the servings you eat, you double the calories and nutrients, including the % DVs.
Make your calories count. Look at the calories on the label and compare them with what nutrients you are also getting to decide whether the food is worth eating. When one serving of a single food item has over 400 calories per serving, it is high in calories.
Don't sugarcoat it. Since sugars contribute calories with few, if any, nutrients, look for foods and beverages low in added sugars. Read the ingredient list and make sure that added sugars are not one of the first few ingredients. Some names for added sugars (caloric sweeteners) include sucrose, glucose, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, maple syrup, and fructose.
Know your fats. Look for foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol to help reduce the risk of heart disease (5% DV or less is low, 20% DV or more is high). Most of the fats you eat should be polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. Keep total fat intake between 20% to 35% of calories.Reduce sodium (salt), increase potassium. Research shows that eating less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium (about 1 tsp of salt) per day may reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Most of the sodium people eat comes from processed foods, not from the saltshaker. Also look for foods high in potassium, which counteracts some of sodium's effects on blood pressure
Warm Regards,
Mark Bowman
President
FreeSCS.com
Friday, March 13, 2009
Safety Tips When Exercising For Seniors
Safety Tips When Exercising
Here are some things you can do to make sure you are exercising safely:
Start slowly, especially if you haven’t been active for a long time. Little by little build up your activities and how hard you work at them.
Don’t hold your breath during strength exercises. That could cause changes in your blood pressure. It may seem strange at first, but you should breathe out as you lift something, and breathe in as you relax.
Use safety equipment. For example, wear a helmet for bike riding or the right shoes for walking or jogging.
Unless your doctor has asked you to limit fluids, be sure to drink plenty when you are doing activities. Many older adults don’t feel thirsty even if their body needs fluids.
Always bend forward from the hips, not the waist. If you keep your back straight, you’re probably bending the right way. If your back “humps,” that’s probably wrong.
Warm up your muscles before you stretch. Try walking and light arm pumping first.
Exercise should not hurt or make you feel really tired. You might feel some soreness, a little discomfort, or a bit weary, but you should not feel pain. In fact, in many ways, being active will probably make you feel better.
Warm Regards,
Mark A. Bowman,
PresidentFreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
This site content is copyright 2009 by http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
Here are some things you can do to make sure you are exercising safely:
Start slowly, especially if you haven’t been active for a long time. Little by little build up your activities and how hard you work at them.
Don’t hold your breath during strength exercises. That could cause changes in your blood pressure. It may seem strange at first, but you should breathe out as you lift something, and breathe in as you relax.
Use safety equipment. For example, wear a helmet for bike riding or the right shoes for walking or jogging.
Unless your doctor has asked you to limit fluids, be sure to drink plenty when you are doing activities. Many older adults don’t feel thirsty even if their body needs fluids.
Always bend forward from the hips, not the waist. If you keep your back straight, you’re probably bending the right way. If your back “humps,” that’s probably wrong.
Warm up your muscles before you stretch. Try walking and light arm pumping first.
Exercise should not hurt or make you feel really tired. You might feel some soreness, a little discomfort, or a bit weary, but you should not feel pain. In fact, in many ways, being active will probably make you feel better.
Warm Regards,
Mark A. Bowman,
PresidentFreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
This site content is copyright 2009 by http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Who Should Exercise?
Who Should Exercise?
Almost anyone, at any age, can do some type of physical activity. You can still exercise even if you have a health condition like heart disease or diabetes. In fact, physical activity may help. For older adults, brisk walking, riding a bike, swimming, weight lifting, and gardening are safe, especially if you build up slowly.
But, check with your doctor if you are over 50 and you aren’t used to energetic activity. Other reasons to check with your doctor before you exercise include:
· Any new symptom you haven’t discussed with your doctor
· Dizziness or shortness of breath
· Chest pain or pressure, or the feeling that your heart is skipping, racing, or fluttering
· Blood clots
· An infection or fever with muscle aches
· Unplanned weight loss
· Foot or ankle sores that won’t heal
· Joint swelling
· A bleeding or detached retina, eye surgery, or laser treatment
· A hernia
· Recent hip surgery
Warm Regards,
Mark A. Bowman,
President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
This site content is copyright 2009 by http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
Almost anyone, at any age, can do some type of physical activity. You can still exercise even if you have a health condition like heart disease or diabetes. In fact, physical activity may help. For older adults, brisk walking, riding a bike, swimming, weight lifting, and gardening are safe, especially if you build up slowly.
But, check with your doctor if you are over 50 and you aren’t used to energetic activity. Other reasons to check with your doctor before you exercise include:
· Any new symptom you haven’t discussed with your doctor
· Dizziness or shortness of breath
· Chest pain or pressure, or the feeling that your heart is skipping, racing, or fluttering
· Blood clots
· An infection or fever with muscle aches
· Unplanned weight loss
· Foot or ankle sores that won’t heal
· Joint swelling
· A bleeding or detached retina, eye surgery, or laser treatment
· A hernia
· Recent hip surgery
Warm Regards,
Mark A. Bowman,
President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
This site content is copyright 2009 by http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Four Ways For Seniors to Be Active
To get all of the benefits of physical activity, try all four types of exercise—
1) Endurance, 2) strength, 3) balance, and 4) flexibility.
1. Be sure to get at least 30 minutes of activity that makes you breathe hard on most or all days of the week. That’s called an endurance activity because it builds your energy or “staying power.” You don’t have to be active for 30 minutes all at once. Ten minutes at a time is fine. Just make sure you are active for a total of 30 minutes most days. How hard do you need to push yourself? If you can talk without any trouble at all, you are not working hard enough. If you can’t talk at all, it’s too hard.
2. Keep using your muscles. Strength exercises build muscles. When you have strong muscles, you can get up from a chair by yourself, you can lift your grandchildren, and you can walk through the park. Keeping your muscles in shape helps prevent falls that cause problems like broken hips. You are less likely to fall when your leg and hip muscles are strong.
3. Do things to help your balance. Try standing on one foot, then the other. If you can, don’t hold on to anything for support. Get up from a chair without using your hands or arms. Every now and then walk heel-to-toe. When you walk this way, the toes of the foot in back should almost touch the heel of the foot in front.
4. Stretch. Stretching can help you be more flexible. Moving more freely will make it easier for you to reach down to tie your shoes or look over your shoulder when you back the car out of your driveway. Stretch when your muscles are warmed up. Don’t stretch so far that it hurts.
Warm Regards,
Mark A. Bowman
President
http://www.FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
mark@FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
1) Endurance, 2) strength, 3) balance, and 4) flexibility.
1. Be sure to get at least 30 minutes of activity that makes you breathe hard on most or all days of the week. That’s called an endurance activity because it builds your energy or “staying power.” You don’t have to be active for 30 minutes all at once. Ten minutes at a time is fine. Just make sure you are active for a total of 30 minutes most days. How hard do you need to push yourself? If you can talk without any trouble at all, you are not working hard enough. If you can’t talk at all, it’s too hard.
2. Keep using your muscles. Strength exercises build muscles. When you have strong muscles, you can get up from a chair by yourself, you can lift your grandchildren, and you can walk through the park. Keeping your muscles in shape helps prevent falls that cause problems like broken hips. You are less likely to fall when your leg and hip muscles are strong.
3. Do things to help your balance. Try standing on one foot, then the other. If you can, don’t hold on to anything for support. Get up from a chair without using your hands or arms. Every now and then walk heel-to-toe. When you walk this way, the toes of the foot in back should almost touch the heel of the foot in front.
4. Stretch. Stretching can help you be more flexible. Moving more freely will make it easier for you to reach down to tie your shoes or look over your shoulder when you back the car out of your driveway. Stretch when your muscles are warmed up. Don’t stretch so far that it hurts.
Warm Regards,
Mark A. Bowman
President
http://www.FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
mark@FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Reverse Mortgages
Reverse mortgages come in many different forms. You should only seek out an FHA-insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage.
These are the things that you need to know about a reverse mortgage:
How they work
How to qualify
The involvement of the Federal Government
Consumer Safeguards
Other pertinent facts
How they work
A reverse mortgage was created by the Federal Government for homeowners age 62 and over and could be considered as a financial empowerment tool. It allows you to convert a portion of your equity into tax-free cash to supplement your monthly income without incurring a monthly loan payment. Yet you still own your home and your name still stays on title.
You are still responsible for the property taxes, homeowner’s insurance and the general maintenance and upkeep of the property.
The entire loan is repaid when the home is sold or the last remaining homeowner passes away or permanently leaves the home.
As stated earlier, the proceeds of the loan are tax-free and do not affect any Social Security or Medicare payments you may be receiving. They, however, could affect Medicaid payments.
You are able to use the proceeds of the loan for any purpose, including:
Home improvements
Travel
Long Term Care planning
Debt consolidation
What is the difference between a Home Equity loan or Line-of-Credit and a Reverse Mortgage?
The answer is the in the case of a reverse mortgage you can access the equity in your home without having a monthly payment, which you would incur if you simply refinanced your home or took out a line-of-credit on the property.
How to qualify
It is surprising how simple the qualification process is for a reverse mortgage. It is a very straight forward process:
Everyone on the title to the property must be 62 years old or older
You must live in a 1-4 family residence, condo or co-op
You must be the principal resident and cannot be renting out the property.
That’s it. There are NO income qualifications. This is because you do not make payments on a reverse mortgage.
The amount of money you will receive as a result of a reverse mortgage is based on:
Your age
Your home value
The location of the home
The prevailing interest rate
You must pay of all existing mortgages when you close on a reverse mortgage, which means that you will have no monthly payment.
Payout Options
You can access the proceeds of a reverse mortgage in several different ways:
LUMP SUM-you receive all of the cash at once
CREDIT LINE-You take the money when you need it. You accrue interest only on the amount that you withdraw.
MONTHLY PAYMENTS-which can come in two ways
The term payout option-which enables you to receive a fixed amount of money for a fixed amount of time
The tenure payment option-which enables you to receive a fixed amount of money for as long as you live
You can also combine any of the above options to best fit your individual needs.
And after the reverse mortgage is paid off, the remaining equity in your home goes to your estate.
Government Involvement and Consumer Safeguards
Federal requires that you have a counseling session with an FHA approved individual counselor before submitting any reverse mortgage application to any mortgage company. The counselor will review your loan options and explore any alternatives that may be available to you. This session can be either face-to-face or over the phone.
Other Pertinent Facts
The closing costs associated with a reverse mortgage are similar to the closing costs for a refinance or home equity line-of-credit.
Due to the ‘Non-recourse’ feature of a reverse mortgage, you can NEVER owe more than the house is worth.
Because there are no payments to the mortgage company, you can never lose your home, so long as you continue to pay the property taxes, insurance and maintain the home.
You have the ability to sell the home at any time
A reverse mortgage is also an excellent way to fund long-term care, whether you wish to self-fund for such costs or are looking to fund a long-term care insurance policy.
Overall, a reverse mortgage could be a great option for senior citizens in these difficult economic times. As with any financial decision, however, you should seek out thr advice of a competent financial professional who is familiar with your individual situation and personal needs.
Mark A. Bowman
President
http://www.FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
mark@FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
These are the things that you need to know about a reverse mortgage:
How they work
How to qualify
The involvement of the Federal Government
Consumer Safeguards
Other pertinent facts
How they work
A reverse mortgage was created by the Federal Government for homeowners age 62 and over and could be considered as a financial empowerment tool. It allows you to convert a portion of your equity into tax-free cash to supplement your monthly income without incurring a monthly loan payment. Yet you still own your home and your name still stays on title.
You are still responsible for the property taxes, homeowner’s insurance and the general maintenance and upkeep of the property.
The entire loan is repaid when the home is sold or the last remaining homeowner passes away or permanently leaves the home.
As stated earlier, the proceeds of the loan are tax-free and do not affect any Social Security or Medicare payments you may be receiving. They, however, could affect Medicaid payments.
You are able to use the proceeds of the loan for any purpose, including:
Home improvements
Travel
Long Term Care planning
Debt consolidation
What is the difference between a Home Equity loan or Line-of-Credit and a Reverse Mortgage?
The answer is the in the case of a reverse mortgage you can access the equity in your home without having a monthly payment, which you would incur if you simply refinanced your home or took out a line-of-credit on the property.
How to qualify
It is surprising how simple the qualification process is for a reverse mortgage. It is a very straight forward process:
Everyone on the title to the property must be 62 years old or older
You must live in a 1-4 family residence, condo or co-op
You must be the principal resident and cannot be renting out the property.
That’s it. There are NO income qualifications. This is because you do not make payments on a reverse mortgage.
The amount of money you will receive as a result of a reverse mortgage is based on:
Your age
Your home value
The location of the home
The prevailing interest rate
You must pay of all existing mortgages when you close on a reverse mortgage, which means that you will have no monthly payment.
Payout Options
You can access the proceeds of a reverse mortgage in several different ways:
LUMP SUM-you receive all of the cash at once
CREDIT LINE-You take the money when you need it. You accrue interest only on the amount that you withdraw.
MONTHLY PAYMENTS-which can come in two ways
The term payout option-which enables you to receive a fixed amount of money for a fixed amount of time
The tenure payment option-which enables you to receive a fixed amount of money for as long as you live
You can also combine any of the above options to best fit your individual needs.
And after the reverse mortgage is paid off, the remaining equity in your home goes to your estate.
Government Involvement and Consumer Safeguards
Federal requires that you have a counseling session with an FHA approved individual counselor before submitting any reverse mortgage application to any mortgage company. The counselor will review your loan options and explore any alternatives that may be available to you. This session can be either face-to-face or over the phone.
Other Pertinent Facts
The closing costs associated with a reverse mortgage are similar to the closing costs for a refinance or home equity line-of-credit.
Due to the ‘Non-recourse’ feature of a reverse mortgage, you can NEVER owe more than the house is worth.
Because there are no payments to the mortgage company, you can never lose your home, so long as you continue to pay the property taxes, insurance and maintain the home.
You have the ability to sell the home at any time
A reverse mortgage is also an excellent way to fund long-term care, whether you wish to self-fund for such costs or are looking to fund a long-term care insurance policy.
Overall, a reverse mortgage could be a great option for senior citizens in these difficult economic times. As with any financial decision, however, you should seek out thr advice of a competent financial professional who is familiar with your individual situation and personal needs.
Mark A. Bowman
President
http://www.FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
mark@FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Bridging The Coverage Gap
Most Medicare drug plans (Part D) have a temporary limit on what they will cover for prescription drugs, or a “coverage gap.” The good news is that all Medicare drug plans provide coverage if you have an unexpected illness or injury that results in extremely high drug costs. This is called “catastrophic” coverage. It assures that once you have paid $4,350 (in 2009) out-of-pocket for drug costs in a calendar year, almost all of your drug costs above that amount are covered. If your plan has a coverage gap during the time between a drug plan’s standard level of coverage and the catastrophic coverage, you pay all of your drug costs.
If you have limited income and resources, and qualify for full extra help, most of the information here doesn’t apply to you. You will continue to pay the same copayment or coinsurance amount during a coverage gap if your plan has one.
If your drug plan has a coverage gap, here are some ways you can avoid or delay entering the gap, and continue to save money on drug costs while in the gap:
Consider switching to generic, over-the-counter (OTC), or other lower-cost drugs. Ask your doctor about generic, OTC, or less-expensive brand-name drugs that would work just as well as the ones you’re taking now. Switching to lower-cost drugs may be enough to help you avoid the coverage gap, and can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars a year.
Keep using your Medicare drug plan card, even while in the coverage gap. Using your drug plan card ensures that you’ll get the drug plan’s discounted rates and that the money you spend counts toward your catastrophic coverage.
Explore National and Community-Based Charitable Programs that might offer assistance (such as the National Patient Advocate Foundation or the National Organization for Rare Disorders). These organizations may have programs that can help with your drug costs. Comprehensive information on Federal, state, and private assistance programs in your area is available on the Benefits Checkup Website (www.benefitscheckup.org) website.
Look into Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (sometimes called Patient Assistance Programs) that may be offered by the manufacturers of the drugs you take. Many of the major drug manufacturers are offering assistance programs for people enrolled in a Medicare drug plan. You can find out whether a Pharmaceutical Assistance Program is offered by the manufacturers of the drugs you take by visiting www.medicare.govand selecting “Lower Your Costs During the Coverage Gap.”
Look at State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAP) for which you may qualify. There are 23 states and 1 territory offering some type of coverage to help people with Medicare with paying drug plan premiums and/or cost sharing.
You can find out if your state has a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program by visiting www.medicare.gov and selecting “Lower Your Costs During the Coverage Gap.”
Apply for Extra Help. If you have Medicare and have limited income and resources, you may qualify for extra help paying for your prescription drugs. Contact Social Security by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov or calling 1-800-772-1213.
Warm Regards,
Mark A. Bowman, President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
mark@FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
This site content is copyright 2009 by http://www.FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
If you have limited income and resources, and qualify for full extra help, most of the information here doesn’t apply to you. You will continue to pay the same copayment or coinsurance amount during a coverage gap if your plan has one.
If your drug plan has a coverage gap, here are some ways you can avoid or delay entering the gap, and continue to save money on drug costs while in the gap:
Consider switching to generic, over-the-counter (OTC), or other lower-cost drugs. Ask your doctor about generic, OTC, or less-expensive brand-name drugs that would work just as well as the ones you’re taking now. Switching to lower-cost drugs may be enough to help you avoid the coverage gap, and can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars a year.
Keep using your Medicare drug plan card, even while in the coverage gap. Using your drug plan card ensures that you’ll get the drug plan’s discounted rates and that the money you spend counts toward your catastrophic coverage.
Explore National and Community-Based Charitable Programs that might offer assistance (such as the National Patient Advocate Foundation or the National Organization for Rare Disorders). These organizations may have programs that can help with your drug costs. Comprehensive information on Federal, state, and private assistance programs in your area is available on the Benefits Checkup Website (www.benefitscheckup.org) website.
Look into Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (sometimes called Patient Assistance Programs) that may be offered by the manufacturers of the drugs you take. Many of the major drug manufacturers are offering assistance programs for people enrolled in a Medicare drug plan. You can find out whether a Pharmaceutical Assistance Program is offered by the manufacturers of the drugs you take by visiting www.medicare.govand selecting “Lower Your Costs During the Coverage Gap.”
Look at State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAP) for which you may qualify. There are 23 states and 1 territory offering some type of coverage to help people with Medicare with paying drug plan premiums and/or cost sharing.
You can find out if your state has a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program by visiting www.medicare.gov and selecting “Lower Your Costs During the Coverage Gap.”
Apply for Extra Help. If you have Medicare and have limited income and resources, you may qualify for extra help paying for your prescription drugs. Contact Social Security by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov or calling 1-800-772-1213.
Warm Regards,
Mark A. Bowman, President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
mark@FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
This site content is copyright 2009 by http://www.FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
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