Open + Enrollment
Your guide to making key Medicare and health insurance decisions Advertising Supplement to The Denver Post
October 25, 2020
Inside: Learn about Colorado’s health insurance marketplace.
What the Right Kind of Care Looks Like Mark Iorio, Central West Region President, Humana How to Tell if You’re Getting the Right Primary Care One of the best ways to get better healthcare is through your primary care provider (PCP). PCPs connect the dots between your lifestyle, health and goals. This holistic approach enables them to keep you at the center of diagnoses and treatments. Ultimately, your PCP should put you on the path to achieving your best health and happiest life. As vital as PCPs are, they differ in their quality and effectiveness. Here are questions to ask yourself about your PCP to tell if you’re getting the right primary care.
Is Your PCP Personal? A great PCP prioritizes learning about you. They understand not only your medical history but also your personal history. They understand your health goals. They regularly check in on you between appointments. They respect you and your decisions.
Does Your PCP Listen? Many doctors only give you an average of 11 seconds to speak before interrupting.1 Yet public opinion research2 found that listening and taking time to answer questions outranked current medical knowledge as an important characteristic of a good doctor.
Does Your PCP Give You Quality and Quantity Time? Many of us have come to expect healthcare as a waiting game. After all the waiting, the actual time spent with your PCP can feel anticlimactic and rushed. But long waits and short consultations don’t have to be the norm. In fact, many PCPs focus on minimizing wait times. They manage smaller caseloads so they can dedicate more time to individual patients and truly get to know them and their health concerns.
Is Your PCP Focused on Your Needs? While PCPs are healthcare generalists, not all focus on seniors or those with disabilities and their specific needs. PCPs who are not focused on seniors may not be aware of their implicit biases about aging.3 General PCPs might not have facilities designed for older adults or those with disabilities. Those facilities include modifications like lower exam chairs, wider hallways and doorways, non-slip floors or handrails. Features like these allow for easier mobility and increased independence through compassionate and
thoughtful design.
Is Your PCP Tech Friendly? Whether your PCP offers online scheduling or telemedicine, the technology should be intuitive and easy to use. Just like a PCP’s physical office design, you as the patient should be at the center of the PCP’s technology, not the other way around, and they should help improve your quality of life.
because health is more than going to the doctor; it’s the sum of all those small choices that add up every day.
Think You Need a New PCP?
Does it offer additional services?
It’s time you got the kind of primary care you deserve. To learn more about the unique kind of care in Humana’s network, visit HealthThatCares. com, or contact your local licensed Humana Sales Agent at 1-844-224-8993 (TTY: 711). ¿En español? Llame gratis al 1-844-357-9121 (TTY: 711).
A great PCP will offer additional services like onsite lab work for added convenience and efficiencies. They may also offer coordinated care with a health coach and/or behavioral health specialist
Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and PFFS organization and a stand-alone prescription drug plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal.
Sources 1 https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2018/07/22/how-long-you-can-talkbefore-your-doctor-interrupts-you/#496810b14432 2 https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/what-makes-good-doctor-and-otherfindings-2019-aamc-public-opinion-research 3 https://www.seniorliving.org/health/ageism/
H U M A N A M E D I C A R E A D VA N TA G E P L A N S
A network of doctors who care about you as a patient, and as a person. That’s human care. Care that’s centered on you is nearby. 6 care centers located near you.
Arvada Iora Primary Care 8175 N. Sheridan Blvd., Unit N Arvada, CO 80003 Littleton Iora Primary Care 8246 W. Bowles Ave., Bldg. 1, Unit T Littleton, CO 80123
Aurora Iora Primary Care 1080 S. Sable Blvd. Aurora, CO 80012
Lakewood Iora Primary Care 1692 Wadsworth Blvd. Lakewood, CO 80214
Glendale Iora Primary Care 4100 E. Mississippi Ave., #110 Glendale, CO 80246
NOW OPEN! South Federal Iora Primary Care 730 S. Federal Blvd. Denver, CO 80219
Take a virtual tour at SelectIora.com Learn more about the unique kind of care in Humana’s network at HealthThatCares.com. Or contact your local licensed Humana Sales Agent at 1-844-224-8993 (TTY: 711). ¿En español? Llame gratis al 1-844-357-9121 (TTY: 711).
Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and PFFS organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal. Other Providers are available in our network. Provider may also contract with other plan sponsors. Important! At Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable Federal Civil Rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, marital status or religion. ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1-844-224-8993 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-844-357-9121 (TTY: 711). 繁體中 文 (Chinese): 注意：如果您使用繁體中文 ，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務 。請致電 1-844-224-8993 (TTY: 711) 。 Y0040_GHHKTYSEN_M
“I work on a college campus and I could not walk two buildings away without pain.” Kevin Massey, Centura Health Nancy Moore of Colorado Springs shared her journey as a patient of Dr. Todd Miner at Centura - Colorado Joint Replacement. As an avid hiker, she said knee pain got progressively worse until she could barely walk. So she made an appointment with Dr. Miner. “I told Dr. Miner I was there because I wanted to hike mountains again, and he said I would. I always felt like I could ask questions, and he always listened.” Nancy was offered a cane to use during recovery but decided to use a hiking stick instead. After two knee replacements, she said she has much more mobility. “I can stretch them out with no pain. I could even run if I had to. I keep getting better and better.” She even hiked Mt. Parnassus the same year has her surgery. “I can’t even describe the feeling. If you keep maintaining the exercise and the therapy they give you, then you can do amazing things. “I feel blessed every day that I didn’t go with the first doctor who came along, but I waited for the doctor who was right for me, and that was Dr. Todd Miner from Colorado Joint Replacement.” Colorado Joint Replacement is proud to align with Centura Health’s commitment to high quality, whole person care. As the Rocky Mountain region’s premier orthopedic center, our surgeons perform eight times more knee and hip replacements than the average orthopedic surgeon, and they bring an unmatched, personalized approach to
Federal Health care Federal Health Care, Inc. located in Northwest Denver on Federal Blvd serves primarily Medicaid, Medicare, Uninsured and Underinsured patientsthe most vulnerable and marginalized sections of our society. These patients are also extremely complex to manage and treat. When COVID started, the clinic closed due to the pandemic status and vulnerability of staff and patients, leaving patients scrambling to find a new doctor. In Northwest Denver, Federal Health Care, Inc. was an important facility due to limited health care providers in this area. Dr. Francis Joseph, MD JD has stepped in now to
each patient.
call Colorado Joint Replacement at
To learn more or to schedule your appointment,
(720) 524-1367.
rescue these thousands of vulnerable patients and has made their healthcare access and care now a reality. Last year when Team health was shutting down, and the lives of 9,200 patients were at stake, Dr. Francis Joseph, MD JD stepped in and rescued the practice, and Chanel 7 reported Dr. Francis Joseph, MD JD as a “Knight in Shining Armor” that helped these patients who were facing the possible loss of their primary care physicians.
• Geriatrics • Hospice and Palliative care • Chronic disease management • Nursing Home care (Skilled and Long term)
Dr. Francis Joseph, MD JD, and his Nurse Practitioner, Corina Lohrman, NP will be providing exceptional:
Dr. Francis Joseph, MD JD vocation is to connect with people, build strong relationships and help people during this COVID crisis, going over and beyond the call of his duty to help patients and risking their lives as well. He is also helping the local economy of the community by hiring staff locally, mitigating unemployment because of COVID.
• Primary care • Pain Management • Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid addiction and Heroin addiction
794 PROVIDERS. 3,615 SPECIALISTS. 9 HOSPITALS. TONS OF EXTRA BENEFITS. A large provider network is just one of the many benefits of our Medicare Advantage plans. In addition to all the benefits you would expect from original Medicare, Denver Health Medicare Advantage plans also provide:
Provider network includes:
Even More benefits:
» » » »
» 35 round-trip rides to the doctor’s office » Up to $200 in Eyewear every year » Up to $1,500 in hearing aid coverage every 3 years » Dental, vision and hearing
Denver Health SCL (Denver Metro Area) UCHealth (Denver Metro Area) Stride Community
Low copays: » $0 PCP copay » $25 specialist copay » $25 urgent care copay
CONTACT A LICENSED SALES AGENT TO ENROLL TODAY 303-602-4912 (TTY 711) 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Monday through Friday denverhealthmedicalplan.org
Denver Health Medical Plan, Inc. is a Medicare-approved HMO plan. Enrollment in Denver Health Medical Plan depends on contract renewal. The Plan also has a written agreement with the Colorado Medicaid Program to coordinate your Medicaid benefits. ATTENTION: If you speak Spanish, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1-877-956-2111 (TTY 711). ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Para obtener más información llame al 1-877-956-2111. (Los usuarios de TTY deben llamar al 711). H5608_NwsPprPrntAdV2_21_M
Preparing for Open Enrollment in a Pandemic
Medicare coverage is needed now more than ever. Having a plan that can support you during the COVID-19 pandemic can be of great help, especially with the expenses involved in treating the disease. However, the pandemic has strained the workings in various industries, including the health insurance field. As everyone is still adjusting to the “new normal” set-up, one might encounter challenges when registering for insurance. Before the open enrollment season rolls in, it’s essential to know how you can prepare for the changes in Medicare applications.
How to Prepare for Open Enrollment During the New Normal Delaying a Medicare application isn’t an option, especially with the current crisis that the whole country is facing. Now, the question is, how can you ensure an efficient and safe way of registering for healthcare plans? To get you started, here are some tips that will help you have a hassle-free insurance enrollment during this pandemic:
Don’t Panic s companies close down and lay off employees, it’s inevitable for many to A worry about their insurance coverage. While this is a valid feeling, panicking won’t solve anything. It’s important to stay level-headed when preparing for the open enrollment. This way, you can explore and understand your insurance options clearly. on’t worry. The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is D doing their best to make sure every citizen has access to the benefits of government health insurance. They are finding ways to provide equitable relief, like application extensions and waiving of late registration penalty fees. Also, in case you apply now, there will surely be a plan that fits your healthcare needs and budget.
Federal Health Care Inc. Dr. Francis Joseph, MD JD
Physician Entrepreneur takes over Federal Health Care, Inc.
Dr. Francis Joseph MD JD
et More Information About Contactless G Registrations S ince everyone is encouraged to practice social distancing measures, it’s important to know how you can make contactless registrations. Currently, the Social Security Authority (SSA) has provided two ways to apply for Medicare coverage. For online transactions, go to the agency’s website and follow the instructions indicated there. Also, you may send documents through airmail or fax. s of now, local social security offices are not allowed to render in-person A services but they can still process applications which are sent to them in the channels mentioned. This is beneficial for you as you won’t have to risk going out.
Inquire About Your Local State Exchange
Now Accepting Walk-Ins and New Patients Dr. Francis Joseph MD JD has stepped in once again, to help Dr. Robert Springs in transitioning Federal Health Care patients, to under his care and leadership. • Dr. Francis Joseph is a highly talented physician with over 28 years of experience in Primary Care, Geriatric Care, Pain Management, Chronic Disease Management, Nursing Home - skilled and long term care and Hospice and Palliative Care. • In addition to medical school, Dr. Francis Joseph also completed his law school and holds certifications in health and hospital law from Seton Law School, NJ and healthcare compliance and ethics from Mitchell Hamlin Law School, MN. He also completed his finance certification from Harvard and Artificial Intelligence (AI) from MIT. • Corina Lohrman, NP is a seasonal nurse who recently completed her Nurse Practitioners degree.
COVID Testing and Diagnostics • Bilingual Staff • Most Insurances Accepted Medicare and Medicaid • Home Visits available for seniors who are homebound Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) to overcome Opioid and Heroine crisis
Call For an Appointment Today! Federal Health Care, Inc. 4120 Federal Blvd., Denver, CO 80211
303.455.4761
pen enrollment schedules vary per state. Some may even be flexible O when it comes to their deadlines of registration. Don’t forget to check with your local Social Security office regarding the exchange. Otherwise, you might miss the application period. Only a qualifying life event can make you eligible to apply within the rest of the year until the next exchange.
Ask Your State’s Social Security Office About Special Enrollment ue to the pandemic, many people might have trouble registering. If you’ve D missed the window period, try calling your local Social Security office to ask if there are new schedules. Usually, Medicare offers special enrollment on a case-to-case basis. The staff in-charge of the applications can recommend a workaround so you can still sign up.
Find Out More About Medicare Applications With Open Enrollment Magazine Research is the key to a successful Medicare enrollment. If you need reliable resources about the government insurance program, turn to Open Enrollment Magazine. We provide relevant and up-to-date information that can help you have a hassle-free application. Read our blogs today to learn more.
Denver Health Medical Plan (DHMP) on the Importance of Preventative Care By simply taking a proactive approach to your health, you can prevent a wide variety of chronic illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. The fact is, preventive care is one of the most important ways you can optimize your current well-being and catch any concerns early on, so they don’t develop into something more serious down the line. And for older adults who are at more risk for health problems, this is particularly important. Immunizations, annual wellness visits, tests, and screenings are just some of the ways you can proactively manage your health.
Protecting Yourself and Others with Vaccines Vaccines are a weakened or dead form of a germ that causes a particular disease. When administered, the immune system produces antibodies ready to protect you from contracting the disease if the germ ever shows up in the future. Vaccines are not only safe, they’re highly effective. During the 2017–2018 flu season alone, for instance, the flu shot prevented approximately 6.2 million
cases of the flu, 3.2 million flu-related medical visits, 91,000 flu-related hospitalizations, and 5,700 flu-related deaths. However, many people choose not to be vaccinated, putting not only themselves at risk but others as well, including children too young to be vaccinated, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with chronic conditions.
Annual Wellness Visits In addition to vaccinations, annual wellness visits are an important way to stay on top of your care. It’s an opportunity to learn about your present health, address any concerns and learn what preventive measures you can take to ensure your long-term well-being. During your visit, your provider will usually record your height, weight, and vitals, take a blood and/or urine sample and perform a physical exam. And depending on your particular risk, age, and gender, your provider may also suggest specific screenings, prescriptions, tests, or specialty visits.
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Preparing for your Visit Before your wellness visit, you’ll fill out a medical history form. So, it’s important to gather all information regarding your medical history ahead of time. And if you have any questions or concerns, make a list and bring it with you to your appointment. By thoroughly preparing for your exam, you’ll make it easier for your provider to help you manage your health. Preventive care is a covered benefit on all DHMP plans. For more on our Medicare Advantage plans call 303-602-4912.
Medicare’s Annual Election Period begins October 15. Have your 2021 Medicare Advantage plan ready to protect you on January 1, 2021.
“This is Medicare Advantage, the easy way.” Meredith Vieira
Compensated spokesperson
Go to myHealthPolicy.com to find out.
Our local network of licensed insurance agents can also help you find the right Medicare Advantage plan or a standalone Part D Prescription Drug Plan that works with Original Medicare! Call us at 1-800-GO-START (1-800-467-8278), TTY 711. myHealthPolicy.com is operated by K.F. Agency, Inc., which is a licensed and certified representative of Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and PFFS organizations and stand-alone prescription drug plans with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in these plans depends on contract renewal. myHealthPolicy,com and K.F. Agency are not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. CA residents: We collect personal information from you in order to offer products, services and information we think will be of interest to you. As a California consumer, you have the right to opt out of the sale of your information. Please see myhealthpolicy.com/home/ privacy-center to learn more about the information we collect, how we use it, and exercising your rights.
Put your life back in motion. We’re open for knee and hip replacements now. Don’t let knee or hip pain keep you from living a more active, pain-free life. We are accredited joint replacement specialists who perform thousands of procedures each year—all with care and compassion. Let us help you move freely and easily. Learn more at coloradojoint.org or call 720-782-8646 to book a consultation today— telemedicine appointments are also available.
Centura Health does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy contact Centura Health’s Office of the General Counsel at 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711). Copyright © Centura Health, 2020. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-719-776-5370 (TTY: 711). CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-719-776-5370 (TTY: 711).