Davenport, Iowa - Making ends meet should not mean going without your medication. Medicare prescription drug coverage, known as Part D, helps fill the gap for eligible Quad Citians but unfortunately many don't review their policies and find themselves spending more money on prescriptions drugs then may be necessary. This is why it is so important for Medicare recipients to take part in the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period, October 15 through December 7.

On October 15, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will announce its Part D plans for 2015.  According to CMS, there are several plan changes which will impact Iowans. "Iowa will have 29 stand-alone drug plans in 2015, compared to 32 for 2014," says Kris Gross from the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP).  "It is very important that Iowans do a Part D check-up and see if their current plans will still provide the best coverage for 2015."

According to SHIIP, seven plans were dropped and four new plans were added. Thirteen plans show reduced premiums and thirteen plans increased theirs.  None of the plans cover brand name drugs in the coverage gap, but several cover generic drugs.  There are five plans which are available at $0 for people who qualify for the full Part D extra help.

Going through this process can be confusing that is why the Center For Active Seniors, Inc. (CASI) is offering free assistance through its SHIIP program. Five specially trained SHIIP volunteers will be available, during the open enrollment period, by appointment, Monday through Friday, to offer assistance in finding coverage that best fits a Medicare recipient's needs.

Those interested in meeting with a CASI SHIIP counselor must make an appointment, in advance, by calling 563-386-7477. Counselors will offer this free assistance from October 15 through December 7 on the following days and times: Noon-5 p.m. on Mondays, 1-6 p.m. on Tuesdays; 9 a.m. - Noon on Wednesdays, 9 a.m. - Noon and 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. on Thursdays and from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. on Fridays. Counselors ask that you have a valid photo identification card, your Medicare card and a list from your pharmacy of all current medications. If a list cannot be provided, CASI's SHIIP counselors ask that you bring all your prescription medications to your schedule appointment.

During this same period you can enroll in a Medicare prescription drug (Part D) plan if you missed the enrollment deadline earlier this year.  SHIIP counselors can assist you with enrollment in a Part D plan also.  If you're happy with the plan you have and what it's going to be offering next year you don't need to do anything.  Your enrollment will continue into next year.

CASI was established in 1972 and serves the needs of older adults by providing a variety of events and activities focused on health and wellness, social engagement, lifelong learning, and community involvement. CASI also provides a senior advocacy program to assist older adults, their families, and caregivers in needs assessment and referral for services. Jane's Place at CASI is the only adult day services center in Eastern Iowa serving adults with Alzheimer's and dementia. Please contact CASI for additional information.

Salt is Good for You, Calcium Supplements are Bad,
and the Lab Test Everyone Should Get
4 Tips for Getting Seriously Healthy from One of the
'Best Doctors in America'*

There's a reason - well, several - why so many diseases are increasing in frequency in the United States, making some that were almost unheard of 100 years ago commonplace today, says Robert Thompson, M.D., an OB/GYN and integrative medicine specialist deemed by his peers to be in the top 5 percent of U.S. physicians.

"The United States is now 46th in men's mortality and the absolute worst country in the industrialized world for first-day infant mortality," says Thompson, author of "The Calcium Lie II: What Your Doctor Still Doesn't Know," (calciumliebook.com), a new book that details the roles minerals play in overall health and how to identify and correct deficiencies and imbalances.

"Based on the current rate of autism diagnoses, there will be no 'normal' male babies born in the U.S. by 2030," he says. "The current rate of diabetes suggests 95 percent of our adult population will be diabetic by 2030. The number of children with life-threatening allergies has increased more than 1,000 percent since 1995."

A perfect storm of corporate power, profits and public misinformation has succeeded in overwhelming the basic biochemical and physiological tenets of good health, says Thompson, who published his first book, "The Calcium Lie: What Your Doctor Doesn't Know Could Kill You," in 2008.

"Mineral deficiencies are responsible for a host of health problems, which are incorrectly treated by drugs," Thompson says. "We're told by the government and the medical community that we should be ingesting certain amounts of vitamin and mineral supplements to prevent disease, like osteoporosis, when in reality, the recommendations lead to other very serious health problems."

Thompson offers these suggestions for Americans to take charge of their health:

•  Get a hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) to determine your mineral status.
This may be the most important health test that exists, Thompson says. Only when you and your doctor know for sure your mineral status and important ratios can you adapt your diet, minerals and supplements to work toward proper balance.

Thompson recommends using Trace Elements, Inc. clinical lab in Addison, Texas, because it adheres to the highest standards. The lab accepts only samples submitted by health-care providers, including physicians, nutritionists, and others, so you need to find one who does HTMA and uses that lab. (Individuals who can't find a provider can call the lab for help in locating one; HTMA is prohibited in New York state.)

•  Do not take calcium supplements unless tests indicate a deficiency. We've all been told that we must ingest lots of calcium to ensure strong bones. In fact, calcium is just one of at least 12 minerals in our bones, all of which must be present in the right balance for good bone health. Calcium has been added to so much of our food, it's unlikely most of us are deficient. And yet, people are told to take calcium supplements. Excess calcium can cause kidney and gallstones, arterial plaque, bone spurs, calcium deposits in tissues other than bone, and brain cell dysfunction, brain shrinkage and dementia. Instead of calcium, Thompson instructs all his patients and readers to take a minimum of 3 grams of trace minerals derived from sea salt every day.

•  Salt - sodium - is necessary for digestion, nutrient absorption, cell function and metabolism.
Limiting salt intake is not only the wrong advice for 90 percent of the people at risk for high blood pressure, it also contributes to the lack of minerals in our bodies. Many of us are actually deficient in sodium.

Salt is a mineral, and unrefined sea salt and rock salt is the best source of sodium and ionic minerals. If you are sodium deficient, add harvested pure sea salt liberally to your foods. It is important to use pure sea salt, and not the common table salt, as processing has stripped common table salt of its mineral value.

•  Use only vitamin supplements made from 100 percent organic whole foods that have been vine-ripened.
Almost all of us need supplements because contemporary food supplies lack adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals, thanks to soil depletion. Most store-bought vitamins include just one component of the many complex molecular elements contained in the naturally occurring vitamin source. You need all of the nutrient components to get the full benefits.

The best natural sources of readily available vitamins include raw seeds, stabilized rice bran powder, vine-ripened fresh fruit and berries (vitamin C).

*Robert Thompson, M.D., was added to the peer-reviewed directory, "Best Doctors in America," in 1996.

About Robert Thompson, M.D.

Dr. Robert Thompson is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, and a nutrition specialist who helps patients get long-term relief from chronic disease, including obesity, diabetes, hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue. His newest book, "The Calcium Lie II," is available for free at calciumliebook.com. Dr. Thompson received his medical training at the University of Kentucky and has been a leader in medical advances for more than 30 years.

More than 685,000 People Now Have Access to Quality Health Coverage Under the Affordable Care Act

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced that since open enrollment began nearly one year ago, more than 685,000 people across Illinois now have access to quality healthcare through the Affordable Care Act. State officials are gearing up to ensure even more residents sign up for healthcare in year two of the Affordable Care Act's open enrollment period, which begins Nov. 15. Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to ensure all people have access to quality healthcare and improve the health and well-being of the people of Illinois.

"Thanks to the leadership of President Obama and the Affordable Care Act, we have made health coverage a reality for hundreds of thousands of people across Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "Today, more than 685,000 people have access to healthcare who didn't have it just one year ago. We have come a long way but we are not going to stop until everyone in Illinois has the quality care they deserve."

According to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, 468,000 people have enrolled in the expanded Medicaid program under the ACA, more than double the state's initial projections. Coupled with the 217,000 who enrolled in private health plans through the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace, approximately 685,000 people have enrolled in health care as a result of the state's aggressive enrollment efforts. The state's Marketplace enrollment during the initial six-month enrollment period exceeded the federally established goal of 143,000 Marketplace enrollees by 52 percent.

Get Covered Illinois is in the process of training and preparing navigators for the second open enrollment period under the ACA, which will begin Nov. 15 and run through Feb. 15.

Governor Quinn made the announcement at Alivio Medical Center in Pilsen, one of the dozens of trusted community organizations across the state that is participating in the state's In-Person Counselor (IPC) program. The federally-funded program establishes a network of "navigators" across the state whose job is to educate consumers about the financial assistance available under the ACA for those who qualify based on their income, and help them navigate through their healthcare options and enroll in a healthcare plan.

The Illinois Department of Public Health recently announced that 37 community organizations around the state, including Alivio, were selected through a rigorous application process to participate in year two of the IPC/navigator program.

"Alivio Medical Center is very proud to have the opportunity to serve our community for a second year by participating in Get Covered Illinois' IPC program," Alivio Medical Center's CEO Esther Corpuz said. "We see families coming through our doors every day who remind us of the critical need for access to healthcare and the role it plays in allowing children and families to achieve their full potential in life."

Governor Quinn has long supported affordable and effective healthcare for all. In addition to the success of the ACA, Governor Quinn has signed multiple pieces of legislation to clarify and expand the scope of practice for certain health care professionals in order to ensure that Illinois residents have access to the health care they need. He also supports efforts to streamline and expedite veteran applications for professional licenses to benefit military families seeking employment and consumers seeking access to qualified health care professionals.

For more information about Get Covered Illinois and the state's implementation of the ACA, go to: www.GetCoveredIllinois.com.

1. Grocery shop weekly
Healthy eating starts with having healthy food in the house. Plan a trip to the grocery store weekly and stock up.

2. Plan meals and pack lunches
Taking your lunch to work at least a couple days per week will lead to healthier eating and it's much easier for those who are carbohydrate counting too. Planning meals and grocery shopping go hand in hand, so this can be the first step toward healthy eating.

3. Cook at home majority of the time
Eat most of your meals at home. This does not mean you have to cook gourmet meals every night, but even making a large pot of turkey chili or making a quick batch of black bean quesadillas will probably be a healthier option than eating out.

4. Eat fruits and vegetables
Bottom line - people who eat healthy eat more fruits and vegetables and less "junk snack food." Try to constantly think of ways to eat more veggies at lunch and dinner. Whether it be a salad, veggies and hummus, extra cucumber and tomatoes on your sandwich or a stir-fry at dinner - eating more veggies helps control blood glucose levels and helps fill you up.

5. Eat 3 meals per day
Healthier eaters do not skip meals! This leads to better blood sugar control and less overeating at dinner.

6. Eat 3 food groups per meal
Healthy eaters eat a variety of foods at a meal, so they usually aim for 3 food groups at a meal. An example could be a dinner with salmon, quinoa and green beans for a total of 3 foods groups.

7. Drink lots of water
Healthy eaters are drinking more water and less soda or other drinks.

8. Get "back on track" if you ever overdo it
Healthy eaters are not perfect eaters! But if they do overdo it, they tend to get back on track quickly.

9. Willing to try new foods
Healthy eaters do not say things like, "I don't like any fruit or vegetables." They are willing to try to new foods and see if they like it before forming a decision.

Habits of Non-Healthy Eaters

1. Eat out more than 3 times per week
Unhealthy eaters tend to eat at a lot of meals at restaurants for lunch, dinner and sometimes breakfast.

2. Go to Fast Food Restaurants weekly
Fast food restaurants are a common place for unhealthy eaters.

3. Eat a lot of processed or packaged food
Unhealthy eaters consume a lot of processed foods such as chips, cookies, or sometimes large portion sizes of packaged "healthier" food options, such as popcorn, cereal, crackers or pretzels.

4. Skip meals
Unhealthy eaters do not eat regular meals at regular times.

5. Eat fried foods weekly
Fried foods are commonly eaten among unhealthy eaters, whether it is fried chicken, French fries, or potato chips.

6. Drink sweetened drinks
Regular soda, lemonade, juice, or sweetened ice tea make the list of drinks for unhealthy eaters.

7. Drink large amounts of diet soda or coffee
Not everyone that drinks diet soda or coffee is an unhealthy eater, but when people are drinking these things in excess, it becomes a problem. For example, drinking a pot of coffee or more than 3 diet sodas per day usually takes the place of how much water a person is drinking.

8. Snack a lot after dinner
Some unhealthy eaters do well during the day and then really overdo the snacking in the evening time. This could be due to boredom, stress relief, emotional eating, or not eating enough during the day.

9. Make excuses for why they can't eat healthy
Unhealthy eaters tend to have many excuses on why they don't eat healthy. The bottom line is ? if they want to make healthy eating a priority there will be no more excuses.

Do you want to make a change in your eating habits? Set up a meeting with a Registered Dietitian today!