Have you heard about Extra Help provided through Medicare that helps seniors with limited income receive their medicine “premium free” with no deductibles and co-payments as low as $3.40? Are you aware of all the Medicare covered preventive services that are available to seniors?
During the Open Enrollment period October 15th through December 7th anyone currently enrolled in Medicare may sign up for a Part D Prescription drug card or anyone that currently has a drug plan and is dissatisfied may switch to a new insurance company and possibly save hundreds of dollars. Start preparing now!
According to a survey by True Link Financial, older Americans are criminally defrauded of $12.76 billion dollars annually. This includes identity theft and all those crazy scams you hear about but think it will never work on you. Recent studies have shown that health care fraud is bigger business than drug dealing with billions of taxpayer dollars lost each year.
Areas of service where Medicare fraud can be committed include: home health services, durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers, pharmacies, nursing homes, physicians’ practices, hospitals, laboratories, hospice services and transportation providers.
If you’re church, civic, or other group would like further information on these and other important issues affecting seniors in our area call Robbie Boyd at the LOA to arrange for a Zoom presentation, set up an in person session, or call to schedule a one-on-one counseling appointment. This is free, nothing to sell, information only to protect our growing senior population.
For more information about Medicare or other programs and services of the Local Office on Aging, call (540) 345-0451, in the Roanoke Valley, (540) 962-0465 in the Alleghany Highlands and (540) 966-1094 in Botetourt County.
