With any opportunity comes the opportunists. Be cautious of potential vaccine scams and make sure to alert Senior Medicare Patrol if you’re not sure, and never give out your personal information to callers!
Blog Posts
Ombudsman Highlighted in the Press Democrat 11/25/2020
A powerful force indeed! Ombudsman Kathy is highlighted in today’s Press Democrat:
Ombudswoman stands up for Sonoma County care home residents during pandemic
Visitation Guidance for Long Term Care in Sonoma County
Here is the County guidance for visitation and activities relative to the 2019-Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Long Term Care Facilities, mandatory for Long-term Care Facilities:
Visitation Guidance Revise 11.23.20 to ammend HO No. C19-02_
This document explains how facilities can arrange for visitors both indoors and outdoors in a County on the purple tier, as well as minimum requirements, screening, documentation, compassionate care, non-essential movement and communal activities. Read thoroughly to learn more!
Don’t avert your eyes if you’re on Medicare
A new study shows that more than half of enrollees don’t review or compare their coverage options annually.
In the 6 county region our North Bay HICAP serves, there are 58 managed care Advantage plan options alone! There are 32 Part D drug plans, 10 Medigap supplemental products sold by 29 companies, I don’t blame you.
Averting your eyes only serves to create a situation where you are paying so much more for your Medicare costs and potentially missing out on coverage that could benefit you.
That is the reason HICAP is here as California’s State Medicare Health Insurance Assistance Program! We take the complication out of all the choices and simplify the experience so you can be assured you are not paying more then you have to while ensuring you have the best coverage.
If you are high income, it is important to set an appointment for review. If you are low income, it is important to set an appointment for review. It is critically important to understand that
Donning and Doffing of PPE – Great Video Tutorial
Check out this video from CLTCOA, OSLTCO, and CDA:
You can find the video on the CDA COVID-19 Information and Resources webpage, (towards the bottom of the page) CDA Provider Guidance, under Phase I and Phase II Procedures for Ombudsman Return to Facilities.
The video demonstrates the donning and doffing procedures of PPE for varying degrees of risk mitigation, identifying three scenarios as outlined in Attachment C- Reentry to Facilities- Scenarios to Consider.
For more information: https://www.aging.ca.gov/covid19/
2021 Medicare Part B premiums announced
Each year the monthly premium changes for Part B, the Outpatient portion of Medicare. It has increased for 2021 as have the deductibles for both Parts A and B.
If you want to meet with someone who can walk you through the details one-on-one, HICAP is here.
Here are details of the changes.
Evacuations Bring Trauma, Confusion and Uncertainty
Crista Barnett-Nelson, Executive Director for Senior Advocacy Servicers and the Sonoma County Long Term Care Ombudsman program was featured along with county Human Services Department Director on radio and newspaper.
The serious lack of evacuation planning by area facilities was disturbing and the response by the state oversight agency was even more concerning: “But state regulators dismiss the county’s concerns that care homes didn’t have good plans in place, and that they were relying too heavily on public resources. In a written statement, the California Department of Social Services, which regulates assisted living facilities, called the actions of facilities “appropriate,” and said their plans meet state standards.”
Urgent Need for Better Emergency Planning
More about CA’s urgent need for better emergency planning was well covered by KQED and our Executive Director Crista was interviewed:
When HICAP can help, why make the choice to not review your health plan?
Don’t choose to ignore annual changes to your Medicare coverage. It takes just one medical situation to be in serious trouble.
Next year in 2021, there are 32 Part D prescription plans, each with different formularies, coverage and prices ranging from $7 to $134 per month. There will be 58 Advantage plan managed care choices in the 6 county North Bay region each with different prices, physician networks and coverage options.
What statistic are you?
Why would someone choose not to get 1-on-1 unbiased help reviewing their options, at no charge, from their local HICAP when the outcome could save them hundreds of dollars and ensure the plan they are in will cover their medical needs for the next year. Every year EVERYTHING changes.
Here are the facts as reported by the Kaiser Family Foundation who provide trusted reporting on national health issues…
Social Security in-person Appointments
On October 22, 2020, the Social Security Administration (SSA) revised the information about who is eligible for an in-person appointment while its local offices generally remain closed to the public due to the pandemic.
SSA divides their instructions into: 1) Those who need help with their benefits; and 2) Those who need help with a Social Security number (SSN).
