The Press-Dispatch
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The Press-Dispatch The Press-Dispatch Ask SHIP: Insurance speakers at Medicare events Q: My assisted living facility has advertised an event to help people with Medicare questions, but I noticed that the speaker is from a specific insurance company, NOT from Medicare. Are insurance companies allowed to have these kinds of events? A: Medicare Advantage (MA) Plans have to follow specific rules when it comes to marketing, marketing materials, and marketing events. The type of event your facility is hosting probably falls under the category of an Educational Event. Educational Events led by Insurance Companies are designed to inform Medicare beneficiaries about MA Plans, Prescription Drug Plans, or other Medicare Plans. They are not intended to discuss specific insurance plan benefits or to enlist potential enrollees in to any specific health care plan. During these events, insurance companies must adhere to spending limits toward food and promotional products provided, and they may only distribute business cards upon your request. Insurance companies may also participate in formal and informal marketing events. These can include speaking events about the specific plans they offer or a booth or table manned by a representative of a specific company. Some of the rules that would apply to the Plan during this type of event would be:. • when conducted in a healthcare setting, marketing events must be held in a commons area ,not in a patient treatment area. • meals may not be provided, but light snacks and beverages are permitted. • marketing presentations must be pre-approved by the Centers for Medi- Brain Continued from page C-6 pared to those participants who did not take part in the exercise program. Otto and Smith concluded that this improvement was a result of the exercise group participants learning to associate the symptoms common to both fear and exercise, such as sweating and an elevated heart rate, with something positive (exercise) instead of something negative (anxiety). Regular exercise benefits the human body in numerous ways, not the least of which is its impact on the brain. More information on the link between exercise and improved mental health is available at www.apa.org. DiD you knoW? A review published in a 2010 issue of the medical journal Pediatrics found that children benefited from weight training. In the review, researchers from the Institute of Training Science and Sports Informatics, analyzed studies that focused on children and weightlifting. The review looked at studies going as far back as 60 years, finding that children and adolescents who lifted weights grew stronger. Those who participated in strength training twice per week gained more strength than those who participated just once per week. These findings contradict a longstanding belief that children do not actually get stronger. But while children and adolescents may be getting stronger, researchers found that they do not add as much bulk as adults. Instead, researchers feel the strength changes in children and adolescents stem more from neurological changes that make their nervous systems and muscles interact more efficiently. care and Medicaid Services (CMS) Mailed marketing materials must be pre-approved by CMS. All mailings should fit in one of the following four categories and should be labeled as such on the front of the mailing: • Advertising pieces. • Plan information. • Health and wellness information. • Non-health or nonplan information emails and phone calls from insurance companies cannot be unsolicited. This means that an agent may only call you with your permission. Other specific activities that are not allowed by insurance companies include: • door-to-door solicitations. • leaving information, flyers, etc. on your car. • telephone or electronic solicitation your phone, voicemail, or text messaging. • approaching you in commons areas, such as sidewalks, parking lots, hallways, etc. • calling or visiting you after a sales event unless you've given them permission. These guidelines do not apply to agents selling Medicare Supplement insurance policies. If you have questions about your Medicare Advantage Plans or anything else related to Medicare, contact SHIP for help. Call 1-800-452-4800, or visit www.medicare.in.gov. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter. Wednesday, December 4, 2013 Wednesday, December 4, 2013 C-7 C-7 Ways to enjoy a flu-free winter Spending significant time in close proximity to others indoors can make people more susceptible to the flu. As a result, winter, when people typically spend more time indoors than outdoors, is often dominated by the sniffling and sneezing synonymous with the flu. But men and women can take steps to protect themselves from the flu this season. • Get a flu shot. Some people prefer to avoid getting a flu shot because they want to build up their natural immunities or they believe the shots can make them sick. But most flu shots contain an inactive virus that will not make you sick, and will only trigger your body's immune system response to a foreign invader. It can take a couple of weeks for full immunity to develop, so it's possible to still get sick even after a flu shot has been administered. Also, a flu shot does not guarantee recipients won't get the flu. People can still get the flu after receiving a flu shot, as it may be another strain of the virus. But flu shots are largely effective. • Quit smoking. Smoking cigarettes and cigars can affect the immune system and also compromise the body in a number of different ways. Smoking can disable mechanisms in your breathing passageways that serve as natural repellants to the flu. These include the hairs on the lungs that brush away contaminants. Smoking also can create holes in the lining of lower air passages, and such holes can make people more susceptible to Men and women can take steps to protect themselves from the flu this season. illness, including the flu. Smokers who get the flu typically find that the flu further complicates their ability to breathe. • Avoid sick people. When those around you are sick, it is best to keep your distance, especially when those people have the flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that people with the flu can spread it to others up to six feet away. Flu viruses are spread mainly by droplets of bodily fluids expelled during coughing, sneezing and even talking. This is why doctors recommend that anyone who has the flu stay home from work or school until they are fully recovered. • Be especially cautious when pregnant. According to Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease specialist at Duke University Medical Center, women who are pregnant are at a higher risk of complications and even death from influenza. Doctors don't fully understand why, but many feel that because the flu can compromise a woman's ability to breathe well, this makes it difficult for oxygen to be passed on to the fetus. Pregnant women should speak with their obstetricians about the safety of the flu shot. • Get plenty of rest and good food. Adequate sleep and a healthy diet can bolster your immune system. Enhancing Lives Through Innovative Healthcare™ From recovery care and wellness to management of long-term health conditions, Golden LivingCenter Petersburg offers a full spectrum of innovative programs and services, provided by compassionate, dedicated staff. These include 24-hour skilled nursing care, short-term rehabilitation, private rehab to "Home Suites" and provides both inpatient and outpatient therapy services. For a tour or more information, please contact us. Golden LivingCenter - Petersburg 309 West Pike Avenue Petersburg, IN 47567 (812) 354-8833 www.GoldenLivingCenters.com/Petersburg This facility welcomes all persons in need of its services and does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, sexual orientation or source of payment. GLC-09973-12 N293 It's important to stay hydrated, eat fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C and prioritize getting a good night's sleep each night. • Beware of homeopathic remedies. Always check with a doctor before adding any natural remedies to your flu-fighting repertoire. While some supplements like elderberry syrup, zinc and oscillococcinum can mitigate symptoms of the flu, there's no solid evidence that these items offer any preventative value. Homeopathic remedies also can interfere with medications or may be dangerous to a developing fetus, so do not take these substances without first checking with a doctor.