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| March Only Time To Purchase Supplemental Insurance |
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts' prescription drug
insurance plan called Prescription Advantage has
announced that it will not hold an open enrollment for
new members this spring. Consumers who need to buy
supplemental insurance (Medigap) to help pay for
prescription drugs must act during March 2003.
The only time most people can buy a Medigap policy is
during the February-March 2003 Annual Open
Enrollment Period for Medicare beneficiaries in
Massachusetts and the coverage will not take effect
until June 1, 2003. During the February-March Open
Enrollment period, all Medigap insurers in Massachusetts
must make every policy available for sale to any
Medicare beneficiary who wants to buy one. However,
outside of February and March, companies only have to
sell to a limited group of people in special certain
situations, such as people who just enrolled into
Medicare in the last six months, or just moved into
Massachusetts, or moved out of an HMO service area in
the past six months.
Medicare beneficiaries of any age or health condition
can buy a Medigap plan as long as they have both
parts of Medicare, Part A and Part B. The only Medicare
beneficiary who is not eligible to buy a Medigap policy is
someone who is both under age 65 and has Medicare
solely because they have end-stage renal disease.
Read on... »
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| Behind the Scenes with a Case Manager |
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So often in human services, terms are thrown around
that may not have much meaning to people outside the
profession. Many clients and caregivers interact with
case managers, but what do these dedicated
individuals
do? We sat down with Debbi Vinci and Meg Strickler,
two MVES case managers, to find out.
Editor: What is the primary responsibility of a case
manager?
D. Vinci: MVES case managers coordinate client
services, allowing elders to live safely and
independently at home. We regularly visit clients at
their homes and determine their needs, support
systems,
current levels of service, and their general ability to
function in their homes.
Read more... »
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| Elder Job Seekers Reminded "Aging is an Advantage" |
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It's never too late to learn! Such was the message at
an informational employment seminar held at Mystic
Valley Elder Services (MVES) for area elders. As part of
MVES' Senior Training and Employment Program, an on-
the-job training program that helps elders find
employment, a speaker from The Career Place offered
instruction and guidance to twelve seniors.
Representing the Career Place, a state employment
resource facility in Woburn, Jan Flight encouraged the
group to see "aging as an advantage." Flight
emphasized elders' work ethic and dedication as
attractive characteristics for potential employers. She
encouraged group members to recognize their many
years of experience, while also availing themselves of
future opportunities to learn.
Read more... »
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| Choosing to Volunteer |
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Larry Sands knows people and he knows his community.
The retired Medford Fire Chief worked for the city for
32 years. Retired now for four years, Larry hasn't
exactly disappeared into the past. Instead he's
volunteering his time for several organizations, including
Mystic Valley Elder Services (MVES).
And, Larry Sands doesn't just talk a good game-he's
also a heck of a player. Each first and third Monday of
the month, Larry serves as a volunteer SHINE (Serving
the Health Insurance Needs of Elders) counselor at the
Medford Council on Aging. The SHINE program is run by
MVES and has trained counselors in 21 communities in
this region. Larry volunteers from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and
helps elders understand the complex and fast-changing
world of health insurance, including Medicare, Medicaid,
HMOs, managed care, and prescription drug coverage.
Read more... »
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| More Efficiency for Long-Term Care |
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Funding for elderly care has long been a complicated,
paper-heavy process. Governor Romney, in his recently
issued budget, has indicated his desire to simplify the
current system of long-term care for elders. This move
to a more efficient system is a welcome effort,
however, the Governor's proposed plan can be
enhanced to better serve elders more cost effectively.
One of the governor's plans is to reorganize state
agencies to reduce inefficiencies. By doing this, the
governor hopes to increase service coordination,
increase efficiencies, eliminate the "silo" effect of
separate agencies, and build more community capacity.
These objectives are commendable, but there is an
easier way to achieve the same results.
Rather than reorganize agencies, elder advocacy
groups support a plan that reorganizes dollars.
Currently, dollars for long term care remain restricted to
these "silos"-money is restricted to institutional care or
disability services or home care. Governor Romney
needs to take his good idea of better service a little
further by seeing that all dollars go into one place. With
one source for funding, elders can receive the type of
treatment they need in the setting of their choice-
quickly and efficiently. This concept, referred to
as "Dollars follow the Person," is the fairest use of
taxpayer's hard-earned money and will actually save
tax dollars while increasing customer satisfaction.
Read more...
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