I Want To Enroll In Medicare Home Care Path

Seniors can enroll in Medicare during the enrollment period. The enrollment period is 3 months before your 65th birthday and 3 months after your 65th birthday. Seniors are encouraged to begin the enrollment process 3 months prior to your 65th birthday.

Enrollment in Medicare does not involve interaction with CMS The Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services. The first place of contact with the Medicare Program is through the local Social Security Office. Whether or not you already receive Social Security benefits at age 65 does determine when and how you enroll.

A senior already receiving Social Security benefits before age 65 will authomatically be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. The senior will automatically be sent a Medicare card approximately 3 months befire turning 65.

If the senior is not receiving Social Security benefits at age 65, they will need to contact the local Social Security Office to enroll in Medicare. The senior must contact the Social Security Office, the staff will not automatically contact the senior.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com staff encourage seniors to access and utilize their Medicare benefit.

Florida Judge Roger Vinson Ohio Wants To Attend Health Reform

Health Care Reform under the United States President Barack Obama administration is being challenged in the Florida Court Room of Judge Roger Vinson. Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum brings the challenge to the court room of Judge Roger Vinson.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine will be joining Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum to challenge Health Care Reform under the United States President Barack Obama administration. Ohio is one of about 20 individual States to challenge Health Care Reform in Florida.

On January 10, 2011 the law suit is scheduled to resume. Part of the law suit challenges United States Congressional authority to mandate that individual citizens participate in health insurance programs that guarantee access and proper treatment in community health care facililites (Clinics, Hospitals, Nursing Homes). Simply, should all U.S. citizens be required to have a pay source for community health care providers services.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com encourages seniors to follow this issue through the legal process.

2011 Federal Estate Tax Threshold Lowered Home Care Path

Beginning January 1, 2011 The Federal Estate Tax threshold will be lowered. Financial planners estimate after January 1, 2011 the Federal Estate Tax could impose a levy up to 55 percent on estates valued at more than one million dollars.

Seniors who reside in areas of high property value are particularly at risk. Larger metrpolitan areas families in the 60's may have bought a home for under 50 thousand, that is now valued in excess of 1 million dollars. Seniors that possess a home, an IRA or 401k retirement account, and some other savings and you can get above one million fairly easily.

Historically seniors have distributed excess wealth to family members while alive. But a senior who requires the house to live in may find it difficult to gift a portion of the estate to family members. Taking withdrawls from retirement plans can trigger income tax.

Back in 2009 Estate Planners expected Congress to reinstate the tax. The Federal Estate Tax changes go back to 2001 when Congress voted to gradually raise the estate tax exemption and cut income tax rates. This ended in repeal of the tax in 2010. The reduction in the estate tax ends 2010.

Seniors and families are dependent upon an act of Congress to see a Federal Estate tax with a higher threshold in 2011. Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com encourages readers to watch the evolution of this issue in the news.

IHE Integrating The Health Care Enterprise Home Care Path

IHE Integrating the health care enterprise is an initiative by health care professionals and industry partners to improve the way computer systems in the health care industry share information. Managing the sending and storage of health care information.

Hospitals, clinics and nursing homes are looking to medical information storage companies to assist them with strategies to improve health care for the consumer at the point of service. Health care providers need information storage partners that can help with access, adequate storage, and security requirements.

InSite One is a well known provider of medical information archiving, storage, and disaster recovery solutions to the health care delivery system. InSite One was founded in 1999 and headquartered in Wallingford CT. InSite One offers financing through InSite One Financial Services, making the service affordable to health care facilities of any size without major capital expenditures.

The expansion behind InSite One is related to its easy to use medical records storage systems. InSite One is different from other medical record storage services in that it stores not just printed records, but is able to store large copies of medical images. Essential information for the medical provider making decisions of care at the point of service.

On Wednesday December 22, 2010 Dell announced plans to purchase InSite One. This is expected to greatly enhance Dell's current record archiving service. This is all related to Federal guidelines regarding enhanced patient information sharing.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides non medical in home custodial care for seniors in south central Wisconsin.

Privacy Notices Coming Home Care Path

Starting to see some privacy notices arrive in the mailbox. Basically privacy notices assure the consumer that the commerical use of their personal information respects certain principles. Most companies draft a privacy policy from industry standard principles which include:

Security- Take steps to assure that information collected from consumers is accurate and secure from unauthorized use.

Access- Consumers have a way to view, and challenge the accuracy and completeness of data being used in their behalf.

Choice- Consumers can identify the type and amount of information that can be used beyond the immediate data collection point.

Notice- Consumers are able to view a copy of the companies information practices before submitting personal information.

Privacy notices are monitored by the FTC The Federal Trade Commission under authority granted by Section 5 of the FTC Act which prohibits unfair or deceptive marketing practices. The FTC frowns on deceptive statements within privacy notices.

The value, and importance of a persons personal information is becoming more evident with the increased availability of computer data storage. Privacy notices communicate the companies understood responsibility for proper utilization of an individual's personal information.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides non-medical in home custodial care for seniors in south central Wisconsin.

Social Security Huge Pile Of Collected Money Home Care Path

Try to think of Social Security as a huge pile of money that is continually being collected. Every worker pays about 6.2 percent of their wages up to a cap of 106,800.00, and employers pay the same. The money you contribute is a part of the total amount collected, and not set in an individual account.

The money collected over the lifetime of a worker who dies before receiving a social security check, stays with this huge pile of money. The contributed money stays in the fund from which benefits are distributed to workers and their families. Benefits may be distrinuted to a widower, a surviving divorced husband, dependent parents, disabled children, and children if they have not reached adulthood. No money collected is ever refunded because a contributing worker did not live to receive a redistribution.

The aging population has not snuck up on the Social Security Administration. To prepare for the baby boomers retirement, Social Security has collected more money than it pays out in benefits. Surplus collected money goes into a trust fund and are invested in United States guaranteed Treasury bonds. This trust fund contained about 2.5 trillion (2009 figures) in bonds and was earning about 4.9 percent in interest. These bonds are just as legitimate as U.S. Treasury bonds held by mutual funds, or foreign banks.

Looking at Social Security as a huge pile of money that is continually collected and slowly redistrbuted helps readers identify the interest in Social Security. Social Security is a huge pile of money, and political groups enjoy having control over money. Social Security has not contributed to the United States deficit. The huge pile of collected money is projected to be more than 4.3 trillion dollars by 2023.

Medicare Part B 2011 Home Care Path

In 2011 Medicare Part B beneficiaries can expect to pay about the same 96.40 or 110.50 premium amount. Seniors who currently have the Social Security Administration withhold their Medicare Part B premium and have annual incomes of 85 thousand dollars or less (or 170,000. or less for joint filers) will not have an increase in their Medicare Part B premium.

For all others the standard Medicare Part B monthly premium will be 115.40 per month starting 2011. This is estimated to be about a four percent increase from 2010 levels.

How Do I Join Medicare part d ? Home Care Path

Medicare Part D is a federal program that came out of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage began January 1, 2006. Enrollment in Medicare Part D is voluntary.

Every year from November 15th to December 31 is an annual open enrollment period. During this time, seniors can enroll or choose to enroll in a different Prescription Drug Plan (PDP). To enroll in a Medicare part D drug plan, you must have Medicare A&B and live in the service area of the drug plan you choose.

Seniors with a home computer can go to www.medicare.gov and choose the medicare prescription drug plan finder prompt, going in to Part D prescription drug plans. Seniors without computer access can go to the county health office and request the assistance of a benefit specialist for the purpose of enrolling in a Medicare Part D plan.

Once you choose a Medicare part D Plan, you may be able to join by completeing a paper application, calling the plan, enrolling on the plans web site, or on www.medicare.gov . When you are joining you will have to provide your Medicare number and the dates your part A and B coverage started. This information is on the seniors Medicare card.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides non-medical in home custodial care for seniors in south central Wisconsin.

Judge Henry Hudson Rules against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Home Care Path

On Monday December 13, 2010 U.S. District Court Judge Henry Hudson Of The Eastern District of Virginia ruled against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The case was brought to Judge Henry Hudson by Virgina Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli was questioning congressional authority regarding an individual amendment to the internal revenue code that would tax citizens who do not have a valid pay source (health insurance) for being treated by a doctor in a clinic, hospital or nursing home.

Under the change the citizen can buy health insurance or they can pay a tax roughly equal to the cost of health insurance, which is then used to subsidize the government's health care program and families who wish to purchase health insurance. It is suggested this is similar to industrial taxes placed on businesses that do not comply with pollution standards.

Those arguing for state everyone will need medical services at some point in their lives and therefore is either a current or future participant in the health care delivery system market and therefore subject to taxation. The citizens with no valid pay source cannot be left to die on the hospital entrance.

Those arguing against state the U.S. government cannot declare a citizen a user of health care delivery service (clinic, hospital, nursing home) just to regulate behavior through a commerce clause. A person should be able to purchase health care service only when needed.

Portion of Judge Henry Hudsons Ruling: The unchecked expansion of congressional power to the limits suggested by the Minimum Essential Coverage Provision would invite unbridled exercise of federal police powers. At its core, this dispute is not simply about regulating the business of insurance, or crafting a scheme of universal health coverage, it is about an individual's right to choose to participate.

Readers recall that The Constitution is perceived to give the United States Congress the power to tax (collect money) and spend (redistribute money) for the genral welfare.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com encourages seniors to continue to follow this legal proceeding as it unfolds.

Stable? Long Term Care Insurance Home Care Path

The need to insure against long term care risk has not changed. An aging population with the ability to live longer means an increased need for in home supportive care. But, the long term care insurance industry is facing some financial instability itself.

Insurance companies invest collected money in portfolio funds to help meet plan benefit pay outs. A one percent drop in interest rates requires the insurance company to collect an additonal 12 percent through a premium increase to compensate for the loss. Interest rates are at an all time low, driving up long term plan premiums.

Long term care insurance plans were assembled with the notion that larger numbers of users would stop paying premiums. Long term care policies require that customers keep current on premium payments from the time of purchase up intil the point when a claim is made. The health plan believed more would stop paying, lapsing coverage, meaning less pay out for the long term care insurance company. Less than estimated numbers of users have walked away from in force long term care policies. Long term care insurance companies have sought premium rate hikes through state insurance commissions to compensate for the perceived loss.

The surprise premium hikes have got consumers questioning the stability of the long term care insurance industry. The message from Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com is remember we are in a changing health climate. The premium increases are a lead indication of coming long term care insurance industry changes. Expect the long term care insurance industry to market less expensive policies with more limited benefits. The industry will package plans to create a new attraction for the offerings. Some will combine a form a life insurance with some long term care products to keep the high end market interested.

Home Care Path encourages all seniors to meet with a qualified unbiased financial consultant prior to purchasing a long term care policy. Fee only financial planners often do not receive sales commissions for steering individuals into a specific product line.

Medical Copayment A Coinsurance? Home Care Path

A copayment or copay is paid by the insured senior each time a medical service is received. The copayment is often present with the clinic visit and the trip to the pharmacy. This additional investment by the consumer is a form of coinsurance.

The Health Insurance Industry has defined copayments slightly different to avoid categorization as a coinsurance. Typically coinsurance is a percentage of payment, after the deductible, up to a certain monetary limit. The coinsurance must be paid before any health insurance plan pays for a medical service. So coinsurance will contribute to a health care plans out of pocket maximum , but copayments do not.

Health insurance company's describe copayments as a way to share medical costs. Copayments are typically small but assigned to help prevent the insured population from seeking medical care that may not be necessary. The copay is said to be high enough to deter un-needed expenses, but low enough not to render the health insurance useless. Too high copays can result in non- use by the consumer for essential medical treatments and needed drugs.

Copayments on newer prescription drugs are usually the highest. Health plans list generic medications with similar benefits to move populations of users into less expensive drug options. The consumer is consistently being educated on the cost associated with health care delivery. Seniors are encouraged to ask for a receipt when paying copays with cash.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides non-medical in home custodial care for seniors in south central Wisconsin.

Vitamin D Winter Home Care Path

Seniors can benefit from Vitamin D. Vitamin D is a substance that promotes absoption of calcium in the bones. Calcium strengthens bones to reduce risk of fracture. Humans receive some Vitamin D with exposure to sunlight. Winter months can bring decreased exposure to sunlight, so including sources of vitamin D in the diet can help.

Food sources of vitamin D include: eel, pilchard, fresh sardines, fresh herring, red salmon, pink salmon, mackerel, salmon chinook, herring canned, salmon chum, tuna, and milk. Adequate sources of Vitamin D in the diet help support the seniors digestive system with absorption of the needed vitamin D.

The best sources of Vitamin D are fatty fish such as the salmon, sardines, and tuna. The richest source of vitamin D is believed to be the eel, which is often served at sushi bars.

Consider supplementing morning meals with a multi-vitamin which contains vitamin D. Taking the vitamin pill with food often improves absorption by the body for use.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com assists seniors with preparing grocery lists, and cooking meals, in the home.

Dementia Plan Of Care Home Care Path

This is a senior care plan for an individual who has altered thought processes related to the effects of dementia. The senior has a cognitive deficit that makes completeing ( 6 ADL's) bathing, dressing, meals, walking, transferring, toileting, on their own impossible. Note the senior may be able to perform on some of the ADL's (acitivites of daily living) on their own with cueing of another and this is encouraged to help maintain independence.

Concern: Altered thought processes related to the effects of dementia

Cause: diagnosis of dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, or cognitive deficit

Evidence:
1. Poor hygeine secondary to no bathing (bathing)
2. Wears same, unlaundered clothing secondary to difficulty dressing self. (dressing)
3. Limited food consumption related to little or no cooking in home kitchen.(meals)
4. Does not exit residence due to poor stance, unsteady gait.(walk)
5. Sits only in familir chair due to difficulty getting up.(transfer)
6. Unable to apply adult briefs to prevent soiling, wetting clothing. (toileting)

Intervention: With a diagnosis of dementia, the disease process is progressive, indicating the person will not begin to do better. Repetitive teaching with an individual who has a diagnosis of dementia has not proven to be effective. The senior with a diagnosis of dementia typically needs the assist of another throughout the day.

Senior Care worker would assist the senior to complete:
Recommendation is bath or shower at least every other day(bathing).
Recommendation is to be fully dressed in freshly laundered street clothes daily(dressing).
Recommendation is to have access to 3 meals per day(meals).
Recommendation is to provide cueing with any adaptive aids (cane, walker, wheel chair) to reduce falls (walking).
Recommendation is to assist with lying to seated to standing (transfers).
Recomendation is to schedule toileting, and protective wear changes (toileting)

This is a simplistic plan of care that demonstrates how memory loss can adversely effect a seniors ability to remian living in their own home. www.homecarepath.com provides non-medical in home custodial care for seniors residing in south central Wisconsin.

Vit C to fight gingivitis Home Care Path

Gingivitis is a disease process that effects the gums. Sailors in the 1300's who took long voyages at sea would report rotting gums. Long ago this was referred to as scourge, or scurvy. Sailors discovered the consumption of fresh citrus fruit could ward off this gum disease.

Nutritionist's now know the active ingredient in the fresh citrus fruit was Vitamin C. Excellent food sources of vitamin C include broccli, bell peppers, kale, cauliflower, strawberries, lemons, mustard and turnip greens, brussel sprouts, orange, and tomato to name a few.

Gingivitis starts with bleeding , swollen gums, collagen degenerates and teeth can become loose. If the individual is Vitamin C deprived, and begins to include Vit C sources in the diet the health of the gums can improve. Vitamin C can biochemically pep up the gums, bleeding decreases, white blood cell formation increases, collagen producing fibroblasts increases, making the gums look and feel better.

The clear message for healthy gums is to eat fruit and vegetables rich in Vitamin C.

Health Reform Global Payments Home Care Path

A stage of health care reform is payment reform. Global payments is part of a performance based health care system. Global payment structure will facilitate provider strategies such as, patient education, environmental assessments, mitigation of adverse health risks, and purchase of necessary durable health equipment.

Health care planners explain that the current fee for service payments, results in continual over use and mis- use of health resources. In the fee for service model health care professionals are paid more for ordering additional tests and procedures.

Global payments would include quality measures that give the consumers more confidence that decisions made about their care are patient focused and not driven by the desire to save money. The mission is to ensure quality and deliver health care at a cost sustainable level.

Global payments act by rewarding efficiency and higher quality. This includes supporting health care providers as they invest in patient centered models of care. A reduction in emergency room visits and re admission to hospitals indicates improved health for the community.

Global payments will be replacing fee for service.

Roth Conversion Home Care Path

With a traditional (IRA) individual retirement account, contributions can be tax deductible but then withdrawls will be fully taxable. With a Roth (IRA) individual retirement account , contributions are never tax deductible, but withdrawls can be tax free.

Starting this year , anybody with a traditional IRA is allowed to convert part or all of it to a Roth IRA, regardless of income or filing status. This conversions seems to allow for future gains in the IRA to be tax free in exchange for being taxed on the converted amount.

Seniors considering this conversion are encouraged to consult with a tax professional prior to making the change. Adding money to other taxable income for 2010 can change your tax bracket status. This can have an adverse effect on deductions, exemptions, and potential credits.

If you have already converted but find it is not really to your financial benefit you can reverse the conversion. Switching back is called recharacterization, and is accomplished with paperwork.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides non-medical in home custodial care for seniors in south central Wisconsin.