Alta Vista Benefits Sept 2010 Newsletter

Alta Vista News Flash

Lucy Grosz has completed her certification in Wellness and certification in Consumer Driven Health Care (CDHC).




Back Issues

Previous versions of newsletters are posted on the Alta Vista web site. If you missed an issue or there is a previous issue you would like to reference, please visit:
http://www.altavistaben.com



Welcome
Issue #24

The monthly Alta Vista Benefits newsletter is provided as a service to help with issues in your every day life. Your suggestions and feedback can be e-mailed to lucy@altavistaben.com.
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What's new with Health Care Reform?
New requirements after September 22, 2010

Here are answers to questions you may have about what is next with Health Care reform:
Q: I buy my own health insurance. How will the health law affect my coverage?
A: For policy years starting after Sept. 23, all health insurance policies in the individual market will be barred from cancelling coverage once you get sick — a practice known as “rescission” — unless you committed fraud when applying for coverage. Insurers will be prohibited from setting lifetime limits on your coverage. The plans must also allow you to keep an adult child up to age 26 on your health plan.
New policies can’t deny coverage for children up to age 19 based on a pre-existing medical condition. But “grandfathered” plans can; they can also set annual dollar limits and require cost-sharing for some preventive services.
Q: I’m on Medicare. Will my benefits change?
A: Your basic package of Medicare benefits will expand under the law. But if you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan — a private plan that offers Medicare benefits — you might lose some extra benefits at some point.
In terms of the overall Medicare program, as of late August, one million Medicare beneficiaries received a $250 check to help cover prescription drug costs in what’s known as the doughnut hole. That’s the gap in coverage where beneficiaries must pay the full cost of their prescriptions until catastrophic coverage kicks in. Starting next year, beneficiaries will receive a 50 percent discount on brand name drugs and a 7 percent discount on generic drugs while they are in the coverage gap. The health law closes the gap entirely by 2020.
In addition, beginning next year, Medicare beneficiaries won’t have to pay co-payments or deductibles on many preventive health care services, including diabetes and cervical cancer screenings. Medicare will also pay for an annual wellness visit to the doctor.
To help pay for the health overhaul, Congress is cutting payments to Medicare Advantage plans, beginning the year after next. Beneficiaries won’t lose any of their basic Medicare benefits as a result of the reductions but some Medicare Advantage insurers could decide to stop offering additional benefits, such as coverage for eyeglasses or gym memberships.

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Doing an Insurance Checkup
Do you have enough coverage?

You purchased life insurance, but have you looked at the policy lately? Have you compared it with you current goals and lifestyle? Will your current coverage provide the protection you want for your family if something happens to you?

Alta Vista Benefits can help you find out quickly and easily. We offer a complimentary insurance checkup that is a very simple process. We'll review your current coverage,assess any life changes since your policy was issued and determine if your coverage still meets your financial goals. You are under no obligation to buy anything.

Get more peace of mind today by getting your no-obligation review. Click here to contact us by e-mail or call Lucy Grosz at 614-889-0934.

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Did you know?
Visit your dentist for better health

The condition of your oral health can offer lots of clues about your overall health. Oral health is connected to many other health conditions beyond the mouth and many times, the first sign of disease shows up in the mouth.

For example, research shows that several types of cardiovascular disease may be linked to oral health. They include heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke. In addition, the first stages of bone loss may show up in teeth, and both AIDS and cancer may first show up as oral problems.

So, stay healthier by visiting your dentist. It is safer and less painful than you think.



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Lucy Grosz is the CEO of Alta Vista Benefits and can be reached at lucy@altavistaben.com or by phone at 614-889-0934.
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