Brenda’s Articles

HOW ARE MEDICARE BENEFITS CHANGING FOR 2023

Posted on | by Brenda Armstrong

Changes for 2023 include premium & deductible increases for Part A, lower rates for Part B, and better Part D coverage due to the Inflation Reduction Act.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • The Standard Part B premium is decreasing to $164.90 for 2023.
  • The Part B deductible is also decreasing to $226 in 2023.
  • Part A premiums, deductible and coinsurance are all increasing for 2023.
  • The income brackets for high-income premium adjustments for Medicare Part B and D will start at $97,000 in 2023 (up from $91,000 in 2022).
  • Medicare Advantage enrollment is expected to continue to increase in 2023 and average premiums are decreasing.
  • Kidney transplant recipients can keep limited Part B coverage for life, to cover immunosuppressive drugs (full Part B ends 36 months post-transplant).
  • The maximum allowable out of pocket cap for Medicare Advantage plans is increasing to $88,300 in 2023 (but most plans have lower out-of-pocket caps).
  • Part D donut hole no longer exists, but a standard plan’s maximum deductible will increase to $505 in 2023, and the threshold for entering the catastrophic coverage phase (where out of pocket spending decreases significantly) will increase to $7,400. But the Inflation Reduction Act will ensure that Part D enrollees no longer have to pay for covered vaccines, and will have access to insulin for no more than $35/month.

There are changes to Original Medicare cost-sharing and premiums, the high-income brackets and more.

The standard premium for Medicare Part B is $170.10/month in 2022, BUT it’s decreasing to $164.90/month in 2023. This is the first year-over-year decrease since 2012. Since Medicare Part B spending was lower than expected in 2022, it left a surplus that is being used to decrease premiums for 2023.

We always tell individuals to check with your current medical provider, review their increases/decreases and any additional medical care that may be added for 2023. How is your health? Better than 2022 or needing more health care? Many individuals are better to go straight Medicare and look at a Secondary Insurance policy – but again, the Advantage Plans are offering so much more and the enrollment in the Advantage Plans has been steadily growing for more than 15 years, outpacing overall Medicare enrollment growth.

For more information on Medicare Benefits for 2023, go to: www.medicare.gov.

Brenda Dever-Armstrong, CEO/Owner/CSA
The Next Horizon Seniors & Military
Advocate/Healthcare/Resources/Services/Placement

MEDICAID – MOVING FROM ONE STATE TO ANOTHER STATE
AND
MEDICARE – NEW OPEN ENROLLMENT ADDED FOR TAKING INSULIN

Posted on | by Brenda Armstrong

Each fifty states operates their Medicaid program differently. Individuals are required to reapply for Medicaid in the state in which they are relocating. This means one must close their Medicaid case, and hence their benefits, in their original state before applying for benefits in their new state. Fortunately, when it comes to applying for Medicaid, there are no residency requirements. After relocation, one can immediately apply for Medicaid benefits in the new state.

Common concern is the lapse of benefits between canceling one’s Medicaid plan in their original state and reapplying (and becoming eligible in the state in which you are relocating. Fortunately, most states allow Retroactive Medicaid coverage. This allows up to three months of Medicaid coverage immediately prior to the month of Medicaid application. Once retroactive Medicaid eligibility is established, Medicaid will pay unpaid, qualified medical expenses from this retroactive period.

Suggest you contact the Texas Medicaid office BEFORE moving. They may offer more information. I am sending you the “basic” steps to do first.

MEDICARE – NEW: TAKING INSULIN: STARTING NEW COVERAGE
JAN 2023

Starting 1 January 2023, people with Medicare taking insulin: Plans cannot charge you more than $35 for a one-month supply of each Medicare Part D-covered insulin you take, and cannot charge you a deductible for insulin! If you get a 60 or 90 day supply of insulin, your costs cannot be more than $35 for each months’ supply of each covered insulin. Go to Medicare.gov for more information.

*Information provided by:
Brenda Dever-Armstrong, CEO/Owner/CSA
The Next Horizon Seniors & Military Advocate/Resources/Services/Locator
Ph: 210-275-3002
deverb@att.net
www.nexthorizonlocators.com

SENIORS ARTICLE: Register to Vote in Texas – February 2022

Posted on | by Brenda Armstrong

ARE YOU ALREADY REGISTERED: To confirm your voter registration status, visit Am I Registered application. If you moved from one place to another in the same county, you can change your information online at the Secretary of State’s Voter Registration Name/Address Change website.

WAYS TO REGISTER: To register to vote in Texas, simply complete a voter registration application and return it to your county election office at least 30 days before the upcoming election date. To complete an application, you may: (1) Complete an application using the SOS ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION. Simply fill in the required information, print, sign and mail directly to your county election office. (2) Request a PRINTED APPLICATION. The office will mail a voter registration application to the address provided. (3) Contact or visit your local VOTER REGISTRAR to complete registration process.

YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IF: (1) You are a United States citizen (2) You are a resident of the county where you submit the application (3) You are at least 17 years and 10 months old and you are 18 years of age on Election Day! (4) You are not a convicted felon (you may be eligible to vote if you have completed your sentence, probation and parole); and (5) You have not been declared by a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be either totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.

SHOW OF (7) ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF PHOTO ID: (1) Texas Driver License; (2) Show Texas Handgun License; (3) Texas Personal ID Card; (4) US Citizenship Certificate with Photo; (5) Texas Election ID Certificate; (6) US Military ID card with Photo; (7) US Passport – Card or Book

MILITARY & OVERSEAS VOTERS: “Overseas” is defined as anywhere outside the U.S. (Includes Mexico/Canada). You can use the regular registration and early voting by mail process (known as “absentee” voting)

VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES: (1) Citizen of US (2) 17 years & 10 months time of registration BUT to vote must be 128 years by Election Day (3) Have not been convicted or a felony or if they have been convicted, have completed all of their punishment, parole, supervision, probation or have received a pardon (4) Have not been determined by a final judgment of a court to be totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote (5) Individuals who have legal guardians may be eligible to register, depending on whether the court took away their right to vote. All guardianship orders issued after 1 September 2007 must state whether the individual can vote (6) People with disabilities can receive assistance registering to vote from any state agency that provides services to persons with disabilities or from any person they choose (7) On 1 September 1999, Texas became the first state to require all new voting systems be accessible to voters with disabilities and provide a practical and effective means for voters with disabilities to vast a secret ballot. ALL POLLING PLACES IN TEXAS MUST BE ACCESSIBLE!

VOTERS MAY VOTE EARLY, EITHER IN PERSON OR BY MAIL: Voters who vote during Early Voting Period may vote at any early voting site in the political subdivision that is holding the election. If a voter will be 65 years of age or older on Election Day, has a disability or will be outside the county during early voting hours and on Election Day, the voter can apply to vote by mail. Submit a completed and signed Application for a Ballot by Mail any time from the 60th to the 11th day before Election Day to the proper county early voting clerk. For more information read “Early Voting In Texas”

Secretary of State – Elections Division, PO Box 12060 Austin, TX 78711-2060

*Information provided by:
Brenda Dever-Armstrong, CEO/Owner/CSA Senior Advisor
The Next Horizon Seniors/Military Advocate/Resources/Services/Locator

MY CLEAR DAY LIVING AT HOME – August 2021

Posted on | by Brenda Armstrong
  • My Clear Day is a platform to provide virtual services focused on Behavior Engagement Stimulation Temperament for those with Memory Loss
  • My Clear Day has developed and trademarked a proprietary test to baseline a member
  • They can provide Personal Plans of Care to fit the person’s background, interests to support and sustain. They provide engaging streams and therapies to stimulate a Memory Care individual (all stages of Dementia/Alzheimer)
  • It is like having an Activity Director coming into your personal home (geared for all stages of Memory loss)
  • Clearday at Home can provide the support for your caregivers
  • Content is 24 hrs a day/7 days a week/365 days a year
  • This program shows the prospective families how they can provide more personal care in a modern, innovative & convenient package monthly
  • Families can also benefit from our Caregiver Support streams and webinars to help them in their journey
  • Contact Brenda Dever-Armstrong, CEO/Owner/The Next Horizon with more information – Phone: 210-275-30002
  • Just like Telemedicine – this is the coming future of care coming into your personal home

SENIOR ARTICLE – Difference Between A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA & a Caregiver)

Posted on | by Brenda Armstrong

Working with so many seniors & military veterans one of many questions asked is: What is the Difference Between a CNA & a Caregiver. Below is a brief explanation:

Basic Duties: Certified nursing assistants, called CNAs and Caregivers are often employed in home health care. Both are eligible to work as aides in hospitals, clinics, and assisted living facilities and Personal Care Homes.

CNAs: A certified nursing assistant is formally trained within a State-Approved educational facility and trained with at least 75 hours. Candidates must take an examination of competency to earn the title of CNA. CAN candidates also commonly have a criminal background check before certification. Graduates of CNA programs can work in the facilities (mentioned above) and can help a patient with the following: Help with bathing, dressing, transferring from bed to walker or wheelchair and oversee the patient take their medication (CNAs cannot administer or fill the medication box but watch the patient take their required medication only). CNAs can also help with cooking, cleaning, laundry, running errands and drive the patient (in the patient’s vehicle) to doctor appointments.

CNAs are usually working with a Caregiver Agency that employees them to be assigned to a patient, either in facilities or in the clients’ personal home. CNAs, if working in a hospital, may have a different job title, such as technician. Duties can include taking vital signs, caring for catheters, transporting patients, or help with discharging patients.

Caregiver: Caregivers provide assistance to the disabled or an elderly with day-to-day functions as helping with laundry, driving, paying bills, help the patient to eat or prepare meals. Many Caregivers are asked by the family to be a “companion” only….meaning, be at their bedside and read to them, or write letters for the patient or just be there to chat. Some Caregivers are employed as live-in companion, with room & board provided by the patient or patient’s family. A Caregiver that is NOT providing medical services needs no formal state-license as they are being more of a companion.

*Information provided by:
Brenda Dever-Armstrong, CEO/Owner/CSA
The Next Horizon Seniors & Military Advocate/Resources/Locator