Page 19 - The Jewish Voice - September '23

The Jewish Voice, Page 19

Lifestyles from page 18 hospice as Palm Beach Hospice by MorseLife in 2018. is the only senior living provider in Florida authorized
As a teaching facility, MorseLife Hospice stays at the to make cannabinoid-based therapies available among
MorseLife Hospice & forefront of new ideas and the creation of best practices. its numerous other treatment options in a variety of care
Palliative Care Expands Three years ago, it launched its Rest Assured program, settings.
which provides a compassionate caregiver or volunteer to

MorseLife Hospice & Palliative Care provides services
Throughout Palm Beach be a reassuring presence during the final hours of anyone wherever an individual lives: at home, in a hospital,
skilled nursing or assisted living venues.
in its hospice care.
County It is typical to contact hospice when a physician
determines that an individual has a life prognosis of Medicare Corner
After helping patients and families in the MorseLife six months or less. However, a 2019 nationwide survey
Health System community navigate the end-of-life conducted by MorseLife found 40 percent of respondents With Kathy O
journey, MorseLife Hospice & Palliative Care is incorrectly believed that the sole purpose of hospice is
expanding throughout Palm Beach County. to sedate terminally ill patients to provide pain/anxiety It’s that Time Again to
“As one of the nation’s preeminent providers of senior relief. Ask: Am I on the Right
services for nearly 40 years, MorseLife Health System MorseLife Hospice & Palliative Care offers pain Medicare Plan?
celebrates life, and that is never more evident than in our and symptom management, medication, specialized Medicare open
hospice and palliative care programs, which serve people of equipment, psychology and spiritual support for the enrollment is around the
any age,” said MorseLife President and CEO Keith A. Myers. patient and family, as well as grief support and ongoing corner from October 15 to
“We respect the individual and family’s wishes, treating bereavement and counseling. December 7. If you are on
everyone with dignity in meaningful, positive ways.” The 2019 survey also found that 87 percent of an advantage plan, you will
MorseLife Hospice & Palliative Care was recognized Americans support the use of medical marijuana as a receive a notice of change
by the Florida legislature as the state’s only teaching treatment option for terminally ill patients. MorseLife that explains the changes
for your current 2024 plan
mid-September.
This is what you need to know:
Insurance companies are continuing to make
improvements in benefits to their advantage plans to help
SECOND OPINIONS members receive low-cost care and extra benefits beyond
original Medicare. It is important to annually review your
plan and look at some other options available in your area,
because you may miss out on additional benefits and/or

Can I change my plan anytime I want? Every year all
lower costs.
active Medicare A & B recipients are eligible to make changes
to their plan during what is known as Annual Enrollment
Period (AEP), which runs from October 15 to December 7.
Plans are effective January of the following year.
SAVE are on a Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan

What do I do now and what are my options? If you
(PDP), you will receive an Annual Notice of Change that
will explain any changes that are effective in January. If
LIVES the upcoming changes, you do not need to do anything.
you do not get this important document, contact your plan
provider. If you are satisfied with your current plan and

The plan will automatically renew in January. If you do
not like the coverage or are interested in seeing if there are
other options with more benefits or lower costs, contact
a local agent like me!
For those on a Medicare Supplement plan, you have

the option during AEP to change to a Medicare Advantage
Plan that may have a $0 monthly premium. If you try
the Advantage Plan, and in the first year want to switch
back to your supplement, you have guarantee issue under
Trial Rights, which means you can switch back to your
supplement ANYTIME during the next 12 months.
How do I go about comparing plans? As a consumer,
there are two important lists you should have when
comparing plans and making the best decision for you:
1) A list of your medical providers and 2) a list of your
prescription drugs. You have several resources to assist
CHOOSE A LEADER IN your decision-making process for AEP. You can contact
Medicare by phone at 800-MEDICARE or online at www.
CARDIAC SURGERY FOR medicare.gov or you can contact a local agent like me!

What about ALL those commercials? These ads are
YOUR SECOND OPINION designed to generate the most incoming calls possible.
They list ALL possible free benefits, but include a
disclaimer that you may not qualify for these benefits. As
a local agent, I can help clarify which benefits you may
Make Cleveland Clinic in Florida your first choice for or may not be qualified for and assist you in enrolling in
a new plan.
a second opinion on cardiac surgery. From pioneering For a no-cost or -obligation plan review, please call
research to robotic-assisted cardiovascular surgery, me at 561-212-7640. I conduct reviews in person and
trust the heart experts at Cleveland Clinic on the phone. I speak Medicare.
Weston Hospital for every care in the world. Lifestyles on page 20

ATTENTION
Call 855.881.1972 to schedule an appointment.

READERS

ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/HeartSurgery
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