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Control Medical Costs & Improve Your Health
Here are some simple ways to help keep the cost of your medical care in check while improving your health:
Be an active consumer. Schedule and attend regular check-ups with your health care provider, then follow the care plan that he or she recommends.
Get only the treatments that you need. Receiving unnecessary medications or tests are costly, wasteful and may be harmful. For example, viruses, such as those that cause colds and the flu, do not respond to antibiotics, yet some doctors prescribe them anyway because patients want them.
Take care of yourself. Eat a healthy diet, get regular exercise and adequate sleep. If you smoke, quit.
Ask your doctor about generic drugs. If you regularly take medications, ask if there is a generic equivalent to the name brand. Generic drugs are safe, effective and cost less.
Did You Know?
Fluorescent and energy-saving light bulbs contain mercury and should not be disposed of in the trash. Take them to the hazardous waste collection at your Solid Waste District. If you are not sure of your town's district, call 1-800-974-9559 or go online to www.mercvt.org.
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Staying overnight in the hospital does not always mean you have been admitted as an "inpatient" to the hospital. Your status: Inpatient, Outpatient or Outpatient Observation, will affect how much you have to pay out of your own pocket.
When you go to the hospital, you may get care in different ways:
If you need to receive care for only a short amount of time, such as a visit to the emergency room, this is called " outpatient" care. This type of care is covered by your Medicare Part B Medical Insurance.
Sometimes, the doctor may have you stay in the hospital, for up to 48 hours, to see how you are doing before deciding whether to admit you for "inpatient" care. This is called "outpatient observation care" and is covered under your Medicare Part B medical insurance. You may be in a hospital room but this will still be outpatient observation care.
If you need more care in the hospital, such as when you have some kinds of surgery, then you will be admitted to the hospital as an "inpatient". This type of care is covered by your Medicare Part A hospital insurance.
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Medicare Outpatient or Outpatient Observation Coverage:
Both kinds of outpatient care are covered by Medicare Part B. You must first meet your yearly $100 deductible. Then Medicare will pay its share of costs. That means either you, or your supplemental insurance if you have one, must pay the coinsurance (balance).
Medicare Inpatient Coverage
Inpatient care is covered by Medicare Part A. You or your supplemental insurance usually pay only the deductible ($876 in 2004). You pay for any convenience items such as a TV or phone in your room.
Whether you are an "outpatient" or an "inpatient" may affect how much you pay. So, if you don't know, ask!
NOTE: Your time in the hospital under outpatient observation care does not count toward the days needed to qualify for care in a skilled nursing facility (SNF). Medicare only pays for skilled care in a SNF if you have first been a hospital inpatient for at least 3 days in a row, not including the day you are discharged. Your SNF admission date must be within 30 days of leaving the hospital.
For assistance with Medicare issues, call Melanie or Eleanor at Bugbee Senior Center (295-9068) or NHCQF (1-800-772-0151).
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