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--- Begin Message ---The Medicare Counselor March - April 2008; Volume 2, Issue 2 The Medicare Counselor is a free publication of the Medicare Rights Center. Each issue will address timely topics that will help yousocial workers, health care providers and other professionalskeep up-to-date on important Medicare issues that affect the well-being of your clients. In this issue: 1. Getting Back to the Basics: Is Medicare Primary or Secondary If I Have Health Coverage from an Employer? If you have insurance from a current or former employer, it is important to determine whether Medicare is your primary or secondary insurer because your primary insurer provides the bulk of your health insurance. The rules for primary versus secondary Medicare coverage depend on whether you are eligible for Medicare due to age (over 65) or disability; whether you are currently working or retired; and, if you are working, the size of the company you work for. Read the full article. (http://www.medicarerights.org/thecounselor.pdf#pagemode=bookmarks) 2. Your Hospital Discharge Rights. Most of the time, doctors and nurses are the best judges of your progress and recovery when in the hospital. However, it's possible that in certain situations they may ask you to leave the hospital before you feel well enough to go. If this happens and you feel you are being discharged too early, you have the right to ask for an independent, immediate review of your case. Read the full article. (http://www.medicarerights.org/thecounselor.pdf#pagemode=bookmarks&nameddest=hospitaldischarge) 3. Medicare Coverage of Diabetes Supplies. Many older adults suffer from diabetes, a serious chronic illness that can lead to a host of health problems—including stroke, blindness and nerve damage. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you can live a longer, healthier life if you monitor your condition and follow your doctor's orders. If you have diabetes, be sure to know what Medicare benefits you are entitled to and how to best use these services to manage your condition. Your Medicare coverage can help you manage your diabetes and stay healthy and active. Read the full article. (http://www.medicarerights.org/thecounselor.pdf#pagemode=bookmarks&nameddest=diabetes) 4. Does Medicare Ever Cover Dental Services? Because of the high cost of most dental work, it is extremely important to know if your Medicare coverage will cover the dental services you need. In general, Medicare will not cover routine dental care—that is, care that you need primarily for the health of your teeth. However, Medicare will cover some dental services if they are required to protect your general health, or if you need dental care in order for another health service that Medicare covers to be successful. Read the full article. (http://www.medicarerights.org/thecounselor.pdf#pagemode=bookmarks&nameddest=dental) The current issue of The Medicare Counselor can always be found online at www.medicarerights.org/thecounselor.pdf (http://www.medicarerights.org/thecounselor.pdf#pagemode=bookmarks). Questions and comments about the topics in this issue may be addressed to [EMAIL PROTECTED] (http://www.medicarerights.org/emessage.php?name=thecounselor). We encourage suggestions for article topics in future issues that pertain to the well-being of your clients with Medicare. The Medicare Counselor is in presented to you in PDF format. To view it, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader or another program that reads PDF files. If you do not already have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you can download it (http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html). Thank you for your continued support. Sincerely, The Medicare Counselor * * * * * * * The Medicare Rights Center (MRC) is the largest independent source of Medicare information and assistance in the United States. Founded in 1989, MRC helps older adults and people with disabilities get good, affordable health care. Privacy Policy: MRC will never share your e-mail address with a third party. Contents are copyrighted 2008 by Medicare Rights Center, 520 Eighth Avenue, North Wing, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10018. To prevent mailbox filters from deleting mailings from The Medicare Rights Center, add [EMAIL PROTECTED] to your address book. To remove yourself from this mailing, please go to http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=cfIKKWNCKdIKL6K&s=rkI5KfONKcIYKaMWG&m=ktKYIcOSImJ5G To modify your profile, please go to http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=fsJQK5OOIgLRJgJ&s=rkI5KfONKcIYKaMWG&m=ktKYIcOSImJ5G
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