Health for life

The Medicare Modernization Act - signed into law by President Bush on December 8, 2003 - added an outpatient prescription drug benefit for all people with Medicare. Coverage under this benefit goes into effect on January 1, 2006. (Clicking on the new "Medicare-Approved" seal shown will take you to the Medicare site.)

You must enroll to be covered by the prescription drug plans. Enrollment begins on November 15 of this year. You have until December 31 to enroll if you want your coverage to start on January 1.

There will be a number of plans to choose from with differing monthly premiums ("generally about $37 in 2006") and copayments. Your health or income cannot prevent you from benefiting from one of these plans - even if you have prescription drug coverage from an employer, union, or other policy (e.g. Medigap). Those with limited income will get help paying for their coverage.

Medicare lists the following important dates regarding the new prescription drug plans:

• October 2005 - Medicare recipients will receive the Medicare & You 2006 handbook with information on how to sign up.
  
• November 15, 2005 - Sign-up begins.
  
• December 31, 2005 - Last day to sign up to receive coverage beginning January 1, 2006.
  
• January 1, 2006 - Coverage begins.
  
• May 15, 2006 - Last day to sign up for coverage in 2006. (Late fees are charged after that date. Enrollment begins again on November 15, 2006 for coverage in 2007.)

More information about the new prescription drug plans is available at www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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Below are a few links that answer basic questions. They are all pdf files requiring an Adobe reader to view. (You can download an Adobe reader for free here.) More links about the new prescription drug plans can be found here.

• Basic Information (Very informative, detailed, and recent text file. August 2005)
  
  
• Quick Facts about Medicare’s New Coverage for Prescription Drugs (May 2005)
  
  
• Who Can Help Me Apply and Enroll? (July 2005)
  
  
• Protecting Your Personal Information (July 2005)
  
  
• A Message for People who Care for Someone with Medicare (July 2005)

Rite Aid is teaming up with the American Diabetes Association to raise awareness and funds for its national Stop Diabetes campaign, offer incentives for patients to take Diabetes Risk Tests, distribute diabetes guides at every pharmacy counter, and host more than 1,200 free diabetes clinics during American Diabetes Month in November.

Heres their press release:
Rite Aid Joins American Diabetes Association in Fight to Stop Diabetes®

"In November 1,200 Rite Aid stores will host Diabetes Solutions Days offering free blood glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure screenings and Body Mass Index (BMI) readings. Visitors to these annual clinics also can try free samples of over-the-counter medications and other diabetes products, discuss diabetes management with a Rite Aid pharmacist, and get a potentially life-saving flu shot."

Visit their site to locate Rite Aid stores near you that offer flu shots.
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Diabetes education and prevention is the World Diabetes Day theme for the period 2009-2013:

• For people with diabetes, this is a message about empowerment through education.
  
• For governments, it is a call to implement effective strategies and policies for the prevention and management of diabetes to safeguard the health of their citizens with and at risk of diabetes.
  
• For healthcare professionals, it is a call to improve knowledge so that evidence-based recommendations are put into practice.
  
• For the general public, it is a call to understand the serious impact of diabetes and know, where possible, how to avoid or delay diabetes and its complications.

This is a great time to review the warning signs of diabetes:

• Frequent urination
  
• Excessive thirst
  
• Increased hunger
  
• Weight loss
  
• Tiredness
  
• Lack of interest and concentration
  
• Vomiting and stomach pain (often mistaken as the flu)
  
• A tingling sensation or numbness in the hands or feet
  
• Blurred vision
  
• Frequent infections
  
• Slow-healing wounds

Any of these signs should be discussed with your health care provider.
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Do you Google? Would you like to see a Google Doodle on November 14 for World Diabetes Day?

If so, add your name to the petition:
Ask Google for a World Diabetes Day Doodle

TuDiabetes.com and DiabetesDaily.com, the sponsors of the petition, feel that 20,000 signatures by the end of October might be enough to get Googles attention.

Here are some examples of past Google Doodles.

For more information:
Grassroots Effort Underway To Get A World Diabetes Day Google Doodle
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