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av y nio a io avvyvyavvy S or iorenior iori by Jim Miller How Medicare is Covering Coronavirus Dear Savvy Senior, Is Medicare covering testing for the coronavirus? My husband and I are very nervous about this virus and would like to fi nd out if or when we should get tested, and how Medicare manages it. Nervous Nelly Dear Nelly, Yes! Medicare is indeed covering the cost of testing for the coronavirus, or COVID-19. But be aware that getting a test isn’t as simple as going to your local pharmacy or doctor’s offi ce and asking for one. Here’s a breakdown of what Medicare is covering, along with how to get tested if you think you may have symptoms. Medicare Coverage Medicare (Part B) will cover the lab test to see if you have coronavirus, but only when your doctor or other health care provider orders it. You will pay no out-of-pocket costs for these tests. In addition, Medicare also covers all medically necessary hospitalizations. This includes if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 and might otherwise have been discharged from the hospital after an inpatient stay, but instead you need to stay in the hospital under quarantine. While there’s currently no vaccine yet to protect against COVID-19, when one becomes available next year, it too will be covered by all Medicare prescription drug plans (Part D). If you happen to get your Medicare benefi ts through a private Medicare Advantage plan, you will have access to these same benefi ts. In addition, many Advantage plans are also expanding coverage of telemedicine, which allows benefi ciaries to consult with medical professionals without having to go to a doctor’s offi ce. Check with your plan for coverage details. When to Call Your Doctor Older adults, age 60 and older (especially those in their 70s and 80s), and people with chronic medical conditions like diabetes, heart, lung or kidney disease are at a higher risk of serious illness if they contract the coronavirus. So, everyone in these categories need to be vigilant. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Severe cases can lead to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and death. If you develop any symptoms that are concerning, you should contact your primary-care provider by phone for guidance. If your doctor believes you need testing, he or she will instruct you on what to do. Unfortunately, there have been reports of test shortages across the country, so depending on where you live you may have to wait a few days. Prevention Tips To help you steer clear of COVID-19 the CDC recommends that you avoid close contact with anyone who is sick. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being out in public, blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water isn’t available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. To the extent possible, try to avoid touching your face, nose, and eyes. And avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places, like elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, and handshaking with people. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or fi nger if you must touch something. Also, clean and disinfect your home to remove germs: Practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces – tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks and cell phones. You should also avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces. Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick. The CDC also recommends that seniors and high-risk individuals stock up on supplies, such as extra medications and groceries. And, if there is an outbreak in your community, remain at home as much as possible. They also discourage nonessential travel. For more information on the COVID-19, visit Coronavirus.gov. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, March 27, 2020 SOUNDS| from page 18 Page 19 placed. The National Park Service has an agreement with Conservation Legacy to recruit and train youths and Veterans in traditional trades. Please note that this is not a federal job. It is a paid training experience that will provide qualifi cations that will make the successful candidate a stronger applicant for a skilled trade position. Four positions will be available in either Salem or Saugus, beginning in April. Two positions will be available from April 20 to September 4 and two positions will be available from April 20 to November 13. These positions are 40 hours per week at $16 per hour. Two weeks of paid travel to training in Frederick M.D., from June 8-19 is also required. Eligible candidates are Veterans between the ages of 18 and 35 and must present a DD214 stating service under Honorable or General Under Honorable Conditions. Apply by contacting Ryan Tant at 304-860-5073 or rtant@conservationlegacy.org. Additional information may also be found at go.nps.gov/ttap. Main attractions at the Saugus Public Library All programs and events scheduled at the Saugus Public Library are cancelled until further notice. Library Director Alan Thibeault said there aren’t any current plans to begin curbside delivery of books and other library materials – a service that several libraries have introduced in Massachusetts. “The bottom line here for us is that we are closed to the public to help limit the spread of COVID-19 by eliminating staff -patron interaction. For this reason, I have eschewed any sort of curbside delivery services. In fact, the Massachusetts Board of Library Services has explicitly advised against such services,” Thibeault wrote an email to us this week. “While I understand and applaud the desire of librarians to be as helpful and service-oriented as possible – after all, it’s what we are trained to do – I think we do our communities a disservice when we take actions which increase the likelihood of person-to-person transmission,” he wrote. “We’ve always off ered a lot of remote online services to our patrons and continue to do so. I’ve put reminders promoting their use on our Web site as well as our Facebook and Twitter feeds.” In his email to The Saugus Advocate, Thibeault does highlight some of the measures that he and his staff are considering in the way of new services that could be offered in the near J& • Reliable Mowing Service • Spring & Fall Cleanups • Mulch & Edging • Sod or Seed Lawns • Shrub Planting & Trimming • Water & Sewer Repairs Joe Pierotti, Jr. S LANDSCAPE & MASONRY CO. Masonry - Asphalt • Brick or Block Steps • Brick or Block Walls • Concrete or Brick Paver Patios & Walkways • Brick Re-Pointing • Asphalt Paving www.JandSlandscape-masonry.com • Senior Discount • Free Estimates • Licensed & Insured 617-389-1490 Designing and Constructing Ideas that are “Grounds for Success” Landscaping future so that town residents can make better use of the library during the time it will be closed. “We’ve considered having our staff perform virtual story times online as well, but reading published materials online could open us up to copyright challenges from publishers and our broadcast capabilities are, at best, limited in terms of technology. “We are investigating and will hopefully be putting out some links on our web site to direct patrons to story hour-type resources online including some well-known children’s authors reading their own works online (presumably they’ve cleared the copyright issues with their publishers). “Otherwise, we continue to use this opportunity to work on our collections and spaces, hoping for the best possible outcome to this challenge. We look forward to the day when we can welcome our patrons back into their library.” If anyone in town has any SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 20

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