The itch for summer travel is here, however make sure your Medicare plan has your back in the destination 

As we enter the month of July of the traveling season, Retirees that are planning to travel are recommended to check their Medicare coverage to review whether they are covered in their destination they choose to travel too. Hence, Medicare does not cover any medical costs outside of the U.S. and its territories. It is worth checking to make sure your plan is among those that include coverage for emergencies abroad.

“Basic Medicare does not cover travel outside the U.S. except in limited circumstances. Those exceptions include when you’re being treated on a ship within six hours of a U.S. port or you’re traveling from state to state but the closest hospital that can treat you is in a foreign country — for example, you’re in Canada while heading to Alaska from the 48 contiguous states.” Says CNBC

ABOUT TRANSITIONS CARE

Transitions offers the highest quality of end of life care, symptom management, and primary care services. We specialize in supporting individuals and families who are facing the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual challenges confronted when dealing with terminal and chronic illnesses. Paramount to our philosophy is to ensure that our patient is experiencing their final transition on their own specified terms — in comfort and with dignity. In our care, our main objective is always to maximize patients’ comfort and quality of life.

For us, whether it is end of life care, symptom management or primary care – it is always about living. That is why we provide patients with a comprehensive care plan led by a dedicated interdisciplinary team.

CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER of TRANSITIONS

About Trish Benson:

Trish Benson joined Transitions in 2016 and oversees the day to day operations and business development for Transitions Home Medical Group in Illinois and Indiana. She has a prominent role in the development of strategic initiatives for both business segments’ future growth. With more than 15 years of experience leading healthcare organizations, Trish is a proven leader in healthcare operations, organization, leadership, business development and market expansion. Her background has proven valuable to our operational success in many areas, including strategic planning, staff development, budget planning, campaign management, internal and external marketing communications, and public relations.

Before joining Transitions Hospice, Trish worked for Mosaic Healthcare as VP of Provider Relations & Strategy. Her responsibilities included marketing and business development of the multi-facility organization. While at Mosaic, Trish was able to maximize marketing and business development practices delivered at each location. She also worked for Petersen Companies in various roles, including VP of Operations in the Assisted Living Division, where she was responsible for 17 assisted living locations throughout Illinois and Iowa.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND FOUNDER

About Jim Palazzo

Jim has over 30 years of operating experience at multi-million dollar healthcare organizations. He is an award-winning executive with a solid history of success in improving patient services and overall efficiency. Jim acquired and started several healthcare-related companies beginning in 2005. His first was the acquisition and substantial renovation of East Bank Center, which has grown exponentially in terms of revenue as well as health care services. Transitions Hospice was formed in 2007, beginning as a small, Rockford, IL based hospice. Today, Transitions provides a full scope of hospice and palliative services in Northern and Central Illinois, as well as in Indiana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. In addition, Jim has founded multiple healthcare companies that provide an array of healthcare services that work in unison with Transitions Hospice: Advanced Therapy Solutions provides physical, occupational, and speech rehabilitation therapy for geriatric patients, and has done so for over 15 years. Transitions Medical Equipment delivers and assembles medical devices and equipment to patients directly in their place of residence, easing the stress of receiving care in one’s own home or facility. Transitions Home Medical Group serves as the home-based palliative care arm of Transitions, using an extended care team approach to treating chronically and terminally ill patients throughout our services areas.

Jim began with a simple yet understated philosophy, “keep people at home,” and has spent the last 15 years making this a reality. In order to do this, he has committed Transitions to three unwavering commandments: Commit to care, Each patient is unique, and Always do the right thing – all of which guide this organization each and every day.

Prior to starting these organizations, Jim graduated from Purdue University and spent the first 15 years of his career with Alden Management Services, a 500 million dollar healthcare organization. He led the seamless start-up and service delivery strategy of eight ancillary companies and developed and executed innovative administrative and marketing strategies for Alden. He was rapidly promoted to positions of increasing responsibility with the Facility Operations Division of Alden Management Services, which culminated into his role as Senior Vice President of Operations. In this role, he directed all aspects of operations in 36 facilities, comprising 4,200 beds.

Dr. Kuljit Kapur

CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER

Dr. Kuljit Kapur graduated from Benedictine University in 2002 on a full ride academic scholarship. She then attended medical school at Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, graduating in 2006. Ever since, her osteopathic medical training and philosophy has guided her in providing integrative, progressive, and quality medical care in the Chicagoland area. She began her career as a geriatric subacute rehab and long term care physician for Dreyer Medical Clinic, now Advocate Aurora Health Care. At that time, she provided palliative care consults in all Aurora and Naperville nursing homes and had a palliative care clinic at Rush Copley’s cardiology suite. Eventually, Dr. Kapur became the Medical Director at Symphony of Orchard Valley, where she lowered the readmission rate from 22% to 6% in just 5 years. In 2016, she became the Medical Director of Apex Hospice and Palliative Care, where she worked until 2020 provided her with the opportunity to join the Transitions team as our Chief Medical Officer.

Outside of work, Dr. Kapur is originally from Lasalle, Peru and she is now happily married with three wonderful daughters. Dr. Kapur emphasizes innovation and growth of Transitions Care throughout the territories we serve and is committed to providing the highest quality of care to all of our patients.