Artículos

In the United States, there are approximately 63 million people enrolled in the federal health insurance program known as Medicare.  You might be eligible for enrollment in Medicare if you’re 65 or older, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident living in the country for at least five years. People who are under 65 years old can also enroll in Medicare if they have qualifying disabilities or end-stage renal disease.  Unlike Medicaid, you don’t have to meet low-income requirements to be eligible for enrollment in…

If you have Original Medicare and need some additional coverage to help lower your out-of-pocket costs, a Medigap plan might be a solution. In the United States today, over 14.5 million Medicare beneficiaries get additional coverage from a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plan. These plans are sold by private insurance companies and are available to purchase by people who are enrolled in Original Medicare Parts A and B and meet the criteria. If you have a Medigap plan, your Medicare insurance remains your primary payer….

Autoimmune disorders like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis affect millions of people in the United States, many of whom are over the age of 65.  Symptoms of these autoimmune diseases can be quite uncomfortable and even debilitating. Joint pain, inflammation, severe itching, inflamed and tender skin, as well as diarrhea and cramping are just a few common issues that people with these conditions must live with unless they are treated. If you are diagnosed with one of these autoimmune diseases, your…

Pharmaceutical birth control has come a long way since 1960 when the first hormone-control contraceptive was introduced. Since then, many types of birth control medications have become available, and intrauterine devices (IUDs) have also become popular. More recently, medicines like Nexplanon (etonogestrel) have become the preferred choice for women who would rather not have to take a daily pill to prevent contraception. What is Nexplanon? Nexplanon is a birth control medication administered slowly over time via a rod implant. This implant is placed in a…

If you’ve been diagnosed with glaucoma, it means that you may have vision loss due to optic nerve damage. The most common type of glaucoma is open-angle glaucoma, a slow-developing condition that causes peripheral vision loss initially, loss of central vision, and finally blindness if it isn’t treated. In the United States, approximately two million people have glaucoma. It’s more common in the over-65 age group and is the leading cause of blindness for African Americans.  You might be at a higher risk for getting…

Kidney failure is also known as end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). When you reach this stage of chronic kidney disease, the condition is irreversible, but having dialysis or getting a kidney transplant can extend your life for years. Medicare benefits are available to help cover the cost of both treatments.  Treatment in a dialysis facility When you have ESRD and Part B coverage, you are eligible for three weekly kidney dialysis treatments. The dialysis center coordinates the services at home or…

Tuberculosis (TB), also known as consumption, is an infection caused by the mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. It mainly affects the lungs but it can also harm other organs in the body. People who are infected should receive immediate medical care because TB can be life threatening if it isn’t treated. It is a contagious disease that can be transmitted through airborne droplets.  Fortunately, if you test positive for TB, your health care provider can prescribe treatment. It’s also a preventable disease when people get vaccinated.  According to…

The blood in your body is used to transport essential resources to your organs. Oxygen, nutrients and more all depend on the normal circulation of blood through your veins and arteries to keep your body functioning. When clotting problems develop, blood can become too thick, causing clots to develop. This may raise the risk of cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke since clots block the flow of blood. Conditions like deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism and non-valvular atrial fibrillation can also put seniors at…

Computed tomography (CT) scans are important diagnostic tools that give physicians detailed images from inside a person’s body. CT scans use rotating X-ray tubes to take images that are processed on computers through tomographic reconstruction algorithms which in turn produce cross-section images of the body.   Your physician might order a CT scan to assist in diagnosing bone damage, blood flow problems, stroke, cancer, internal injuries, heart disease, or heart abnormalities, or to find tumors or lesions within the abdomen.  If you’re enrolled in Medicare, your…

After the death of a family member or close friend, most people experience devastating emotional and physical pain, and they might have difficulty functioning through daily life activities. For many, grief counseling, or bereavement therapy, helps them get through these difficult times, learn how to accept their loss and continue in life without their loved ones.  When you take part in grief counseling, you usually work with a counselor, therapist, psychologist, or a support group, to discuss and come to terms with your feelings and emotions….