Making Insulin More Affordable for People with Medicare More than 3.3 million people with Medicare use one or more of the common forms of insulin every day. Unfortunately, the cost of insulin has nearly tripled over the past ten years, from about $100 to $300 a vial, and out-of-pocket costs for the drug for people with Medicare can significantly fluctuate from month to month, making budgeting and management of a person’s diabetes more difficult. Starting October 15, 2020, people with Medicare will be able to enroll in a Medicare drug plan that offers insulin for no more than a $35 copay for a month’s supply. Coverage will begin on January 1, 2021. While all plans that are participating in Medicare’s new “insulin savings model” guarantee that your cost-sharing is capped at $35 for a month’s supply of insulin, some plans may offer even lower copays. Participating plans cover different types and brands of insulin, and it’s important to check each plan’s formulary to find out your exact cost, starting in the deductible phase, and going through the initial coverage, and coverage gap phases of your Medicare drug benefit. By enrolling in a participating plan, people with Medicare may save hundreds of dollars per year on your out-of-pocket costs for insulin, and you’ll always know exactly what you’ll be paying each
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It is projected that there will be an increased demand for the flu vaccine during the 2020-2021 season. Since the circulation of COVID-19 there has been a widely recognized importance of the prevention of influenza and getting the flu shot. This is an opportunity for healthcare professionals to educate and advocate immunization for people of all ages, not just those over 65 years old. In addition the current outbreak of COVID is being predicted to persist into at least the fall, with health experts concerned over potential overlap with flu season. For those reasons, here is a list of Flu Shot Myths and the answers/explanations you can use to counsel patients, families and co-workers. MYTH: It is better to get the flu than to get the flu shot TRUTH: Preventive measures, such as getting the flu shot, carry much lower risks of harm than infection with the virus itself. Influenza can result in serious infections for certain people, such as young children, adults 65 years and older, pregnant women and those with medical conditions. Even in healthy individuals, influenza can lead to serious complications. MYTH: The flu shot will give me the flu TRUTH: Influenza vaccines cannot cause influenza illness. The vaccine is manufactured from inactivated (killed) virus which is not infectious or from a single gene from the virus that
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Fasting diets are the newest fad in weight loss, but are they really new? Fasting dates back centuries in the long tradition of religious fasting. Many religious groups have periods of fasting in their rituals including Muslims who fast from dawn until dusk during the month of Ramadan, and Christians, Jews, Buddhists, and Hindus who traditionally fast on designated days of the week or year. While recent interest in fasting is for weight loss, many of the studies on fasting focus on longevity and disease prevention. Researchers have know that when you restrict food intake, you can extend life span and it seems to enhance the ability to counteract the disease process. Fasting is defined by eating no or very little food for periods ranging from 12 hours to three weeks. Below are a few different examples: Intermittent fasts Eating no food or cutting back on calorie intake (50 calories per day) only intermittently (like the 5:2 diet) Time-restricted feeding Consuming calories only for a four to six hour window each day (skipping breakfast and only eating luch or early supper) Periodic fasts An extreme approach, typically last several days or longer. These diets involve drinking only calorie-free fluids or very few calories for long stretches to get the body into full fasting mode. Fasting-mimicking diet a plant-based diet that
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Taking antibiotics for flu symptoms will not make you feel better if you have a virus. Some sore throats are caused by bacteria, but most are caused by viruses. Antibiotics fight against bacterial infections. For a virus you need an antiviral. Antiviral drugs are a second line of defense that can be used to treat flu (including seasonal flu and variant flu viruses) if you get sick. The first line of defense, is the flu shot. But if you didn’t get the flu vaccine this season, and fall ill with the flu your best bet is an antiviral drug. Antiviral drugs are prescription. Medications that fight against flu viruses in your body. Antiviral drugs are not sold over-the-counter. You need a prescription. Antiviral treatment works best when started soon after flu illness begins. When treatment is started within two days of becoming sick, it can shorten the time you are sick. It can also reduce the risk of complications such as respiratory complications and ear infections. Even if you cannot start the antiviral treatment within two days, starting them later can still be beneficial. There are four FDA-approved antiviral drugs recommended by the CDC to treat flu this season: Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate)- twice daily for 5 days Most common, comes in capsules and the cost without insurance is about $109.00 Relenza ( zanamivir) – twice
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New research adds to the evidence for a link between sleep, memory, and brain function. Especially when it comes to daytime sleeping, or taking a nap. Many famous and intelligent people have been known for their daily naptime ritual. John Kennedy enjoyed his one to two hour afternoon siesta that continued during his time in the White House. JFK’s workdays were 12 hours long (or more) and he relied heavily on naps to keep him alert. He learnt the technique from his predecessor, Dwight Eisenhower, who took his cue from Churchill. Why does extra sleep help keep you alert? One theory says that the brain consolidates memories during slumber. We all know that we feel better after a good night sleep, ready to tackle the days problems. According to the National Institutes of Health, just one lost night of sleep can increase beta-amyloid levels in the brain. Beta-amyloid is a waste product in fluid between brain cells. The body should clear out the substance. But in Alzheimer’s disease it builds up to form plaque in the brain that hinders communication between brain cells. The body needs sleep every night to rid the brain of this waste. Those that experience poor sleep tend to have changes in their brain tissue in areas related to language and memory. Treating sleep disorders can
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