Simple steps for a. Make good health choices now with the help of the Medicare Advantage checklist.

Transcription

1 Simple steps for a Make good health choices now with the help of the Medicare Advantage checklist.

2 Medicare Advantage Perks Get to Know Your Medicare Advantage Perks Free Welcome to Medicare preventive visit Free annual wellness exam Free diabetes self-management training Health coaching for chronic conditions Case management Member can request a Fitbit Alta once per year with no out-of-pocket costs

3 Preventive Care Preventive care is important at every age. Work closely with your doctor to determine what s right for you. Here are some recommendations for adults of all ages: Annual wellness exam (includes routine blood pressure, cholesterol and medication checks) Preventive Care Diabetes screening: If you have high blood pressure (135/80+), you may be at increased risk for diabetes Colorectal cancer screening (beginning at age 50) Annual weight screening with weight management counseling as needed Routine STD screening for those at increased risk for infection Depression screening Functional status assessment (daily routine, cognitive status, mobility, hearing, vision, speech, exercise, etc.) Aspirin therapy to prevent heart disease (men ages 45-79, women ages 55-79) Recommendations for WOMEN Recommendations for MEN Mammogram (every one to two years beginning at age 40) Osteoporosis management (if evidence of previous fracture) Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening (once for men ages 65 to 75 years if you have ever smoked) Testicular exam Many of these screenings are covered free of charge through your health insurance benefits.

4 Immunizations Immunizations Getting a vaccine is the best way to avoid getting sick. Talk with your doctor about which vaccines are right for you. Annual flu vaccine. More than 60 percent of flu-related hospitalizations occur in people over 65 years old. Getting a flu shot can help keep you healthy. Td/Tdap: you should get a Td booster every 10 years. You also need one dose of Tdap to help prevent whooping cough. Shingles/zoster (age 60 and older). Helps prevent the development of the painful shingles rash. Pneumococcal (age 65 and older). Helps prevent pneumococcal infection, a leading cause of serious (and potentially fatal) illnesses like meningitis and pneumonia. Chickenpox, hepatitis A or hepatitis B. You should get these vaccines if you did not get them as a child.

5 If You Have Diabetes Diabetes is a chronic condition that can cause many other health problems if you don t keep it under control. Don t let diabetes control your life. You have the power to put diabetes in its place! Diabetes Control Schedule a diabetes care visit with your doctor every three to six months and: Review your care plan. Get A1C test at every visit. You should try to keep it below 7 percent. Have your cholesterol checked. Get a urine test to check for changes in your kidneys. Have your blood pressure checked and keep it under 140/90. Check your legs and feet for redness, cracks or sores. Visit your optometrist or ophthalmologist to have a retinal eye exam. Take medications as prescribed. Make healthy food choices and be physically active. Do not use tobacco products.

6 Asthma and COPD Asthma and COPD If you have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it is important to take steps to keep your condition under control and prevent complications. T alk to your doctor about having a spirometry test. This simple test allows your doctor to see how well your condition is being managed and adjust your treatment plan if needed. U se all medications as directed. You must take your medicine exactly as directed for it to work properly. If you have questions about your medication regimen, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

7 Managing Your Medication If you are diagnosed with a chronic condition, taking medication may take some getting used to. You may worry about cost, convenience, side effects or a host of other concerns. But taking your medication exactly as directed is important for managing your health. Here are some tips: Understand your condition. It s important to understand your condition and how your medicine will help manage it. Understanding how a drug works can help you see why taking it regularly is important. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your condition and the medications being used to treat it. If your medicines are too expensive, ask your doctor about samples or generic alternatives. Generics are safe and effective. Take advantage of one of the lower-cost generic programs through your local pharmacy. Continue taking your medicine, even if you feel fine. Once you feel better, it s natural to question your need for medicine. If you reduce or stop taking your medication, your symptoms could come back. Never stop taking your medications without discussing it with your doctor first. Understand how to read the label on your medications. Here s a look at the most common drug label you ll see. Managing Medications Doctor s name Pharmacy name and address Number used by the drugstore to identify this drug for your refills Person who gets this drug Instructions about how often and when to take this drug Name of drug and strength of drug Number of refills before certain date NO Local Pharmacy 123 MAIN STREET ANYTOWN, USA (800) JANE SMITH DR C. JONES DATE 06/23/ MAIN STREET ANYTOWN, US TAKE ONE CAPSULE BY MOUTH THREE TIMES DAILY FOR 10 DAYS UNTIL ALL TAKEN AMOXICILLIN 500MG CAPSULES QTY MRG NO REFILLS - DR. AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED USE BEFORE RX ONLY SLF/SLF 06/23/12 Drugstore phone number Prescription fill date Don t use this drug past this date

8 Participant s Rights Participant s Bill of Rights Health coaches and case managers respect the wishes of participants and their family members and recognize that participants have RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILITIES, including the: Right to know the philosophy and characteristics of the health coaching program. Right to have personally identifiable health information shared by the coaching program only in accordance with state and federal law. Right to identify a staff member and his or her job title, and to speak with a supervisor of a staff member if requested. Right to receive accurate information from the health coaching program. Right to receive administrative information about changes in or termination of the health coaching program. Right to decline participation, revoke consent or withdraw at any time. Responsibility to submit any forms necessary to participate in the program to the extent the law requires. Responsibility to give accurate clinical and contact information, and to notify the health coaching program of changes in this information. Responsibility to notify your treating providers of your participation in the health coaching program if applicable. This information is for educational purposes only. It does not represent a standard of care. Your physician must determine the appropriateness of the information in light of all your circumstances. It is important to discuss options with your physician when deciding on the best treatment for you