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While transport chairs are similar to wheelchairs, you might find that a transport chair works better for you in some instances. Transport chairs are more lightweight, have a narrower frame, and aren’t self-propelled. They have four small wheels rather than two large wheels.   If you need a short-term solution, or you use a wheelchair at home, you might also need a transport chair when you go to doctor’s appointments, for daily outings, during or after a hospital or skilled nursing facility stay, or during recovery…

Medicare insurance provides access to medically necessary clinical diagnostic laboratory tests that are either routine or necessary in emergencies. This coverage is available for Medicare beneficiaries who are enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A and, or B) or a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan. This benefit includes lab tests such as blood tests, urinalyses, tissue specimen exams, and certain preventive and screening tests.  Diagnostic laboratory tests are invaluable tools for physicians because they can show changes in health conditions, help them diagnose or rule out…

Today in the United States, approximately 49 million Medicare beneficiaries who also have prescription drug coverage. You can purchase a stand-alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) if you have Original Medicare. As an alternative, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan that includes prescription drug coverage to get these benefits, a plan sometimes referred to as an MA-PD.  Medicare Prescription Drug Plans and MA-PDs are optional for eligible beneficiaries, and coverage can be purchased through private insurance companies that work…

As of 2022, statistics showed that 48 percent of all eligible Medicare beneficiaries (over 28 million individuals) were getting their health care coverage from a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan. Medicare Advantage plans are sold by private insurance companies as an alternative to Original Medicare Parts A and B. They provide at least the same coverage as Parts A and B. Today, most Medicare Advantage plans also include prescription drug (Part D) coverage as well as extra benefits like dental, hearing, and vision care.  When…

Today in the United States, over 12 million people qualify as dual-eligible beneficiaries through Medicare and Medicaid, which means that they get their health care coverage from both programs.  You might qualify for dual-eligible coverage if you meet the following requirements:  You qualify for your state’s Medicaid program (qualification is typically based on low income or disability).  You are eligible for enrollment in Original Medicare Parts A (hospital insurance) and B (medical insurance).  So, how does dual eligibility work? Medicare is your primary payer and…

When your body is injured or exposed to harmful substances (bacteria, viruses or toxic chemicals), your immune system sends inflammatory cells to heal the damage or attack the invaders. Acute inflammation is your body’s immediate response to damage, which allows the healing process to begin without delay. You may experience pain, swelling or tenderness. With chronic inflammation, your body can trigger the immune system when you don’t have an injury or illness. Conditions associated with chronic inflammation include asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, acute pancreatitis and myocardial…

Men’s sexual health is a topic that has earned more public discussion since the introduction of the little blue pill, Viagra (sildenafil). Viagra became one of the most popular treatments for erectile dysfunction after being given FDA approval in 1998. It was the first oral medication that could be taken to treat erectile dysfunction as needed. Despite the popularity of Viagra in the senior community and elsewhere, the medication does have its drawbacks. Viagra must be taken a few hours prior to engaging in sexual…

The prostate is a male gland below the bladder in front of the rectum. The gland secretes fluid that conjoins with semen to maintain healthy sperm. When cancer develops in the gland, treatments can range from active surveillance to surgery, depending on how fast the tumor grows. The American Cancer Society predicts that about one in eight men will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis at some point. The average age of a first diagnosis is about 66 years old. According to the Cleveland Clinic, prostate…

Wisdom teeth, so named because they usually emerge between ages 17 and 21, help with chewing. They may appear with only mild discomfort. Problems occur, however, when the space in your mouth cannot accommodate them. Wisdom teeth can also break through the gums in the wrong position. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends the removal of wisdom teeth that cause pain, infection, tooth decay, gum disease, tumors or cysts. While some people undergo extraction as young adults, others carry their wisdom teeth into later years….

Measles is a contagious but preventable infection caused by a virus. Although no antiviral treatment is available, measles is preventable due to the MMR vaccine, which stands for measles, mumps and rubella. The MMR vaccines available in the U.S. are M-M-R II and PRIORIX. Healthcare providers can give children an MMRV vaccine, which includes protection against varicella (chickenpox). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the MMR vaccine begin for children at 12 months. If you were born before 1957, most likely you…