Senior Magazine

Scottsdale SENIOR Magazine welcomes Senior Helpers. At Senior Helpers®, our specialty is professional, warm and compassionate senior care that enables our clients to live independently at home. We look forward to the contributions of Senior Helpers in making Scottsdale SENIOR Magazine the premier full color magazine serving the interest of those 50 and older in the Scottsdale area. Contact Gary Jacobson at 602-741-5413 to secure your spot in Scottsdale SENIOR Magazine.

For Tommy Lee Jones, his induction into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in January 2009 was huge. “This might be the first time that I’ve taken an award personally,” Jones remarked to those assembled at the induction ceremony.

Volumes have been written about him—and he’s written volumes himself—27 at last count with his 28th, Embrace the Struggle, just released in October. Along the way he’s helped so many others clarify their thinking about themselves, in matters related to both business and personal life.

“There’s only one place, first place,” say Al and Bobby Unser, two brothers who are just as incredible off the racetrack as their legendary days on it.

In the last issue we reviewed what Medicare does cover and in this issue we will address what Medicare does not cover related to eye care.

Medicare does not pay for routine vision services or glasses/contact lenses other than the life-time benefit after cataract surgery (refer to page 46 of Fall/Winter issue of ­Colorado Springs SENIOR Magazine). Medicare does not pay for the refraction portion of the eye exam that measures how well you see at a specific distance. As any secondary insurance will only cover the remaining 20% of what Medicare covers, with refraction as a non-covered benefit, it and must be paid for at the time of service whenever it is deemed necessary. Refraction could even be charged during post-operative care. For example, St Luke’s charges for a refraction when making the prescription determination of post-cataract surgery eyeglasses, or at anytime when providing a written prescription for visual acuity. St Luke’s Eye Care & Laser Center offers the Medicare Beneficiary a discount off our normal-and-customary refraction fee, when this is paid at the time of service.

If you are embarrassed by unsightly, painful spider or varicose veins, you are not alone. Up to 40% of women and 25% of men suffer from varicose veins or some form of vein disease. Fortunately, assessment of the symptomatic patient is non-invasive. Dr Lorenzo can review the pertinent aspects of your medical history and perform a physical exam that is complemented by an ultrasound study of the affected leg. And, with summer just around the corner, it’s a good time to initiate a treatment program for unsightly veins. Have the quality of life you deserve without the embarrassment of varicose or spider veins. Love your legs…again.

Clinical back pain affects 212 million adults ages 18 and over. About 70-85% of Americans experience back pain at some time in their lives, and about a third of adults experience some back pain each year. Of these individuals, about 40% of people report they have experienced back pain in the past month. Finally, and even more disturbing, 7-14% of adults in the US report some restriction of their daily activities due to back pain in the past 12 months.

The increase in the number of retirees, longer lifetime expectancies, the decrease in appetite for risk, and prospects for lower returns of both equity and fixed income, have all caused people to re-think retirement investment assumptions. Old “rules of thumb” work well until the underlying assumptions change.