Your Local Broker for Medicare Insurance Needs
Jay Looft Owner/Agent
•
•
•
•
I’m
turning 65.
What do I do now?
There can be a little anxiety around the choices you have when turning 65. Friends and family will give you their advice on what they know (or think they know) about the “best choice”, but your situation can be different from theirs. All these different opinions can make it hard to find clarity. I can’t provide a full training session on Medicare insurance in this short newspaper article, but here are a few MUST-DO steps to take when approaching the traditional Medicare age of 65-years old- or young:).
Important Step #1: To add or not to add Part B: If you are on group health insurance through the company you are working for and you plan on working past age 65, then you should consider delaying your Part B enrollment. When working for a larger employer (20 or more employees), the group health insurance is the primary payor and there are very few reasons to add Part B. In most of these cases, delay enrolling into Part B!
Important Step #2: Understand your Medicare insurance monthly cost: For most beneficiaries, Medicare Part A is premium-free by virtue of paying into the tax system during your time
of working. The standard premium for Medicare Part B in 2025 is $185 per month, but may be more based on your recent income. Use your search engine to look up Medicare IRMAA, which stands for Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. This is the increased amount the government charges beneficiaries who make beyond the standard thresholds. It can greatly impact your monthly budget and is something to pay attention to when entering into Medicare.
Important Step #3: Work with a Medicare Insurance Broker: It’s hard to know all the ins and outs on your own. A trusted licensed insurance broker, like SeniorSource Medicare Solutions, will educate you on how Parts A, B, C, and D work together and can help you know what to expect from the insurance option you choose. Also, brokers don’t work for just one company, but many. We are able to look at all the options available for your solution.
If you have questions about these important steps or would like to request our assistance, please contact us at (770) 913-6464 or reach out on our contact web page at www. SeniorSourceMedicare.com/contactseniorsource.
Brought to you by - SeniorSource Medicare Solutions
Comprehensive Internal Medicine
Serving as the Medical Home for Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton, & Johns Creek, for over 20 years
Brought to you by – Comprehensive Internal Medicine
What is a medical home?
A medical home is an approach to providing comprehensive and high-quality primary care, in a coordinated fashion with specialists and consultants.
A medical home is patientcentered with many aspects that contribute to improved healthcare outcomes
• Accessibility: Care is easy for the patient to obtain, including geographic access and insurance accommodation.
• Family-centered: The patient and family are recognized and acknowledged, ensuring that all medical decisions are made in true partnership.
• Continuous: The same primary care clinician cares for patient, aiding and support through young adulthood through elder years.
• Comprehensive: Preventive, primary and specialty care are provided.
• Coordinated: A care plan is created in partnership with the patient and communicated with all health care clinicians.
• Compassionate: Genuine concern for the well-being of the patient is emphasized and addressed.
At Comprehensive Internal Medicine, we involve many team members at various levels to coordinate and provide patient care. Our doctors lead all clinical decision-making in a team approach,
collaborating with the patient to tailor care in an individualized manner.
Understanding the intricacies of our patient’s care brings a deeper knowledge of the long-term care plan. Our team of administrative professionals strives to answer each call quickly, avoiding voice mail or a phone tree.
Our scheduling department quickly accommodates each patient’s scheduling needs.
We save appointment times for same-day appointments and are
always welcoming new patients.
Whereas it may be convenient to see Urgent Care, we believe seeing your regular doctor brings your healthcare to a higher level, being seen quickly when needs arise prevents worsening medical symptoms.
Call today to establish with one of our many doctors. We have physicians who focus on young adult care, and others who have special training in the care of geriatric patients.
Providing Medical Care Including the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases
Jacqueline T. Pearson, M.D., M.S. Anju Bhushan, M.D. Arezou Fatemi, M.D. Ryan Bozof, M.D. Shima Mansouri, P.A.-C Laurae Carpenetti, M.D.
Carol Hector, M.D. Sumera Pervaiz, M.D. Sudeshna Nandi, M.D. Petula Gunn, APRN Jeffrey Obiora, M.D. Raphael Lopez,
Buelow
INSPIRED BY
What is GentleCure™
that the names “Mohs micrographic surgery,” “excision,” Aldara™ cream, Levulan® Keratick® and other treatments do not.
In the last few months, I have received a lot of questions about GentleCure™ — a skin cancer radiation treatment that has been heavily advertised on television. In the past, most discussions about radiation treatments for skin cancer were initiated by me, the physician. GentleCure™’s marketing campaign has been so effective that even patients who do not have skin cancer are asking me about the treatment that they have seen on TV.
I wanted to like GentleCure™. I enjoy the part of my job that is presenting different treatment options for my patients. When radiation is preferable over surgery, I get excited to bring it up. Some skin cancers such as superficial basal cell carcinoma are better treated with Mohs surgery in some instances, radiation therapy in others, cautery and scraping treatments at times and even creams such as Aldara™ or other treatments depending on numerous factors. The exact location, local anatomy, immune system status, details on the pathology report, and individual patient goals all factor into recommendations about what treatments to consider. Multiple excellent treatments are available, and one of the joys of my job is assisting patients in selecting the treatments that are right for them. As a Mohs surgeon, I take pride in discussing alternatives to Mohs surgery. I recognize the potential for conflicts of interest, and I cherish the times when patients and I have decided together on a non-surgical treatment. The motto of my Mohs surgery fellowship was, “Put the patient first” and doing so is what makes me feel whole.
Unfortunately, I find myself very disappointed in GentleCure™. This superficial radiation therapy (SRT) treatment likely takes the technology a step farther than previous types of SRT by adding ultrasound imaging to help define the size and depth of the cancer and adjust treatment energies and settings. Technologically, GentleCure™ is likely a step forward compared with some prior radiation treatment devices. However, the way that the company has chosen to represent their technology is mercenary and misleading.
The name GentleCure™ introduces bias and attempts to sway patients towards this treatment in a way
GentleCure™ has engaged in direct to consumer (DTC) marketing. The United States is one of the only countries in the world to allow DTC marketing of pharmaceuticals, and many physicians and I believe this is a mistake, often to the detriment of society and the patient. DTC is ethically questionable, foremost because of the potential to misrepresent a product and create a false first impression.
In my professional opinion, the GentleCure™ website misrepresents their technology, misleadingly contrasts it with Mohs surgery, and inadequately compares GentleCure™ with other alternative treatments. A few examples:
1. The website gentlecure.com states that “low amounts of x-ray energy” are used, but a typical dose is 50 gray. In contrast, a typical chest x-ray delivers less than a thousandth (<1/1000) of a gray of radiation. Fifty (50) gray is no small amount. It typically permanently kills adnexal structures (hair follicles and sweat glands), permanently changes the area’s ability to heal and carries the risk of actually causing cancer.
2. The website further states that surgery leaves wounds that result in “not doing normal activities” whereas with radiation “you do not need to skip normal daily activities.” However, GentleCure™ treatments are, according to their own website, delivered in separate sessions of typically 18 to 25 visits on 18 to 25 different days. Twenty separate doctor’s appointments for the treatment of a single cancer has the potential to interfere with normal daily activities, I would think.
3. I believe that most people’s primary interest in radiation is the potential to avoid a surgical scar. Again, the website is misleading. Instead of a statement in line with my clinical experience that the scarring after Mohs surgery is typically minimal and inconspicuous, the website focuses on the outliers stating, “scarring may need to be fixed with reconstructive surgery.” And for GentleCure™, the website states “There is no scarring.” This is not completely true. Yes, by definition, there is no surgical scar, but radiated
Brought to you by – Dr. Brent Taylor, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta
Taylor:
Continued from Page 4
skin is never the same. Post-radiation changes can include permanently lightening the treated area, causing noticeable redness or dilated blood vessels to develop, causing an abnormal texture as all hair follicles and sweat glands are eliminated, and sometimes leading to chronically irritated areas and even sometimes post-radiation ulcers that never heal. The website contrasts the unusual case of Mohs surgery with the best case scenario after radiation.
I could go on, as I disagree with much of how this company has decided to represent its product. I love doing research myself, and it saddens me when I learn that the patient trying his or her best to do their own research online is set up to fail by misleading websites and faulty information.
What is the verdict, and what is one to do?
Most patients prefer Mohs surgery over radiation treatments for most skin cancers because of the confidence of clear surgical
margins, the avoidance of numerous appointments for radiation, and the generally excellent cosmetic results achievable with Mohs surgery. However, individual factors such as cancer subtype, body location, tumor size, and personal goals may tip the scales toward one treatment or another. Moreover, Mohs surgery and radiation are just two of multiple options to be considered on a case by case basis. And, yes, despite my disagreement with how the technology is being marketed, I will absolutely continue to recommend it when it is the optimal treatment for my patients.
The key to making the best decision is to receive recommendations from a doctor who you trust, and to seek second opinions when needed. You should sense that your doctor is faithfully helping you navigate your current skin cancer, is happy to discuss alternatives and is also proactively discussing preventative options to decrease the incidence of future cancers. At Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta, I pride myself on providing patients with alternative treatment options even if provided by different physicians or specialties and will always answer a patient’s questions with honesty and integrity.
Insist on the BEST
Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.
He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.
Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 22 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.
Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.
Kathryn Filipek, PA-C
I’m turning 65. What do I do now?
There can be a little anxiety around the choices you have when turning 65. Friends and family will give you their advice on what they know (or think they know) about the “best choice”, but your situation can be different from theirs. All these different opinions can make it hard to find clarity. I can’t provide a full training session on Medicare insurance in this short newspaper article, but here are a few MUST-DO steps to take when approaching the traditional Medicare age of 65-years old- or young:).
Important Step #1: To add or not to add Part B: If you are on group health insurance through the company you are working for and you plan on working past age 65, then you should consider delaying your Part B enrollment. When working for a larger employer (20 or more employees), the group health insurance is the primary payor and there are very few reasons to add Part B. In most of these cases, delay enrolling into Part B!
the tax system during your time of working. The standard premium for Medicare Part B in 2025 is $185 per month, but may be more based on your recent income. Use your search engine to look up Medicare IRMAA, which stands for Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. This is the increased amount the government charges beneficiaries who make beyond the standard thresholds. It can greatly impact your monthly budget and is something to pay attention to when entering into Medicare.
Important Step #3: Work with a Medicare Insurance Broker: It’s hard to know all the ins and outs on your own. A trusted licensed insurance broker, like SeniorSource Medicare Solutions, will educate you on how Parts A, B, C, and D work together and can help you know what to expect from the insurance option you choose. Also, brokers don’t work for just one company, but many. We are able to look at all the options available for your solution.
Important Step #2: Understand your Medicare insurance monthly cost: For most beneficiaries, Medicare Part A is premium-free by virtue of paying into
If you have questions about these important steps or would like to request our assistance, please contact us at (770) 913-6464 or reach out on our contact web page at www. SeniorSourceMedicare.com/ contact-seniorsource.
Paige Gorman Agent
Importance of skin checks for mature skin
Brought
to you by
- Dr. Kehinde Olumesi of Epiphany Dermatology - Brookhaven
As skin matures, it undergoes various changes that necessitate regular skin checks to ensure overall skin health. Differentiating between age spots, healthy moles and potential skin cancers is crucial. Age spots, often appearing as flat, brown, or black spots on sun-exposed areas, are generally harmless but can be mistaken for more serious conditions. Early detection of skin cancer, including melanoma,
