This month’s newsletter offers a variety of information I hope you will enjoy.

Is your medication making you prone to falling?

Can a Medicare plan deny needed cataract surgery?

Scotland is known for a lot of things, but why do so many have red hair?

When Medicare may not pay your bills!

Who doesn’t love Girl Scout cookies? But are some healthier than others?

Some of us have haunting memories of the Easter bunny . . 

If you’re worried about your balance or risk for falls, review your medication list with your provider. Often, your healthcare provider can lower your medication dose or even stop it all together. This can help you stay on your feet more confidently as you age.

https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/senior-health/medications-that-increase-fall-risk-in-older-adults

ATLANTA – Peggy Mitchell, 71, was having trouble driving at night, so she knew she could not wait any longer to have the cataract clouding her right eye removed.

The lively Alpharetta resident had scheduled her surgery for Nov. 22, before Thanksgiving, and arranged for a friend to drive her to the surgery and back home. She had already had a cataract on her left eye removed the prior year without a hitch.

But her carefully laid plans ground to a halt at the last minute when her Medicare Advantage insurer, Aetna, denied approval for the routine, vision-saving surgery most older adults need at some point.

https://www.moultrieobserver.com/news/doctors-worry-about-accidents-as-georgia-seniors-face-delays-getting-routine-cataract-surgeries/article_35b9340e-d4a6-11ed-8ace-376ed3bef110.html

Globally, less than 2% of people have red hair—however in Scotland, the portion of redheads falls somewhere between 6 to 13%. 

Scots are also more likely to have blue eyes than the rest of the population in the United Kingdom.

https://www.gct.com/community/the-inside-scoop/travel-trivia/red-alert

After being discharged from the hospital, Mary needed Home Healthcare services. The hospital social worker recommended an agency they used so Mary felt no need to check them out.

Big mistake!

As it turns out, the Home Health agency OPTED-OUT and was not contracted with Medicare. They never filed claims with Medicare and even told Mary, if they DID file with Medicare, the claims would be denied. Mary should have been suspicious at this point, but since the agency was recommended by the hospital, she didn’t question anything and just paid the bills.

Mary had to pay whatever the agency billed. Don’t let this happen to you!

Opt-out providers do not accept Medicare at all and have signed an agreement to be excluded from the Medicare program. This means they can charge whatever they want for services but must follow certain rules to do so.

Medicare will not pay for care you receive from an opt-out provider (except in emergencies). You are responsible for the entire cost of your care.

The provider must give you a private contract describing their charges and confirming that you understand you are responsible for the full cost of your care and that Medicare will not reimburse you.

Opt-out providers do not bill Medicare for services you receive.

Many psychiatrists opt out of Medicare.

Be sure to ask your provider if they are participating, non-participating, or opt-out. You can also check by using Medicare’s Physician Compare tool.

https://www.medicareinteractive.org/get-answers/medicare-covered-services/outpatient-provider-services/participating-non-participating-and-opt-out-providers

Yes, we know. Cookies aren’t considered a “healthy” food by any stretch of the imagination.

However, that doesn’t mean we can’t have a few treats once in a while, nor does it mean our diet is “unhealthy” when we do.

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/every-girl-scout-cookie-ranked

I hope this newsletter finds you well and you are enjoying the spring but could do without the allergies.

The newsletter is constantly evolving, offering more variety of topics mixed in with my quirky sense of humor.

I have a new website for folks who are turning 65. Feel free to share the site, and this newsletter, with friends.

https://www.turning65medicarega.com/