Medicare insurance is health insurance that is provided by the federal government for people who are age 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with end-stage renal disease.

Medicare plans are divided into four parts. Part A covers hospital insurance, Part B covers medical insurance, Part C is a subset of Parts A and B and allows private companies to provide subscribers with Medicare insurance, and Part D covers prescription drug insurance. Parts A and B are called “Basic” or “Original” Medicare, and Part C is called “Medicare Advantage.” There are also Medicare Supplement Insurance plans available, called “MediGap,” that help pay healthcare costs that Parts A and B don’t cover.

You can apply for Medicare coverage whenever you become eligible, regardless of the time of year. Once you are covered, you have the option of making changes to your plan once each year during a period called “open enrollment.”

Open enrollment runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 each year, and takes effect on Jan. 1 of the following year. Open enrollment is the only time you can make changes to your plan. You can change any or all parts of your plan (parts A–D). You can also add a plan or switch from one plan to another.

It is important to review your Medicare plan annually. “Every year, Medicare insurance companies make changes to premiums, co-pays and coverages that go into effect the next year,” said Cleveland Heights native Kathleen Carvin, an insurance broker with HealthMarkets Insurance Company. “It’s important to review the available options every year during open enrollment to make sure you have the coverage next year that you want, need and can afford.”

Although your current insurance company will send you a letter explaining the changes it is making to the plans it provides, it will not tell you about the changes that other providers are making. It’s best to review all the policy options with an expert, to make sure you have the best and most affordable coverage available. “Choosing the right Medicare supplement plan requires matching your personal healthcare needs to the range of options available to you,” said Carvin.

Reputable insurance agents will talk to you at length about your wants and needs before recommending a plan. Said Carvin, “I find out if the client has a preferred doctor and hospital. I explain the pros and cons of Basic Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans. I also ask what they like and don’t like about their current plan. Then I help them find a plan that covers their needs, at the lowest cost possible.”

When contacting an agent for advice it is important to understand the difference between insurance brokers and “captive agents.” Captive agents represent one particular insurance company, and sell policies only for that company. That insurance company may or may not have the best available policy for you. Insurance brokers represent many different insurance companies and sell a wider variety of policies.

The Cleveland Heights Senior Activity Center (SAC) is holding a free Medicare Open Enrollment Day on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Counselors from the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) will meet one-on-one to answer questions. OSHIIP volunteers are also available at the SAC every Wednesday morning. Call 216-691-7377 for an appointment.

You can contact Kathleen Carvin at 216-375-5902 or kcarvin@healthmarkets.com. Helpful information on Medicare is available through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service at 800-633-4227 or www.medicare.gov.

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Osteoporosis is a disease that makes bones porous, which weakens them and makes them more susceptible to fractures. Often a person has no symptoms or pain, so the disease may not discovered until a bone breaks.

Osteoporosis is a natural part of the aging process. Throughout our lifetime, our bodies naturally replace old bone mass with new. When we are young, bone growth exceeds loss. New bone production slows as we age, however, and by the time we reach our late 20s, loss begins to exceed growth.

Loss of bone mass is accelerated in women when they reach menopause. According to the Cleveland Clinic, women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men. It is often thought of as a “woman’s disease.” However, at around age 65, men and women begin to lose bone mass at the same rate.

Osteoporosis is “a significant threat to more than 2 million men in the United States today,” according to the Cleveland Clinic, which estimates that one-fifth to one-third of all hip fractures occur in men. Six percent of men over 50 will suffer a hip fracture as a result of osteoporosis. Spinal fractures occur about half as often in men as in women.

Fortunately, osteoporosis is both preventable and treatable. The Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends several lifestyle changes that can help us reach peak bone mass and continue building it as we age.

The first of these is adequate calcium and vitamin D intake. NIH recommends daily intake of 1,000 mg for men ages 51–70, and 1,200 mg for women, beginning at age 51, and for men ages 70 and older. The recommended daily intake of vitamin D is 600 IU for all adults up to age 70, and 800 IU for those over 70.

Other preventive measures include not smoking and not drinking more than three ounces of alcohol a day. NIH also advises avoiding medications that cause bone loss or inhibit absorption of calcium and vitamin D. Engaging in weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, hiking, climbing stairs and dancing, helps bones become stronger.

For those already affected by osteoporosis, the same health, nutrition and exercise recommendations apply. The NIH also suggests taking measures to prevent falls, which increase the likelihood of bone fractures and breaks. Preventative measures include using a cane or walker for stability, and wearing flat rubber-soled shoes. Keep stairs and walkways clear of clutter, tape down throw rugs and extension cords, install grab bars in the bathroom, and make sure all rooms and outdoor areas are adequately lit, both day and night.

The Cleveland Clinic is holding a health talk, Aging Essentials for Men and Women, on Sept. 30, 6:30–8 p.m., at the Chagrin Falls Family Health Center. Osteoporosis will be one of the topics. Call 216-444-3641 for more information, and to register.

As always, consult with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, medications, or exercise routine.

Click here to read the full article in the Heights Observer

It’s a good idea for people of all ages to be aware of potential scams and cons, but senior adults can be especially vulnerable. Because many seniors own their homes and have accumulated retirement savings, they are a popular target for con artists. Older adults also grew up in a time when people were more trusting, considerate and polite. Con artists, also known as “scammers,” attempt to take advantage of these traits to scam seniors out of their money.

Scams are perpetrated by phone, mail, e-mail, text message, social media and door-to-door contact. Scammers are very good at making their targets feel guilty about saying no. They typically act very friendly, call you by your first name and pretend to care about your family and your health situation, while making you feel guilty for not trusting them.

Scammers also try to confuse you into accepting their offer. They will talk fast, avoid questions, give incomplete or confusing explanations and pressure you into accepting immediately. If you are not completely clear about and comfortable with what they are proposing, either say no or tell them you need time to think it over. Always consult with a trusted friend or family member before you decide.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), common telephone scams include claiming that you have won a prize or a lottery, offering free or low-cost products or vacations, promoting business investments that have low risk and high return, offering low-cost loans or credit cards, and asking for charitable donations.

When you receive one of these calls, the FTC recommends that you ask the person’s name, company name and what they are selling. Also ask them to send you their offer in writing (including all documents they want you to sign), and tell them you will get back to them after you have time to review the information. This is not being rude. It is being practical.

The Housing Research and Advocacy Center (HRAC) warns of several popular housing scams, including fraudulent mortgages and reverse mortgages, home equity loans, foreclosure and debt assistance, and home repair offers that require large upfront payments. They recommend that you ask lots of questions, research all companies you plan to do business with, and get estimates or offers from several different companies.

Remember never to give your social security number, bank account number or credit card information to anyone who contacts you—even if they are asking you to “confirm” the information—no matter how legitimate or official the offer seems. You should initiate all financial transactions and make sure you are dealing with reputable individuals and companies.

Finally, remember this old saying: if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Click here to read the full article in the Heights Observer

Click here to read the full article in the Heights Observer