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Luzerne County manager selects new deputy election director

Silent spreaders and long haulers. Aerosols and protocols. 10 things science has learned about COVID-19 in less than a year

2020 has been a year for the history books. It&rsquo;s brought us unprecedented challenge and showed us the depth of our resilience and strength. We&rsquo;ve been reminded of how fragile and how durable we can be in one fell swoop.
				But one thing that&rsquo;s been impressed upon us more than any other notion over the last six or seven months is how uncertain life can be.
				No matter how healthy, or successful, or knowledgeable, or prepared, or adaptable we think we are, there&rsquo;s always something new that can turn our world upside-down.
				And as corny as it may sound, that&rsquo;s a great argument for having health insurance. Insuring your healthcare is the only way to make sure you&rsquo;re getting the care you need without sacrificing other needs to get it.
				During the novel coronavirus pandemic, our family members and friends age 65 and older have been the most vulnerable to severe infection and complication, and knowing their urgent and emergent care is covered can be one less thing to worry about in the anxious era of COVID-19.
				Medicare, commonly called Original Medicare, is a government issued health insurance plan that covers medical costs for people 65 and older. The plan has two main parts &mdash; Part A and Part B &mdash; that cover different services.
				Part A helps cover big stuff, like:
				&#183; Hospitalization
				&#183; Skilled nursing facility
				&#183; Hospice care
				&#183; Home health (in some cases)
				Part B helps cover routine care, like:
				&#183; Doctor appointments
				&#183; Outpatient care
				&#183; Preventive services
				&#183; Occupational/physical therapy
				&#183; Home health
				With original Medicare, members can see more than 95 percent of doctors across the U.S., and most people don&rsquo;t pay anything for Part A. Part B premiums are set by the federal government, and members can pay Part B directly or have it deducted from their monthly Social Security payment.
				Original Medicare has no pre-existing condition limitations or waiting periods. And 80 percent of Part B expenses are covered, but for the remaining 20 percent, there&rsquo;s no limit to what a member may need to pay out of pocket. There&rsquo;s also no coverage for prescription drugs, which requires enrollment in a Part D prescription drug plan offered by a private insurance company.
				Dental, hearing and fitness benefits are also not included in Original Medicare plans.
				There is another Medicare option that for most of us over 65 deserves a good hard look, since it usually is the best deal.
				Medicare Advantage plans are insurance plans through private insurers, largely at government expense, that offer more benefits than Original Medicare. Called Medicare Part C, these plans adhere to rules and guidelines set by the federal government but allow private companies to administer benefits.
				In addition to covering hospitalization and medical care, Medicare Advantage plans cover services Original Medicare does not, such as:
				&#183; Eyeglasses and eye exams
				&#183; Hearing aids
				&#183; Dentist visits
				&#183; Prescription drugs
				&#183; Gym memberships and fitness classes
				Medicare Advantage plans vary, so it&rsquo;s important to check what each plan includes, but all Medicare Advantage plans must include Part A and Part B benefits, often have no or low monthly premiums, often include prescription drug benefits, limit out-of-pocket expenses, and include extra benefits like dental, vision, hearing and wellness.
				A Medicare Advantage plan from a private company still offers the peace of mind that you are enrolled in and covered by US government paid Medicare, are insured by a company that has a contract with Medicare, have all Part A and Part B benefits as part of your plan, and have a plan reviewed and approved by Medicare.
				These are all good things to know going into the last quarter of the year when we often select our insurance plans for the following year.

What you should know about your Medicare options