Sam is a very nice gentleman that lives alone, never asks for help and does not want to be a bother to anyone. Sam has some health issues and he is a Dual Eligible. This means he is eligible for both Medicare and Idaho Medicaid. Sam was recently diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. A couple of months ago, Sam heard about a new health plan called True Blue and he signed up. True Blue is a Special Needs Plan that is managed by Blue Cross of Idaho through a contract with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.As part of the True Blue Program, all Medicare and Medicaid services are covered and paid for through one place. Each member receives a Care Manager to help them access the services they need. Sams Care Manager met with him and learned that he was taking the bus to all of his Chemotherapy appointments. Feeling weak and fatigued after his appointment, he still would get on the bus and travel home. The Care Manager talked to Sam and told him that he could get a ride to his Chemotherapy sessions and that it was a covered benefit under Medicaid and that she would help him schedule his first ride. Sam was very happy that he was able to have a ride, get picked up and go right home after his session. Sometimes it is the little things that make the difference to people.Are you on Medicare and Medicaid, or do you know someone who is? Do you/they find it difficult to keep track of which programs pay for certain services? Do you wonder who to call with questions?If so, Blue Cross of Idaho's True Blue Program may be the answer. True Blue provides a care manager who can answer your questions and help you get the services you need. This program also offers medical, mental health, home and community based services, long-term care, dental and vision coverage.True Blue is available in most Idaho counties. Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries wishing to enroll need to be at least 21 years of age and live in the True Blue service area.You can enroll by calling Blue Cross of Idaho at 1-888-495-2583, or TTY users can call 1-888-377-1363, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days a week.Enrollment is voluntary. There is no open enrollment period and members can opt-out at any time.

SHOULD YOU RELY ON WILL POWER TO BEQUETH ASSETS? The more complex your estate, the more ill-advised that choice becomes. Having only a will in place when you die may not be enough. As MarketWatch noted recently, research from the Williams Group (a major estate planning firm) indicates that estate fights reduce inherited wealth for as many of 70% of families.INHERITANCE IS NO SIMPLE MATTER. In a simpler world, an individual with a $3 million estate could pass away and simply leave $1 million each to his or her children enough said, over and done. But life isn't so simple: one heir may deserve more money as a result of a disability or fate dealing out hardships, while another may truthfully deserve less due to his or her behavior, or his or her financial success. If you feel one heir should receive more of your estate than another, that wish needs to be articulated in your estate planning. Stating these wishes before you pass away (the why, the how, the how much) and letting your heirs know how you feel isn't cruel candor now is preferable to confusion and in-fighting later.BEYOND MONEY, WHAT ABOUT POSSESSIONS & REAL PROPERTY? Homes, businesses, raw land, antiques, artwork, collectibles, heirlooms, and pets: your children and grandchildren may have different perceptions of their future value, and disagree on their destiny. Being clear about who is going to get what today (and why specific decisions are being made) may help defray potential legal challenges tomorrow.CONSIDER LEAVING SOME THINGS UP TO THE KIDS. You could call in appraisers to set values for your real and personal property, make a list of those assets and their values, and subsequently allow your heirs to take turns choosing the possessions or properties they want to inherit. If a squabble breaks out between heirs over this or that item, you can settle it with a family auction that item goes to the highest bidder when you pass away.LIVING WILLS? THOSE CAN PROVE QUITE VALUABLE. You may not die suddenly, and you could be incapacitated for a period just prior to your death. Should that be the case, a living will (also called an advance directive) can articulate how you want to be treated. Additionally, a health care proxy document can appoint someone (known legally as a health care agent) to authorize doctors and nurses to carry out those directions. A health care proxy is also crucial in instances when a younger individual becomes severely disabled.Editors Note: Footnotes, disclosures and sources: Securities, advisory services and insurance products are offered through Investment Centers of America, Inc. (ICA), member FINRA, SIPC and a Registered Investment Advisor, and affiliated insurance agencies. CFP and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM are marks owned by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. This mark is awarded to individuals who successfully complete the CFP Boards initial and ongoing certification requirements. This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates.

Heart Month Tip #17: Make a commitment to moveFebruary 17, 2015From David Hinchman, MD, Cardiologist and St. Luke's Medical Director of Cardiovascular ResearchSigning up for races and other events helps me stay disciplined about exercise, says Dr. David Hinchman. The avid cyclist says that committing to an event gives him something to train fora concrete goal to achieve. And Dr. Hinchman fuels his training with a diet thats loaded with healthy, whole foods. I follow the Mediterranean diet faithfully, he says, and when I want a snack, I go for nuts.Leading heart and vascular research in southern IdahoDr. Hinchman oversees the most extensive cardiovascular research program in the state at St. Lukes. Our cardiologists and their patients have been active in clinical research for more than 10 years, participating in trials testing new genetic and imaging strategies to detect coronary artery disease and myocardial ischemia (when blood flow to the heart decreases or stops due to a blocked coronary artery), and to treat arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, cholesterol issues, and high blood pressure.St. Lukes is committed to clinical research because it gives us the opportunity to bring new treatments and therapies to patients in our community that would otherwise not be available. And studies show that patients treated at hospitals that participate in clinical trials have a higher quality of care, better outcomes, and lower mortality rates than patients treated at hospitals that do not participate in trials. Learn more about heart and vascular research at St. Lukes, including available clinical trials.Give from the heart.Cardiovascular research at St. Lukes touches people every dayimproving treatments, saving lives, and building hope for patients with serious disease. This important work takes place right here in southern Idaho, with results that affect people around the world. You can be a part by giving a gift to support this vital research. To learn more, visit us online to donate or email foundation@slhs.org. Every gift makes a difference.

Do you know that there are more than 40,000 Treasure Valley family members-- spouses, adult children, parents and grandparents who provide care and support to ill, disabled, or frail loved ones at home? These family caregivers are de facto care coordinators, medication managers, personal and medical care providers, fiscal and legal managers, planners and decision-makers for tens of thousands of chronically ill or disabled people in our community. Our health care and social services rely heavily on family caregivers to provide care but don't address caregivers needs for training, information and support. As a result, family caregivers experience stress, depression, anxiety, and often become isolated; they have to leave jobs or reduce their work hours; they spend much of their own money to care for others; and most sobering, they can die before the person they care for. Family caregivers are the backbone of our community's health care, and they deserve to be informed, prepared, and supported!Do you know someone who is a family caregiver? A great way to help is to encourage that person to say I am a family caregiver, and I deserve to be supported! Caregivers who self-identify are much more likely to seek information and support that can help them provide care AND they are more likely to take care of themselves too. Where can a family caregiver turn for information and support? A great resource is the Seniors Blue Book. Another great resource is a nonprofit agency called Friends in Action (FIA).FIAs services help family caregivers build a "toolbox" of resources, skills and strategies to navigate the challenges of caregiving, reduce stress, connect with resources, and build confidence in their abilities. FIAs education programs (Powerful Tools for Caregivers and Living Well in Idaho) teach caregivers how to manage stress and feel less overwhelmed. Our in-home support services (Legacy Corps Caregiver Support Program) gives regular breaks to veteran and military families. The JumpStart program works with caregivers one-on-one to connect them with quality information and resources to meet their unique needs and concerns. FIAs 4th Annual Family Caregiver Conference (January 31, 2015) is a one-day education event to connect caregivers with great information, community resources, and mutual support. Many of FIAs services are provided by amazing volunteers (more than 160 of them), who extend the expertise of professional staff and allow FIA to cost-effectively serve many more caregivers. Don't hesitate to reach out to FIA and ask how we can help any family caregiver you know. We believe family caregivers matter!Stephanie Bender-Kitz, Director, Friends in Action