How to Use Your Health Plan Getting Better Care Health Care for Adults 50+

Health Care for Adults Over 50

Use this worksheet:
Care for Adults 50+

As you get older, your health care needs change. You need more routine tests, more frequent checkups, and you may need more medicines.

Topics on this page

• Work with your doctor
• Health classes for seniors
• Medicare Advantage
• Fill out an Advance Health Care Directive

Work with your doctor

Your primary care doctor coordinates your preventive care.

• Use the worksheet if you want or need to choose a new doctor.
• Your doctor can be an internist, a family doctor, or a gerontologist, who specializes in care for the elderly.
• Check out the Pocket Guide to Staying Healthy at 50+  .
• Use the worksheet to help keep track of your medicines. Take the worksheet to your doctor appointments.
• Find more resources on health conditions and treatments.

Health classes for seniors

Ask your health plan about classes to manage ongoing conditions, eat well and stay fit, or deal with stress and depression.

Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage Plans are managed care health plans. They include both HMOs and PPOs. If you belong to a Medicare Advantage plan, you get your Medicare benefits and prescription drug coverage though the plan. Visit CalMedicare   for more information on Medicare in California, including help if you have a low income.

Fill out an Advance Health Care Directive

An Advance Health Care Directive says what kind of care you want and who can make decisions for you if you cannot speak for yourself. You can download a form from the California Hospital Association  . Give copies of your form to your doctor, family, and close friends.

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