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Contact Your Medicare Life Coach Today!
Monday Through Friday | 8 AM - 8 PM (CST) Saturday by appointment only
Latest Update about Coronavirus for People on Medicare.
Who Is At Risk?
According to the CDC, early information shows that some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. This includes:
COVID-19 Symptoms
According to the CDC, COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate symptoms, but for some it could be more serious, even life threatening.
Some common symptoms include:
Some people may also experience:
On average it takes 5–6 days from when someone is infected with the virus to show symptoms, however it can take up to 14 days. It is recommended that people with mild symptoms who are otherwise healthy should self-isolate. It is advised that you seek medical attention if you have a fever, a cough, and difficulty breathing. Call ahead to the facility you are going to so they can properly prepare for your arrival.
If you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19, it is extraordinarily important for you to take actions to avoid getting sick. Some recommendations to avoid exposure to the illness:
With a large number of COVID-19 cases spanning the globe, doctors and experts everywhere agree that one of the best and easiest ways to help avoid the spread of infectious disease is proper, consistent handwashing.
Proper handwashing not only reduces the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), it can help prevent the risk of getting or spreading other viral illnesses such as cold and flu.
It’s a simple solution, but it must be done properly and with soap and water. If you do not have soap and water available, your next best option would be to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. (If you use hand sanitizer, the CDC recommends consumers use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol)
Proper handwashing not only reduces the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), it can prevent the spread of other viral illnesses such as cold and flu.
Wet: Put both your hands under clean, running water.
Lather: Apply a generous amount of soap to the inside and back of your hands as well as your fingertips. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds (but 40 seconds is even better), and don’t forget to wash under any jewelry you are wearing and under your fingernails. Your fingertips are especially important as people often put their fingers on their face, nose, and eyes. This is how the virus spreads.
Scrub: Rub both hands together and move your fingertips around both hands. You don’t need a scrub brush. You don’t need to make harsh, scrubbing movements.
Rinse: Return both hands to the running water and gently wash away the soap.
Handwashing throughout the day is important, but even more important during an outbreak. Science has shown that washing your hands for 20-40 seconds is effective in killing germs. That’s long enough for you to sing the chorus of your favorite song. Always remember to wash your hands in these situations:
-Before, during and after preparing food
-Before eating food
-Before and after caring for someone who is sick
-Before and after treating a cut or wound
-After using the bathroom
-After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the bathroom
-After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
-After touching an animal, animal feed or animal waste
-After handling pet food or pet treats
-After touching garbage
When should you use hand sanitizer?
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is helpful in protecting against the spread of germs and viruses, and it is an effective solution when soap and water are not readily available. Carrying a travel size bottle of hand sanitizer makes it easy to disinfect your hands if a sink and soap are not readily available.
If you do need to use a hand sanitizer, here are some tips.
1. Apply the product generously to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).
2. Rub your hands together.
3. Rub the product over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.
Stress
A new poll recently released by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has found that nearly half of all Americans (48%) are anxious about the possibility of becoming seriously ill of dying from the Coronavirus. Far more Americans, 62%, are anxious about the possibility of a family member or friend catching the virus.
The poll goes on to show that the fears of this virus are having a serious impact on our society, from concern about finances, to how stay at home orders are affecting our daily lives and the economy, to worries about running out of food, medicines or supplies. The stress and anxiety from this pandemic could have serious effects on our mental health.
Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. Taking care of yourself is so important during this time. Here are some things you can do to help support yourself and your mental health:
If you start to notice your stress and anxiety worsening, and it begins to get in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row, please call your healthcare provider.
Teleadoc
On Friday March 6th, President Trump signed an $8.3 billion dollar measure to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak as the number of those infected in the United States continues to rise.
This piece of legislation provides federal public health agencies with money for vaccines, tests and potential treatments and helps the state and local governments prepare and respond to the threat.
This measure would also allow Medicare to expand the use of telemedicine in outbreak areas, potentially reducing infection risks for vulnerable seniors.
Currently telemedicine is now limited primarily to residents of rural areas who do not live within a close distance to doctors and specialists. The bill allows the government to waive those restrictions to help deal with the public health emergency the coronavirus outbreak has created.
Scientists who have been tracking this global respiratory disease outbreak have recorded that the coronavirus takes a higher toll on older people, patients with already compromised immune systems, and patients suffering from multiple chronic conditions. Death rates have been higher among older patients, while younger people are more likely to get a milder form of the illness.
COVID-19 Testing:
Telemedicine cannot take the place of a swab of the throat, the process used to collect a sample for scientific testing. Patients who suspect they may have COVID-19 the illness caused by the coronavirus will still need to be tested physically, whether at a clinic or doctor’s office.
Telemedicine, while unable to take the place of an appropriate diagnosis, will help doctors to be able to make special arrangements to safely receive a patient who is ill and may suspect COVID-19 to be the diagnosis.
Most importantly, telemedicine would offer a way for Medicare beneficiaries in affected areas to take care of ongoing medical issues without having to go to a doctors office and risk coming into contact with someone who is sick.
If telemedicine proves to be beneficial during this outbreak, there is hope it could lead to permanent changes making it further available to seniors. It could also open the way for more lasting changes in Medicare’s coverage of virtual health including videoing into a doctor or the use of devices that could send over measurements to the office such as heart rate etc.
Presently Medicare Part B covers certain telehealth services. You will pay 20% of the Medicare approved amount for your doctor or other health care provider’s services, and the Part B deductible applies. You will pay the same amount for telehealth services that you would if you receive those same services in person.
Beginning in 2020, Medicare Advantage Plans may offer more telehealth benefits than Original Medicare. These benefits can be available in a variety of places, and you can use them at home instead of going to a health care facility. Check with your plan to see what additional telehealth benefits are offered.
To learn more about Medicare’s coverage of telehealth: https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/telehealth
Scams:
Unfortunately scammers find a way to take advantage in times of uncertainty, and the Coronavirus pandemic is no different. It is important that during this time while you are working hard to ensure your health, you also need to protect your financial health.
The Federal Trade Commission has identified several of them, and is offering tips to help you protect yourself and others. You can get full details on their website. Some of the scams include:
During these uncertain times it is best that we do all that we can to protect ourselves and each other. If you feel that you have been a victim of a COVID 19 scam here is the information you will need to report it.
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