Category: Brandpoint

2018-04-17T11:59:00

(BPT) – Although it’s no secret a woman’s fertility decreases with age, how much do you actually know about what’s going on in your own body when it comes to fertility? With 1 in 2 millennials choosing to delay starting a family, it’s easy to overlook your fertility in your 20s. In fact, when researchers at the Yale School of Medicine surveyed 1,000 American women from 18 to 40 years old, they found that many women are unaware of factors that affect their fertility. Right here and now, let’s agree that being familiar with your body and aware of how your fertility works is an important part of preparing for the future you’ve dreamed about.

With the wisdom of hindsight, here is a list of things every twenty-something should know about their fertility:

1. Don’t assume your fertility is like everyone else’s

Fertility is a continuum, which means fertility declines at a different rate for each woman. So just because your cousin’s best friend’s aunt had children in her 40s doesn’t mean the same will be true for you. It’s important to understand what is going on in your body and what you need to support your journey.

2. Fertility is more than a numbers game

Simply having plenty of eggs doesn’t mean your fertility is healthy. “Fertility is a function of quantity (number of eggs) and quality (how the eggs perform),” says Dr. Brian Levine, practice director at CCRM (Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine), one of the nation’s leading fertility centers. Egg quality is controlled by several factors; however, as women age their eggs are more at risk for having abnormal chromosomes that lower egg quality. This can affect whether fertilization will occur and is also the main cause of miscarriage.

3. Fertility is not negatively impacted by birth control

Contrary to what many people think, “there is no clinical evidence to support that being on birth control does anything to hurt a woman’s chances of getting pregnant,” Levine adds. If being on birth control in your 20s will make you feel more responsible and comfortable during the years you’re not looking to start a family, by all means go for it.

4. Fertility is an issue that affects men and women equally

Although society often overlooks this fact, the causes of infertility are typically 40 percent female-related, 40 percent male-related and 20 percent unknown. Translation: fertility is not just a woman’s issue. Knowing that fertility is a shared problem can ease the pressure on many women, who tend to feel responsible for fertility issues (and stress out about it, which can produce ovulation-halting hormones like cortisol and prolactin).

5. Lifestyle choices in your 20s will impact your fertility in your 30s

“A woman is born with all the eggs she’ll ever have,” explains Dr. Levine. “It is important to recognize that a healthy lifestyle in your 20s can greatly impact how you live your life in the 30s.” For example, avoiding foods like white rice and white sugar, which cause inflammation, as well as limiting toxic habits like too much alcohol will all positively impact a woman’s fertility down the road. For men, things like avoiding restrictive clothing that may increase body temperature, as well as avoiding marijuana can have a positive effect on fertility.

6. Get an evaluation

Since everyone’s fertility is different, if you’re like most millennials and delaying starting a family until later down the line, get an evaluation with a fertility doctor to give yourself the opportunity to make an informed decision about your future. You may find your fertility will be quite strong well into your 30s, or perhaps you may need to look into egg freezing or adjust your plan to start a family if your fertility is tracking low. Either way, educate yourself so that you can be prepared.

2018-04-17T07:01:00

(BPT) – In a recent survey, 43 percent of newly retired people said they were spending more on health care than they planned. One of the primary reasons? An unintentionally misguided approach to choosing their Medicare coverage.

To make the process of comparing their plan options easier, too often people focus largely on their monthly premiums.

“Although it may seem like the obvious choice to select a plan with the cheapest monthly premium, it’s important to look beyond the premium and focus instead on the overall value a plan provides,” said Ben Kehl, vice president of consumer experience for UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement. “One of the best ways to do this is to give careful consideration to what’s important to you in a Medicare plan as well as what isn’t.”

Not sure where to begin with this value-focused approach to your Medicare choices? The following three questions can help you move beyond a plan’s premium and consider other factors that contribute to a plan’s value. Your answers can help you maximize your Medicare health care dollars by selecting a plan that provides the greatest value for you.

How much financial risk are you comfortable with?

All Medicare plan options cover some health care costs, but they vary in the amounts they cover and when they start covering those costs.

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) requires you to meet a Part A deductible ($1,340 per benefit period in 2018) before it pays hospital costs and a Part B deductible ($183 annually for most people in 2018; can be higher or lower based on income) before it pays 80 percent of costs for doctor visits and outpatient services, leaving you to pay the remaining 20 percent. Original Medicare does not put a cap on how much you will pay for covered services in a given year, meaning a tough year from a health standpoint could leave you footing the bill for thousands of dollars in health care costs.

If the unpredictability of this equation leaves you uncomfortable, you’re certainly not alone. Most people choose one of two options to help contain their health care costs: Medicare supplement or Medicare Advantage.

Medicare supplement plans help pay some of the costs not covered by Original Medicare, such as copays, coinsurance and deductibles. Medicare supplement plans typically have a higher monthly premium than other Medicare plan options but minimize your out-of-pocket expenses as you’ll have little or no costs when you access care.

Medicare Advantage plans have what’s called an out-of-pocket maximum, which caps how much you will pay in health care out-of-pocket costs in a year. Once you reach that amount, your plan will cover 100 percent of the cost of the Medicare-covered services you receive, and you’ll pay only your premiums. Medicare Advantage plans tend to have lower premiums than Medicare supplement plans, and members pay copays or coinsurance when they need care.

Do you use prescription medications?

For help with the cost of your medications, you may want to consider a stand-alone Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription coverage. To protect your wallet, it’s best to enroll when you become eligible for Medicare, even if you don’t currently take many medications, as it will help you avoid premium penalties later on. There’s a good chance your health needs could change in the future. Consider, for example, that 90 percent of people age 65+ take at least one drug weekly.

When considering a Part D plan, make sure your medications are covered, meaning they’re included on the plan’s formulary. Your costs could be higher if you take a drug that’s not on your plan formulary. Choosing a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage can be a cost-saving tactic as well as it’ll give you prescription coverage without having to pay a separate monthly premium for a stand-alone Part D plan.

How important is it to you to have routine dental, vision and hearing exams covered?

According to the America’s Health Rankings Annual Report for 2017, most people lose dental coverage when they retire. When the total cost of dental care falls on their shoulders, they may stop getting regular check-ups and routine care, making it more likely that they’ll experience serious dental issues or other health complications in the future. Likewise, routine vision screenings are important even for those who don’t wear glasses or contacts as they can detect the onset of health problems like macular degeneration and diabetes.

People are often surprised that Original Medicare does not provide coverage for routine vision, dental or hearing services. Many Medicare Advantage plans provide these extra benefits as part of their standard coverage.

Hopefully the process of answering these questions has got you thinking about what matters most when it comes to your health and your Medicare coverage. But remember that your health needs as well as your budget can change over time, so it’s important to re-evaluate your priorities periodically to ensure the plan you selected in the past continues to provide the most value in the present.

2018-04-17T07:01:00

(BPT) – As their 65th birthday looms, many people eagerly anticipate the affordable access to health care that Medicare will provide. After all, Medicare covers everything, right? Not exactly. Because of this common misconception, many people are caught off guard when they realize that each one of the dozens of Medicare options available to them comes with its own set of out-of-pocket cost implications. In fact, a survey of the newly retired found 43 percent are spending more on health care than they had planned.

The more you know about Medicare plans and costs, the better prepared you’ll be to avoid unpleasant surprises. Think you’re savvy enough to discern myth from fact when it comes to your health care costs in retirement? Read on to put your knowledge to the test.

Myth: When comparing Medicare plans, it’s best to choose the lowest-premium option to help minimize your costs.

Fact: While premiums are an important factor when choosing a health care plan, they should not be the only factor — or necessarily the most important either. Sometimes a low monthly premium option comes with higher out-of-pocket costs or lacks benefits and services that are important to you.

It’s best to understand the total costs of a plan — including the deductibles, copays and coinsurance — as well as any benefit limitations that could increase your costs. For example, if the hospital you use isn’t in a plan’s network, you’ll likely incur higher costs if you choose to access care there. If you like to exercise and stay active, a plan that covers a fitness center membership could save you the expense of a monthly gym membership. Want to see a dentist or optometrist? Original Medicare likely won’t cover that care, meaning you’ll have to pay for it out-of-pocket, unless you choose a Medicare Advantage plan with dental and vision coverage.

Myth: If I enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, I will pay only one premium. And if my plan has a $0 premium, I won’t have to pay any premium at all.

Fact: The simplicity of Medicare Advantage is one of the reasons enrollment in these plans has grown so dramatically. Many people appreciate the convenience of wrapping all of their Medicare coverage into one plan and having just one card in their wallet. That said, choosing Medicare Advantage doesn’t mean you’re totally off the hook in terms of paying monthly premiums. You are still responsible for paying your Part B premium. In 2018, the standard Part B premium is $134, but it may be higher or lower depending on your income.

Myth: There isn’t much you can do to contain or manage health care costs. It’s mostly up to chance or luck.

Fact: While no one can predict or completely control their future health care needs, you can take steps to protect yourself from high health care expenses. Choosing a Medicare plan that limits the amount you spend on health care costs during the year is one option to consider. Look for plans with an out-of-pocket maximum, which is the most you will pay for covered services in a year. Once you reach that amount, your plan will cover 100 percent of the cost of the Medicare-covered services you receive, and you’ll pay only your premiums. Medicare Advantage plans and two Medicare supplement plans include out-of-pocket maximums.

Medicare supplement plans can also offer some predictability in your health care costs by covering many of the costs Original Medicare doesn’t, such as coinsurance, copays and deductibles.

“Regardless of the plan you choose, everyone can stand to benefit by being proactive about taking care of their health,” said Efrem Castillo, chief medical officer of UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement. “Eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, seeing your primary care doctor annually, getting your recommended cancer screenings and taking your medications exactly as prescribed are all steps you can take to help protect your health and possibly your wallet from the expense of managing major health issues later on.”

So how did you do? Regardless of whether you aced this test or were totally stumped, there’s much more to learn when it comes to a topic this complex.

To get smart on all things Medicare, check out MedicareMadeClear.com. The information on the site is neatly organized into categories to help you find what you’re looking for. The videos, quizzes, guides and frequently asked questions in the resources section of the site can also be helpful tools. AARP.org is another great resource. Visit the “Retirement” and “Money” sections for information that can help you better understand health care costs during retirement and how to manage and plan for them.

2018-04-16T09:01:00

(BPT) – By: Carla Kienast

My RA Diagnosis

Most of my life, I was consumed by my career, which I’m sure many of you can relate to. When I wasn’t working, I loved traveling, going to the movies, reading, scuba diving, hiking, snowmobiling and camping. Oh, and I wrote a paperback novel with no socially redeeming value, that actually won a couple of awards. Among getting older and experiencing various life changes, there is one event that truly made me put my life’s work and hobbies on hold and that was when I was diagnosed with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in July 2008.

Like many people living with a chronic illness, I had what were probably early symptoms such as joint pain and swelling. I lived like this for several years until my orthopedic surgeon referred me to a rheumatologist. While sitting in the waiting room at the rheumatologist’s office that day, I didn’t have a ton of concerns because I didn’t know much about the disease. I didn’t have a handle on what was happening to my body or how my life was going to need to change.

After doing some research, I realized the magnitude of what I was facing. There is a lot of “worst-case information” out there related to RA, so of course I was terrified. One of my most jolting moments was when I measured the doorways in my house to see if I could get a wheelchair through because I was convinced that at some point I would be using one.

Finding “Dr. Right”

The path to finding the right rheumatologist for me isn’t always an easy one. I “fired” my first rheumatologist about 6 months after I was diagnosed. While he was a great clinician, he wasn’t really a good fit for me.

I’ve been with my [new] rheumatologist since February 2009 and we have a great relationship! I trust her as a doctor and she trusts me as a patient. I find that an important aspect of maintaining a good relationship with your doctor is being an informed and empowered patient. I like to understand what my treatment options are as well as their side effects and to be proactive in discussing them with my physician so we can have meaningful discussions about the medications she prescribes. I feel like I’m part of the decision-making process with my current rheumatologist, which is one of the major reasons I stay with her. She is also supportive of the things I want to do even though I have RA.

Finding a Treatment

Overall, my road to diagnosis and finding a treatment was a long one. SIMPONI ARIA^® was approved for moderate to severe RA in 2013. I researched it and asked my rheumatologist about it. We determined that it would be a good choice to help relieve my symptoms and the dosing schedule would fit my schedule. So far, SIMPONI ARIA^® has helped improve my symptoms, and I am able to do the things I need to do with less difficulty.

My Words of RA Wisdom

Never give up. I know people who have been on the same treatment plan for years and are doing well; however, I went through a lot before finding my current treatment. Not giving up may sound trite, but for me, it’s not. In both my professional and personal lives, I’ve had to learn when to cut my losses; however, when it comes to RA, there is no “cutting your losses” and walking away — you’re in it for life and you have to do your best to get through it with the mindset that you have RA, it doesn’t have you.

Nothing is worse than nothing. RA is a serious disease and it takes working closely with your doctor to find the right treatment for you. Doing nothing is the worst possible option because the joint damage RA can do is irreversible.

Show up when you’d rather lie down. I think there are a lot of people living with RA and other chronic conditions who’d rather stay in bed when they’re experiencing joint pain and morning stiffness. Although starting your day can be a slow process, the pros of getting out of bed and showing up can sometimes outweigh the cons.

Keep on hoping. It can take months, if not years, of working with your doctor to find the right treatment to manage your symptoms, which can be profoundly difficult. In the meantime, try to wake up each morning with hope.

My Life Today and Looking Ahead

Today, while having moderate to severe RA, I am able to travel, I can go for a walk with less difficulty, and I can contribute to the RA community. I’ll never be the person I was before my RA days, but I’m as close as I’ve been in a long time. I hope that people see me as an example that even with all the challenges that come with having a chronic disease, you may still be able to do the things you need to do with less difficulty.

If there is one thing to remember from reading this story, it’s that everyone’s journey is different. I’ve learned that different parts of my journey resonate with different people. With the many treatments available today like SIMPONI ARIA^®, there’s more of a reason for positivity than ever before!

To hear more from Carla Kienast, please visit her blog at Carla’s Corner.

For more information about SIMPONI ARIA^® or Janssen Biotech, Inc., please visit SIMPONIARIA.COM or Janssen.com/us. In October 2017, SIMPONI ARIA^® was approved by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of adult patients living with active psoriatic arthritis or active ankylosing spondylitis – read more here. SIMPONI ARIA^® is for adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis taken with methotrexate, active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and active ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

SERIOUS INFECTIONS
SIMPONI ARIA^® (golimumab) is a prescription medicine. SIMPONI ARIA^® can lower your ability to fight infections. There are reports of serious infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses that have spread throughout the body, including tuberculosis (TB) and histoplasmosis. Some of these infections have been fatal. Your doctor will test you for TB before starting SIMPONI ARIA^® and will closely monitor you for signs of TB during treatment. Tell your doctor if you have been in close contact with people with TB. Tell your doctor if you have been in a region (such as the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys and the Southwest) where certain fungal infections like histoplasmosis or coccidioidomycosis are common.

You should not receive SIMPONI ARIA^® if you have any kind of infection. Tell your doctor if you are prone to or have a history of infections or have diabetes, HIV or a weak immune system.

You should also tell your doctor if you are currently being treated for an infection or if you have or develop any signs of an infection such as:

• fever, sweat, or chills
• muscle aches
• cough
• shortness of breath
• blood in phlegm
• weight loss
• warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body
• diarrhea or stomach pain
• burning when you urinate or urinate more than normal
• feel very tired

• cough that does not go away
• low grade fever
• weight loss
• loss of body fat and muscle (wasting)

CANCER
Unusual cancers have been reported in children and teenage patients taking Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-blocker medicines. For children and adults receiving TNF blockers, including SIMPONI ARIA^®, the chances for getting lymphoma or other cancers may increase. Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma, a rare and fatal lymphoma, has occurred mostly in teenage or young adult males with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis who were taking a TNF blocker with azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine. You should tell your doctor if you have had or develop lymphoma or other cancers.

Some people treated with SIMPONI ARIA^® developed skin cancer. Tell your doctor if any changes in the appearance of your skin or growths on your skin occur during or after your treatment with SIMPONI ARIA^®. Your doctor should periodically examine your skin, especially if you have a history of skin cancer.

HEART FAILURE
Heart failure can occur or get worse in people who use TNF blockers, including SIMPONI ARIA^®. If you develop new or worsening heart failure with SIMPONI ARIA^®, you may need treatment in a hospital, and it may result in death. Your doctor will closely monitor you if you have heart failure. Tell your doctor right away if you get new or worsening symptoms of heart failure like shortness of breath, swelling of your lower legs or feet, or sudden weight gain.

NERVOUS SYSTEM PROBLEMS
Rarely, people using TNF blockers, including SIMPONI ARIA^®, can have nervous system problems such as multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barré syndrome. Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms like vision changes, weakness in your arms or legs, or numbness or tingling in any part of your body.

IMMUNE SYSTEM PROBLEMS
Rarely, people using TNF blockers have developed lupus-like symptoms. Tell your doctor if you have any symptoms such as a rash on your cheeks or other parts of the body, sensitivity to the sun, new joint or muscle pain, becoming very tired, chest pain or shortness of breath, swelling of the feet, ankles or legs.

LIVER PROBLEMS
Serious liver problems can happen in people using TNF blockers, including SIMPONI ARIA^®. Contact your doctor immediately if you develop symptoms such as feeling very tired, skin or eyes look yellow, poor appetite or vomiting, or pain on the right side of your stomach.

BLOOD PROBLEMS
Low blood counts have been seen with people using TNF blockers, including SIMPONI ARIA^®. If this occurs, your body may not make enough blood cells to help fight infections or help stop bleeding. Your doctor will check your blood counts before and during treatment. Tell your doctor if you have signs such as fever, bruising, bleeding easily, or paleness.

ALLERGIC REACTIONS
Allergic reactions can happen in people who use TNF-blocker medicines, including SIMPONI ARIA^®. Tell your doctor if you have any symptoms of an allergic reaction while receiving SIMPONI ARIA^® such as hives, swollen face, breathing trouble, or chest pain. Some reactions can be serious and life-threatening.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR
Tell your doctor if you have psoriasis.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed, or have a baby and received SIMPONI ARIA^® during pregnancy. Tell your baby’s doctor before your baby receives any vaccine because of an increased risk of infection for up to 6 months after birth.

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS
The most common side effects of SIMPONI ARIA^® include: upper respiratory infection, abnormal liver tests, decreased blood cells that fight infection, viral infections, bronchitis, high blood pressure, and rash.

Please read the full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for SIMPONI ARIA^® and discuss any questions you have with your doctor.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.

Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

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