![]() | |
![]() | |
![]() |
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: Navigating Conscience in Elder Care: A Deep Dive BIOENGINEER.ORG Sunshine Coast elder care project uses art to ask who cares Coast Reporter Roxana Ortega gets real about elder care in debut play, ‘Am I Roxie?’ Los Angeles Times Opinion | Buying, selling of nursing homes raises concern The Boston Globe Unravelling the combination of medical and elderly care in China: a comprehensive policy analysis Nature Youth employment and elder care: a dual challenge in Morocco AFD - Agence Française de Développement When a 91-year-old renter in Toronto is evicted with nowhere else to go, our governments have failed completely Toronto Star Building an ecosystem of care and dignity for India’s ageing future Express Healthcare Nova Scotia Health’s Dignity of Risk Program leading change in caring for older adults living with frailty and dementia Nova Scotia Health Visionaries Unite: How the West Coast Conference on Aging is Rewriting the Future of Senior Care The Daily Scan Alumni Impact Series: Kevin Ye – Shaping the Future of Elder Care through Entrepreneurship University of Waterloo Why seniors’ care should have been on the election agenda The Conversation Heart of Health: Linda Armstrong’s passion for geriatric nursing care Nova Scotia Health LETTER: Elder care a looming crisis for Oak Bay Victoria News Nursing researcher explores elder care collaboration and study abroad pipelines in Taiwan Purdue University "We need recognition of dementia as a national health priority" BioSpectrum India Commentary: The monthly tab for her in-home elder care: $18,000. She can cover it, but how many others can? Los Angeles Times AI Companions Redefine Elder Care: 3 Ways They Fight Loneliness, Boost Safety And Scale Support Forbes Building for Healthier Golden Years Gulfshore Business Smart Money Going in Senior Health: Key Stocks in Elderly Care The Globe and Mail Canada’s aging crisis and a call for reform in eldercare The Hill Times Emotional needs and service process optimization in combined medical and elder care: A TRIZ approach ScienceDirect.com ‘What they wanted to see’: Rankin Inlet elder facility to welcome 22 residents in April Nunatsiaq News Your Company Needs an Eldercare Policy Harvard Business Review Kerala’s elder-care conundrum: Ageing faster, acting slower The South First 1,600-Year-Old Nursing Home Discovered in Ancient Byzantine City Indian Defence Review 'Don't open another bed': St. John’s doctor says there's a better way to keep seniors out of long-term care PNI Atlantic News Stepping towards better health: Early Mobility team wins Nova Scotia Health Quality Award Nova Scotia Health BPK student research looks to history to find a way forward for Indigenous elder care Simon Fraser University Recreation therapy associates at the heart of the Early Mobility Program at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital in Antigonish Nova Scotia Health Elderly patients can deteriorate hourly in the ER. This team works against the clock to get them out CBC Engineering help for elder care thesun.my The opportunity to innovate in senior housing McKinsey & Company B.C. government close-lipped on watchdog report that finds seniors care is worsening - Vancouver Sun Video: How the Immigration Crackdown Threatens Elderly Care The New York Times If Singapore’s first private luxury senior housing takes off, will more developers enter this space? The Straits Times Bay of Quinte Mohawks donate $60K each to Elder Care Home project, Belleville General Hospital Foundation Kingstonist News Initiative to address women’s care load in Africa expands with two new projects | IDRC IDRC - International Development Research Centre Aged care crises continue under Labor | Pearls and Irritations Pearls and Irritations Old people are the victims of neoliberal profiteers Pearls and Irritations Mira Mesa care facility owner charged with elder abuse San Diego Union-Tribune A Model for Elder Care? Supported Housing Offers Some Hope for the Future Center for Retirement Research Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Hits Senior Care Work Force The New York Times Google India launches comprehensive Elder Care Program to help employees care for their aging parents The Times of India Support for Seniors and Caregivers Act ontario.ca Nursing home and elder-care residents could be hit hard by potential Medicaid cuts The Washington Post Evolutionary game analysis of building a sustainable intelligent elderly care service platform Nature China turns to robots for elderly care with national pilot programme South China Morning Post List of Elder Care Support Providers Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Ageing well: From burden to rights Deccan Herald Research Groundbreakers: Dr. Roxanne Weiss Is Advancing Elder Care and Delirium Prevention The University of Utah Frailty Nova Scotia Health Anglican elder care specialist and advocate named to Order of Canada The Anglican Journal New study: Cost and demand for elder care to double in the next 10 years Canadian Medical Association | CMA |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
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 |