Fong Law Group

On Medicare? What You'll Pay for Now That the PHE Has Ended

The Biden administration officially ended the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023. Certain policies that were implemented in early 2020 during the public health emergency will now expire. As a result, seniors are among those who may see some of the health care costs related to COVID-19 change. Other health care services may or may not be affected, depending on what type of coverage you have.

Here are some of the highlights:

If You Are Enrolled in Original Medicare

• With the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, you will likely have to pay for:
  • At-home and over-the-counter COVID tests
  • Care in a skilled nursing facility if you have not first spent at least three days in a row admitted to a hospital (Note that being “under observation” at a hospital is not the same as being “admitted.”)
• You generally will not have to pay for:
  • Laboratory COVID tests ordered by a health care provider, if you have Medicare Part B (Note that you may have to pay for part of the cost for your visit to the health care provider’s office)
  • COVID vaccines and boosters from a health care provider who takes Medicare
  • COVID oral antiviral treatments such as Paxlovid
• Other considerations
  • In most cases, you will continue to have access to telehealth services from home through the end of 2024
  • With the end of the public health emergency, Medicare beneficiaries with Part D coverage may no longer receive three-month supplies of prescription medications

If You Are a Medicare Advantage Member

• Now that the public health emergency has ended, you may have to pay at least part of the cost for:
  • At-home and over-the-counter COVID tests
  • Laboratory COVID tests ordered by a health care provider, including part of the cost of your visit to the health care provider’s office
  • Visits to out-of-network physicians
• You will not have to pay for:
  • COVID vaccines provided by an in-network physician
• Other considerations
  • Check with your individual plan regarding telehealth service access

For more information, visit the “What Does the End of the PHE Mean for You?” resource on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Keeping Your Emergency Contacts and Medical Information Updated for First Responders

If medical personnel are able to access your medical history during an emergency, it could mean the difference between life and death. But if, for example, you are injured, in shock, suffering from dementia, or are otherwise incapacitated, you may not be able to provide that information yourself.

There are several systems readily available to help make crucial contact and medical history information available to first responders. Consider taking the time to update your details with the following free tools:

• On Your Smartphone: Even when your smartphone is locked, you have options for inputting your emergency contacts as well as other vital information that could help save your life.
   
  • Medical ID for iPhones. If you are an iPhone user, take advantage of the preinstalled Health app to input details about your medical needs so that first responders will have the information they need in an emergency. To do this, open the Health app, choose Review Medical ID, and enter your information.
    
    You can include not only your designated emergency contacts, but also such details as your birthdate, any medical conditions or allergies, your blood type, and your organ donor status. You can then choose to make your Medical ID available on your iPhone’s lock screen for first responders.
    
    In addition, there is an option to share your Medical ID information automatically with a dispatcher, should you ever need to make an emergency call.
     
  • Emergency Information on Androids devices. Depending on your device, you may be able to find “Emergency Information” or “My Info” in your Settings, where you can enter your medical details and emergency contacts. Be sure to add anyone you wish to designate as an emergency contact into your Contacts app as well.
    
    In your Android Settings, you can also add your emergency contact information to your lock screen as a custom message.
     
  • In Case of Emergency (ICE) Contact. This program, which was originally established in 2004, encouraged people to list in their cell phone their “in case of emergency” contacts under the heading “ICE,” allowing paramedics or other medical personnel to know whom to contact in the event of an emergency. Today, there is also a free ICE app for smartphones, which allows you to send an instant message, including your GPS location, directly to your ICE contacts with the tap of a button if you are in an emergency situation. Learn more about ICE.
• The National Next of Kin Registry (NOKR). The NOKR is a free service that allows you to register yourself and your next of kin in the event of such situations as daily emergencies or natural disasters. The information you enter is not available to the public, but it is available to emergency service agencies registered with the NOKR. If you are in an accident, emergency services personnel would be able to search the website to find your next of kin and notify them about your condition. The NOKR stores emergency contact information for those across the U.S. as well as 87 other countries. You can register online, through U.S. mail, or via fax. Learn more about registering for the NOKR.

To get the most out of an emergency contact, you should make sure the person you choose as your emergency contact has agreed to act in this capacity, knows about any allergies or other factors that could affect your treatment, and knows whom to contact on your behalf.

Reasons to Consider Filing for Bankruptcy

Considering bankruptcy is not really a desperate move; rather it's the second chance all of us deserve for rebuilding our finances. Many people believe it to be the last resort that's only to be tapped when you have tried all the available debt alternatives but fail to come out of the maze.

Top reasons why bankruptcy can be the solution to your crisis

If you take a look at the picture from a distance, you will see that bankruptcy gets cleared up and gradually fades away. That's the primary reason why bankruptcy laws are drafted so that you get another scope in your life, a fresh start. If you are going through a harrowing financial situation, it's time to consider filing bankruptcy for the following reasons.

Unmanageable medical expense

In 2019, the American Journal of Public Health published a report that stated that around 66.5 percent of bankruptcy cases in the US stemmed from medical problems. It included the inability to pay high bills or loss of duration from work. Even when most people are equipped with health insurance, copays and job loss is affecting the finances of Americans.

When you are afflicted by serious injury or some rare disease, or health issues, it can result in excessive medical bills which won't take much time in wiping off your savings. Once all the funds have been exhausted, filing bankruptcy can be the only way out left, and the only way to give you peace again by getting rid of your debt.

Loss of jobs

No matter whether it's due to resignation or termination or layoff, a complete stoppage to the income can be extremely overwhelming. While some people are fortunate enough to get severance packs, in most cases you are likely to receive a pink slip on the work desk without any prior notice.

Without an exigency fund from where you can draw money and having to depend on the credit card alone can be a disastrous experience. Many people do not have enough savings for emergency situations that can help them buffer a job loss or similar financial problems. Those who are not able to gain employment cannot recover from the pecuniary crisis. Filing bankruptcy can help curb the negative impact of the situation.

Excessive use of credit

It's no secret that some people have no control over their expenses. Installment debt, credit card bills along with other loan repayments can subsequently go out of control till the borrower comes to a position from where they are not able to make the minimum payment.

When you cannot get access to required funds from friends or other members of your family, then considering bankruptcy can be your best bet. If you take a look at the prevailing statistics, you will see that debt consolidation often fails owing to several reasons. It's true that home-equity loans can help in some instances, but as soon as it is exhausted, you can face foreclosure on your home. Needless to say, a bankruptcy lawsuit can save the day for you.

With the help of an experienced and adept lawyer, you can file a bankruptcy lawsuit that can help you stop repossession, foreclosure, and wage garnishment. Wait no further. If you're going through a similar situation, talk to a bankruptcy lawyer today.

Call Fong Law Group at (626) 289-8299 for a free consolidation, and talk to an attorney today. We are here to help you get through this difficult time in your life, and help you with a Fresh Start.

Medicare Would Cover Dental, Vision, and Hearing Under Senate Democrats' Spending Plan

The Senate Democrats' proposal for a $3.5 trillion spending plan includes expanding Medicare to provide dental, vision, and hearing benefits. The proposal is now being negotiated in Congress. 

Currently Medicare does not offer much in the way of dental, vision, and hearing benefits. Medicare Part A will cover certain emergency or necessary procedures that are received in the hospital. For example, if you are hospitalized after an accident and require jaw reconstruction, Medicare Part A will pay for the dental work required as part of that procedure. 

Medicare Part B offers very limited coverage of some vision and hearing services. For example, while Medicare Part B won’t cover routine eye exams, it does cover yearly glaucoma screenings for people at high risk and cataract surgery, among a few other limited exceptions. Part B will also cover some diagnostic hearing and balance exams if they are ordered by a doctor, but it will not cover routine hearing exams or hearing aids. There is no coverage at all for routine dental work.

Many people choose Medicare Advantage plans, which are run by private insurers, instead of traditional Medicare because it is possible to get some dental, vision, and hearing benefits in most plans. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 79 percent of people in Medicare Advantage plans have vision coverage, 74 percent have dental coverage, and 72 percent have hearing aid coverage. 

Under the Democrats’ proposal, Medicare beneficiaries would be able to receive dental, vision, and health benefits through traditional Medicare, making it more competitive with Medicare Advantage. The exact details of the proposal are unknown, but in a 2019 bill that passed the House, Medicare beneficiaries would have paid 20 percent of the cost for basic dental coverage and routine eye and hearing exams. Democrats want to pass the spending bill through the reconciliation process, which requires all 50 Democrats to agree to the plan. Negotiations are currently underway to craft a bill that has the support of all the Democratic senators.

For more information about the Democrats’ proposal, click here and here.

Make Sure You Are Counted in the 2020 Census

The 2020 census is starting soon, and seniors need to be counted. This may be more of a challenge this year because for the first time, the census will be completed largely online.

The U.S Constitution mandates that the federal government conduct a census every 10 years. Information from the census is used to determine how many representatives each state sends to Congress as well as where hundreds of billions of dollars from federal programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, nutrition assistance and supportive housing, is allocated. In addition, communities rely on census data to apportion services like new roads, schools, libraries and emergency services.  Think of it as America’s 10-year checkup.

While the census is being conducted largely online, you do not need to fill out the form online if you don’t want to. Beginning in March 2020, the census will mail out postcards to each household, giving instructions on how to respond. You will have the option of responding online, by mail, or via the phone. If you don’t respond, a census worker will visit your home to collect the data. 

If someone visits your home to collect information for the 2020 Census, check to make sure that they have a valid ID badge, with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date. Census workers will not ask for donations or for your Social Security or bank account information. 

For more information about the 2020 census, click here.

Emergency Planning for Seniors: Simple to Do, Critical in a Crisis

“The common advice for a crisis is to remain calm and try to think clearly. That's not always possible, but prior planning and preparation – much like with fire drills or tornado drills – can help you to stay focused and make better decisions during an emergency situation.”

What if a crisis should strike an elderly person living alone, or a senior couple who lives in their own home? No one likes to think that it will happen, but inevitably it does, says WRAL in a useful article titled “Having an emergency plan critical for safety and health of seniors.” It’s good to stay calm—and it’s even better to stay calm and quickly access the information and resources that could make the difference between life and death.

Sounds dramatic, but it’s true.

Why should you know how you’ll react in a crisis? The best way, say aging experts, is to think about the situation and the different parts in advance. Knowledge is power, and nowhere is this truer than in emergency situations.

Start by discussing health concerns with your doctor. When should you call the office, and when should you call 911? What is a normal ache or pain, and what kind of pain or sudden change signals an emergency?

If you are not sure what you or a loved one is feeling, call 911. There’s no need to hesitate because you’re not sure about whether it’s an emergency. Dispatchers are trained to identify emergencies and they can assess the situation quickly, even if you can’t.

One thing we should all have, regardless of our age, is a printed-out list of medications, diagnoses, names and phone numbers of medical providers and family contact information. This should be kept in a place where emergency responders and family members will have access to it quickly. EMS workers may not have time to review your medicine chest or a stack of bottles on the night table, but they will need to know what medications you are taking. A list—and one that you keep current—could save your life.

As a crisis unfolds, another list becomes important: documents from your estate plan. That includes your general power of attorney, health care power of attorney, and DNR (Do Not Resuscitate, if that is appropriate in your situation). The health care power of attorney will cover any health care decisions that arise, and the general power of attorney will cover financial, business and personal decisions.

Copies of these designations should be kept easily at hand at home. Make sure to tell the people you have appointed that you have done so, and what the expectations are for them.

Plans for what happens after the emergency has passed the crisis stage should be discussed, also preferably in advance. If the emergency was a fall or the senior is no longer capable of living independently, there may need to be changes made to the senior’s living situation. Rather than being forced to make a fast decision about a new living situation after an emergency, devote time to touring independent or assisted living communities to make a transition to a new home easier, than doing so in haste.

Identifying possible future living arrangements in advance also provides the opportunity to make the necessary financial arrangements. The hope is to prevent the senior from feeling like they’ve abruptly gone from the comfort and familiarity of their own home to a new and unwelcoming environment with no advance notice.

Preparing for a crisis in the short and long term may require some difficult conversations, but with the right care and planning, it may make life easier and more pleasant for the senior and the family.

Reference: WRAL (Jan. 2, 2019) “Having an emergency plan critical for safety and health of seniors”

You Can Age in Place but You Need to Plan

“Many homeowners plan to stay in their homes over the long-term, and some may plan to live independently at home, rather than moving into a retirement community, if possible.”

Aging in place is what most people hope for as they enter their 60s and 70s.  However, to make it a reality, there is a need to plan, according to the article “BBB On Homes: Focus on several things when aging in place,” from LMTonline.com. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define aging in place, as the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently and comfortably regardless of age, income or ability level.

Changes in health or finances don’t always allow this to happen. Here are four things to keep in mind, when considering whether you or a parent will be able to remain at home:

Safety updates. This generally includes a walk-in shower, safety rails, widened doorways that can accommodate wheelchairs, non-slip flooring, ramps and accessible kitchen drawers and food preparation surfaces.

Getting food and supplies. Food and medication deliveries are crucial to aging in place. What will happen, if you are no longer able to drive? If you depend on local stores for delivery and there is a major weather event, how will you manage? There are some non-profits who deliver but people must be open to the idea of receiving help from others.

Preparing for disasters and emergencies. Living alone makes it difficult to get help immediately after an accident. When time is of the essence, it can be difficult. There are many options, including medical alert systems and home surveillance cameras. However, the person has to be willing to have them. Arranging for a friend or family member to check in daily is good for every day safety.  However, it will not help in an emergency.

You’ll need health care and transportation. If you live in a city or suburb where there is public transportation, you’ll be able to get to your doctor’s appointments. If not, you’ll need to budget for taxi services.

Budgeting. Living on your own means more independence and privacy. It may cost more because certain fixed costs can only be reduced so far.

If you are considering how to remain at home, make sure to speak with family members, so they are aware of what your wishes are. With their support and if you are financially able to do so, it may make a big difference in the quality of your life.

Reference: LMTonline.com (Aug. 26, 2018) “BBB On Homes: Focus on several things when aging in place”