Page 18 - The Jewish Voice - October '24

Page 18, The Jewish Voice

Lifestyles from page 17 Cutting Colon Cancer Out of Won’t My Spouse and

extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover — like the Family Tree Kids Inherit Everything
prescription drugs, dental, vision, and hearing.
Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans (also called About five of every 100 When I Die?
Medigap) helps fill gaps in Original Medicare and are sold people with colon or rectal
(at extra cost) by private companies to cover deductibles cancer have the disease Part 1 Of 2
and copays. because of a gene passed
Prescription drug coverage must be purchased separately. down through their family. By Anné Desormier-
Researchers at Cleveland Cartwright, JD, Esq.
What Do I Look for and How Do I Know What Advantage Clinic in Florida are investing You may think that if you
Plan Is Best for Me? in specialists and resources to die while you are married,
We review the costs of supplement and drug plans and identify these families at risk, everything you own will
look at your healthcare budget. Then we review the Advantage with the goal of preventing automatically go to your
Plans to see if your doctor is in network and review the inherited colorectal cancer spouse and children. But you
cost of medications you take. Another consideration is to from ever developing at all. are thinking of state rules
determine which of the ancillary benefits of Advantage Plans The focus is on familial Dr. Giovanna DaSilva that apply if someone dies
are most important to you: dental, eye exams, glasses, gym adenomatous polyposis without leaving a will. In
membership, hearing aids, over-the-counter medication, etc. (FAP). “Familial” means inherited, or passed down through legal jargon, this is referred
families. Adenomas are specific types of polyps that can to as dying intestate. In that
How Do I Decide? become cancer. People with FAP have a 100 percent chance case, the specifics will vary depending on your state’s law,
Medicare.gov offers tools to look up medications and to get colorectal cancer, and parents with FAP have a 50/50 but generally, your spouse will receive a share of what you
all plans in your area. However, there is an overwhelming chance of passing it down to their children. own, and the rest may be divided among your children or
amount of information. A licensed local agent like me can “We want to get the word out about our program, so parents, depending on your situation. Exactly how much your
review your plan and help you make an informed decision. we can let as many people as possible know if they’re at spouse will inherit depends on the state law, though.
risk, educate others in their family, and offer each one the Now, it may seem like so far, so good. Your spouse is
I Am Already on an Advantage Plan I Like — Should I latest medical care, education, and support,” says Giovanna getting an inheritance, and so are the kids. But here are some
Change? DaSilva, MD, a Cleveland Clinic colorectal surgeon and examples of how the laws can fail in many common family
Each year you receive the Annual Notice of Change researcher in Florida. situations.
(ANOC) for your plan, which outlines the changes for the The centerpiece of the program is the Jagelman Registry, First, when it comes to who will get your money and
upcoming year. A free plan review will let you know if other a database of patient information of families with FAP. Using property, most states’ laws presume that a family comprises a
plans you previously ruled out may have coverage that better this data, physicians at Cleveland Clinic in Florida work with married couple and their biological children. But because that
meets your needs now or if your current plan is sufficient. teams elsewhere to research the condition and share the latest is not how many families are structured, things can quickly
If you do not do a plan review, you miss out on a plan with medicines and other treatments. Besides colon polyps, FAP become legally complicated.
lower costs, better benefits, or lower maximum out-of-pocket can also cause growths or cancer in the stomach, pancreas, One analysis identified 50 different types of family
1
costs in and out of network. This is your financial exposure. It bone, and other areas. The earliest preventive care ranges structures in American households. Approximately 40
is important to ensure a major illness will not bankrupt you. from medicines that stop the growth of polyps to simple percent of all marriages in the United States are remarriages
2
colonoscopies to remove those that have not yet become cancer. for at least one spouse, and—through adoption and
Happy AEP and Happy Medicare Planning! “Using the registry, we’re able to let patients know what stepfamilies—millions of children are living in blended
screenings they should have and how often,” says Dr. DaSilva. families. Unfortunately, the laws have not kept up, and absurd
I speak Medicare: Supplement, Drug Plan, and “That can save their lives and those of their family members. results can occur if you rely on intestacy as your estate plan.
Advantage Plan. We’re definitely very proud of our program, and we’re looking Stepchildren whom you helped raise (but did not legally
For your free Medicare Plan review, please call me, forward to helping more and more patients through it.” adopt) may end up with no inheritance, while a soon-to-be-
Kathy Olejniczak, Agent, at 561-835-5413, or cell/text To make an appointment with Dr. DaSilva or another ex-spouse may inherit from you.
561-212-7640. Cleveland Clinic specialist in Florida, call 877.463.2010 or
visit ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/Access today. Lifestyles on page 19

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