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VP Biden Talks Medicare with Seniors » Devon Health Care …

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VP Biden Talks Medicare with Seniors | AD drug free HD

| Author: Laura Clark

… AM (UTC -5). lets try this again,opencongress…org..bill…111..h3200…show … PM (UTC -5). where can I read this bill ? could you post the reference ? … READ the bill it states you will loose you private insurance PAGE 16 …

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Hurdles Remain for People with Disabilities and Seniors After Supreme Court Ruling on Healthcare Reform, Says Allsup

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Belleville, Ill. (PRWEB) June 28, 2012

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling to uphold portions of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) will have a profound impact on people with disabilities and those relying on Medicare. But more needs to be known about the affordability of care before determining the laws actual benefit for people with severe disabilities, according to Allsup, a nationwide provider of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) representation and Medicare plan selection services.

Access to healthcare is essential for the well-being of millions of seniors and people with disabilities, said Tricia Blazier, senior disability life planning manager for Allsup. While the ACA is not perfect, it generally has had a positive impact for most Medicare beneficiaries. For example, it provides preventive service coverage and shrinks the prescription drug donut hole.

It also has shown promise for people with disabilities because of future provisions set to take effect through 2014. However, Blazier noted, the overall benefit is yet to be determined, with affordability of care being a significant hurdle that still needs to be addressed.

Even with healthcare reform, many of the initial coverage options have been out of the financial reach of SSDI beneficiaries, for example, the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plans (PCIPs), Blazier said. The ruling should help resolve some of the uncertainty surrounding healthcare reform, and the broader areas of reform now can move into place. Hopefully, this means improvements to costs and coverage options to support people with permanent disabilities.

Below, Allsup reviews the key provisions on which the Supreme Court ruled and how those decisions will affect Medicare beneficiaries and people with disabilities.

The Individual Mandate

The Supreme Court ruled that the individual mandate requiring people to have coverage is constitutional. Under healthcare reform, all U.S. citizens and legal residents will be required to have qualifying health coverage starting in 2014.

For people with disabilities, this means a number of positive developments. Insurers already are required to provide coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Starting in 2014, insurers can no longer deny coverage to anyone with pre-existing health conditions and lifetime limits will be eliminated. This is the same year that individuals will be required to have healthcare coverage and state exchanges will be operational.

People with disabilities who are awarded SSDI benefits must wait 24 months after receiving cash SSDI benefits to become Medicare eligible. Allsup has found that one-third of individuals with serious disabilities will lose their health insurance while awaiting Medicare eligibility and are unable to obtain new coverage because of costs and pre-existing conditions.

Without the individual mandate, the cost of insurance would largely continue to be out of reach for people with disabilities, Blazier said. We have already seen this with the PCIPs, where enrollment is lower than expected and the actual cost of coverage is nearly double what had been the anticipated cost.

PCIPs, essentially the precursors to the state exchanges required under healthcare reform, are plans that provide insurance to people with pre-existing conditions who cant get coverage elsewhere at the same market rates as healthy consumers. PCIP participation has been lower than expected and, while costs vary widely by state, each participant is expected to pay $ 28,944 in medical costs in 2012more than double the expectation, according to a U.S. Department of Health & Human Services February report.

For people who cannot afford coverage in the private market, the state exchangeswhich will be required to also cover people with disabilitiesshould provide a bridge, but only if theyre truly affordable, Blazier said.

The exchanges will allow individuals to compare qualified plans and provide them with information on whether they are eligible for Medicaid, the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or other programs to reduce the costs of insurance. For any citizen, especially those with physical and mental disabilities, simplifying how they go about assessing their options and eligibility for complicated programs is an important improvement.

Under the ACA, those without coverage will face a penalty that starts in 2014 of $ 95 per adult and $ 47.50 per child, up to $ 285 for a family or 1 percent of income, whichever is greater, and continues to increase through 2016. After 2016, cost-of-living adjustments will be applied.

Medicaid Expansion Tempered

The ACA had required states to adopt expanded Medicaid eligibility and coverage thresholds in order to remain eligible to participate in the joint federal-state program. Medicaid provides healthcare to people with low incomes and those with disabilities.

However, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress cannot penalize states that choose not to expand Medicaid. As a result, states will not lose their existing Medicaid funds if they dont comply with this expansion, which called for Medicaid in every state to cover people under age 65 with income of 133 percent of the federal poverty line starting in 2014. (The federal poverty line is $ 23,050 for a family of four in 2012.)

In states where Medicaid is expanded, the lower thresholds will help many individuals who are not able to work because of a disability and have to make a daily decision between being able to afford to eat or taking medications that are essential for their conditions, Blazier said. We know that when people have to make these types of trade-offs, it often increases healthcare costs down the road.

What ACA Now Means for People with Disabilities and Medicare Beneficiaries

Provisions of healthcare reform already offering more affordable coverage to Medicare beneficiaries and people with disabilities include:

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Home Health Care Rancho Santa Fe Firstat Nursing Services Supports National Safety Month Publishes Tips on Home Safety for Seniors

| Author: William Miller

Rancho Santa Fe, CA (PRWEB) June 23, 2012

Firstat Nursing Services, a home health care agency serving Rancho Santa Fe and San Diego, has published a guide to help keep seniors safe around the home.

June is National Safety Month and the perfect time to think about how families can make some changes to keep older loved ones safe, said Linnea Goodrich, president of Firstat Nursing Services in San Diego, CA. With a little commitment and some knowledge, its easy to give seniors the tools they need to live happy, healthy, safe lives and still maintain independence. Here are three very useful tips to make the home of your loved ones a little safer.

Reduce Slips and Falls – One of the easiest and most effective ways to instantly improve the safety of an older loved one is to increase the chances of safe mobility within the home. From the kitchen to the bathroom, there are always things that can be done to make mobility easier and safer. In the kitchen, make certain all throw rugs and mats are properly secured to avoid slipping or tripping. The small rugs commonly seen in front of the stove or sink tend to slide and can be quite dangerous without the appropriate padding underneath. In addition, check the soles of slippers and look for non-skid rubber to reduce the chances of slipping on carpeted stairs or slippery hardwood floors.

Provide Adequate Lighting – Most people at one time or another have awakened in the night only to find the hallway and familiar travel areas in our home are dark. For seniors, not having adequate light can be extremely dangerous and is often frightening. Avoid stumbles and disorientation by ensuring hallways and walkways have a nightlight. It only takes a second to plug in a tiny light that will shine a clear path and provide the peace of mind seniors need to feel safe, secure and comfortable navigating the house after dark.

Ensure the Health of Cooling Systems – With summer approaching in full swing, its even more important to ensure the air conditioning unit is working properly and not in need of service. The middle of July or August when temperatures are elevated is not the appropriate time to begin investigating the health of cooling systems. In fact, with many seniors experiencing health related illnesses, its critical any and all systems are serviced now to receive a clean bill of health.

Protecting loved ones often involves taking a proactive approach towards safety. Particularly for the seniors in our lives, creating a safe environment while promoting independence is a goal worth striving for, continued Goodrich. People wanting to learn more are encouraged to visit the company website and pick up a copy of their free report Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider,” visit, http://FirstatOfSanDiego.com

About Firstat Nursing Services

Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Home care Agency in San Diego that is both State licensed and certified by the Alzheimer’s Association. Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and home care services for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997. To pick up a copy of her free report “Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider,” Visit, http://FirstatOfSanDiego.com