If you have a health problem, even if it is just an imaginary one, some giant pharmaceutical company out there is probably making a pill for it. According to shocking new research published in the Journal of the American Medical … Continue reading →
Source: Drugged Into Oblivion: Nearly 60 Percent Of All U.S. Adults Are On Prescription Drugs –
There are 14 ways, in all, to avoid paying the Obamacare tax penalty. This fee hits people who don’t carry health insurance that conforms to the government regulations. Based on the latest revision to the Obamacare regulations, people can avail themselves of these different off ramps all the way through 2016. Many of […]
Source: 14 Ways To Avoid The Obamacare Tax (Actually 15 if you include ‘brief incarceration’) – Forbes
Faced with financial difficulties, Kentucky Health Cooperative, Inc. has become the latest state-based consumer operated and oriented health plan to fail, as the health plan announced it will discontinue selling policies at the end of the year.
Source: Another CO-OP shuts down: Kentucky Health Cooperative won’t offer plans in 2016
Source: Sanders-Brown Center on Aging | Sanders-Brown Center on Aging
5th Annual MARKESBERY SYMPOSIUM ON AGING AND DEMENTIA
Community Session
Saturday, November 21, 2015
8:30 am – 12 noon
Lexington Convention Center
Bluegrass Room
430 W Vine
Lexington, KY 40507
The University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging presents the 5th Annual Markesbery Symposium on Aging and Dementia (flyer attached). The public is invited to attend this free informational program on Alzheimer’s disease to be held on Sat, Nov 21, 2015 at the Lexington Convention Center. The symposium will kick off at 8:30 AM with check-in and continental breakfast. Dr. Ronald Petersen of Mayo Clinic, who treated former President Ronald Reagan and singer/songwriter Glenn Campbell, will be the keynote speaker. The program will also include several presentations designed to highlight research and promote normal, healthy brain aging, and conclude with a question and answer session on memory and brain health issues.
The events are free and open to the public; however, you must register to attend. For more information or to register visit www.centeronaging.uky.edu, phone 859.323.6040 or email paula.thomason@uky.edu. Complimentary parking will be available in the High Street parking lot.
Source: New Alzheimer’s treatment fully restores memory function
Excellent article on ALZ research and how close they are to curing it!
August 20, 2015
We at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) are committed to providing our members with access and choice for their medical care. One way we do this is by contracting with hospitals and physicians to participate in our provider networks. We have been in negotiations with St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Northern Kentucky, and they have decided to end their participation in our Medicare Select network effective January 1, 2016.
There will no longer be Medicare Select facilities in the Kentucky counties of Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton. St. Elizabeth Healthcare has been a part of the extensive network for over 15 years, and we are clearly disappointed that they have made this decision. We will continue to talk with St. Elizabeth Healthcare in hopes of reaching an agreement.
St. Elizabeth Healthcare operates six facilities in Covington and other parts of Northern Kentucky:
| St. Elizabeth Covington 1500 James Simpson Jr Way Covington KY 41011St. Elizabeth Edgewood 1 Medical Village Dr. Edgewood, KY 41017 St. Elizabeth Falmouth |
St. Elizabeth Florence 4900 Houston Road Florence, KY 41042St. Elizabeth Ft. Thomas 85 N. Grand Ave. Fort Thomas, KY 41075 St. Elizabeth Grant |
We will be notifying our members by letter the first of September, which will include several options regarding their health coverage. We will also include in the mailing a listing of other Medicare Select plan facilities in KY and OH.
The health coverage options listed in the letter for the member are:
Anthem has participating facilities in the Metropolitan Cincinnati area that your clients might consider using for elective inpatient admissions. Emergency admissions do not require network use for maximum benefits. See the links above for those providers in close proximity to the Metropolitan Cincinnati area.
At Anthem, we’re committed to helping you succeed. We know you are a huge part of our strength and success, and we value your trust and partnership.
Click and Contact the Medicare NINJA! today for assistance during the Medicare & ACA enrollment seasons.
Source: Enrollment Assistance FAQs by The “Medicare NINJA!” – The “Medicare NINJA!” | 859.533.5195
As most of you know, both Medicare and ACA seasons are fast approaching. What does this mean and why is this so important? And who does it affect?
Well, frequently asked questions are listed below. It’s very important for you to contact me ASAP to schedule your own “Time Well Spent” Medicare or ACA review appointment. Appointments are handled on a first come, first served basis.
Simply put, I am The Medicare NINJA! It’s just a silly name that stuck. I think it kind of ties to the fact that I “live and breathe” Medicare! I am a licensed health insurance agent, working as a broker in the state of Kentucky (KYDOI#814418). I fight to help my clients “chop” their Medical expenses. A
LOT of clients have dropped me wonderful testimonies.
A few are highlighted at the bottom of this article.
When we talk about Medicare Season, we are talking about the Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP) which runs from October 15th – December 7th each year. Pre-enrollment is between October 1st and October 15th.
This is the annual season that most Medicare beneficiaries can review coming Medicare Health Plans and make any needed changes for the coming year. This is a very important time for Medicare beneficiaries as these plans change every year. Premiums, deductibles, copay and coinsurance amounts, covered services, and provider and drug inclusions or exclusions change.
This is the same period for the “under 65” crowd that have individual insurance plans. This year, ACA Open Enrollment will be from November 1st – December 15th. These would include the millions that participate in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) otherwise known as “Obamacare”. Just like Medicare beneficiaries, it is important for ACA beneficiaries to meet with a professional agent to review the coming plans. These plans change every year and it is important to have this annual review to make sure you are in the plan that will save you the most money.
Well. It might not be. Do you want to make sure you save the most possible?
Q. What is your role? Does meeting with you cost me anything?I am a healthcare insurance broker. This means that I am a licensed health insurance agent in the state of Kentucky (KY DOI#814418), but, rather than work directly for a health insurance company as a “captive agent” I choose to remain independent. This allows me to remain objective and I can pick and choose which companies to represent, based upon my valuation of their offerings, service, and products.
There is no charge for my service. I come meet with you, usually at your home, and talk to you about your objectives and concerns, use Medicare.gov or www.healthcare.gov to rank the offerings and then enroll you in the plan that saves you the most money.
I am paid directly by my payors to enroll and serve their members.
Excellent questions. I think my differences lie in two areas. One, is tied to my ability to be objective, due to my independent status. I do not work for a specific insurance payor. I represent many of the best names in the industry. Objectiveness is a major advantage. It keeps me out of the “selling you my product” kind of mentality.
Second, is my trusted “Time Well Spent” appointment method that I have perfected. When I meet with a client, my appointments run a little longer than the average insurance agent appointment. This is because I spend a great deal of time researching your prescriptions, providers, facilities… and explaining your summary of benefits. The last thing I care for is surprises when you receive medical care.
I represent many payors including Humana, Anthem BlueCross/BlueShield, Cigna, Mutual of Omaha, Wellcare, SilverScripts and several others in the Medicare Marketplace and Anthem BlueCross/BlueShield in the ACA marketplace.
Q. Do You Cover My Town?I cover a large geographic territory from Kenton, Boone, and Campbell counties in northern Kentucky, east as far as Boyd and Pike Counties, down all the way to Middlesboro, KY and then west as far as Fulton.
Pretty much anywhere within the state of Kentucky. IF you live in Kentucky, chances are I will come to you.
Well, there is a variety of ways that we can meet.
First and foremost is Walmart.
During Medicare season, I can be found in the Hamburg Walmart Supercenter in Lexington, KY. If you live around Lexington, this is as good an option as any to meet up with me. Be sure to schedule an appointment if possible, so that I know you are coming, and do not take on a conversation with a store patron.
Second, are face-to-face appointments in your home.
If you are within 4.5 hours of Lexington and live in Kentucky, I will be happy to come see you to discuss your Medicare case.
Third, you are welcome to schedule an appointment with me at my office outside of my Walmart hours.
During AEP season, I work seven days per week to accommodate the need.
Q. What do I Need to Bring to an Appointment?I have an excellent page that outlines what to bring to an appointment as well as how an appointment works and what we do during a “time well spent” appointment.
That, you would have to ask my clients. Below are some personal testimonies from my actual clients that have given me permission to share their comments.
