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Bill Clinton meets with Senate Dems on health care
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Blogs:
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Tuesday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
An interesting thought from a reader
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Akron vs. Mount Union — Liveblog
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Kent State Sports:
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Cleveland Cavaliers:
Shaq: It’s All About Winning Championships
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Varsity Letters:
Report: Walsh baseball player commits
All Da King's Men:
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Blog of Mass Destruction:
Simply Incapable of Telling The Truth
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (63) Commonwealth Fund Report on Primary Care
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Clock Tender- Extending the Life of Collector Car Clocks
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Rumors: Akron Starbucks Closing
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
Aeromsith looking for new singer as Steven Tyler contemplates solo career
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
Video: 'Modern Warfare 2' hits the streets
Published on Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008
Time is running out for seniors and some younger disabled to sign up for optional Medicare managed-care plans.
Anyone who's covered by Medicare has until March 31 to enroll, switch or drop Medicare managed-care coverage.
These Medicare managed-care plans — also known as Medicare Advantage plans — are optional coverage that pay for medical care that's typically not covered by traditional Medicare, the federal health-insurance program for people ages 65 and older and some younger disabled Americans. Many plans offer prescription coverage, too.
In exchange for the perks, enrollees in Medicare Advantage plans often give up some of their freedom to go anywhere they want for medical care at the lowest prices.
To join a Medicare managed-care plan, people first must pay the federal Medicare Part B premium of $96.40 per month, which covers such services as doctor visits, lab work and some out-patient tests. Enrollees also must pay a premium to the managed-care plan if the company charges one. (The federal government also gives plans a payment for each enrollee.)
Unless they're low-income or also covered by Medicaid, people who didn't sign up for Medicare drug coverage known as Medicare Part D by Dec. 31 can't do so until the next open enrollment period in November.
And people with drug coverage who want to sign up for another Medicare Advantage plan by March 31 need to pick a plan that also includes drug coverage.
Need help? Call the Ohio Department of Insurance's Senior Health Insurance Information Program at 800-686-1578 or Medicare at 800-633-4227.
Medical identity theft
By now, most people have heard about the risk of identity theft if their Social Security number or other important financial information falls into the wrong hands.
But consumers need to guard their health information, too.
The March edition of Consumer Reports on Health warns that as many as 250,000 Americans each year are victims of medical identity theft, with someone else using their personal identity to get medical care or obtain prescription medicines.
The results: Victims get billed for services they didn't receive and incorrect information appears in their medical records.
Consumer Reports on Health recommends patients follow these tips to protect their medical identity:
• Share health insurance information only with trusted providers.
• Closely examine the ''explanation of benefits'' from insurance companies for accuracy. Immediately contact the insurer and provider if the statements include any care you didn't receive.
• Keep copies of your health-care records.
• Check your credit history for medical liens. Go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228 for free copies.
• Demand that providers and insurers correct inaccurate information.
• People who think they have been victimized should file a police report and send copies to insurers, providers and credit bureaus.
Health claims explored
If you swallow bubble gum, will it stay in your belly for seven years?
Is your toothbrush really one of the dirtiest things in your bathroom?
And if you're experiencing heart-attack symptoms, can you give yourself CPR by coughing?
We're looking for your questions about old wives' tales, health claims forwarded in e-mails and medical facts that just seem too strange to be true. We'll track down the answers for an article that will appear in the ''Your Health'' section on April 1. No fooling.
Please send your queries to medical writer Cheryl Powell at chpowell@thebeaconjournal.com or leave her a message at 330-996-3902 by Friday.
Compiled by Akron Beacon Journal medical writer Cheryl Powell. She can be reached at 330-996-3902 or at chpowell@thebeaconjournal.com via e-mail.
Time is running out for seniors and some younger disabled to sign up for optional Medicare managed-care plans.
Get the full article here.
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