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Welcome to Senior Citizen Health Care


Oh-oh, it's the 20th.

I wrote December 19 on all the forms this morning at my Hello, Welcome to your Medicare Advantage Plan appointment, as well as later at the laboratory. On the lab forms, I caught myself writing 2019. Hahaha, I wonder if I did that on the doctor's forms as well.

The appointment was my official introduction to senior citizen health questions. Very different types of questions. This particular Medicare Advantage plan wanted to make sure I'm not feeling alone and lonely, nor chronically sad or depressed. They also asked questions to determine if I have my mental faculties, including asking me to write in the digits on a faceless clock and draw hands to show 11:10. I had no problem with the questions, but, I wonder if they'll take points off because I wrote the wrong date. hee-heee.

I'm actually feeling quite euphoric because of my positive experience.
1. All the healthcare practitioners and support staff I met were friendly and helpful individuals.

2. According to the doctor's scale, I lost 11 pounds. That was a nice surprise since I haven't been trying to lose weight, merely trying not to overeat and eat fewer sweet stuff.

3. My temperature was normal, 98.3 degrees.

4. Oxygen level was at 98%.

5. Pulse, 66.

6. Blood pressure, 110/55.

7. I was given the pneumonia shot prescribed for patients 65 years old and over.

8. Stating that I smoke marijuana when my knees are feeling horrible was not frowned upon. The nurse practitioner simply said, "It's a type of medication for pain." I wonder, though, what her response would have been if marijuana was not legal in our state.

9. The nurse practitioner sent me off to the lab for blood work, which was only across the parking lot.

10. I encountered a friend on my way to the lab. He was on his way to his Hello, Welcome to your Medicare Advantage Plan appointment. I almost felt like I was in high school passing friends in the hallway between class periods.

11. I climbed up and down the stairs to lab without a cane, thank you very much.

12. The young phlebotomist trainee had a light touch, She found a vein easily and inserted the needle before I knew it.

13. Because this was a preventive health exam, I didn't have a co-pay. Whooo-hooo!

Life is grand.

Today I'm hanging out at I Like Thursdays, Thursday Thirteen, and Thankful Thursdays. I hope you'll check them out. Thank you much, Lovely Hosts!


Comments

  1. That sounds like a lot to be thankful for! And to think...I take an advil when I have aches and pains! teehee! Enjoy your afternoon! Holiday hugs!

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    1. A couple years ago the doctor prescribed super dosage of an overcounter painkiller but it didn't even put a dent in it. Weed is less addictive for me. I like being able to talk about it. :-)

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  2. well, heck! that couldn't have gone better! Maybe if removing some wrinkles was included I'd be happier but wowie! You're pretty healthy. Good that they care about your mental health. Rare. And they'll have to change the clock question when Millenials get to 65... they've only had digital for so long. Like testing them by tying shoelaces!

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    1. I'm healthy for being obese. (Not kidding.) Thank you parents and ancestors for strong genes. IIf my knees are stronger because I've lost weight, I wonder if I wouldn't need knee surgery if I got down the low end of overweight.
      hahahaha about the millenials and digital clocks. I wonder how they would do with rotary phones.

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  3. I would guess doing the whole Medicare thing is much like high school. It's the same bunch, and you all were born around about the same time.

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  4. I love this preventative side of health care these days. You sound like you are doing great and having such a positive experience is a bonus. Not sure what co-pay is but I'm happy for you.

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    1. Thanks, Jocelyn. A co-pay is the amount I pay when I see a healthcare practitioner, such as $20 to a specialist.

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  5. Glad you had a positive experience, and you seem pretty healthy to me!
    Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

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    1. Thanks, Lea. I thank my parents for great genes. :-) Happy Christmas to you.

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  6. Sounds like you are right on track to live a ripe old age. Kudos to you for being healthy! Thanks for linking up today and have a Merry Christmas!!!

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    1. Once I get to 76, every day after that is gravy. Mama lived to 94, as well as my grandmothers on both sides but they did a lot of hard physical work while I'm a doughnut. So we shall see. A Joyful Christmas to you.

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  7. I was thrilled to get on medicare and collect my SS early. At least there's that plus in the mix of getting on.

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  8. Hopefully Medicare for all will be a thing before I turn 65

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    1. I hope so, Adam. The Affordable Act was pretty good under Pres. Obama. It was a step in the right direction. Hopefully the oafs in power right now won't last too long.

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  9. Good health is such a wonderful thing. A love when I get a good phlebotomist!

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  10. I didn't know you had to get tested to get Medicare. I wonder if you are too healthy to get it. Just kidding.

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    1. I signed up for a Medicare Advantage program, which is an HMO. It requires a medical inventory of all new patients. I don't know if this standard for all Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplementary insurance plans.

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  11. I hadn't heard of the Medicare Advantage Plan, but it sounds like you got a clean bill of health. I've been having the once over the last few weeks too. So far, so good. Have a lovely Christmas and thank you so much for stopping by my blog this week.

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    1. Medicare Advantage plans are relatively new puppies for Medicare. We have a choice of getting original Medicare and paying the 20% and drugs that Medicare doesn't cover; or Medicare and a supplemental insurance; or a Medicare Advantage plan which covers 100% of charges, including drugs. We're lucky that we have the third option in our quasi-rural area. Merry Christmas!

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  12. Good Morning! All of your levels sound wonderful - my niece is studying to be a nurse and she would have given you a gold star! I hope you lab results come back just as well. I can just envision you passing your friend in the hallway - just like high school. Merry Christmas to you and your family! ~smile~ Roseanne

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    1. Thank you, Roseanne. :-) I'm surprised about the weight loss and my blood pressure. I'm usually on the low end, but it spikes in the doctor's office. lol. Happy Christmas!

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  13. This must be a new wrinkle for Medicare: We signed up for it 8 years ago, and basically it was 'take a seat, someone will be with you shortly". No exam, no alzheimer trick questions, nothing.

    And Merry Christmas, all over the place. =)

    Even better. Happy Soistice.

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    1. I wonder if the preventive aspect of Medicare changed with the Affordable Act. Good cheer of the season to you, Mittens. :-)

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  14. That sounds like a darn good experience and a good start on anything new is a win!

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    1. You got it, Brian. I'll be strong for possible surgery on eyes and knees. :-)

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  15. Not too bad! I have this to look forward to in a few years. I hope you passed!

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    1. Medicare is a wonderful program, regardless of its burps and bumps. I don't understand people who complain about it or think it ought to be abolished.

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  16. Not old enough to go through this and not even sure it will be around when I am, but I am glad it is working out for you. Medical MJ is not legal in my state, so I too wonder what happens when you answer yes. Do they call the police?

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    1. I hope Medicare is around when it's your time. Probably if medical MJ was not legal here, I wouldn't have said a thing. For that matter, I probably wouldn't be using it and feeling horrible constant pain.

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  17. To your health! It all sounds good. Back when I had that first appointment I answered all the mental health questions alright and then when the exam was over I got up to leave and promptly walked into a closet.

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    1. hahahahahahaha. I haven't done that yet, Sallie.. Only walk down wrong hallways. Cheers! :-)

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  18. Cockadoodle, doo, this conjures up an amusing scene of old folks dressed up in letter jackets and poodle skirts running up and down government building stairs waving canes and threatening to sue. I may be off by two decades.
    I said. "yes" to the weed question once and got looks and found they kept referring to it in other appointments so changed my answer in subsequent questionings. Although I'm probably still—is this guy singing, "I like my baby's poodle, I like it best of all?—maybe he's saying, "puddin'," more suggestive.
    I know I've written 2017, 2019 and 2020 on forms this year. Must be the weed. I have to say you would LOVE the Christmas music I've been listening to on WORT tonight, maybe you can get it online. Merry Christmas if I don't get in touch with you before that. Kisses to Molly whether she goes in for that sort of thing or not.

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    1. The musical could be called something like Greasing the Wheelchairs. hahahah. Thank goodness for medical mj is all I say. Recently I read a summary of a medical study that concluded marijuana may actually improve arthritis. I've been able to walk further, stand longer, and carry boxes full of books without cursing and whining.

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  19. Congratulations on passing with flying colours! :)

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Thanks for the good cheer. :-)

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