Peninsula Daily News Column 12-13-12 "Some light fare after open enrollment"

            Good morning, “open enrollment” survivors!

            You did it! We did it! We navigated our way through yet another labyrinthine safari through the nether world of Medicare Part D and Advantage Plans! Well done.

            If it makes you feel any better (and it probably won’t), more and more of us are grasping the unfortunate necessity of looking at these things every year and actually pulling it off, which means that more and more of us are (a) saving a little money, and (b) getting better coverage – Remembering that “better” is a relative term.

            So, with that rather considerable accomplishment under our collective belts, let’s just…pause…breathe…And resolve not to get into anything too heavy; after all, the latter half of December will take a toll of its own, right?

            Right; so let’s just clear the deck, huh? Like:

*In case you haven’t already heard, the 2013 Medicare Part B premium will be $104.90 per month. If you are one of the very few of us who is blessed with paying a Part A premium, that’s actually decreasing from $451 to $441 per month. The Medicare Part A deductible (like for up to 60 days of Medicare-covered INpatient services in hospitals) is increasing to $1,184 per benefit period. A “benefit period” starts the day you’re admitted and ends when you’ve been out of the hospital for 60 days in a row – So, Yes: You could conceivably have more than one benefit period “experience” in a calendar year, but I hope you don’t. The Part B deductible goes to $147 from $140. So it goes.

• Some of us (OK, a lot of us) get confused about which vaccines are covered by Medicare Part B vs. Part D, if they’re covered at all – Here’s the deal: Part B covers flu, pneumonia, Hepatitis B (if you’re at “high” or “intermediate” risk) and any others (like “tetanus toxid) if directly related to an injury or direct exposure to this-or-that. Part D generally covers vaccines that aren’t covered by Part B (assuming that they’re included on the God-Almighty formulary) and, generally, the shingles vaccine (“Herpes zoster”) and our Part D plans should also cover administration of said vaccines. Hey, for immunizations covered by your Part D, check with your Plan before you go to the Doc, huh? You might get a better break by going directly to a participating pharmacy.
• How about something that isn’t Medicare? (How about anything that isn’t Medicare??) OK, the Olympic Area Agency on Aging is looking for a representative from Clallam County to participate on the “Advisory Council,” which means advising regarding services for Elders and adults with disabilities, e.g. long-term care services and a whole lot more? Said Advisory Council meets once per month in Shelton, so mileage reimbursement and lunch is included. Maybe? Good! Contact Carol Ann Laase at laaseca@dshs.wa.gov or 1-866-720-4863. No, you probably won’t be able to redesign Medicare; Yes, you could make a difference.
• OK, this is NOT a nice way to punctuate the 2012 holiday season! – Specifically, the “grandmother” scam is still operating (or operating again or never went away, or whatever). This is the one where you get an e-mail (sometimes a phone call, but usually e-mail) from grandson (or daughter) who got busted in Brazil for brandishing bananas (or whatever!) and said prodigal offspring’s offspring needs bail money or travel money or something. People are sending money or, at the very least, getting very upset and frightened! Don’t do this; if you get such a missive, check with somebody (like the kid’s parents) or somebody (even call one of the numbers at the end of this column) before you do anything, PLEASE! Most of us can’t afford to support the bad guys in the style to which they’d like to become accustomed, so please don’t send anything anywhere until you’ve talked to somebody, OK? And if you get an e-mail from Mr. Viffleschlitz with a bunch of letters after his name needing you to help him get a considerable sum of Ghaddafi’s hidden loot back to the good ‘ole US of A, please don’t do that, either! I get about four per week.

            Enough? OK, now just think about one thing that you’re thankful for – I don’t care, anything. Or anyone. Got it? Good – Me, too. That’s what we all need to remember for the rest of today, and let Mr. Viffleschlitz solve his own problems.