Beginning in 2006, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) provides for an expansion of the Medicare Advantage plan options. The intent of the federal legislation is to allow private companies to provide Medicare benefits. Medicare pays the Medicare Advantage plan a set amount of money each month per enrollee. In return, the Medicare Advantage plan provides the coverage that was provided by the Medicare program and any supplemental benefits.

Medicare Advantage plans take the place of your traditional Medicare coverage. They may or may not charge a monthly fee. However, Medicare Advantage plans are annual contracts, and may increase their monthly fee over time.

Medicare Advantage plans may include deductibles and copayment/coinsurance amounts (out-of-pocket expenses) that do not apply to Wisconsin standardized Medicare supplement policies.

Medicare Advantage plans are not subject to the same benefit standards that apply to approved Wisconsin Medicare supplement policies. They are not required to cover benefits mandated by Wisconsin insurance law. Examples of benefits mandated by Wisconsin insurance law include chiropractic care and treatment of mental and nervous disorders, alcoholism and other drug abuse. OCI publishes a Fact Sheet on Mandated Benefits in Health Insurance Policies that is available on OCI's Web site.

Information regarding the difference between Medicare Advantage plans and Wisconsin Medicare supplements may be obtained by contacting the Board on Aging and Long Term Care (longtermcare.state.wi.us/home/) or your county benefit specialist (dhs.wisconsin.gov/aging/genage/benspecs.htm).

 
MEDICAL NEWS                           

American Heart Association Diet Tips

With the start of the new year, often people start new diets.  The American Heart Association has tips on how to keep your goals realistic in an effort to be successful on your diet.   
This is not meant to give medical advice.  If you have a health concern, contact your physician.

Tips

• Analyze your current situation, recognize obstacles (both real and in your thoughts), find positive solutions, and work toward modifying your lifestyle to make effective changes.
• Think about something that represents inner strength to you. Use this image to boost your resolve whenever you need help in seeing your way through successful weight loss.
• Close your eyes and picture how you want to look when you’ve reached your target weight. When you hit a hurdle, focus on this image and the feelings it evokes.
• Be aware of your self-talk and listen critically to what it is saying. Rephrase negative self-talk with a positive message.
• Set reasonable, realistic, and measurable short- and long-term weight-loss goals.
• Write your goals in a weight-loss diary to make them real.
• Reassess your progress every six weeks and make changes accordingly.
• Anticipate situations, such as office birthday parties or dinner at a neighbor’s house, that can present bumps on the road to successful weight control. Plan how you want to react in these situations so you’ll be prepared.
• Be persistent and practice new behaviors until they become habit.
• Take action to cure procrastination. Don’t let fear of failure keep you from starting toward your weight-loss goals.

Ingredients

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 pounds lean boneless round steak, trimmed of fat and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3 cups water
2 medium potatoes, scrubbed and cut into bite-size pieces
9-ounce package frozen no-salt-added whole baby carrots
8 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup frozen no-salt-added pearl onions
4 teaspoons low-sodium beef bouillon granules
1 teaspoon dried savory or thyme, crushed
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder