Your Health

Medicare coverage

If your medication isn't paid for by your Medicare plan, you can take action to try to get it covered.

First, federal officials say, ask why your plan didn't pay. You might need to pay a deductible.

Next, see if the drug is on your formulary, or coverage list. If not, ask for coverage as a "prior authorization" or "exception."

A free government booklet can guide you. Send your name and address to What to Do, Pueblo, CO, 81009, or go to www.pueblo.gsa.gov/rc/n71whattodo.htm to order online or to read and print the booklet, or call toll free (888) 878-3256. Ask for What to Do if Your Medicine Isn't Covered.

Hip check

Hip replacement is a viable option, even past age 80, a recent study found.

The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery reports that patients 80 and above who got artificial hips had similar strength and function as patients who were 70 or younger.

Both groups had comparable rates of complications, most commonly dislocations, and none of the patients died from the surgery.

Many patients over 80 think they're too old for it, but doctors say even older patients with debilitating pain and stiffness have a good chance to benefit.

Screen test

An online checklist can help determine what tests to take to check for cancer.

The five-year survival rate for cancers that can be detected by screening is 86 percent, so early screening is the best way to find out.

At www.cancer.org/greatamericans, the confidential questionnaire takes into account age, sex, weight, diet, physical activity, drinking and smoking to recommend what tests you should consider.

Pain for vets

Veterans who were deployed in the first Gulf War have a much higher rate of chronic widespread pain than nondeployed vets.

A study of almost 3,700 vets found that 16 percent of deployed vets had chronic widespread pain, twice as much as those not deployed. Those vets also had higher rates of alcohol abuse, depression, anxiety and unemployment.

The University of Iowa study suggested the findings could help get proper treatment for deployed vets.