A8 — BAKER CITY HERALD
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2021
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Medicare Advantage plans
help seniors stay healthy
Summit Health has four plans to cover Eastern Oregonians
Healthy smile,
healthy life
Dr. Teri Barichello on the importance
of oral health for seniors
The phrase “long in the tooth” might be a not-
so-kind way of telling someone that they’re
getting older. But it’s also one that illuminates
the importance of good oral health in the lives
of seniors.
“Long in the tooth refers to the fact that, as we
age, our gums recede and the roots of our teeth
become more exposed,” said Dr. Teri Barichello,
DMD, Chief Dental Officer for Delta Dental of
Oregon. “The root surfaces of our teeth are not
covered by enamel, so cavities can get started
and progress quickly. That can be catastrophic.”
Catastrophic, because poor oral health in seniors
has been linked to a host of other serious medical
conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular
disease and even Alzheimer’s. Barichello shared
some insights into the correlation between
good oral health and overall health in a recent
interview.
How important is good oral health for seniors?
Summit Health’s Medicare Advantage plans all include dental care, a key component in overall health.
Medical care. Prescription drugs.
Gym memberships. And more.
That’s all just some of what Summit Health is
offering through its various Medicare Advantage
plans as the local company heads into its second
year of serving seniors in Eastern Oregon.
“We’re looking forward to serving even more
seniors in Eastern Oregon in the coming year
and beyond,” said Emily Camp, Senior Medicare
Product Manager for Summit. “All our Medicare
Advantage plans have been designed to offer the
kinds of benefits that help people stay active and
healthy.”
Medicare Advantage Plans from Summit
Additionally, all Summit’s plans include
preventive and comprehensive dental care.
Seniors get two cleanings and exams per year at
no additional cost, plus a $500 allowance for any
other dental services they may need.
Summit has made telehealth part of its Medicare
Advantage coverage as well. The company has
partnered with CirrusMD, a virtual care platform
that lets people connect with real doctors for
non-emergency medical issues. Patients can text
doctors, share images or video chat 24 hours a
day, seven days a week without a copay.
“That’s proving to be a really valuable service for
people,” Camp said. “It helps people avoid having
to drive to see a doctor while still giving them
helpful medical information and peace of mind.”
Created in 2020 by a group of regional providers
who have been meeting the health care needs
Specialty Care and Wellness
of Eastern Oregonians for decades, Summit
Summit’s Medicare Advantage plans also offer
specializes in Medicare Advantage plans for
care management programs for specific
residents in 12 counties. The company offers
conditions. For example, a diabetes management
four plans, each with a range of
program provides patients with
benefits.
“All our Medicare
a connected blood glucose meter
Summit’s Core Medicare Advantage
plan has a network of local and
regional providers. Members can
also get care from out-of-network
providers which helps those who
travel and want coverage. The Core
plan does not include prescription
coverage.
Advantage plans have
been designed to offer
the kinds of benefits
that help people stay
active and healthy.”
and unlimited supplies at no cost.
Health professionals are able to
remotely track blood glucose levels
and patients receive coaching from
diabetes response specialists.
A free fitness benefit is part of all
Summit Medicare Advantage plans.
Called the Silver&Fit Healthy Aging
and Exercise program, it includes more than 8,000
digital workout videos, free gym memberships
and coaching from fitness and nutrition experts.
Seniors can also choose a home fitness kit, with
options like a wearable fitness tracker, yoga kit
or chair-based exercise. Additionally, seniors can
elect coverage for routine chiropractic services,
acupuncture and naturopathic services for an
extra $5 a month.
- Emily Camp, Senior Medicare
Product Manager, Summit Health
Drug coverage is included in three of the plans,
two of which include flexibility for out-of-network
care. The drug deductible cost for prescriptions is
waived for certain generic drugs and for vaccines.
Hearing, Vision and Dental
Summit’s Medicare Advantage plans also cover
routine vision and hearing. Many plans charge
a copay for routine vision and hearing exams,
but Summit does not. The company’s plans also
cover up to two-thirds of the cost of hearing aids.
“Our plans help seniors cover a significant portion
of that cost,” Camp said.
“We’ve really tried to make our Medicare
Advantage plans as comprehensive, beneficial
and valuable as possible,” Camp said. “Seniors in
Eastern Oregon deserve the best kind of care to
fit their lives.”
It’s an imperative for seniors – for quality of life,
for the health correlations with gum disease and
simply because we use our teeth to chew and
speak. The biggest risk is the impact chronic gum
inflammation can have on other conditions, but
there is also the risk of oral cancer. There’s a risk
to your social health, too. If you don’t have teeth
or a healthy mouth, you’re less likely to engage
socially. Your nutrition can suffer as well.
Why is oral health so important to overall
health?
I think, especially for seniors, this is an area where
we see the intersection of one thing impacting
another quite a bit. There are a lot of chronic
health conditions that are linked to the health of
your mouth. Heart attacks have been the No. 1
killer since 1990 and stroke is the No. 1 cause of
disability. A leading contributor to those is arterial
diseases, and the American Heart Association
says gum disease is independently associated
with those. There’s also growing evidence of a link
between gum disease and Alzheimer’s.
Are there other conditions connected to good
oral health?
There are many other connections to gum
disease, including cancer, arthritis and respiratory
diseases. There’s even a link between gum disease
and erectile dysfunction.
What about seniors who may be missing teeth
or who wear full or partial dentures?
Some people think, ‘I don’t have teeth, so I don’t
need a dentist.’ That’s just not true. Even if you
have no teeth or wear dentures, you still need to
go to the dentist. We can help prevent problems,
we can help with the fit of your dentures, which
changes over time. And in an annual oral exam,
we’re also screening for cancer, so it’s still
important.
Is there anything else you’d share?
I just think it’s important to highlight how critical
good oral health is for seniors. You only get one
set of adult teeth, and your gums can provide
a pathway for bacteria to your bloodstream.
Maintaining the health of your mouth is one of
the best things you can do to help live a healthier,
happier life.
Having good pharmacy benefits is key to better health
The right Medicare Advantage plan and a good pharmacist make a world of difference
Think all of your prescription drugs are covered
under your Medicare Advantage plan?
Think again.
“The most important part for seniors is ensuring
that the medical plan they choose includes
pharmacy coverage, especially for those who
may be on a lot of medications,” said Dr. Carly
Rodriguez, Chief Pharmacy Officer at Summit.
“I think people sometimes just assume there’s
coverage, and while there may be, it might not
be the kind of coverage they need.”
Having good drug benefits is an important
component to any Medicare Advantage plan.
That coverage, known as Medicare Part D, helps
cover many of the prescription drug costs for
seniors, often reducing the copays to just a few
dollars depending on the medication. Without
coverage, costs can escalate quickly.
“The first thing to check is whether or not your
current medications are covered by a plan
and how much they will cost,” said Rodriguez.
“Different plans will also vary on coverage of
generic versus brand medications and how
much you can get at a time.”
For example, pharmacy coverage from Summit
includes a convenient mail-order option, which
allows seniors to order a 90-day supply of
medications at a time.
An additional consideration is coverage for
vaccines. While most plans provide flu shots for
free, other vaccines may not be included. Some
Medicare Advantage plans, like those offered
by Summit, offer additional vaccines at no cost,
including shingles, preventive tetanus disease
and even typhoid fever vaccines for seniors
who may be traveling. Rodriguez noted that for
people who are traveling, it’s important to make
sure your plan covers the required vaccines.
And speaking of pharmacy, Rodriguez said
seniors should be sure to take advantage of
one of the most helpful health care resources
available to them: pharmacists.
“Pharmacists are one of the most accessible health
care providers,” she said. “They are the drug
experts. They understand all the medications a
person may be taking and how they interact. They
can also help find lower-cost alternatives and make
recommendations on over-the-counter medicines,
vitamins and supplements.”
Summit Health Plan, Inc. is an HMO with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Summit Health Plan, Inc. depends on contract renewal.
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