by The My Medicare Matters Team

About 1.3 billion people in the world live with some form of vision impairment. The reasons vary but the fact is, your risk of developing vision problems drastically increases as you age. Over 91% of people age 55+ use some form of vision correction, so having access to quality vision care is critical as you get older. Issues with vision can increase the risk of falls, driving incidents, and impacting quality of life.

Medicare plans cover a wide variety of services including doctor visits, home health care, and a range of preventive screenings and treatments, but when it comes to vision coverage, beneficiaries’ options are extremely limited. So, what are the available options when you retire?

Vision coverage through Original Medicare is limited to mostly preventive and emergency services. Original Medicare generally doesn’t cover routine eye exams for eyeglasses or contact lenses. Medicare Part A covers medical emergency related to your vision if you are admitted to the hospital and Medicare Part B covers preventive treatments and screening related to diseases affecting your vision.

Medicare Part B covers annual glaucoma test for at-risk individuals which includes those with diabetes, African-Americans aged 50+, Hispanics aged 65+, and/or those with a family history of glaucoma. Annual exams to test for diabetic retinopathy among diabetics, diagnostic tests and screenings for macular degeneration, cataract surgery and one pair of post-surgery eyeglasses or contact lenses are also covered. Medicare will only pay for contact lenses or eyeglasses from a supplier enrolled in Medicare. For each of these services, the out-of-pocket costs is the 20% Medicare-approved amount, and Part B deductible.

One of the easiest options for vision coverage when you retire is Medicare Part C. Part C includes the same emergency and preventive benefits included with Original Medicare, but some Part C plans may also offer additional benefits that include a yearly eye exam, eyeglass frames and lenses, or contact lenses. The cost and coverage for these services vary from plan to plan. The best way to find a Medicare Advantage plan that covers all the services you need is to compare plans online or speak with a licensed benefits advisor.

Enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan to receive vision coverage is not necessarily the best option for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you should not be able to get adequate vision coverage. There are national and local programs available that can provide vision care for little to no cost, but there may be additional requirements to participate and resources may be limited.

As you begin to research your Medicare options keep in mind the enhanced services you may need to maintain, or maybe even improve your quality of life. Having yearly eye exams and updated prescriptions or dental cleanings and fillings may not be the things you consider when choosing a Medicare plan, but they should be.

To get help discovering a plan that covers your needs try taking our Medicare Questionnaire, which allows you to compare plans online or connects you to free professional advice from licensed benefits advisors. You can also contact your local State Health Assistance Insurance Program (SHIP) for access to federally-funded Medicare counseling from trained staff members.

Ventura has a free eye clinic run by the Ventura Rotary Club, Ventura Downtown Lions Club and the Salvation Army of Ventura. Patients are seen each Thursday from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM except holidays.

The Eye Clinic is located inside the Salvation Army Hope Center 155 S Oak St.

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging and the AARP Foundation are partnering to offer tax preparation services to residents of Ventura County. This service is free and available to anyone of low to moderate income and may be especially suited to those 50 and older.

To receive services, individuals must bring all necessary documentation, including applicable Social Security cards, a photo ID, a copy of 2017 tax returns, and 2018 documents showing income from all sources including wages, Social Security, interest, dividends, investments, self-employment and pensions. For individuals that itemize deductions, please provide total figures for each category of deduction, including medical, charitable contributions, property tax, and mortgage interest. Any individual that received a health insurance statement (Form 1095-A, 1095-B or 1095-C), is asked to also bring the required documentation. Volunteers are unable to prepare returns for married taxpayers who file separate returns, or for taxpayers with rental property income. Volunteers are also unable to prepare out-of-state tax returns.

AARP representatives will be available on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. through April 15 at the VCAAA offices located at 646 County Square Drive in Ventura. No appointment is necessary, and participants are not required to be AARP members. This location is accessible to individuals with disabilities.

The AARP Foundation operates the AARP Tax-Aide program under a cooperative agreement with the IRS. To help you complete your tax forms, AARP’s trained and IRS-certified volunteers will see personal information that you give them about you and your finances. This information is strictly confidential. We will not share your information with anyone except as necessary to accurately file your tax returns or as otherwise required by law. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide has more than 5,000 locations in neighborhood libraries, malls, banks, community centers and senior centers. There’s no fee and no sales pitch for other services and AARP membership is not required.

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, an agency of the County of Ventura, is the principal agency in Ventura County charged with the responsibility to promote the development and implementation of a comprehensive coordinated system of care that enables older individuals, people with disabilities, and their caregivers to live in a community-based setting and to advocate for the needs of those 60 years of age and older in the county, providing leadership and promoting citizen involvement in the planning process as well as in the delivery of services

The Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a new app that gives consumers a modernized Medicare experience with direct access on a mobile device to some of the most-used content on Medicare.gov.

The new “What’s Covered” app lets people with Original Medicare, caregivers and others quickly see whether Medicare covers a specific medical item or service. Consumers can now use their mobile device to more easily get accurate, consistent Original Medicare coverage information in the doctor’s office, the hospital, or anywhere else they use their mobile device.

In addition to the “What’s Covered” app, through Blue Button 2.0 the agency is enabling beneficiaries to connect their claims data to applications and tools developed by innovative private-sector companies to help them understand, use, and share their health data.

“eMedicare is one of several initiatives focused on modernizing Medicare and empowering patients with information they need to get the best value from their Medicare coverage,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “President Trump is delivering on his commitment to Medicare by modernizing tools that deliver health information in the most convenient way possible. This new app is the next in a suite of products designed to give consumers more access and control over their Medicare information.”

CMS created the app to meet the needs of the growing population of people with Medicare. The Medicare population is projected to increase almost 50 percent by 2030—from 54 million beneficiaries in 2015 to more than 80 million beneficiaries in 2030. As of 2016, about two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries indicate they use the Internet daily or almost daily (65 percent).

Questions about what Medicare covers are some of the most frequent inquiries that CMS receives. There are approximately 15 million page views annually for coverage-related questions. Medicare.gov and 1-800 MEDICARE receives over 3 million coverage-related calls each year.

CMS launched the eMedicare initiative in 2018 to empower beneficiaries with cost and quality information. Other tools in the eMedicare suite include:

Enhanced interactive online decision support to help people better understand and evaluate their Medicare coverage options and costs between Medicare and Medicare Advantage.

A new online service that lets people quickly see how different coverage choices will affect their estimated out-of-pocket costs.

New price transparency tools that let consumers compare the national average costs of certain procedures between settings, so people can see what they’ll pay for procedures done in a hospital outpatient department versus an ambulatory surgical center.

A new webchat option in the Medicare Plan Finder.

New easy-to-use surveys across Medicare.gov so consumers can continue to tell us what they want.

The eMedicare initiative expands and improves on current consumer service options. People with Medicare will continue to have access to paper copies of the Medicare & You handbook and Medicare Summary Notices.

The What’s Covered app is available for free in both Google Play and the Apple App Store. The app is available in Google Play at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.medicare.coverage, and is available in the Apple App Store at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/whats-covered/id1444143600?mt=8.

Bouts of dizziness are common for seniors, with 30 percent of people over age 60 and 50 percent of people over age 85 experiencing dizziness. But while this issue is common, that does not mean it can be shrugged off as a natural part of aging.

With the right care, dizziness can often be treated. Here are five things that can cause dizziness and what can be done to treat it.

Vertigo

You may think vertigo and dizziness are the same thing, but vertigo is a specific kind of dizziness in which individuals feel like their world is spinning. The most common kind of dizziness for seniors is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which is caused by crystals in the inner ear becoming dislodged. If BPPV is the cause of your dizziness, it can be treated with some simple maneuvers that help the crystals move back into place.

“Vertigo can not only be frustrating for seniors, but it can also be deadly,” says Clay Gardner, executive director at Vista Knoll Specialized Care Facility. “Untreated, dizziness can lead to falls, which can cause broken bones and even death. Getting appropriate treatment can help cure vertigo and avoid dangerous complications.”

Infections

Sudden vertigo that lasts up to a week could be the result of a prior infection. Vestibular neuritis is often caused by a viral respiratory illness like the flu that causes the nerve cells in the inner ear to become inflamed. Vertigo caused by infections can be treated with anti-nausea medication or physical therapy. Steroids for inflammation can also help bring down the swelling in the inner ear.

Medications

Some medications can cause dizziness, especially among elderly patients. For people with high blood pressure, hypertension medication could be to blame for dizziness that happens when they get up too quickly. Other medications like salicylates and some cancer drugs can cause permanent damage to the inner ear, affecting a person’s hearing and balance. Unfortunately, people who are taking medicine for dizziness could actually end up with more dizziness, as some sedatives can worsen the symptoms.

Meniere’s Syndrome

If you have dizziness along with ringing in your ear, distorted hearing, and nausea, you may have Meniere’s syndrome. These attacks can last for a few minutes or for several hours. Meniere’s can be treated on several fronts, including diet and medication. Limiting salt and caffeine can help, and anti-nausea medication might provide some relief.

Stroke or TIA

Strokes, or transient ischemic attacks (TIA), aren’t the most common reasons for dizziness in seniors, but they are one of the most serious. Because time is of the essence when treating a stroke, it is important to rule stroke out when sudden dizziness occurs. Symptoms of a stroke can be similar to vestibular neuritis, so you should seek medical attention the first time you experience dizziness to figure out what is causing it. People who are having a stroke often have other symptoms like confusion, numbness, or slurred speech. Even without other symptoms, someone with dizziness could still be having a stroke or TIA, which can lead to a stroke.

Dizziness is a common complaint among seniors, but it does not need to be a fact of life. If you are experiencing dizziness, get medical attention. Your doctor can help determine what is causing your dizziness and figure out the best treatment.

by Jayson Cohen American Legacy Solutions

Halloween may be an appropriate time for a good scare, we should limit unwanted surprises in retirement!  Generalizations may not necessarily reflect your individual circumstance although there are fact-based reasons why the average woman faces greater hurdles than the average man does in securing her retirement. However, an awareness of the negatives and a proactive plan to take full advantage of some positives should demonstrate that retirement should not scare women.

More years of retirement and with fewer assets

The deck is stacked against some women before they even think about enjoying their first day of retirement. Some of the factors include:

• Longer life expectancy
• Greater likelihood of being the surviving spouse
• Wage gap as compared to male counterparts
• Less working years due to child rearing and caring for aging parents

One factor that may be interpreted as either a positive or negative is risk tolerance. Women tend to invest more conservatively than men, which can lead to lower potential returns. Conversely, conservative investors tend to move money around less often and continuity can lead to more consistent growth in the long term.

Take control

Where one starts is seldom as important as where one ends up. Consider these strategic goals to level the retirement playing field:

• Save – Start early, continue to save and save as much as possible. 20 percent of income is a nice goal but maximizing what is practical is the ultimate goal.

• Know what is needed – In our sunset years, we tend to fear dying less than outliving our retirement money. One way to prevent that is to begin with knowledge of what it costs to live. Be realistic about expenses that are fixed and what will no longer be needed once work is no longer in the picture. Ideally, the fixed expenses of one year of retirement living is generated annually by retirement income.

• Invest the savings – This comes with one caveat – invest savings once an emergency fund for unexpected expenses is established. Most experts recommend six months of living expenses in cash assets as a minimum. Once that is accomplished, an asset allocation plan should be devised based primarily on age and ultimate financial goals.

• Keep working – Other than the satisfaction work can provide as wells as a longer timeline to save, extending work past age 65 pays dividends in social security benefits. Although many women are concerned social security may one day fail, experts predict its pending demise is over exaggerated. One thing that is certain is that the longer a worker waits before taking benefits, the better. Consider that at age 62 a worker receives 70 percent her full retirement benefits, but that number rises to 132 percent at age 70.

Include an estate plan

Careful planning includes what-if scenarios. Take the time to set up a will and more preferably a trust, as well as a financial power of attorney and durable power of attorney for healthcare.

There’s no reason any woman should fear retirement. A realistic analysis, a well-crafted plan and disciplined execution will go a long way towards a secure and serene future.  We are here to help, give us a call, today.

Join the City of Ventura Senior Nutrition Program for a Valentine’s Day luncheon. Seating is limited and pre-registration is required by calling or visiting the Ventura Avenue Adult Center at 805-648-3035. A suggested donation for patrons 60+ is $3.00, and a $6.50 fee applies to patrons under 60.

Café Days Valentine’s Day Luncheon
Thursday, Feb. 14

• Westside Café, 550 N. Ventura Ave.
• Eastside Café, 750 N. Petit Ave.

Ventura County Library Adult Literacy READ Program is now recruiting Adult volunteer tutors who would like to help other adults improve their reading and writing skills. No teaching experience is required and the training is free. The next five-week tutor training series will be starting in February.

The READ program trains adult volunteers to provide free one-to-one reading instruction for adults in need of basic literacy skills. Instruction in basic literacy includes the development of phonetic reading skills combined with communication skills. Ventura County Library is encouraging residents to take this opportunity to volunteer as a tutor or encourage someone you know to take advantage of the free program.

After completion of the five-week training, tutors will meet with their adult learners at locations throughout the county. Tutoring is scheduled by the availability of the tutors and the learners.

Illiteracy is an issue that can be debilitating in so many ways for adults who never received the proper instruction. Adults who are unable to read have a much more difficult time with many daily activities that others may take for granted, along with a clear disadvantage in today’s competitive job market.

For more information about how you can support literacy and make a difference in someone’s life, call (805) 677-7160.

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s award-winning Fall Prevention Program has opened registration for A Matter of Balance, a series of evidence-based classes that focus on increased mobility and balance. Registration is now open for a class at the E.P. Foster Library in Ventura. The class is free and open to all individuals 60 and older.

A Matter of Balance emphasizes practical strategies to manage and prevent falls. Participants will learn to view falls as controllable; set goals for increasing activity; make changes to reduce fall risks at home; and exercise to increase balance and strength.

Nationally recognized research shows that one in four adults over the age of 65, and half of the population over the age of 75, fall each year. Of those individuals, half will die within a year from complications and injuries sustained from the fall.

A Matter of Balance welcomes all individuals concerned about falls, as well as those who are interested in improving balance, flexibility, and strength. Individuals who have recently experienced a fall, or who have restricted activity due to the fear of falling, are encouraged to participate.

The course at EP Foster Library is slated to begin on February 5, and will be held in the Library’s Topping Room on Tuesdays through March 26 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. EP Foster Library is located at 651 E. Main Street in Ventura.

To learn more about the program, or to register for this or any upcoming class, please contact the VCAAA Fall Prevention Coordinator, Dina Ontiveras, at (805) 477-7343.

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, an agency of the County of Ventura, is the principal agency in Ventura County charged with the responsibility to promote the development and implementation of a comprehensive coordinated system of care that enables older individuals, people with disabilities, and their caregivers to live in a community-based setting and to advocate for the needs of those 60 years of age and older in the county, providing leadership and promoting citizen involvement in the planning process as well as in the delivery of services.

by Matthew R. Bailey President of the Foundation for Biomedical Research

In November, researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center announced that their experimental vaccine had prevented the development of substances associated with Alzheimer’s in mice. The scientists hope to start clinical trials in humans soon. If the vaccine lives up to its promise, it could prevent half of dementia cases. 

These findings stand out as just the latest example of the power of animal research. Cures for dementia are on the horizon — and animal models will be the means by which they arrive. 

Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s exert an immense toll on those who suffer from them, their families, and the broader economy. The number of Americans who died of Alzheimer’s more than doubled between 2000 and 2015.  It’s now the country’s sixth-leading cause of death.  Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are projected to cost the nation $277 billion in 2018.  

Parkinson’s afflicts nearly 1 million Americans  and costs the country roughly $14 billion per year.  And every day, 15 Americans are diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease.  Only 10 percent of them will live more than 10 years after diagnosis. 

Animal research is crucial to reducing the burden of diseases like these. 

Consider how such research has already improved our understanding of Alzheimer’s. By studying monkeys and mice with similar brain abnormalities, scientists have discovered molecules and genetic mutations associated with the disease. Researchers have also been able to prove that obesity and head injuries increase susceptibility to Alzheimer’s. 

Recently, University of Florida researchers found that a special protein could reduce the plaque that builds up in the brains of mice with Alzheimer’s. That could lead to the development of a drug that stops the progression of the disease.   

Animal research is also yielding breakthroughs in the fight against Parkinson’s. A few decades ago, with the help of monkeys, scientists developed a surgical treatment called “deep brain stimulation” that blocks irregular nerve signals. The therapy has helped tens of thousands of people with Parkinson’s.  

New research points to a way to stop Parkinson’s entirely. At the University of Queensland in Australia, scientists have been working with a small molecule that has halted the loss of brain cells in several animal models. They’re aiming to start human trials in 2020.  

There’s hope on the horizon for people with ALS, too. With the help of mice and rats, scientists at the Washington University School of Medicine recently identified a therapy that could reverse neuromuscular damage in people with an inherited form of ALS.  

Animal research helps not just humans but animals themselves, too. Dogs, for example, experience a disease similar to Alzheimer’s that affects their memory and responsiveness.  So treatments that help reduce Alzheimer’s in people could yield therapies for our canine companions as well. 

Some animal activists are opposed to this research. They argue that computer models or cell cultures should be used instead. But these supposed alternatives are not yet nearly sophisticated enough to illustrate how a treatment — especially for a disease as complicated as Alzheimer’s — will work within a complex living organism. 

Neurodegenerative diseases are becoming the scourges of our time. But thanks to animal research, there’s hope in sight.

by Jayson Cohen American Legacy Solutions

Retirement should be a time of rest, relaxation, and play. It should be about focusing on those pursuits that you wanted to do when you were younger, but you have yet to cross them off of your bucket list.

Failing to plan for a comfortable retirement, however, can be a major stressor in the life of someone facing their golden years. Recreational hopes and dreams can quickly be squashed in the wake of news that you haven’t set up things to be nearly as prosperous as you’d hoped. Learning what to do, and what NOT to do, as you plan for this time in your life will be key to being able to enjoy these years. Here are some things to avoid as you plan for this exciting time in your life:

Don’t Rely Solely On Social Security

You may have been somewhat misled with regard to social security—it was never meant to replace your original paycheck. Social security will cover approximately 40 percent of your pre-retirement income, and unless you are intending to pare down your expenses in retirement, its best to put other things in place to make sure you can live comfortably.

Social security funds are also subject to availability, so if market fluctuations affect the overall health of this national account pool, you could also be affected.

Don’t Assume Cost Of Living Will Be Cheaper

If you think of your day to day living expenses like food, clothing, and utilities, it is likely that these expenses will not go away in retirement. You might even find that certain expenses, like health care and leisure entertainment, actually go up during this time. To plan for a comfortable retirement, you’ll need to take into account all of these potential expenses when you budget what your cost of living will be.

Don’t Neglect Catch-Up Contributions

Many people simply don’t prioritize adding to their retirement savings in their early years of contribution to the workforce–most of their income is spent on student loan payments, housing, and supporting their families.

After 50, people can take advantage of a catch-up contribution option, where you are able to put additional money into an IRA or another retirement account. While a startlingly low percentage of people over 50 do take advantage of the catch-up option, it is strongly recommended that you look into this as an efficient way to expand and grow your retirement portfolio. You can do it easily with companies like Lear Capital, who can help when making this kind of investment. You can read reviews for them online.

Don’t Forget Those Taxes

It may seem at first with social security and other avenues of income streaming in that you have a pretty healthy influx of cash at your disposal. Stop and consider whether you have paid Uncle Sam his dues. Most retirement income is still taxable by law; up to 85 percent of social security income is still taxable! Interest and investment income are not immune to tax regulations either, even in retirement. Staying informed and making wise decisions with the counsel of trusted financial advisors will be key to maximizing your profit while minimizing your tax liability.

An Ounce Of Prevention

You’ve heard the phrase, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. It is especially true when planning for retirement. Making smart decisions now and preparing for this time will ensure that your golden years are just that. We are here to help you create a plan that will help you achieve a successful retirement.