44 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • OCTOBER 26, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
Looking for a Medicare Part D plan? Consider these 3 things
Many people are surprised to fi nd out
that Original Medicare doesn’t cover prescription
Feeling fatigued? 3 ways women can boost iron intake
If you’re a woman who feels like you’re
constantly fi ghting fatigue, there could be
a physical reason for that sluggishness.
In the US, 1 in 10 women, between
12 and 49 years old, are dealing with the
results of low iron, according to the Centers
for Disease Control, and that can easily
lead to extra fatigue and muscle weakness.
Unfortunately, iron defi ciency is the
most common nutrient defi ciency worldwide,
according to the World Health
Organization (WHO), particularly aff ecting
menstruating women, pregnant women,
vegans and vegetarians, athletes (especially
women) and recent blood donors.
“Many women have low iron levels
and simply don’t know it,” reports Dr.
Tieraona Low Dog, an internationally
recognized expert in the fi elds of integrative
medicine, herbal medicine and
dietary supplementation, and author of
National Geographic’s “Fortify Your Life:
Your Guide to Vitamins, Minerals and
More.” “Iron is absolutely critical to some
of our most basic functions, like energy
production, oxygen circulation and
healthy brain function.”
Th e good news is, low iron stores can be
easy to correct. Scientists at Mayo Clinic
suggest the following remedies:
• Eat more foods rich in iron; these
include meat, eggs, soybeans, seafood,
beans, peas, peanuts, dark-green leafy
vegetables, dried fruits, oatmeal and/or
iron-fortifi ed breads, cereals and pastas.
• In conjunction with high-iron foods, eat
foods high in vitamin C that promote
iron absorption. Th is group includes
citrus fruits and juices, melons, strawberries,
kiwi, broccoli, leafy greens, peppers
and tomatoes.
• Aft er talking to your doctor, choose an
iron-boosting supplement that doesn’t
cause unpleasant side eff ects such as
nausea, diarrhea or constipation. Blood
Builder, made by MegaFood using
nutrients with farm-fresh whole foods,
is clinically proven to increase iron
stores in women without upsetting your
stomach and digestive tract. To support
healthy red blood cell production and
iron bioavailability, Blood Builder also
includes food state folate, B12 and vitamin
C delivered through Uncle Matt’s
Organic whole oranges.
In addition to fatigue, the most common
symptom of low iron, symptoms
can also include muscle weakness upon
exertion; heart palpitations; pale skin;
decreased focus; occasional sadness and/
or an inability to stay warm.
Seeking more information about
addressing an iron defi ciency? Learn
more at BloodBuilder.com.
Courtesy BPT
drugs. For help with the cost
of your medications, you can choose a
standalone Part D plan or a Medicare
Advantage plan with prescription coverage,
but navigating your options can be
complicated.
With Medicare Open Enrollment running
from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 - the annual
window when you can make changes to
your Medicare coverage - now is a good
time to learn about how to pick a plan
that can best suit your needs.
Kent Monical, senior vice president for
Part D at UnitedHealthcare Medicare &
Retirement, recommends you consider
these three things when choosing a plan.
1. Your drugs
Prescription drug plans can vary signifi
cantly. Each Part D plan has a list of
drugs, called a formulary, which shows
the drugs it covers.
“When considering a Part D plan,
be sure your medications are covered,”
Monical said. “Even if you don’t expect to
change plans, it’s important to make sure
your drugs will still be covered next year,
as plans can change from year to year.”
2. Your pharmacy
Most Part D plans have preferred pharmacy
networks. People can typically get
their drugs for a lower copay when they
visit preferred pharmacies.
“Make sure the plan off ers access to
pharmacies that are convenient for you,”
Monical said. “Some plans also have
mail-order pharmacy benefi ts, and you
can get prescriptions delivered to your
home for a lower cost than purchasing
from a retail location.”
3. Your total costs
“A low monthly premium plan doesn’t
necessarily mean it will be the lowest-cost
plan,” said Monical. “You should also
understand the other out-of-pocket costs,
including the annual deductible and drug
copays.”
Plans sort drugs into several tiers, with
generic or lower-tier drugs generally costing
less than drugs on higher tiers. Talk
to your doctor about whether a lower-tier
drug might be suitable for you, which
could help you save money.
The bottom line
Medicare Open Enrollment is a great
time to make sure you have the right prescription
drug coverage for your health
and budget needs. Monical concludes,
“Exploring your Part D options now
could help you save money in 2018.”
For more helpful open enrollment information,
visit UHCOpenEnrollment.com.
Courtesy BPT