Dust Eventually Will Settle On Health Care Reform

I have traveled the same route to work for about 25 years. This summer, as always, I’m encountering detours for building rehabs, sidewalk installations and road repairs. I understand these activities are necessary, and I always make it there and back with little or no problem. These impediments add a whopping five minutes to my commute, but I still have to remain vigilant and aware, especially during my morning trip across town.

Awareness is key in other areas. A number of changes are in the works for our Medicare Advantage members in the coming year. Proposed legislation includes major alterations in availability, coverage and more. At this time, nothing is decided, but I can guess how perplexing these revisions will be for anyone who uses or works with Medicare.

Those looking for more information or ways to get involved can visit http://www.protectmedicare.org/. The site, which is scheduled to go live by September 1, spotlights the Health Alliance Protect Medicare. Protect Me. campaign and offers member testimonials, links to information sources and ways to contact legislators to tell them your thoughts about keeping all possible protections in place for seniors with Medicare Advantage plans.

Health Alliance CEO Jeff Ingrum is passionate about our Medicare products.

“Our objective is a stable program for the senior market that is cost-reasonable. Our focus is on the community, and I can’t envision our plan not having services for this population,” he said.

Jana Perry is the Health Alliance director of Medicare and Individual Services. She is the person who had the good sense to hire me over a decade ago. She has also weathered many shifts in Medicare. Thankfully for all of us, experience and paying attention to the details are her forte.

“Medicare Advantage plans offer wellness benefits, care coordination for members with chronic health conditions and post-discharge follow-up for people who have been in the hospital. These are quantifiable benefits to people on these types of plans,” she said.

Regardless of how much the federal government revamps Medicare, we will still need to remain vigilant—hands on the wheel, alert and conscious of our surroundings. I confidently predict we will all reach our destination, but we might encounter some delays and frustrations along the way. I can’t wait to see what we end up with when the dust settles.