My wife saw the report first on Bay News 9. It informed that AARP was dropping about a thousand doctors from one of its medicare plans. She told me about it and right away I said, "It must be their Medicare Advantage Plan." She said that's not what the report said. A short while later while I was watching the report aired again. As she said, Medicare Advantage was not mentioned. I then went to my PC and Googled "AARP Drops Doctors" and found a headline which read "Patients scramble after AARP Medicare Advantage plans drop providers." In short, it doesn't effect me. After being advised against such a plan by a doctor and previously seeing the part such a plan had played in the death of a friend of mine, I had sworn off Medicare Advantage plans. But, inadvisable or not, that doesn't stop Bright House from collecting revenue from several companies, each of which is selling their Medicare Advantage Plan through infomercials. Just yesterday afternoon, I noticed such infomercials airing on both NBC and FOX at the same time. I wouldn't watch them but I'm guessing they promote their products as a way to simplify your dealings with Medicare and not as a way for them to increase their profits. Do you really expect insurance companies to be honest?
Anyway, how can you possibly call yourself a news channel when you let your parent company's monetary concerns interfere with your reporting of the news? You can't. In addition, I went to the Bay News 9 website and couldn't find the story listed anywhere. What they won't do for their advertisers.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Obama-care: A Ball of Confusion
So, back in the Springtime, I got a letter, known by diabetics as "The Letter," from the nice folks at Medicare informing that starting July 1, 2013, regardless of who I'd been dealing with previously and regardless of how smooth things had been going up to then, I would have to get my diabetes testing supplies from a vender who was on the new Medicare approved list. They even supplied a url for the web page from which I would be able to launch my search for a new supplier: medicare.gov/SupplierDirectory
Up to now I have been getting my testing supplies in the mail, so, first, I figured I'd try to hook up with another mail order company. I went to the list and started to call the mail order suppliers. Of the venders on the two pages comprising the list, not one supplied the Accu-Chek Softclix Lancets and the Accu-Chek Aviva Plus test strips that I've been using. You might think that someone who was in the business of selling diabetic testing supplies might keep an inventory of a number of different brands, but no, these venders had a very narrow selection to choose from. I'm sort of partial to my Aviva meter because it requires less blood and when I go to my doctor she can plug it into her computer and get a readout of all my tests since the last time she saw me. I don't want to change equipment at this juncture.
In addition, some of the suppliers on the Medicare list informed me that they did not offer diabetic testing supplies and they couldn't imagine how they wound up on the list. I was forced to move on to the local pharmacies.
First, I thought I'd give CVS a try. They were only a mile down the road. I went there with my prescriptions and was immediately told by the young lady working the counter, who was pecking away at her keyboard like one of Skinners pigeons, that I was not eligible for Medicare. I let her know that she and her computer were sadly mistaken since I'd been on Medicare and receiving benefits for more than a year. Nope, she affirmed, I was not qualified.
She sought the help of another worker who determined that she had entered my Medicare account number incorrectly. Finally, we were making progress. Next, she wanted my drug provider's card. I explained that that wasn't necessary because testing supplies were not considered a drug, they were covered under Medicare B the balance to be picked up by my supplemental insurance. No, she wanted my drug card. So, though she didn't really need it, I gave it to her. She was ready to roll.
I watched as she came out from behind the counter went to the shelf where the lancets were kept and pulled out a box of 50. My prescription called for 400, a 90 day supply, but 50's a start. Unfortunately, as I pointed out to her, the lancets she had chosen were not the kind I required. She was under the impression that all lancets were the same. No, I said, not hardly.
I didn't want to sound like a broken record, but I thought it important to convey to these people, and by now I'd drawn the attention of several including the rotund and bespectacled pharmacist that these supplies were covered by Medicare Part B and my supplemental. I did note also that according to the information on the Medicare site CVS accepted the Medicare payment as payment in full so no supplemental would be required. They knew better.
Their lack of understanding about how Medicare worked especially in regard to testing supplies was very frustrating. I couldn't believe they had never had to deal with this issue before, but evidently they hadn't or, if they had, they'd been dealing with it improperly.
Fat boy, the pharmacist, started getting feisty. "Can’t you see?” he sneered. “This takes time.”
"Can’t you see?" I responded. "I want my prescriptions back." They were not quick to comply, forcing me to add, "Now!"
There was a Walgreen's across the street, but fearing that employees there might have succumbed to the same environmental factors that had rendered the CVS crew stupid, I decided to cruise down the road to the Publix where, according to the website, they also accepted the Medicare allotment as payment in full. The girl working the counter at Publix was not appreciably more informed than her counterpart at CVS. Fortunately for me, though, the pharmacist, Adrienne was a gem. What she didn't know already, she took the time to find out and in due course I was phoned a few days later and told that I could pick up my supplies the next day after 2 PM.
I got there around two thirty and saw that Adrienne wasn't on duty. This wasn't immediately alarming, but when the girl asked for my insurance card I knew I was in trouble. Once again I tried to explain to these health professionals, the substitute pharmacist included, that testing supplies were taken care of by Medicare Part B. When they wanted to charge me twenty bucks, I informed them that my supplemental insurance would pick up the balance. They refused to consider this possibility, implying that I was confused. The pharmacist was particularly adamant, insinuating that I didn't know what I was talking about.
So, I paid the money and got out of there with my supplies before they changed their mind. By this time I was almost out of test strips and couldn't start all over again with another drugstore.
Subsequently, I called Medicare, and Florida Blue, my supplemental, and both affirmed that I was right. Big deal, being right hadn't done me much good so far. A rep from Florida Blue called Publix and tried to explain to them how these transactions are supposed to go down with Medicare paying most and my supplemental picking up the rest. I don't know who he talked to, and I don't know if they believed him. But, I'm still waiting to hear back. He suggested that if Publix didn't straighten out the problem and give me my money back, I should seek out another vender. Easier said than done, I say.
Which brings me back to where I started. Why were these changes made? Whose bright idea were they? Why am I now forced to deal with a bunch of people who don't know the first thing about Medicare, when the people at the mail order house had been thoroughly schooled in the proper procedures? Do any of the geniuses in Washington actually think this is better? For who? That's what I want to know. For who?
In addition, some of the suppliers on the Medicare list informed me that they did not offer diabetic testing supplies and they couldn't imagine how they wound up on the list. I was forced to move on to the local pharmacies.
She sought the help of another worker who determined that she had entered my Medicare account number incorrectly. Finally, we were making progress. Next, she wanted my drug provider's card. I explained that that wasn't necessary because testing supplies were not considered a drug, they were covered under Medicare B the balance to be picked up by my supplemental insurance. No, she wanted my drug card. So, though she didn't really need it, I gave it to her. She was ready to roll.
I didn't want to sound like a broken record, but I thought it important to convey to these people, and by now I'd drawn the attention of several including the rotund and bespectacled pharmacist that these supplies were covered by Medicare Part B and my supplemental. I did note also that according to the information on the Medicare site CVS accepted the Medicare payment as payment in full so no supplemental would be required. They knew better.
Their lack of understanding about how Medicare worked especially in regard to testing supplies was very frustrating. I couldn't believe they had never had to deal with this issue before, but evidently they hadn't or, if they had, they'd been dealing with it improperly.
Fat boy, the pharmacist, started getting feisty. "Can’t you see?” he sneered. “This takes time.”
"Can’t you see?" I responded. "I want my prescriptions back." They were not quick to comply, forcing me to add, "Now!"
I got there around two thirty and saw that Adrienne wasn't on duty. This wasn't immediately alarming, but when the girl asked for my insurance card I knew I was in trouble. Once again I tried to explain to these health professionals, the substitute pharmacist included, that testing supplies were taken care of by Medicare Part B. When they wanted to charge me twenty bucks, I informed them that my supplemental insurance would pick up the balance. They refused to consider this possibility, implying that I was confused. The pharmacist was particularly adamant, insinuating that I didn't know what I was talking about.
So, I paid the money and got out of there with my supplies before they changed their mind. By this time I was almost out of test strips and couldn't start all over again with another drugstore.
Subsequently, I called Medicare, and Florida Blue, my supplemental, and both affirmed that I was right. Big deal, being right hadn't done me much good so far. A rep from Florida Blue called Publix and tried to explain to them how these transactions are supposed to go down with Medicare paying most and my supplemental picking up the rest. I don't know who he talked to, and I don't know if they believed him. But, I'm still waiting to hear back. He suggested that if Publix didn't straighten out the problem and give me my money back, I should seek out another vender. Easier said than done, I say.
Which brings me back to where I started. Why were these changes made? Whose bright idea were they? Why am I now forced to deal with a bunch of people who don't know the first thing about Medicare, when the people at the mail order house had been thoroughly schooled in the proper procedures? Do any of the geniuses in Washington actually think this is better? For who? That's what I want to know. For who?
Monday, July 8, 2013
Muirfield Has New Look for 2013 Championship
Muirfield Golf Club
Muirfield Golf Club, Hole 13
Muirfield Golf Club, Hole 3
The photos of Muirfield as well as other golf course posters can be found on my sports website sports.aceswebworld.com.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Albert Bierstadt: Landscape Painting on a Grand Scale
If you have decided you need a framed landscape to decorate your wall, you might want to condider the work of Albert Bierstadt, a master known for his paintings of the American West.
Born in Germany, Albert Bierstadt (1830 – 1902) is best known for documenting the beauty of American West’s scenery while on several expeditions of the Western Expansion. He founded the Rocky Mountain School of Landscape. Painting through his precise, natural and light-drenched artworks. Bierstadt painted huge, dramatic images of the Rocky Mountains and Yosemite with the hope of recreating their splendor for Easterners.
Bierstadt was born in Solingen, Germany. His family moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1833. He early developed a taste for art and made clever crayon sketches in his youth. In 1851, he began to paint in oils. He studied painting with the members of the Düsseldorf School in Düsseldorf, Germany from 1853 to 1857. He taught drawing and painting briefly before devoting himself to painting.
"The magnificent beauty of the natural world is a manifestation of the mysterious natural laws that will be forever obscured from us." ~ Albert Bierstadt
Bierstadt began making paintings in New England and upstate New York. In 1859, he traveled westward in the company of Frederick W. Lander, a land surveyor for the U.S. government, returning with sketches that would result in numerous finished paintings. In 1863 he returned west again, in the company of the author Fitz Hugh Ludlow, whose wife he would later marry. He continued to visit the American West throughout his career.
Truly all is remarkable and a wellspring of amazement and wonder. Man is so fortunate to dwell in this American Garden of Eden." ~ Albert Bierstadt
Though his paintings sold for princely sums, Bierstadt was not held in particularly high esteem by critics of his day. His use of uncommonly large canvases was thought to be an egotistical indulgence, as his paintings would invariably dwarf those of his contemporaries when they were displayed together. The romanticism evident in his choices of subject and in his use of light was felt to be excessive by contemporary critics. His paintings emphasized atmospheric elements like fog, clouds and mist to accentuate and complement the feel of his work. Bierstadt sometimes changed details of the landscape to inspire awe. The colors he used are also not always true. He painted what he believed was the way things should be: water is ultramarine, vegetation is lush and green, etc.¹
Born in Germany, Albert Bierstadt (1830 – 1902) is best known for documenting the beauty of American West’s scenery while on several expeditions of the Western Expansion. He founded the Rocky Mountain School of Landscape. Painting through his precise, natural and light-drenched artworks. Bierstadt painted huge, dramatic images of the Rocky Mountains and Yosemite with the hope of recreating their splendor for Easterners.
Bierstadt was born in Solingen, Germany. His family moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1833. He early developed a taste for art and made clever crayon sketches in his youth. In 1851, he began to paint in oils. He studied painting with the members of the Düsseldorf School in Düsseldorf, Germany from 1853 to 1857. He taught drawing and painting briefly before devoting himself to painting.
"The magnificent beauty of the natural world is a manifestation of the mysterious natural laws that will be forever obscured from us." ~ Albert Bierstadt
Bierstadt began making paintings in New England and upstate New York. In 1859, he traveled westward in the company of Frederick W. Lander, a land surveyor for the U.S. government, returning with sketches that would result in numerous finished paintings. In 1863 he returned west again, in the company of the author Fitz Hugh Ludlow, whose wife he would later marry. He continued to visit the American West throughout his career.
Truly all is remarkable and a wellspring of amazement and wonder. Man is so fortunate to dwell in this American Garden of Eden." ~ Albert Bierstadt
Though his paintings sold for princely sums, Bierstadt was not held in particularly high esteem by critics of his day. His use of uncommonly large canvases was thought to be an egotistical indulgence, as his paintings would invariably dwarf those of his contemporaries when they were displayed together. The romanticism evident in his choices of subject and in his use of light was felt to be excessive by contemporary critics. His paintings emphasized atmospheric elements like fog, clouds and mist to accentuate and complement the feel of his work. Bierstadt sometimes changed details of the landscape to inspire awe. The colors he used are also not always true. He painted what he believed was the way things should be: water is ultramarine, vegetation is lush and green, etc.¹
All Albert Bierstadt Posters & Prints @ AllPosters.com >>
Explore the work of the world's greatest artists at my webpage, AcesWebWorld.com.
¹ wikipedia
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Decorating with Tapestries: Following the Trends
More and more, people are turning to tapestries to make dramatic changes to their wall space. Why? Well here's what the experts are saying:
"Hanging tapestries is a clever way to change a room's focal point."The following tapestries are currently our top ten sellers:"A well-chosen and well-placed tapestry will become the centerpiece of your room."
"A tapestry can accent the existing colors of your room or provide direction to future color choices."
“When a tapestry fills a wall it makes a dramatic impression. And tapestries look fabulous surrounded by white space, so there often is no need to repaint.”
1. Abstract Autumn
Dougall
52 in. x 50 in.
2. Orchid Nine Patch
Don Li-Leger
34 in. x 34 in.
3. Archway To Venice
71 in. x 48 in.
4. Pompeiian Pears
James Manning
53 in. x 53 in.
5. Ephemeral Creation
Dougall
35 in. x 35 in.
6. Tulip
Robert Mertens
51 in. x 51 in.
7. Alpha
Mark C. Merrill
26 in. x 63 in.
8. The Night Before
Thomas Kinkade
53 x 35
10. Tuscan Villa II
Roger Duvall
26 in. x 34 in.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Trust Your Eyes by Linwood Barclay
Trust Your Eyes.
If I ever wrote a novel, which I'm not likely to do, I would love to have a blurb on the cover quoting Stephen King that read, simply, "Riveting." I've read a lot of novels that Mr. King recommended and I've never been disappointed. But, when it comes to the novels of Linwood Barclay, I need no encouragement. I've read all his novels and I can tell you that each was "riveting." In "Trust Your Eyes" Barclay has again taken ordinary people and placed them in extraordinary circumstances. Murder's in the air and, if our naive protagonists aren't careful, it just might blow back in their faces.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Justin Rose Ends 43 Year Drought For Brits
Justin Rose posted a respectable one over par 71 for round 1, respectable, but still four strokes behind the leader with 15 competitors ahead of him. Actually, Luke Donald, another Brit, who had shot a two under 68 and was tied for second one stroke behind Phil Mickelson would have seemed a better bet to bring the crown back to England.
Rose's second round 69 on the treacherous course brought him back to even par and suddenly he was tied for second place along with Luke Donald and Steve Stricker, one stroke behind Mickelson and Billy Horschel.
His one over 71 for round 3 dropped him a couple slots to a tie for 5th. Still, he was only two strokes behind and in the hunt.
The final round proved to be a test of skill and nerve. Phil Mickelson who had had a share of the lead for the first three rounds started off poorly, three-putting the third and fifth holes for double bogeys. However, he took back the lead with an eagle on the 10th. Justin Rose responded with birdies on the 12th and 13th. A bogey by Mickelson on the 13th gave Rose the lead.
Through 16 holes, Rose had five birdies and five bogeys and a one-shot lead over Mickelson. He managed par on the challenging final two holes, finishing with an even-par 70 for a 281 (+1) overall.
Meanwhile, Mickelson narrowly missed a birdie putt on the 16th that would have tied Rose and failed to birdie either of the final two holes. His +3 overall dropped him into a tie with Jason Day for second place.
For Rose, it was his first major title. He completed the tournament without any double bogeys. On his win, Rose commented "It feels fantastic. I committed myself to the process this week. I committed myself to putting a strategy in place that I hoped would work in five-to-10 years in delivering major championships ... it's a moment where you can look back and think childhood dreams have come true."
Consistency was the secret to Justin Rose's success. Like 2nd place finisher Jason Day, he is sponsored by TaylorMade Golf. Here's a list of the equipment he used to capture the 2013 U.S. Open title:
DRIVER: TaylorMade R1 Driver
FAIRWAY WOOD: TaylorMade RocketBallz Stage 2 Tour Fairway Woods
IRONS: TaylorMade RocketBladez Tour Irons
WEDGES: TaylorMade ATV (52, 56 and 60 degree) with True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 shafts
PUTTER: TaylorMade Spider Blade
BALL: Lethal Golf Ball
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