Medicare Advantage, a private version of Medicare plans offering additional benefits such as dental and vision coverage, is becoming more uncertain this year.

More than 1 million Americans, including many in Alabama, will have to shop for new plans as insurance companies scale back offerings in certain states. Some officials are citing financial pressures and federal regulations for these changes, leaving seniors to navigate shifting coverage options.

Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer, UnitedHealthcare employer and individual, suggests starting early and reviewing all options thoroughly, especially if you're affected by these changes.

"For example, is your doctor still in the plan? Is the medication you take still covered by the plan? And also understanding the differences between original Medicare and Medicare Advantage," she said.

Randall added that resources are available such as the UHC Medicare Made Clear guide and the justplainclear.com website that can help guide people through explanations and health insurance terms.

Randall also pointed out that some employers are offering new health plans, such as UnitedHealthcare's SUREST Plan, to help people avoid unexpected healthcare costs.

"That provides consumers upfront cost and coverage information so they can understand how much they're likely to owe for medical service before you even walk into the doctor's office. And the goal with that is really to encourage people to select higher-value places to get their care," she continued.

As you explore your plan, Randall suggested evaluating additional benefits such as mental health coverage, hearing and wellness plans, which can offer more value beyond traditional coverage.

Meanwhile, open enrollment dates vary for other types of health plans. People with employer-sponsored coverage typically select a plan during a two-to-three week period between September and December. And open enrollment for plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace generally runs from November 1 to January 15 in most states. More information is available at www.UHCOpenEnrollment.com.

Changes could be coming for Arkansans who are on Medicaid.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is proposing to add work requirements for some Medicaid recipients. Similar rules were imposed in the state in 2018 but later struck down by the Biden administration.

Neil Sealy, senior organizer for Arkansas Community Organizations, said more than 18,000 people lost coverage seven years ago although they were working or had been granted exemptions.

"We reached out to people to speak with them about their experience," Sealy explained. "There was a reporting requirement, and if after three months if you had not reported, then you would be taken off. "

He noted some recipients were unaware they did not have coverage until they tried to go to the doctor. Sanders is hopeful the requirements will remain in place under the new Trump administration.

According to a report in Forbes Magazine, Arkansas is the fourth-least healthy state in the country. Around 820,000 Arkansans are on Medicaid.

Specific details about Sanders' proposal have not been released but she said she wants a broader requirement to cover able-bodied adults. Sealy noted their volunteers are already mobilizing.

"We get ready," Sealy emphasized. "We are reaching out to people in the community. We are going to be on the doors, talking in churches, getting ready. We don't sit down and take it. "

A Harvard study showed in 2018 the work requirements did not decrease unemployment and red tape and paperwork created serious hurdles for people who were eligible for coverage.


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A new study from Wayne State University showed breathing in air pollution, especially benzene, can raise the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Benzene is a pollutant found in common emissions such as car exhaust and tobacco smoke. The report found a strong link between benzene exposure and insulin resistance.

Marianna Sadagurski, associate professor of environmental health sciences at Wayne State University and the study's lead author, investigated how air pollution affects metabolism. She explained how long it takes for sugar levels to rise after being exposed to benzene.

"Within seven days you already have changes in blood glucose levels," Sadagurski reported. "It does not mean that you already developed type 2 diabetes immediately. But that indicates that your blood glucose levels continue to higher than normal. "

In mice, test results showed after exposure, male mice showed changes in energy balance, brain activity, insulin function and immune responses, which caused their blood sugar levels to rise.

The researchers also discovered even short-term exposure to benzene affects how the brain handles insulin and causes inflammation in certain brain cells. The inflammation is connected to a specific pathway in the body. When they blocked the process in the brain cells, it helped fix the metabolism problems caused by benzene in the mice.

Sadagurski emphasized the study was far-reaching.

"All the studies, not just from the U.S., all across China and Mexico and so on," Sadagurski outlined. "All the studies that were done, we collected."

Sadagurski explained they analyzed data from different groups of people, including young adults and the elderly.

The Episcopal Health Foundation wants Texas lawmakers to make health a priority during this legislative session.

The nonprofit focuses on the nonmedical drivers of a person's overall health, such as economic status, health behaviors and safe neighborhoods where people can exercise.

Ann Barnes, president and CEO of the foundation, said they would like to see legislation on maternal health, food security and diabetes prevention.

"These are health conditions that affect low-income populations and communities of color," Barnes pointed out. "We are looking for opportunities to support legislation that improves those outcomes."

Barnes noted during the last legislative session, lawmakers passed bills that approved Medicaid screenings for nonmedical factors that influence health and for doulas to serve as case managers for pregnant people. She looks forward to having those bills implemented.

A recent survey by the foundation found nearly half of adults in Texas say they live in a household experiencing diabetes or prediabetes.

Barnes argued not addressing the problem puts an economic strain on the entire state.

"Between $6 billion and $8 billion, that's billion with a B, is spent on the treatment of diabetes through the Medicaid program," Barnes emphasized. "That is about a quarter of all dollars spent on adults on Medicaid."

She added health care only affects about 20% of a person's overall health. The other 80% is determined by their environment.