Blog

Answers to Your Medicaid Questions

Almost 92 million people were insured through Medicaid as of November 2022, but the government estimates that about 15 million may lose coverage as the COVID-19 public health emergency ends.

If you’re concerned about losing your healthcare coverage with this change — or if you already have — read this to learn about what led to this moment and what to expect moving forward.

What's Happening with Medicaid?

Shortly after the pandemic began, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act requiring states to keep Medicaid members continuously enrolled until the emergency ended.

As of April 1, 2023, states began returning to regular operations, including performing eligibility checks and terminating the program for those no longer eligible.

States will have a 12- to 14-month “unwinding period” to determine who will still be eligible for Medicaid, and many people will lose their coverage during this time.

How Soon Could Coverage End?

You may have lost coverage as early as April 1. Certain states are quicker at determining eligibility than others, so it could take up to a year before you’re removed from the program.

Notifications of non-coverage can arrive via mail, phone call, text message or email. You could also receive new forms allowing you to re-enroll if you’re eligible. Re-enrollment could take at least 30 days to complete, and the coverage could be retroactive up to 90 days.

What Should you do Next?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are allowing a Marketplace Special Enrollment Period for those who qualify but lose coverage during the unwinding. You can apply for Marketplace health insurance from March 31, 2023, through July 31, 2024. Premium tax credits based on your income could mean you pay nothing for this coverage.

It can be a confusing time when you’re no longer Medicaid eligible. To explore your options for health insurance coverage, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us today.

‍

‍

‍

Regular Meditation Can Benefit You

Meditation is an ancient tradition that helps focus on your thoughts, body or objects around you in order to gain peace and awareness. Many people meditate to improve their sleep or alleviate stress and anxiety in their daily lives.

But what types are most beneficial, and how can you add them to your schedule if you’re ready to try?

Benefits of Meditation

Meditation is a way for many people to restore calm and peace, lower blood pressure, improve sleep and enjoy other health benefits.

It can also help people manage illnesses like:

• Asthma.
• Cancer.
• Chronic pain.
• Depression.
• Tension headaches.

Types of Meditation

There are various meditation methods, and you can choose more than one.

Here are some popular ones to try:

• Progressive muscle relaxation starts at your head or toes and moves through your whole body to relax tense muscles and assist with sleep or chronic pain.
• Mindfulness meditation to stay aware of the moment, drive away negative emotions, improve memory and temper emotional responses.
• Loving kindness focuses on directing positive energy and kindness toward ourselves and others while releasing negative feelings.
• Spiritual meditation helps you gain greater clarity of religious connections to a higher power and assist with spiritual growth.
• Movement meditation includes yoga, walking or other low-impact movements to foster deeper connections to your body and the moment.
• Visualization centers your thoughts on the details of a thing or person to lift your spirits, lower anxiety and provide calm.
• Chanting is a way to focus on the sound of the words and melody to promote well-being and compassion.

Adding Meditation to Your Daily Routine

Meditating for a few minutes daily can provide benefits. But one or two weekly sessions are okay, too, if that’s all the time you have.

While it can be beneficial, meditation is only one piece of your pathway to good health. Reach out if you have any questions or concerns about your health insurance coverage or benefits.

‍

‍

High Blood Pressure: Best Foods to Eat

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects almost half of U.S. adults. However, only about 24 percent of them are controlling it, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

If you have high blood pressure, you may have already considered dietary changes to manage it more effectively; but are you incorporating the foods that could have the biggest impact?

Fruits and Vegetables

Eating more plants is a good idea for almost everyone. Studies indicate that specific fruits and veggies may be more beneficial than others for maintaining or lowering blood pressure.

These include:

• Citrus fruits and juices
• Berries
• Swiss chard
• Carrots
• Celery
• Broccoli
• Spinach

Whole Grains

Do you love white bread, pasta and rice? You don’t have to give them up entirely, but you may find these healthier, whole-grain options are better for your blood pressure:

• Whole grain bread
• Whole wheat pasta
• Barley
• Bulgur (cracked wheat)
• Brown, red, black or wild rice
• Oatmeal
• Popcorn
• Quinoa
• Kamut

The American Heart Association recommends six servings of whole grains each day for optimal blood pressure and heart health.

Lean Proteins

Research indicates that lean proteins may also lower hypertension. Skinless chicken, fish, beans and tofu are good sources of lean protein. On the dairy side, low-fat Greek yogurt, milk, kefir and cheese are good choices.

Other Blood Pressure-Lowering Foods

Foods containing healthy fats, high levels of potassium, and certain herbs and spices can also have positive impacts on your hypertension. Consider adding these items to your cart on your next grocery trip:

• Pumpkin seeds
• Chia seeds
• Flaxseed or flax oil
• Pistachios
• Ginger
• Cilantro

Managing blood pressure is key to maintaining good physical health, and having the right insurance can make it easier to get the care you need.

Let us know if we can help with your coverage.

‍

‍

‍

Healthy Tips to Take Care of Your Eyes

Using the same eyeballs everyday, it can be difficult to understand when things are getting worse. Vision slowly blurs over time, or peripheral sight disappears, gradually closing in on you year after year.

But you’re not alone. Approximately 2.2 billion people have some kind of vision impairment, according to the World Health Organization, and almost half of these cases are considered preventable and worsen due to lack of treatment.

Here are some tips to help you stay on top of your eye health.

See your eye doctor regularly.

While most people with vision loss or impairment are over 50, vision changes can happen at any age. People with hypertension, diabetes, a family history or certain ethnicities, you may be more likely to experience certain eye diseases.

Annual eye exams aren’t a guarantee against eye problems, but they can help to detect, prevent and treat eye ailments before they get worse.

Also, if you have prescription eyewear, regular doctor visits allow you and your doctor to keep your prescriptions updated, which reduces eye strain. However, regular appointments are important even when your eyes seem healthy, because only a professional can detect certain eye and vision changes.

Wear eye protection.

It’s a good idea to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV exposure and the elements during outdoor activities. You should also consider eye protection during sports, yardwork and home improvement projects.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Leading a healthy lifestyle can also help you maintain healthy eyes. Some good practices are limiting your screen time, eating a healthy diet and keeping your hands and eyes clean. If you smoke, it could also benefit your eyes if you quit smoking.

If you have questions about how your health insurance covers eye problems and where vision insurance can fill in the gaps, please reach out to us for help.

‍

‍