Healthcare News Recap 10/11/24

Medicare Annual Enrollment Period

• The 2025 Annual Open Enrollment period begins next week on October 15th and runs until December 7th.
• This period is when individuals enrolled in Medicare can change their plans.
• These individuals should have received an Annual Notice of Change Letter last month.
• This letter highlights all upcoming changes with Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage and costs, as well as all plan changes for those with Medicare Advantage Plans
• If you are currently enrolled in Medicare, be sure to review these changes and see if other plans may be better for you. For free assistance, visit https://sk.medicare247.org/contact-us/

Meat Products Recalled Due to Listeria

• A company is recalling almost 10 million pounds of meat and poultry products produced at an Oklahoma facility due to potential contamination with listeria bacteria, which can lead to illness and even death.
• BrucePac, located in Woodburn, Oregon, has initiated a recall of approximately 5,000 tons of ready-to-eat foods after officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture found listeria in poultry samples during regular testing. Subsequent tests confirmed that BrucePac chicken was the source of the contamination. This recall affects 75 different meat and chicken products.
• The foods include products like grilled chicken breast strips that were made at the company’s facility in Durant, Oklahoma. They were produced between June 19 and Oct. 8 and shipped to restaurants, food service vendors and other sites nationwide, government officials said.
• The products have a best-by date ranging from June 19, 2025, to October 8, 2025. Officials express concern that these items might still be in use or stored in refrigerators or freezers. They advise that these products should be discarded.

It’s Never Too Late to Quit Smoking

• Recent research published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine highlights that quitting smoking, even at the age of 75, can significantly enhance a person’s life expectancy.
• Seniors who continue to smoke at this age can expect to lose, on average, more than four years of life compared to those who have never smoked.
• Conversely, a 75-year-old smoker who decides to quit has a 14% chance of gaining at least an additional year of life, while a 65-year-old smoker has a 23% chance of the same.
• Moreover, approximately 8% of individuals who quit at age 75 can expect to gain at least four additional years of life compared to those who persist in smoking.
• The researchers concluded that quitting smoking is the most effective action individuals of any age can take to improve their life expectancy.