18 · SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2017 Provide better care for yourself and others (StatePoint) More than 10,000 people in the United States turn 65 years old every day, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. This growth in the aging population has led to an in-creased number of people who care for loved ones in their homes. “While many people are happy to take care of aging loved ones, playing this caregiver role can still be physically, men-tally and emotionally draining,” said Jill Turner-Mitchael, senior vice president, Sam’s Club Consumables and Health and Wellness. “As a result, it can be easy for caregivers to forget about caring for themselves at times.” To help, Turner-Mitchael and the Sam’s Club Pharmacists are offering time-saving, stress-reducing tips to help care-givers support their loved ones while also maintaining their own well-being. • Focus on food and fitness. Maintain a healthy, energy-boosting diet that includes organic fruits and vegetables, lean protein and vitamins. Try to stay active, as well. To keep yourself accountable, consider using a wearable device that tracks your daily diet and activity level. • Log on. To save time and effort, shop online when possible. In today’s digital world, it’s easy to get everything you need with the click of a button. Companies like Sam’s Club provide everything from groceries to personal care products online for those who don’t have time to make it into a store. • Give yourself a break. Convene a family meeting to discuss any challenges that you’re facing and see what oth-ers can do to lighten your load. Identify someone who can fill in for you for periods of time, so you can take breaks outside of the home to relax and refresh. Doing so will likely help you return to your role with even more energy. • Seek support. Find a caregiver support group that can help you make connections with others who understand your perspective. Seek out other existing resources that are designed to support caregivers, as well. “As the number of caregivers rises, so does the impor-tance of offering resources that make their lives easier,” Turner-Mitchael said. “As a club of the community, we are working to do just that, so caregivers can focus on what is most important — the health of their loved ones and themselves.” • Engage your employer. Around 42 million Americans act as caregivers while also working outside of the home, according to AARP. If you are juggling work and home responsibilities, ask your manager about perks or policies that might help you find balance, such as flexible work schedules, emergency time off or on-site eldercare. Neglecting your own health does no one any favors, so don’t let caregiving mean the end of self-care. How to KNOW WHAT IS COVERED BY MEDICARE Dear Savvy Senior, Does Medicare cover 100 percent of all preventive health care screenings? I’m due to get a colonoscopy and a few other tests, but I want to find out if I’ll have to pay anything before I proceed. — New to Medicare Dear New, Medicare currently covers a wide array of free preventive and screening services to help you stay healthy, but not all services are completely covered. You also need to be aware that the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) — which helps financially support Medicare — might very well cause these free preventive services to be eliminated in the future. But in the meantime, here’s how it works. FREE PREVENTIVE SERVICES Currently, most of Medicare’s preventive services are available to all Part B beneficiaries for free, with no copays or deductibles, as long as you meet basic eligibility standards. Mammograms; colonoscopies; shots against flu, pneumonia, and hepatitis B; screenings for diabetes, depression, and heart conditions; and counseling to combat obesity, alcohol abuse, and smoking are just some of Medicare’s lengthy list of covered services. But to get these services for free, you need to go to a doctor who accepts Medicare “on assignment,” which means he or she has agreed to accept the Medicare approved rate as full payment. Also, the tests are free only if they’re used at specified intervals. For example, prostate cancer PSA tests, once every 12 months for men over 50; or colonoscopy, once every 10 years, or every two years if you’re at high risk. Medicare also offers a free “Welcome to Medicare” exam with your doctor in your first year, along with annual wellness visits thereafter. But don’t confuse these with full physical exams. These are prevention-focused visits that provide only an overview of your health and medical risk factors and serve as a baseline for future care. For a complete list of services along with their eligibility requirements, visit Medicare.gov and click on the “What Medicare Covers” tab at the top of the page, followed by “Preventive & screening services.” HIDDEN COSTS You also need to know that while the previously listed Medicare services are completely free, you can be charged for certain diagnostic services or additional tests or procedures related to the preventive service. For example, if your doctor finds and removes a polyp during your preventive care colonoscopy screening, the removal of the polyp is considered diagnostic and you will likely be charged for it. Or, if during your annual wellness visit, your doctor needs to investigate or to treat a new or existing problem, you will probably be charged here too. You might also have to pay a facility fee depending on where you receive the service. Certain hospitals, for example, will often charge separate facilities fees when you are receiving a preventive service. And, you can also be charged for a doctor’s visit if you meet with a physician before or after the service. To eliminate billing surprises, talk to your doctor before any preventive service procedure to find out if you may be subject to a charge and what it would be. COST SHARING SERVICES Medicare also offers several other preventive services that require some out-of-pocket cost sharing. With these tests, you’ll have to pay 20 percent of the cost of the service, after you’ve met your $183 Part B yearly deductible. The services that fall under this category include glaucoma screenings, diabetes self-management trainings, barium enemas to detect colon cancer, and digital rectal exams to detect prostate cancer. MEDICARE ADVANTAGE If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your plans are also required to cover the same free preventive services as original Medicare as long as you see in-network providers. If you see providers that are not in your plan’s network, charges will typically apply. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK, 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Jim Miller
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