A New Year, A New Medicare Deductible. Do You Know Your Coverage Levels?

Okay everyone; It's time to hit the reset button.  The new year means a new start.  Time to begin new healthy habits like eating well, exercising and managing your medicare budget.  Making sure you have the health coverage you need for the coming year is something most people don't think about.  Here's what you need to know:

The Medicare deductible that you'll pay out of pocket for 2011 is $162.  The good news is that there's no limit to Medicare coverage for chiropractic treatment, so you can see us at Sarasota Physical Medicine throughout the year as often as you medically need to.

Medicare also covers physical therapy, but there is a limit to how much.   For 2011 the PT limit is $1,860 for the entire year.  Once you've used your annual coverage amount, Medicare will only pay above that for physical therapy when your doctor shows you need additional treatment and we request an extension.  So if you do need additional physical therapy, Sarasota Physical Medicine will handle that paperwork for you, so you can focus on getting better.

Here's a warning to patients who were converted from Medicare to an HMO: Not all plans are accepted by hospitals and doctors offices.  Check with your doctors to see which HMO plans they accept.  Be careful, because once you choose a plan, you're stuck with it for the entire year.  If you choose wrong, then you won't be able to see the doctor you know and trust for a whole year of your health care. Names of some of the larger HMOs are Freedom, Universal, and Medicare Complete.

If you have any questions about your coverage, call Sarasota Physical Medicine and we'll help you navigate through the Medicare/HMO paperwork.  We're experienced at dealing with all the red tape, rules and regulations, so you don't have to go through this alone.

So this year, let Sarasota Physical Medicine help you get a healthy start to 2011. Get back to doing the things you love: golfing, gardening, walking, swimming, playing with your grandchildren.  These are the moments that make life meaningful.  Let us help you make life less painful so you can enjoy them.   Happy New Year everyone!

For more information, contact us at (941) 922-9312 or go to srqchiro.com

When We Ask if You're on Drugs, it's Not What You Think.

There is a very simple question that we ask our patients during an office visit:  Are you taking any medications right now?  For some reason, the longer someone takes a drug, the less they consider it a "medication."  This happens most often with patients taking blood pressure and cholesterol lowering drugs. These drugs serve a short term purpose to make your body think your levels are under control, but staying on them for the rest of your life isn't a good long term health plan.  And just because you're used to them, doesn't mean you're not taking "medicine."

According to johnshopkinshealthalerts.com, blood pressure meds have some pretty rotten side effects, including: Constipation, dizziness, frequent urination,  potassium loss, swollen or bleeding gums, upset stomach and more.  According to WebMD, cholesterol drug side effects are even worse: Abnormal liver function, muscle aches, skin rashes, and even decreased sexual drive.  Feeling any of these side effects shouldn't be normal. So what if you could stop taking those medications?  It's possible.  Really.

The way to kick this drug habit for many people is simply living a healthier lifestyle.  That means eating better, exercising, and getting the right vitamins and mineral balance in your body. That's really what chiropractic care is all about.  So many of the symptoms of high blood pressure and high cholesterol are directly related to what you do with your body.  Eating high fat meals, smoking, too much sodium in processed foods, being overweight; these are some of the root causes of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.  Change your lifestyle, and you'll change your life.

Taking a pill might be easier, but in the long run you'll still be unhealthy. Why do patients agree to a lifetime commitment to a drug, but won't make a lifetime commitment to themselves?  It is hard.  We know that.  But that's why we're here.  As Chiropractic Physicians, we treat patients so that their body can find a balance and work at its best.  Why not make being healthy your new "drug."  Then when we ask if you're on any medications, you can say "no" and really mean it.