Among those participating in the survey, many were Florida seniors health insurance outcasts, of which ninety-four percent could have saved a great deal of money if they switched their Medicare plans.

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Medicare beneficiaries

Medicare beneficiaries in Florida have had a somewhat difficult time selecting a plan that is best for them, especially in comparison to their peers throughout the country. Across the nation, ninety percent of beneficiaries with Medicare would have been better off has they switched to a different plan.

This year, seniors will not have the same amount of time to choose the plan that best fits their needs. The enrollment period has been pushed up to October 15 by the federal government, and it will only last through December 7. In previous years, seniors were given until the end of the year to make up their mind about the Medicare plan that they chose.

Ross Blair is the president and CEO of PlanPrescriber, which is an organization that focuses on matching senior citizens with the medical and drug plans that are best for them. He said, “There is a belief among some seniors that ‘Hey, this is all Medicare. It doesn’t make much difference which plan I sign up for.’  ”

However, research by PlanPrescriber discovered that the average beneficiary of Medicare could save close to $550 simply by selecting a plan that has the lowest out-of-pocket costs for his or her medication requirements.

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Cooking at home is a great way to save money

Money can be wasted by going to restaurants and ordering food on a daily basis. You can save money by planning meals ahead of time. Upon planning your meals, you can purchase ingredients that you need for each meal at the grocery store. Instead of wasting money on lunch each day, you can save money by packing lunch. You can eat leftovers from dinner as a meal for lunch.

Buy generic products

While some name brand products taste or look better, there are many generic products that are just as good as the name brand. Do you really need the most expensive box of pasta? Instead, you can save a lot of money buy purchasing generic pasta, bread, snack, drinks, and more. You can still buy name brand products if they are on sale and if you have a coupon.

Do not buy things that you do not need

If you are looking to save money, you should definitely not be spending on items that are not necessities. While shopping on impulse can be fun and exciting, it will not save you money. Avoid purchasing things that you do not need by reminding yourself of why you are trying tosave money in the first place.

Use coupons

Coupons can save you a lot of money in the long run. Many people claim to have cut the cost of their grocery bill in half just by using coupons. You can find coupons in newspapers, circulars, and even on online websites. Save any coupons that you receive from the store to use for a later date.

Walk and ride your bike

You may have your license and a car but that doesn’t mean that you should not walk or ride your bike. The cost of gas is increasingly rising and is often a burden for those on a budget. You can save money that you would be spending on gas by walking.. For certain locations that may be too far away, you can ride your bike. You will save money and get in some exercise.

Get rid of your house phone

If you use the Internet and have a cell phone, it is a good idea to get rid of your house phone to cut the cost of one bill. You can make calls from your cell phone. If your cell phone needs to be charged, you can always make phone calls on your computer.

Go to the library

Instead of purchasing movies and books, you can borrow them for free at your local library. The library is home to many different genres of books. You will also be able to find VHS tapes and DVD’s to borrow. You will save money simply by borrowing instead of buying.

Do not use credit cards

With credit cards, you may end up spending more than you can afford. If you put yourself in debt, you will be stuck paying off your debt which makes saving money difficult.

Check your account balance on a daily basis

It is important that you are aware of how much money you have in your account. The reason you need to be aware is so that you do not overspend. If you spend more than you have, your bank will charge you an overdraft fee.

Recycle your clothing

If you have recently noticed holes in some of your clothes, there is a way to revamp your wardrobe. You can create new clothing items with clothes that you already have by cutting and sewing different pieces. This is a great way to save money instead of spending money on a new wardrobe.

Buy items in bulk

There are several stores that offer the opportunity for customers to buy products in bulk. Buying in bulk helps save money because it cuts the cost of the different items your are purchasing. You will end up getting more for your money.

Sell what you do not need

Whether you want to have a garage sale or sell your stuff online, this is a great way to make extra money for your savings. Any items that are collecting dust in your home may be useful to someone else. While making space in your home, you will also be earning.

While these are only 12 ways to save money, there are many other ways to save money. By following these instructions, you can save yourself hundreds of dollars each year.

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In addition, they also said that they need more immediate relief from the rapidly increasing burden of their Medicaid programs.

The governor of Mississippi Haley Barbour, who is a Republican, spoke on President Obama’s proposal, “It sounds good, but it provides very, very little actual help.”

The most urgent provisions of the new federal law, including a huge expansion of eligibility for the Medicaid program as well as the demand for nearly all residents of the country to carry health care insurance, will go into effect in 2014. Initially, the federal government is going to pay for the entire coverage cost for people who have recently become eligible for coverage through the Medicaid program. However, just after several years, the states are going to be required to pay for a certain amount of the cost for coverage.

Utah Governor

The governor of Utah Gary R. Herbert, a Republican, said that the Medicaid program has been a huge and increasing part of Utah health insurance budget even prior to the passing of the federal law. He said, “In this recession, Medicaid enrollment has skyrocketed. In December 2007, enrollment in Utah stood at 158,267 individuals. In December 2010, enrollment stood at 230,812 individuals, a 46 percent increase in three years.”

Governors gave their testimony

The governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick, a Democrat, testified to the committee that he was greatly apathetic to the proposal by President Obama due to the fact that the state of Massachusetts had already revamped its health care system in order to make sure that 98 percent of the state’s residents were able to get health care insurance.

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The recently passed health insurance law would add roughly 16 million Americans to Medicaid.

Arlene Wohlgemuth, executive director of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, said, “Under the current law, our Texas Medicaid program will expand by 65 percent. “That’s a lot of folks.”

Each state must cover a portion of the cost of the Medicaid program. However, a number of states in this country are already struggling.

Republican Governor Bob McDonnell of Virginia said about Medicaid: “It’s about 21 percent of Virginia’s budget now.” He also stated that “To put it in perspective: it used to be five percent just a couple of decades ago.” As a matter of fact, he says that the Medicaid spending in the state of Virginia has increased by 1600% over the past 27 years. In addition, he says that the new health care law will force that up around 28 percent of Virginia’s state budget.

McDonnell also said, “We also have very strict debt limits so we can’t print money. We can’t go into this massive unsustainable debt like the federal government.”

When the Medicaid expansion goes into effect in the year 2014, it will be especially hard on Texas. According to Arlene Wohlgemuth, “They’d be looking at the budget requirement for Medicaid that would be 46 percent of our entire state’s budget. That means that we are spending nearly 50 percent of our state’s budget on the one program.”

Kathleen Sebelius, the Health and Human Services Secretary, said in a recent hearing on Capitol Hill: “In 2014, when the Medicaid expansion is scheduled to be in place, as you know, the federal government is picking up 100 percent of the cost of the newly eligible Medicaid recipients for a period of three years and gradually that cost-sharing decreases.”

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With the recent health care stimulus package going through the halls of congress, one may wonder exactly how to obtain the most affordable Maine health insurance options. According to the Maine state government, the largest health insurance companies in the state include: Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Harvard Pilgrim, Mega Life and Health, and United Healthcare insurance. Choosing the right policy could mean the difference between an expensive health bill, and affordable, quality coverage.

Affordable Health Insurance estimates that 45 million Americans were uninsured in 2009; a Maine health insurance plan can help protect your family – at least until the health care bill passes.

photo credit: Chewonki Semester School

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The first snowfall in Maine is a time for the people in the rural areas of Maine to prepare for hibernation. In fact, The University of Maine at Presque Isle recently hosted a winter survival event. Maine residents, on the other hand, need to find their warmest down comforters and stock up on soups and teas before they rest by their fireplace until spring arrives.

Unfortunately, the rural areas of Maine have limited access to certain facilities and services that most Americans take for granted. The best case scenario for these people who live in the Maine outback is they make it through the winter without having to find a health care facility. Ideally, if they can just make it through the winter with a hot cup of tea and soup to cure the common cold, they did really well for themselves. But especially for residents who lack Maine health insurance, hibernation is more than just a matter of “waiting it out.” In any case, here are a few tips to help you survive a Maine winter, while still maintaining your health.

Tips for a Maine Winter

• Carry extra blankets and coats on hand in case there is a loss of power
• Make sure you have an emergency radio, flashlight, and source of food and water for at least three days
• Stock your car, home, and even perhaps your work place with a handy disaster supply kit.
• Be cognizant of various NOAA warnings, including a winter storm warning and the dreaded “blizzard warning.

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The Mission of the Maine Rural Health Association is to listen to the health and health care concerns of rural citizens, and to suggest ways to break down barriers to access, communications and collaboration by encouraging partnerships for the provision of consumer-focused integrated rural health care.

Main Rural Health Association
maineruralhealth@maineruralhealth.org

Additional support is provided by the Maine Office of Rural Health and Association Members.

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