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MyEagleNews.com Wednesday, October 28, 2020 A9 Medicare Advantage plans help seniors stay healthy Summit Health has introduced four new plans to help Eastern Oregonians Created by a group of regional providers who have been meeting the health care needs of Eastern Oregonians for decades, Summit specializes in Medicare Advantage plans for residents in 12 counties. The company is offering four plans, each with a range of benefits to help seniors (and other Medicare-eligible individuals) live healthy lives. “We’re excited to be serving seniors in Eastern Oregon,” said Emily Camp, senior Medicare product manager for Moda, one of the partners behind Summit. “All of our Medicare Advantage plans have been designed to offer the kinds of benefits that help people stay active and healthy.” no additional cost, plus a $500 allowance for any other dental services they may need. Partly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of telehealth has increased greatly, and Summit has made it part of its Medicare Advantage coverage. 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. “We think that’s going to be really valuable service for people,” Camp said. “In many cases, they’ll be able to avoid having to drive to see a doctor while still giving them helpful medical information and peace of mind.” Summit’s Medicare Advantage plans offer care management programs for specific conditions, as well. For example, a diabetes management program provides patients with a connected Many vaccines, such as yearly flu shots, are blood glucose meter and unlimited supplies at covered by Summit’s plans. Three of their plans no cost. Health professionals will include prescription drug coverage be able to remotely track patients’ that waives deductibles and copays “Seniors in Eastern blood glucose levels, and diabetes for additional vaccines, including Oregon deserve the response specialists will offer the shingles vaccine, and certain best kind of care that coaching and support. generic drugs. fits their life.” Summit has also included a free “It’s important for seniors to know - Emily Camp, fitness benefit in its Medicare that while vaccines for the flu senior Medicare product Advantage plans. Called the manager, Moda and even COVID-19, once that’s Silver&Fit® Healthy Aging and available, are covered at no cost on Exercise program, it includes more than 1,500 all of our plans, we also cover vaccines for things digital workout videos, free gym memberships like shingles and hepatitis at no cost on our plans and coaching from fitness and nutrition experts. that have drug coverage,” Camp said. Seniors can also pick a yoga kit or a wearable Summit’s Medicare Advantage plans also cover fitness tracker, and each year they can choose routine vision and hearing. Many plans charge two home fitness kits to practice routines like Tai a copay for routine vision and hearing exams, Chi or chair-based exercise. but Summit does not. The company’s plans also “We’ve really tried to make our Medicare cover up to two-thirds of the cost of hearing aids. Advantage plans as comprehensive, beneficial “Hearing aids can be expensive, but our plans and valuable as possible,” Camp said. “Seniors in help seniors cover a significant portion of that Eastern Oregon deserve the best kind of care that price,” Camp said. fits their life.” Additionally, Summit’s plans all include preventive and comprehensive dental care. Seniors get two cleanings and exams per year at Open enrollment for Medicare is now through December 7. Healthy smile, healthy life Dr. Teri Barichello on the importance of oral health for seniors 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 Dr. Teri Barichello (left) tells a patient about the importance of oral health as you age. quite a bit. There are a lot of chronic health conditions The phrase “long in the tooth” might be a not-so- that are linked to the health of your mouth. Heart kind way of telling someone that they’re getting old. attacks have been the No. 1 killer since 1990 and But it’s also one that illuminates the importance of stroke is the No. 1 cause of disability. A leading good oral health in the lives of seniors. contributor to those is arterial diseases, and the American Heart Association says gum disease is “Long in the tooth refers to the fact that, as we independently associated with those. There’s also age, our gums recede and the roots of our teeth growing evidence of a link between gum disease become more exposed,” said Dr. Teri Barichello, and Alzheimer’s. Vice President and Chief Dental Officer for Moda. ”The root surfaces of our teeth are not covered by Are there other conditions connected to good enamel, so cavities can get started and progress oral health? quickly. That can be catastrophic.” There are many other connections to gum 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? 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 disease, including cancer, arthritis and respiratory diseases. There’s even a link between gum disease and erectile disfunction. 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 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, Pharmacy Director at Moda. “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.” 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 Health, offer additional vaccines at no cost, including shingles, pneumococcal 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.” 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. Summit Health Plan, Inc. is an HMO with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Summit Health Plan, Inc. depends on contract renewal. H2765_AD221A_M S207612-1 Seniors in Eastern Oregon will have a new option to choose from for 2021 with the arrival of Summit Health Medicare Advantage plans.