Why you need a good internist

When Healthcare Costs Rise, Dont Put Your Health on HoldBy Jamie Ulmer, President & CEO, Healthcare NetworkWhen the cost of everyday life goes up, most of us look for places to cut back. We may eat out less often, postpone a purchase or reconsider a trip.Healthcare shouldnt be one of those things.Yet rising insurance costs, deductibles, prescription expenses and other household costs can make even routine healthcare feel difficult to afford. For older adults living on a fixed income, an unexpected medical expense can be particularly concerning.It can be tempting to put off an appointment when youre feeling relatively well. Maybe that lingering cough can wait. Perhaps the pain in your knee isnt quite bad enough to call the doctor. Or that annual checkup can be pushed back a few months.The problem is that delaying care can allow a manageable health concern to become a more serious one. Establishing a relationship with a primary care provider and receiving regular preventive care can help identify health concerns earlier and provide ongoing support for conditions that require monitoring.Community Health Centers Are an Option for Seniors, TooOne healthcare resource older adults may overlook is their local community health center.There is a common misconception that community health centers are free clinics or that they serve only people without insurance. In fact, community health centers provide care to people with a variety of insurance coverage. Healthcare Network accepts Medicare, Medicaid, commercial insurance and Affordable Care Act Marketplace plans. For those who qualify, care is also available on a sliding fee discount scale based on household income.For older adults, having access to primary care is particularly important. Regular visits give you and your provider an opportunity to monitor changes in your health, discuss medications, keep up with preventive care and address concerns before they become more serious.Community health centers can also make it easier to address multiple healthcare needs within one organization. At Healthcare Network, patients have access to primary care, dental care, behavioral health and other services.Getting to Care MattersCost isnt the only reason people delay healthcare. Sometimes the challenge is simply getting there.Transportation, distance and convenience can all become barriers, particularly for older adults who no longer drive, have mobility challenges or depend on family members or caregivers for transportation.Thats why access isnt only about having healthcare services available. Its also about making those services easier to use.Healthcare Network offers telehealth appointments for certain services, giving patients the option to connect with a provider from home when appropriate. For older adults, telehealth can help reduce some of the transportation and scheduling challenges that might otherwise lead them to postpone care.Access to medications is another important part of staying healthy. Healthcare Networks pharmacies offer prescription mail delivery, allowing patients to have eligible medications sent directly to their homes. This can be especially helpful for older adults managing ongoing prescriptions or those who find frequent trips to the pharmacy difficult.Of course, there are times when an in-person visit is necessary. Having healthcare closer to home can make those appointments easier, too.Here in Collier County, Healthcare Network recently opened the Van Domelen Community Health Center in Orangetree. The center brings primary care, dental care, behavioral health, pharmacy services and more to an area where rapid population growth had previously left many residents traveling significant distances for basic healthcare.Options such as care closer to home, telehealth and prescription mail delivery can remove some of the everyday obstacles that make it harder to stay on top of your health.Think of Primary Care as an Investment in IndependenceFor many of us, one of the greatest priorities as we get older is maintaining our independence.Healthcare plays an important role in that.Routine care isnt only about treating an illness after it occurs. Its an opportunity to monitor your health over time, manage ongoing health conditions, keep up with recommended preventive care and talk with your provider about changes you may be experiencing.Having a healthcare provider you know and trust can become especially valuable as you age.If cost, transportation or uncertainty about where to go has caused you to postpone care, ask what resources are available in your community. Having Medicare or Medicaid doesnt prevent you from receiving care at a community health center, and depending on your circumstances, other assistance may be available as well.Last year, Healthcare Network cared for more than 55,000 patients, including nearly half of Collier Countys children, and provided more than $19 million in uncompensated care. Behind those numbers are people at every stage of life who needed a place to turn for healthcare.Growing older brings plenty of changes. Accessing healthcare shouldnt have to become one more challenge.Taking care of your health today can help protect something that becomes increasingly valuable with every passing year: your ability to continue living life on your own terms.About the AuthorJamie Ulmer is President and CEO of Healthcare Network, a nonprofit healthcare organization that has served Collier County for nearly 50 years. He is passionate about improving access to care and strengthening community health so all residents have the opportunity to live healthy, productive lives.  

VERY IMPORTANT: Regarding Medicare it is illegal for an insurance agent to call, text, e-mail, knock on your door, hang anything on your door or vehicle or approach you without your consent. If they do ask for their National Producer Number NPN, and you will hear a click and removed from their list. If they dont hang up, get their number and report them to Medicare. There is so much fraud where people are being switched to plans that they never approved or they were miss led. Shop local, do background checks before you give anyone your personal information. You can google them, google reviews, check their Facebook, etc. Make sure that if you are working with someone you can call them personally if you have any questions or concerns. Medicare Annual Enrollment is October 15-December 7th for January 1st, 2027, effective. What can be changed at this time is Medicare Part D Drug Plans and Medicare Part C (Advantage Plans). You should have received your Notification of Change from your current insurance plan. This outlines the current year to the new year changes, as an example if your specialist provider costs $20 now it might say $35 in 2027 (no correlation just an example). Medicare Part C / Advantage Plans, most carriers have raised out of pocket limits and copays along with decreased extra value benefits for 2027.  Annually Medicare Advantage Plans make changes. They must all include the same features as Original Medicare but not at the same cost share. They can have a premium, Medical and or Prescription deductible, copays and coinsurance can change. Extra Value such as Vision, Dental, Over the Counter, Part B Give Back, transportation, etc. can all change or be eliminated. Medicare sets the annual in-network out of pocket maximum; in 2026 it is $9,250 for in-network and $13,900 out-of-network services combined (2027 this will increase). However, individual insurance plans may set lower limits. The old saying if it is not broken do not fix it DOES NOT apply to Annual Enrollment. Every year I see many people that have not checked/compared their current plan to what is new. I have saved so many people hundreds and in many cases thousands of dollars. You should be working with a broker that represents many insurance companies. Make sure you check them out, especially if you are going to allow someone in your house. I recommend meeting in their office. For me we represent most insurance carriers in our area and carrying all their literature with me is almost impossible. We use three large screens so that our clients can clearly see and compare the differences between the plans. The minimum information always needed is all your doctors, medications: names, milligrams, and dosage. We load your current plan and then compare it to all the other companies in your area. What companies have all your doctors, the price for your medication normally makes a significant difference. Then the Extra Value is what is most important to you. We do NOT CHARGE for your review and if warranted to change your insurance plan. Ethics is most important and if you are on the best plan we will tell you, plus you can see for yourself. If your plan was CANCELLED/DROPPED for 2027, you have a guaranteed issue into a Medigap/Medicare Supplement.  This is huge and very important, know your options!Medicare Seminars they are good for general information. A one-to-one appointment where you can dive into your doctors and medication is best, plus you can then compare other companies in one place. Medicare Part D most insurance carriers have taken away insurance agents ability to help you with your Part D Only drug plans this does not apply to most Advantage plans, standalone drug plans as well as Advantage Plans, you wont have to pay more than $2,400 in out-of-pocket drug costs, which include deductibles, co-pays, coinsurance. It is especially important to check your plans formulary as medication must be in formulary to be capped. 2027 RX deductible will be capped at $715.00. As a reminder the cost of the plan is not as important as the cost plus your medications, that is what you look at, the total cost. It is important to know what the medication is used for to determine if it is covered by the plan. Example Wycovy may be covered but to be covered it must be used for certain heart conditions or diabetes, Medicare does not cover weight lose medications at this time.  As a reminder if you choose NOT to ENROLL in a Part D drug plan and in later years you want one you will have to wait for Annual Enrollment and then you will assed a penalty for every month you did not have a drug plan, that penalty will last for the REST OF YOUR LIFE! When you turn 65 you are eligible for Medicare, once you have worked 40 quarters roughly 10 years there is no cost for Medicare Part A. Part A covers Hospitals, Skilled Nursing, Home Health & Hospice. Medicare Part B you can choose to take at 65, or you can hold off if you are still working and have credible coverage. If you do not have group health insurance that is considered qualified, and then you want Medicare you would have a late enrollment penalty for each month you did not have Part B & Part D, and that penalty will last for the rest of your life. Part B covers doctors, imaging, blood work, ambulance, durable medical equipment, etc. Part D is a Medicare Drug Plan and covers medications. During your initial enrollment period it is especially important to understand your options! Medicare Supplements/Medigap Plans are NOT guaranteed issues; you may need to medically qualify. You can purchase a Medigap Plan during your 1st 6 months on Medicare Part B without medical underwriting. There are a lot of things you need to know. Again, work with an agent you can trust! Especially important: when you move you need to know your options. Can you keep the same plan? Do you need to make a change and what does that look like? Logical Insurance Solutions is a SWFL Insurance Broker that works with most of the insurance carriers in your area, we are happy to help you through the maze. We offer Free Medicare Seminars, Personal Appointments & Virtual appointments. Please e-mail [email protected] to register or call 239-362-0855 for dates. Medicares website is www.Medicare.gov. www.Logicalinsurance.com    239-362-0855    [email protected] Ulla-Undine Merritt (Dee) National Producer Number (NPN) 8853366 

One of the most important decisions families can make as their loved one's age is when to begin exploring senior living options. Too often, the conversation doesnt happen until a crisis occursa fall, hospitalization, medication concern, caregiver burnout, or sudden change in care needs.At that point, families may feel overwhelmed and pressured to make a major decision quickly. Instead of choosing what truly feels right, they may simply choose what is immediately available.Senior Living Should Be a ChoiceNot a CrisisPlanning ahead gives seniors and their families something incredibly valuable: time.Time to tour communities.Time to ask questions.Time to compare services and costs.Time to meet the team.Time to understand care options.And most importantly, time for the senior to have a voice in the decision.When the decision is made proactively, seniors can participate in choosing where they want to live, what lifestyle appeals to them, and what is important to their daily happiness and independence.Why Families Choose Springwood CourtAt Springwood Court Assisted Living, we believe the transition to senior living should feel like a new beginningnot a response to an emergency.Our goal is to provide a warm, welcoming environment where residents can receive support while continuing to enjoy the things that make life meaningful.With a tenured, experienced team, 24/7 staff presence, engaging activities, chef-prepared meals, housekeeping, outings, and a strong focus on personalized care, Springwood Court strives to create a community where residents feel known, valued, and at home.Our philosophy is simple:The building may be brick and mortar, but the people are what make it a home to thrive! That is why we encourage families to visit us before there is a crisis. Come through the doors. Meet our team. Talk with residents. Ask questions. Learn about our services and how we can support changing needs.Planning Ahead Protects ChoiceExploring senior living early does not mean someone has to move immediately.Sometimes the best first step is simply taking a tour and beginning a conversation. A senior may decide they arent ready todaybut now the family knows their options and has a relationship with a community they trust.That preparation can make an enormous difference when circumstances eventually change.Dont Wait Until There Is No ChoiceA crisis can take away options. Planning creates them.At Springwood Court, we want families to feel comfortable starting the conversation earlywhen there is time to make thoughtful decisions, involve their loved one, and find the right fit.Start the conversation. Take the tour. Ask the questions. Know your options.Because senior living should be about choosing where you want to livenot simply finding somewhere to go when you have nowhere else to turn.Springwood Court Assisted LivingFeel the Difference.The Residents Are Not Our Business. They Are Our Why.