Authored by BlueAngel on
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
This newsletter is full of information regarding the Medicare Discount Medication Cards that is presented in an easily read format. Also there are other topics that are of interest to most of us in our everyday lives.
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Eldercare Matters - June 1, 2004
>>>Last Comment About Medicare Cards (I Hope)<<<
Beginning today, Medicare participants can start using a
prescription-drug discount card designed to help save money
on medication. But, according to a recent CBS report, there
are at least 73 different cards to choose from. And finding the
best one is no easy task.
Some cards are available nationwide. Others only work in
certain states or at particular pharmacies. All offer different
discounts on different medications. To make matters worse,
the companies can change which drugs they offer and the
discounts they offer on the drugs at any time without any
warning to cardholders.
My first recommendation regarding these cards is - take your
time. Once you make a selection, you're locked in until the
middle of November.
If you haven't already made a card selection, it will pay to
do some research before you do. Be systematic:
> Make a list of all the drugs you take and how much they
cost
> Find out which cards are available in your state and basic
information on each one. The 1-800-MEDICARE phone
information line has been overwhelmed, and you will
probably get your information faster from their website at
http://www.medicare.gov
> Compare the available cards, looking for the one that
covers most of your medications, or covers your most
expensive medication. Also, make sure that you save
enough to cover the cost of the discount card.
> Call the company. Each card/company has a toll-free
number. Call this number and verify that the drugs and
discounts are actually offered by the company.
There have been numerous reports that information on the
Medicare Web site is wrong or already outdated.
> Get an enrollment application from the company you prefer.
Be careful about responding to promotional material that
comes in the mail - look for the Medicare-approved logo.
There are scams out there promoting official-looking cards
that aren't actually a part of the program.
Reminder - If you enroll, you'll be locked in until
November 15, 2004. You'll then have until Dec 31, 2004
to switch cards.
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>>>Tame Your Paper Elephant<<<
Heck, paper tigers are manageable. It's when they get to
elephant size and start trashing the house that you have a
real problem.
I handle my mother's bills and all her paperwork. It's an
astounding amount of paper. The volume from Medicare alone
("this is not a bill" Medicare) must be responsible for the death
of several forests just this year. Add her stuff to what routinely
comes into my house every day and things can get out of
control pretty quickly.
If you're responsible for someone else's finances as well as your
own you can get overwhelmed really easily. Chances are that
something will disappear the moment you look for it. And
sooner or later you'll end up paying a late fee to someone.
For the last month I've made it my goal to "manage" the mail
every day. If a bill arrives, I write the check that day and I
drop the part I'm supposed to keep in a folder. I use just one
folder for our bills, and one for my mother's. Some day, if I
live long enough, I might have a folder for every creditor, but
then I'd never file them at all. This works, and I start a new
one on the first of every year.
I look through the ads and flyers, and 98% go right in the trash.
The remaining 2% go to my husband, because guaranteed
they're something related to his hobby. Model airplane flyers
get lots of catalogs. If there's a coupon I want, I tear it out and
stick it in my wallet right then.
Holiday catalogs, magazines, and such, have a basket of their
own where they can sit tidily until whenever.
My second goal is to take care of three more pieces of paper
in "the pile." Just like for the three bears, one isn't enough, and
five is too many.
The rule is, I have to actually make a decision and DO
SOMETHING with each of the three pieces of paper. I can't
pick it up, look at it, decide I'll have to do something about it,
and then put it in a "to do" pile. I actually have to DO
SOMETHING.
Now, "do something" can include throw it away - and it's
amazing how much you can throw away because it sat in the
pile so long it's no longer relevant. But you can miss some
good stuff that way.
So, "do something" might be putting the return address in the
book, so I can finally throw away the envelope. Or write the
note I've been putting off. Whatever it is, I have to do it, and
then get rid of that piece of paper by either putting it away
(and that doesn't include giving in to the temptation to put
it into another pile!) or throwing it away.
It's getting harder now, because when I started out of course
I chose to do something with the easy stuff. Now, I have the
tougher things coming to the top of the pile. I may have to
revise my number down from three to two...I don't know.
I do know that it's working (most days). It's amazing how
much calmer and in control I feel when I'm not surrounded
by paper chaos. Just being confident that nothing urgent is
being missed is a relief.
That's my organizational tip of the day - what's yours? I'd
love to know. Email me your favorite sanity-saving tips and
every now and again I'll pick one to share with everyone.
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>>>Financial Help for Alzheimer's Caregivers<<<
Heads up if you're caring for someone with Alzheimer's and
you're in need of some financial assistance.
The American Health Assistance Foundation has funds for
needy Alzheimer's caregivers through its Alzheimer's Family
Relief Program. Their requirements are few: the patient must
have been diagnosed by a practicing, certified physician as
having "Alzheimer's disease," "probable Alzheimer's disease,"
or "dementia of the Alzheimer's type." The physician's statement
must have one of the above diagnoses for the patient to be eligible.
The liquid assets of the patient and caregiver cannot exceed
$10,000 (not including car and house); and the patient cannot
reside in a nursing home.
Grants up to $750 are provided for expenses such as short-
term nursing care, home health care, respite care, adult day
care, medications, medical or personal hygiene supplies,
transportation, and other expenses related to care for a patient
with Alzheimer's disease. Grants are not provided for payment
of nursing home fees.
Applications are funded based on established need and on a
first-come, first-served basis. First-time applicants will receive
priority treatment; repeat applicants are placed on a waiting
list and are considered as funding becomes available.
If you qualify or know someone who does, please contact
Jarmel Wilson at (800) 437-2423 or download an Alzheimer's
Family Relief Program application form from their website at
http://www.ahaf.org
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Motivation gets you going, but habit gets you there.
Make motivation a habit and you'll get there more quickly
and have a lot more fun on the trip.
Zig Ziglar
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That's it for this time. I do hope your Memorial Day was truly
memorable and you didn't get sunburned too badly. Summer is
officially here - that's a mixed blessing here in Dallas, believe
me!
All my best to you,
Molly
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Molly Shomer
Head Coach
The Eldercare Team
http://www.eldercareteam.com
mshomer@eldercareteam.com
Box 700291
Dallas, TX 75370
(972) 395-7823
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© 2004 Molly Shomer, All rights reserved. You are free to
use material from Eldercare Matters as long as you include
complete attribution, including live web site link and email
link. I would appreciate it if you would let me know where
the material will appear.
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