Happy New Year!

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Angel Blair

Welcome 2014! Another year has come and gone, and for many 2014 signifies a new beginning and novel changes in the year ahead. It marks a time to make resolutions, changes, and achievements that will signify this year and make it different than ones past. New hopes, wishes and dreams are some of the things that represent this new beginning, as people try to make the best out of a fresh start. Some individuals may set goals while others strive to complete tasks day by day. No matter the method used in bringing about changes in the New Year, hopefully 2014 brings a time of hopefulness and promise.

I set a goal to exercise and eat more vegetables…what is one of your goals?

All the best for 2014!

Wrapping up the year

Posted on December 30, 2013 by MSAA

2013 is rapidly fading, and if you are like me, then by this point you are tired of all the wrapping and the go go go “holiday mode” and may be trying to mentally prepare for next year and what it may bring with it. A lot happens in the course of a year.

As the time rushes by, try to set aside a moment and think and write about 2013 as a year. Did you have a success or accomplishment you were proud of? Was there a goal that you didn’t quite meet or something you will strive to improve on next year? Was there something that made you laugh so hard you cried?

Write your own list. You can either hang it up somewhere you see frequently to remind you of goals and moments and memories you experienced throughout 2013. Alternatively, you can write it down and seal it in an envelope, then open it when 2014 is wrapping up. This will help you reflect on what you thought of 2013 and provide a retrospective of the curveballs, challenges, victories and laughter that the year brought.

MSAA wishes you a happy New Year! Please note that our office will be closed on January 1^st 2014.

An Early Look at the Year in Review

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Angel Blair

The year 2013 has been a substantial one in the world of MS. As each year passes, more and more developments and improvements are made to the ever-changing MS landscape, and it looks like we can add 2013 to that picture. The year saw the approval of a new MS treatment, the initiation of health insurance changes and availability, and increased information pertaining to upcoming trials and experimental medications for treating the disease.

As changes occur within the MS community, the MSAA continues to play a role in providing updated information and educational resources portraying these changes. Through educational webinars, shared-management and informational programs, the MSAA was able to provide support to those in the MS environment in learning of these developments. And as changes continue to unfold in the future, MSAA will continue to increase awareness of these developments within the MS community.

Thanksgiving Wishes for the MS Community from MSAA

Posted on November 27, 2013 by MSAA

MSAA would like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! Whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving with family, friends, pets, or in another way, we hope that you have a wonderful day. Please note that our offices will be closed from 2 pm EST 11/27 until Monday December 2^nd.

So let’s get the ball rolling on what we are thankful for and I’ll start:

My Children

Need health insurance? Join MSAA for our live webinar:

Posted on November 18, 2013 by MSAA

Don’t forget to sign up and attend MSAA’s live webinar, “The New Insurance Marketplace and MS” tomorrow evening 11/19 from 8PM – 9PM EST. The webinar provides the ins and outs of the Marketplace, explaining everything from common insurance terms down to MS specific policy pitfalls. So, register today and come find out what the insurance Marketplace means for you.

How does MSAA improve lives for the multiple sclerosis community?

Posted on November 1, 2013 by MSAA

Last week, we shared an infographic with our supporters showing just a few of the ways MSAA improves lives for the multiple sclerosis community. Today, we wanted to post that infographic again in case you missed it.

But we wanted to start by posing a question: What, exactly, is a “good” charity?*

There has been a lot of talk recently about good charities and bad charities. News reports have focused on charities that do little, if anything, to help alleviate social issues…and on companies who profit from the increasing need for funding to ensure missions are fulfilled. The nonprofit world is buzzing with words like “expensive ratios,” “ratings,” and “overhead.” The result: We are now taking a new look at what being a good charity really means.

How can your donation improve a life today?

As an organization, MSAA welcomes this conversation. We believe in using our resources efficiently to best serve the needs of the MS community. We have worked hard over the years to streamline our processes and improve our program delivery.

In addition to the wealth of information and support MSAA provides, for those who would be unable to afford equipment or MRI scans on their own, MSAA’s programs make a tangible difference in day-to-day quality of life. This is attested to time and time again in the unsolicited tesmionials of our clients.

*Excerpt from “Thoughts about Giving” in MSAA’s magazine The Motivator (Summer/Fall 2013)

Also made possible through the help of our supporters…

1,040,554 visits for vital information through our website

About 215,000 MSAA publications distributed to provide information and support

66,596 views of our 36 on-demand video programs

7,174 new downloads for MSAA’s smartphone app, “My MS Manager”

Donate now and improve a life today.

“Thank you so much for getting back to me so soon! After over two years of waiting and being passed off [by other organizations], my MRI is scheduled for a couple of hours from now! Thank you!” – Jordan R. from Colorado.

Improve a life today for someone like Jordan.

The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is a leading resource for the entire MS community, improving lives today through vital services and support.

Improving Lives Today!

Working for the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America

Posted on October 23, 2013 by MSAA

By Becky Remington

Greetings from the South Central Region. Last week, I attended a patient education program in Bentonville Arkansas, and as always, I feel like I have the most wonderful job in the world. One of the perks of my job is meeting amazing, warm, and caring people. Some of these people have MS, some of them are family members and spouses, and some of them come to the programs with their best friend, who just happens to have MS. And many times, as was the case this time, complete strangers sit together, start talking, share a meal together, talk some more, and exchange phone numbers or email addresses before the end of the presentation.

Last week’s talk was on Managing Stress and Anxiety. The speaker, a psychologist from Dallas TX, was excellent, giving a lot of practical advice and tips to those that attended. I have no doubt some of his stress relieving exercises will find their way in to people’s lives and make a difference in helping to keep some MS symptoms at bay. But I also know that those who made new friends left with something even more valuable.

Becky Remington is MSAA’s South-Central Regional Director

If you have Medicare, get the information you need to know:

Posted on October 14, 2013 by MSAA

Tomorrow, October 15^th, is the first day of Medicare Open Enrollment for plan year 2014. The plan that you select now will impact your medical coverage and costs for an entire year. Don’t forget to tune in to our live Webinar tomorrow evening from 8-9PM EST for important information on Medicare Open Enrollment and specific tips for people living with MS.

To register for the Webinar, go to the following link: support.mymsaa.org/aca1

If you cannot attend the live program, don’t worry, you will be able to watch the archive and download the presentation slides from our MSi page after the live program: https://mymsaa.org/manage-your-ms/videos/.

This year, be prepared. Learn from Medicare experts who can try to help you understand what questions to ask and how to select your best options.

October Artist of the Month: Celebrating the Work of Artists Affected by Multiple Sclerosis

Posted on October 4, 2013 by MSAA

MSAA is very proud to present our 2013 Art Showcase – celebrating the work of artists affected by MS.

We have received many wonderful submissions from across the country and are delighted to share their work and their stories with you. Please visit our online gallery to view all of the MSAA Art Showcase submissions.

October 2013 Artist of the Month:
Tammy Jennings – Monterey, California

Ocean Wave

Tammy Jennings - MSAA October Artist of the Month

Oahu

“My name is Tammy Jennings and I lived in picturesque Monterey, California. I am a 53-year-old, single woman, and I have been living with Multiple Sclerosis since 1996; I was 37. I worked full-time until December 2006 when I had to “retire” as the unpleasant “side-effects” of my MS became too much to handle in a work environment. As a result, I had a lot of free time. So I spent the first few years visiting relatives that I hadn’t been able to see when I was working. My cousin, Joyce Quaglino, was one of those relatives. She can take all the credit for introducing me to the wonderful world of painting. I believe EVERYONE can paint, mainly because it is almost mistake proof. Some of the worst “mistakes” turn out to be the most beautiful paintings! The inspiration for the paintings submitted was the ocean. And Hawaii being one of my favorite places in the world, I took a picture of a sea turtle (Honu in Hawaiian) and painted it when I got home. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed painting them.

Both paintings are Acrylic & Oil. First I complete the main painting in acrylic, then go back and touch it up with oil to make it “pop” (as my cousin says).”

The Affordable Care Act and Multiple Sclerosis

Posted on September 30, 2013 by MSAA

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA or ACA for short) passed in Congress as a landmark piece of legislation with the intent of securing more accessible healthcare for all Americans. At MSAA, we often receive calls with clients curious and/or concerned about what these changes to the healthcare landscape may entail for them. The Affordable Care Act has enacted numerous changes to both private and public health care coverage (this includes Medicare and Medicaid).

On the private insurance side, here is a short list of just a few reforms that will be enacted starting October 1st:

1. Pre-existing condition exclusions have been eliminated, and insurers can no longer deny applicants based on their MS disease status.
2. Insurers must justify any monthly premium increase of 10% or more before it can take effect.
3. No consumer will be subject to yearly or lifetime benefit caps, which was a major issue for those with MS.
4. If you need to purchase a private plan insurance, it will now be offered through an Enrollment Marketplace in each state.

For Medicare and Medicaid:

1. The percentage for what you pay inside the Medicare Donut Hole will be decreasing every year until it is closed in 2020 and the out of pocket expense will be 25% of the plan’s medication cost.
2. Medicare beneficiaries will receive free wellness exams every year to ensure adequate preventative care.
3. As for Medicaid, for those states that elected to participate, the eligibility criteria will expand to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level or $32,499 for a household of four, for example.

These are just a few of the major reforms that will be taking place under the provisions of the ACA. MSAA has enacted a new initiative to expand education on this topic, including webinars that will focus individually on the changes to Medicare and private insurance.
The first webinar, “Understanding Medicare in the New Era” will take place on October 15th at 8 pm and will be presented by Katherine Fitzpatrick of the Medicare Rights Center and MSAA Client Services Manager, Margaret Weisser and registration is currently open. Registration information for the second webinar on the new State Marketplaces and Private Insurance is forthcoming.

You can register for the Medicare Webinar at: support.mymsaa.org/aca1
We look forward to “seeing” you there!

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