I promised you that as updates happened to the Affordable Care Act that I would give you a clear concise analysis of what the updates are and how they apply to you. Last night’s vote in the Senate did nothing to the current law of the land. The law does however have some issues that are coming up. One of the issues is the expiration of funding for the subsidies used to assist people with the high deductibles and coinsurance when they have a lower income, defined as at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. These payments to the insurers are scheduled to stop this year. Insurers are obligated by the Affordable Care Act to grant the subsidies, known as cost-sharing reductions, to eligible customers. At this point, failure to address this issue is expected to increase premiums for individual coverage 15 – 30% for 2018¹. Currently companies offering individual plans have filed rates with the commissioner with the prediction that these payments will stop and have a chance to change the rate before the plans are actually set to release. I, like you, will be waiting for the November 1^st release date to actually see the rates.

The state of Wisconsin could do something to help reduce the price hikes for premiums for Wisconsinites. The state could apply for at 13:32 waiver and set up a program to help with the very ill. This waiver is what the state did to keep the BadgerCare plus program for children under 19³.

Currently approximately 20% of the population creates 80% of the health care costs in this county ⁴. If the state were to create this waiver they could in act an underlying program that helped the insurance carriers mitigate the costs to consumers while working with providers to manage this specific populations cost in a more cost effective and innovative manner much like the HIRSP of old ⁵.

The time is now for them to act but I have heard nothing. I also have heard no mention of cost control or requiring providers of healthcare to disclose prices so consumers are aware and can shop if they want to. I have seen more and more difficulty trying to determining pricing before procedures and no transparency. Please be aware many hospitals will not send out detailed billing unless you specifically request it.

To date companies that offer individual insurance in Wisconsin have reported large losses. If there are any winners with the ACA it is not the insurance companies. The only ones seeing record profits are the hospital systems ⁶. Anthem Blue Cross has decided to stop offering individual coverage in Wisconsin except for in one smaller County. Wisconsin now only has 13 companies statewide that will be selling individual plans ². Remember plans are regional and in most counties you may have 2 or 3 carrier options. In some counties like Kewaunee you will only have one company in others it is rumored that there might be no options. People often come to me and say, “Well I will just go off the marketplace and buy a plan.” What people fail to grasp is that if they are not selling… they are not selling…. There is no magic plan that I can find for you.

The options today are:

• ACA Compliant coverage (true health insurance regulated by the Commissioner of Insurance with no cap on coverage and no underwriting)
• Short term (underwritten, 91 days at a time.) Changes to this option have made it difficult to use and not appropriate for most consumers.
• Alternative plans (They are out there and they are underwritten. They are often called Christian plans but buyers beware as they are not regulated by the Commissioner of insurance – much like banking without FDIC protections.)
• Indemnity plans ( This is often toted as an option but read the fine print as they really just pay you directly a small portion of what the bill actually is. You may still have huge medical bills)

1. http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/19/trump-reportedly-wants-to-kill-critical-obamacare-subsidies-despite-warnings-health-insurance-premiums-would-spike.html
2. http://www.kff.org/health-reform/issue-brief/insurer-participation-on-aca-marketplaces-2014-2017/
3. https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/dhcaa/memos/13-32.pdf
4. http://www.politifact.com/oregon/statements/2012/feb/23/alan-bates/does-20-percent-population-really-use-80-health-ca/
5. http://echealthinsurance.com/wisconsin-health-insurance/public-assistance/health-insurance-risk-sharing-plan/
6. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2015/03/01/hospital-profits-soar-as-obamacare-prescribes-more-paying-patients/#68a07da74da9

Effective April 2018 Medicare will start sending new Medicare Cards. Medicare will no longer use the Social Security number on your Medicare card.  With feedback from providers and the spike in identity theft, Medicare has decided that it makes sense to change the current practice. With the passage of MACRA “Medicare Access and Children’s Health Insurance Program Re-authorization ACT of 2015” the changes will be phased in over a from April 2018 to December 31, 2019.

The new cards will have a randomly generated Medicare Beneficiary Identifier. They will be 11 characters long and be a mixture of numbers and upper case letters.

Heart disease continues to be the number one killer of both men and women. But when found early, heart disease can be treated and oftentimes reversed.

What is heart calcium scoring?

Heart calcium scoring is a screening test that can help reveal heart disease in its early stages, even years before you have a symptom. The test is fast, pain free and safe. There are no needles or dyes. It’s similar in many ways to receiving an x-ray. Yet the results can help save your life.

Who can benefit most?

In general, if you are a man over 30 or a woman over 40, or if you have the following risk  factors, you should consider having a heart calcium scoring:

¨ High cholesterol levels

¨ Family history of heart disease

¨ Diabetes

¨ High blood pressure

¨ Cigarette smoking

¨ Overweight or obese

¨ Physically inactive

This test is offered to you by most of our local area hospitals. Currently most insurance plans are not covering this screening  and that goes for Medicare too.  But it is very affordable. The test costs you about $50.00. Some do charge more so don’t be afraid to shop around.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has advanced directive forms available online. These forms are designed to be completed without the assistance of an attorney. Given your particular circumstances or concerns, however, you may want to seek legal advice from an attorney. The forms available are:

¨ Declaration to Physicians (Wisconsin Living Will)

¨ Power of Attorney for Health Care

¨ Power of Attorney for Finance and Property

¨ Authorization for Final Disposition

These forms, or variations of these forms, may also be available from your attorney, physician or hospital.

Multi-language versions of the Advance Directive and Power of Attorney for Health Care may be obtained by the following source: Aging with Dignity (link is external).

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/forms/advdirectives/index.htm

You might want to consider growing your diet in a new way. Seeds! Seeds offer a lot of benefit and are often over looked. This time I am featuring CHIA seeds. Don’t be fooled by the size… these tiny seeds pack a powerful nutritional punch.

To Ten List for CHIA seeds!

1. Chia Seeds Deliver a Massive Amount of Nutrients With Very Few Calories.
2. Chia Seeds Are Loaded With Antioxidants
3. Almost All The Carbs in Them Are Fiber
4. Chia Seeds Are High in Quality Protein
5. Due to The High Fiber and Protein Content, Chia Seeds Should be Able to Help You Lose Weight
6. Chia Seeds Are High in Omega-3 Fatty Acids
7. Chia Seeds May Improve Certain Blood Markers, Which Should Lower The Risk of Heart Disease and Type 2 Diabetes
8. They Are High in Many Important Bone Nutrients
9. Chia Seeds Can Cause Major Improvements inType 2 Diabetics
10. Chia Seeds Can Improve Exercise Performance as Much as a Sports Drink

A 1 ounce (28 grams) serving of chia seeds contains:

* Fiber: 11 grams.

* Protein: 4 grams.

* Fat: 9 grams (5 of which are Omega-3s).

* Calcium: 18% of the RDA.

* Manganese: 30% of the RDA.

* Magnesium: 30% of the RDA.

* Phosphorus: 27% of the RDA.

They also contain a decent amount of Zinc, Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Potassium, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) and Vitamin B2.

read more about it:   https://authoritynutrition.com/11-proven-health-benefits-of-chia-seeds/

Discount prescription drug cards can save you money. But, some scammers use fake discount cards to steal your identity or your money. Before accepting discount cards remember:

• REAL discount cards are Free—you should never pay for one
• FAKE discount cards ask for money or claim to replace Medicare
• TALK to someone you trust, like your agent, health plan provider or pharmacist

Good prescription discount cards:

• Are free and may come from well-known stores or healthcare companies
• Can help Medicare D enrollees in a coverage gap or an individual during the deductible. Make sure they file the claim with your plan first.
• Do not claim to replace Medicare or insurance

Avoid cards that:

• Ask for money, your Medicare number, any insurance member numbers or banking information
• Claim you will lose your Medicare or Prescription drug coverage without a card.

If you enrolled in Medicare part D you can always call 1-800-Medicare with questions about your prescription drug costs and any gaps in coverage.

Information, education and product knowledge are the cornerstones of great agents and we want to be your health insurance agents!  Call Diane at Woodhead Insurance Services LLC 544-0058

A drug formulary is a list of prescription drugs, both generic and brand name that are covered by your plan. A committee of physicians, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists maintain the formulary and the medications are chosen for their safety and effectiveness. Clinical expertise and input is also sought from many other local physicians who are not committee members. The formulary, pre-service authorization parameters, and related procedures are updated as needed when new information becomes available.

So now you know what it is …. Why should you care? People in the United States spend almost $1,000 per person per year on pharmaceuticals. When you think about it… that is a staggering number and you do have some control of what your share of that amount is. Here is where you should begin:

• Make sure your current medications are covered by your plan. At your annual review make sure your agent is reviewing your medications with you. We are human and can forget so don’t let us! There are new rules and restrictions all the time as insurance companies are struggling with the cost of these medications.
• Does the manufacturer offer you discounts? Or if you are on Medicare, are you eligible for Senior Care of Wisconsin or other programs? High cost does not necessary get passed fully to the consumer. There are programs out there that are designed to make medications more affordable. But if you don’t ask, you don’t benefit. Have your agent do some research or ask your pharmacist. They know of programs and discounts and are just waiting for you to ask!
•  Be your own best advocate! When you go in for your annual doctor visit don’t be afraid to bring a copy of your formulary. Doctors often do not know the price you pay for your medications but do have a lot of choices in what they prescribe. Look up your current medications before going and speak up! He or she needs to hear what you want and then they can help you to make a decision that is not only the best for your health, but also friendlier on your wallet.
• New prescriptions Some doctors are quick to write a prescription, but then hesitant to stop a medication. Make sure you do your research and ask lots of questions about long term health goals. If you are asking the questions and the doctor doesn’t give you the answers you deserve, then you may want to look at switching doctors. If you are starting a medication that you will have to take for the rest of your life, you are making a BIG investment. Don’t make it lightly!

    Information, education and product knowledge are the cornerstones of great agents and we want to be your health insurance agents!  Call Diane at Woodhead Insurance Services LLC 544-0058

According to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College: http://squaredawayblog.bc.edu/squared-away/misconceptions-about-social-security/ There are 567 ways for a married couple to file for Social Security benefits. Social Security is the most important source of retirement income for most workers. Yet too many older Americans lack a basic understanding of certain aspects of Social Security benefits. The U.S. Social Security Administration calculates pensions using a formula based on the average of a worker’s 35 highest years of earnings. This information is important, because each additional year of work could substitute current earnings for an early year of low earnings – or even zero earnings prior to the worker’s entry into the labor force.

According to www.ssa.gov the average retirement benefit is $1285 per month. Growing at 2% for 20 years, that’s a cumulative benefit of over $493,000.00 or almost $1,000,000.00 for a couple

Are you treating social security like it’s a million dollar decision? Here is a free tool that you can use to optimize your own benefits: http://www.bedrockcapitol.com/ssanalyze/

With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, health care is now reported as part of your tax return. That means record keeping is even more important than ever. In years past people have switched plans and never even thought about the importance of keeping proof that they had the previous plan. From this point forward you will need to keep those old insurance cards right along with your tax receipts. If you are audited by the IRS, proof of insurance will need to be given just like your W-2. According to the IRS website: “keep records for three years from the date you filed your original return or two years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later, if you file a claim for credit or refund after you file your return.” * Certain exceptions apply for record keeping. See www.irs.gov for more details or contact us. Remember to keep a file for medical expenses.
If you itemize your deductions for a taxable year on Form 1040, Schedule A, you may be able to deduct expenses you paid that year for medical and dental care for yourself, your spouse, and dependents. For more information, see Questions and Answers: Changes to the Itemized Deduction for 2014 Medical Expenses on www.IRS.gov.

It is official and about time! Medicare will no longer use your Social Security number on your Medicare card. I have been telling people for years not to carry their Medicare card unless necessary since it contains your Social Security number. With feedback from providers and the spike in identity theft, Medicare has decided that it makes sense to change the current practice. The change is coming a bit late compared to the rest of the industry. Private insurance companies no longer use Social Security numbers to identify card holders, and the federal government has also forbidden insurers from using the numbers on insurance cards when medical or drug benefits are provided through Medicare contracts.
This new change will take time to implement. Medicare has up to four years to start issuing the new cards, and four more years to reissue current cards.