Elder Care Information |
|
Respiratory Help Is Available For Seniors With COPD
As HMOs Continue to Drop Coverage for Seniors - Now Over 500,000 Victims - Those Needing Expensive Respiratory Medication, Support and Homecare Services are the Hardest Hit One Patient Advocate, Geriatric Services of America, is Providing Relief to Victimized Patients Through a Unique, Often No-Cost Program More than 536,000 US senior citizens are scrambling to find new doctors or new coverage because their health plans terminated their Medicare managed-care services, according to a Nonrenewal Report issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the year 2002. Among the hardest hit are seniors in California (84,000), Florida (59,000), Pennsylvania (55,000), New Jersey (53,000), Texas (46,000), and Michigan (31,000), who will be losing coverage in the coming year. Even those with continuing coverage face substantial premium hikes and dwindling drug benefits. Particularly hard hit will be those with chronic illnesses such as respiratory disease, who will bear the brunt of high medication and healthcare costs. Though all seniors 65 and older are covered by Medicare, those enrolled in managed-care programs agree to see doctors within a limited network and receive additional benefits, such as preventative care and prescription-drug coverage. The current coverage crisis stems from rising delivery costs and limited government reimbursement, as doctors and hospitals increasingly balk at seeing Medicare HMO patients, since they aren't sufficiently reimbursed for their services. Without enough doctors and hospitals providing care, an HMO can't serve its members. The problem is worst in large urban markets, where more than half of Medicare + Choice beneficiaries live nationwide but where reimbursement rate increases have trailed rising costs since 1997. To compensate for the funding shortfall, premiums for seniors retaining Medicare HMO coverage are expected to spike while benefits dwindle in the coming year. In California's Sacramento-area, for example, monthly premiums for Kaiser Permanente's Senior Advantage Medicare Plan will double from $40 to $80 starting Jan. 1st. Healthnet, following suit, is raising premiums 50 percent, from $40 to $60 per month for its Seniority Plus members in the area. Pacificare and Western Health Advantage, while holding monthly premiums at $50 in their Sacramento-area Medicare plans, will eliminate brand name drug coverage next year. Across the nation, seniors caught between rising premiums and shrinking coverage will find themselves in a similar bind. Even those with Medigap policies will feel the squeeze. Medigap policies A through J, for instance, have minimum standard benefit packages, and the H, I, and J plans covering prescriptions have annual drug caps ranging from $1,250 to $2,000. For the 30 million Americans with a Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Disease (COPD) such as asthma, emphysema or cystic fibrosis - collectively the fourth leading cause of death in the US, however, help is available with Geriatric Services of America (GSA), a national community service organization based in Tempe, Arizona which provides direct help and support to older Americans suffering from chronic respiratory disease. Through its Respiratory Disease Control Program, GSA provides access to a comprehensive range of special medication benefits, as well as support and homecare services, which eliminates out-of-pocket expenses for patients with primary or supplemental insurance coverage. Through GSA's patient support center, nebulizers and respiratory medication are provided and paid for with free home delivery, conveniently packaged and ready to use. GSA handles all paperwork, and clinical Patient Care Coordinators work with doctors and insurance companies once a patient has enrolled in the Respiratory Disease Control Program. Patients can enroll themselves in the program; there is nothing to buy, and no enrollment or membership fees. Currently, Medicare, AARP, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, and over 180 other insurers have special benefits for patients with respiratory disease. GSA provides access to these benefits, and coordinates all elements of care to help patients, doctors, and insurance companies combat respiratory disease. At a time when US seniors face restricted health care access, rising premiums, and shrinking benefits, GSA stands out as a welcome ally for those needing respiratory medication benefits, support, or homecare services. For more information about GSA, or how someone you know can enroll in this special wellcare program, write to 4812 South Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ 85282; call 800-307-8048; fax 800-345-2425; or email Gary Rheault directly at grheault@geriatricservices.com. About The Author Del Williams is a technical writer based in Torrance, California.
MORE RESOURCES: Cracks in home care need filling NB Media Co-op Cree family worries about 97-year-old elder, needing long-term care far from home and culture CBC.ca Canada’s aging crisis and a call for reform in eldercare The Hill Times Ombudsmen and advocates join fight over nursing home staffing levels Iowa Capital Dispatch Nursing home staffing rule in limbo as Trump 2.0 approaches The Union Leader Anglican elder care specialist and advocate named to Order of Canada Anglican Journal All-inclusive elder care for aging at home: This nursing home alternative is on the rise The Laconia Daily Sun Older adults and population aging statistics Statistique Canada CUPE endorses report on B.C. long-term care, urges other provinces to take note Canadian Union of Public Employees Abuse of older people World Health Organization Rustad unveils plans for seniors’ care Prince George Daily News New business offers families ‘Peace of Mind’ with elder care The Turlock Journal MLA presses government on status of elder-care home work Nunatsiaq News 'Failure of government': Nunavut elder care needs to be brought home, federal minister says - CBC.ca Norbert Health and Lumina Care Announce Strategic Partnership to Transform Elder Care through AI Technology Business Wire How to Get Medicaid to Pay for Nursing Home Care U.S. News & World Report Nursing Home Industry Wants Trump to Rescind Staffing Mandate The New York Times Quebec is 'one minute to midnight before a collapse of the elder-care system,' provider says Montreal Gazette With dementia rates projected to rise, northerners call for better elder care in Nunavut Nunatsiaq News Perk of the Week: Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Northeastern University Nursing Home Industry Wants Trump to Rescind Staffing Mandate HealthLeaders Media More New Long-Term Care Rooms Open in Mahone Bay Government of Nova Scotia Bonjour Résidences at the SMASH Conference in Las Vegas: Technological Innovations for Senior Care Bonjour Résidences Canadian grad's elder care app wins Apple's Swift Student Challenge, earns Tim Cook's praise MobileSyrup At Cozy Corner, DeKalb seniors gather for fun, relaxation Shaw Local News Network Assisted Living Technology Panasonic Older solo adults rely on others for help Grand Junction Daily Sentinel Abuse charges against four eldercare workers underscore gaps in state oversight New Mexico In Depth Automation Solutions for an Aging Society: The Future of Elder Care A3 Association for Advancing Automation Elder Care Graduates in Hot Demand in China Sixth Tone Seniors at Tendercare long-term-care home receiving ‘dehumanizing’ treatment, relatives say Toronto Star B.C. judge orders $1.2 million home returned to victim in shocking case of elder abuse Vancouver Sun Opinion | Alzheimer’s Can Be a World of Endless Second Chances The New York Times Ageing and health World Health Organization Can Harris’s proposed ‘at-home Medicare’ end the dreaded ‘spend down’ of senior assets? The Guardian Georgia State University, A.G. Rhodes Launch Innovative Elder Care Partnership Georgia State University News Sunnybrook Leads the Way: First Canadian Hospital to Achieve Age-Friendly Health System Status Sunnybrook Hospital Is India’s senior care sector ready to take off? ASLI Ageing Fest to address this The Times of India 'She was evil': Former B.C. care aide sentenced for stealing from seniors CTV News Vancouver Opportunities and challenges of integrating artificial intelligence in China's elderly care services Nature.com Seniors Housing Operating Performance Cushman & Wakefield Ontario Building New Hospital in Moosonee Government of Ontario News Most of us are anxious about aged care. Here’s how to change that Sydney Morning Herald Aging population drives New York’s Long-Term Medicaid Care spending WETM - MyTwinTiers.com Wisconsin will need almost 10K more elder care workers to keep up with aging baby boomers Wisconsin Public Radio News Festus nursing home loses Medicare and Medicaid funding KTVI Fox 2 St. Louis When Elder Care Is All in the Stepfamily The New York Times Simpson Residents Prove Impact Has No Age Limit: Celebrating Visionary Women Making a Difference Send2Press Newswire End-of-year CEO Q&As: Russell Egan – Superior Care Group Inside Ageing Could a robot keep grandma company? UBC IDEA lab experiments with AI for elder care - Ubyssey Online Nursing home industry wants Trump to rescind staffing mandate St. Louis Post-Dispatch Nursing home resident advocates warn of growing crisis as Festus Manor closes Leader Publications Deducting Long-Term Care Insurance Premiums in 2025 ElderLawAnswers.com Ileana Garcia bill would guarantee nursing home patients the right to record their rooms Florida Politics Attend the Hokie Wellness Elder Care Symposium Virginia Tech One stop for senior care Warren Tribune Chronicle Transforming Elderly Care with AI and Radar – Insights from Cherish Health CEO Sumit Nagpal Alvarez & Marsal Green Houses: A communal approach to elder care Association of Health Care Journalists Long-Term Care, Retirement Home and Elder Care Lodge Resources Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit Forgotten elders The Sun Nigeria How Senior Care Staff Are Using Tech to Attract and Retain Staff HealthTech Magazine |
RELATED ARTICLES
Prevent or Delay Alzheimers Disease Argh! Where are my glasses? I put them down . . 10 Tips to Keep a Family Caregiver from Losing Their Mind Caring full time for a loved one can be a challenging task, and it takes a special person to get the job done right. Patience and compassion are the two top qualities a caregiver must possess in order to be successful. 5 Myths You Should Know Before Choosing Elder Care Myths associated with selecting quality nursing home care suggest quick and easy ways to identify quality care. In fact, relying on these myths can lead to disastrous results. When the Box is Empty The King had a modest kingdom. He was Danish. Assisted Living Facilities - What Are They? Assisted Living facilities are generally for person's 60 years of age and older. Typical candidates need assistance with "Activities of Daily Living" (ADLs), but wish to live as independently as possible. Stairlifts - Take the Struggle Out of Climbing the Stairs Buying a stairlift can have huge benefits for your quality of life, giving you back some freedom and independence. Stairlifts can be adapted to your individual needs, so no matter what your requirements are, there'll be one to suit you. Review of the Changing Protein Requirements for Seniors Youth, it is said, is wasted on the young. Too busy figuring life they hardly take the time to enjoy it. Angels Are Reaching Out to the Elderly I am reminded time after time of the profound effect Angels have on people. Recently, I have been receiving manyemails containing examples of how the Angels are reaching through the veils to assist the elderly. Solitary Confinement -- for Life Sixty-five year old Arthur Jones served a self-imposed life sentence - in his own home.Arthur lived in a high crime neighborhood, so he built iron cages around his outside doors and installed bars on all the windows. Baby Boomers: Will They Be Able to Afford Their Parents? Do you worry about whether your aging parents have their "affairs in order?" You should. After all, you're the one who will have to pay unnecessary taxes and endure time-consuming court procedures if your parents don't have an effective estate plan. Board and Care Homes - What Are They? Board and Care homes (also known as RCFE's - Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly) are residential private homes that have been licensed by the Department of Social Services to provide services to seniors. Most accept no more than six residents, but offer a cozy, home-like setting for frail seniors. Second Hand Stair Lifts Buying second hand stair lifts is a viable and cost effective alternative to purchasing a brand new stair lift. Most stair lifts can be purchased new or second hand. Honey, Where Are The Car Keys? Q: My mother is always losing, hiding and hoarding things, I am losing my mind! What can I do to get her to stop?A: This is a great question and I have a lot of material to work with.My grand mother had made me the most beautiful doilies. Introducing the Best Available Long Term Care Policy Guarantee If you're 60 to 70 years old .. Stair Lift Buying Guide There is no doubt that having a stair lift in your home can dramatically improve your quality of life. If you are starting to find that climbing the stairs is becoming a hazardous experience, or just hard work, then a stair lift could be the answer. Arizona Senior Housing: Care Options for Seniors Who Can No Longer Live Alone The following are a few of the care options available for seniors who can no longer live on their own and require assistance with their Activities of Daily Living (ADL), or require skilled nursing care. Every state is a little different in terms of availability and cost, state regulations, and the specific names used for each care option:Assisted Living Home- A facility consisting of 10 or fewer residents in a private home setting located in residential neighborhoods. How To Find Affordable Senior Housing A few years ago Miranda M. became a widow. New Hope for Alzheimers Treatment There is now widespread agreement among research scientists and medical professionals that Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a problem quickly growing to vast proportions. As the life expectancy of Americans continues to rise, increasing the percentage of the population over 65 years of age, so does the number of Alzheimer's cases. Short Trips Can Stimulate Alzheimers Patients Severe degradation of short-term memory means that my father, an Alzheimer's elder, is seldom interested in movies or books. And, although music used to be a source of enjoyment, he no longer listens with pleasure. Skilled Nursing Homes - What Are They? A skilled nursing home is a medical facility providing services similar to a hospital. The homes are staffed with licensed nurses, shared rooms, hospital beds, regular scheduled doctor rounds, meals and housekeeping. |
home | site map |
© 2009 Asteroidsearch .com |