As you begin to educate your residents regarding the open enrollment period to review and select their Part D plans, Partner Care Pharmacy has useful tools to share. Also, Starting October 15, 2020 Medicare beneficiaries will be able to enroll in a Medicare drug plan that offers insulin for no more than $35 copay per month. For those residents currently on insulin therapies it is important to review that coverage. Go to this website Medicare.gov/plan-compare to log-in and compare Part D plans. Have your list of medications available before you log-in. Click the links below for Medicare Part D resources Open Enrollment Video Medicare Open Enrollment flyer – English Medicare Open Enrollment flyer – Spanish 2021 Insulin Saving Model – FAQ
Chicken Soup is known as a cure for the common cold, and it really does help recovery. Drink plenty of fluids and feed both the flu and a cold. Here is what you need to eat and drink when you’re sick to get well soon. Push Fluids Drinking fluids when you’re sick helps prevent dehydrations. It may also help relieve symptoms, like congestion and cough. Be sure to drink fluids that help, avoid alcohol, coffee and caffeinated sodas since those can cause dehydration. Drink these fluids: Water Clear broth Warm lemon water with honey Herbal teas Pedialyte Comfort Food It is normal to have diminished appetite when fighting a cold or flu, but you also need to keep up your strength. Every mouthful counts so focus on protein-rich foods, like peanut butter, eggs or a protein shake. And that liquid penicillin, Chicken soup has protein and helps with hydration too. To soothe a sore throat, try frozen treats or warm drinks. And for nausea and gastrointestinal discomfort stick to bland foods. Foods to help you feel better PBJ sandwiches Ice cream and/or milkshakes Ice pops Yogurt or puddings Warm cider, teas Soups and broths Rice Toast Bananas
“Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays ‘Cause no matter how far away you roam When you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze For the holidays you can’t beat home sweet home!” Really? I may have to protest Perry Como’s illusion of family gatherings. For many, these forced get togethers are dreaded and for others the holidays are another reminder that they have limited or no family to celebrate with. The Mayo Clinic offers this advise on surviving the Holiday blues. Stress, depression and the holidays: Tips for coping By Mayo Clinic Staff But with some practical tips, you can minimize the stress that accompanies the holidays. You may even end up enjoying the holidays more than you thought you would. Tips to prevent holiday stress and depression When stress is at its peak, it’s hard to stop and regroup. Try to prevent stress and depression in the first place, especially if the holidays have taken an emotional toll on you in the past. Acknowledge your feelings. If someone close to you has recently died or you can’t be with loved ones, realize that it’s normal to feel sadness and grief. It’s OK to take time to cry or express your feelings. You can’t force yourself to be happy just because it’s the holiday season. Reach out. If you feel
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We all know the tryptophan and Thanksgiving turkey connection, but overloading on turkey is not the only natural way to help promote sleep. Tryptophan is an amino acid that the body uses in the processes of making vitamin B3 and serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep. It can’t be produced by our bodies, so we need to get it through our diet. From which foods, exactly? Turkey, of course, but also other meats, chocolate, bananas, mangoes, dairy products, eggs, chickpeas, peanuts, and a slew of other foods. Before you call the doctor and ask for an Ambien or Restoril for insomnia, consider adding these foods that promote natural sleeping to your diet. Natural sedatives offer a more restful sleep and don’t effect our circadian rhythm. (sleep/awake cycle) as sleeping pills. In addition to tryptophan, magnesium, calcium and Vitamin B help aid in production of turning serotonin into melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone found naturally in the body. As the sun sets, your body produces more melatonin and when you rise in the morning, melatonin levels taper off to allow you to wake up. Some people take melatonin to adjust the body’s internal clock. It is used for jet lag, for adjusting sleep-wake cycles in people whose daily work schedule changes, and for helping blind people establish a day and night cycle.
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Medicare Part D Plan Open Enrollment Every October 15 through December 7th Medicare Part D plans have Open Enrollment. The programs begin on January 1st. Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage with a formulary of prescription drugs, managed by a plan sponsor. If a person participates in Medicare Part A or Part B, then the Part D enrollment is voluntary. If a person has Medicaid, then they must enroll in a Part D plan, or one will automatically be assigned. Medicaid coverage helps with costs of premiums, deductibles and co-pays. FLORIDA APPROVED PART D PLANS FOR 2020 SilverScript Choice Wellcare Classic Cigna Healthspring RX Secure (new for 2020) Clear Spring Health Value RX (new for 2020) Basic Plan for the Average Person Monthly premiums average $30.00 per month Annual deductible is $435.00 Co-pays for prescriptions up to 75% of the cost of drugs (depends on the drug) “Donut Hole” – is a gap in prescription coverage Coverage for drugs stops at $4,020 Beneficiary is responsible for 100% of drug costs from $4,020 until $6,350 out of pocket Once the annual cost of drugs reaches $6,350, Medicare Part D pays 95% of costs During Open Enrollment Oct – Dec Letters will be mailed to all “choosers” regarding their status The designated person that choose a plan any year since
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