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Helping Seniors Make Better-Informed Medicare Decisions
Trying to pick a health insurance plan can be a chore for anyone. For many people, just mentioning the word "open enrollment" sends shivers down the spine. It seems like there's always a nagging feeling that you're wasting money, choosing a plan with poor in-network care, or both. One would think that health insurance gets easier as you approach retirement age, but the truth is that picking an initial Medicare coverage plan can be daunting.
Unfortunately, the confusing process of signing up for Medicare causes many seniors to forego healthcare coverage altogether. After all, Medicare enrollment can involve several federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration (or SSA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (or CMS).
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, our passion is guiding seniors through the confusion of Medicare. That way, they can enjoy retirement with peace of mind knowing they are protected and ready for life after 65. We work with dozens of insurance companies, giving our clients the chance to choose a plan that best fits their lifestyle.
We choose to design our senior insurance plans with a focus on optimal benefits structure, lower costs, and personalized service. Some independent insurance agencies see their aging customers as nothing more than a financial transaction waiting to happen. In contrast, we treat each of our clients with respect and dignity as we help them navigate the confusing waters of Medicare. Combined with individualized service, we help older Americans make well-informed decisions about insurance. Whether you're in need of senior Medicare Supplement Plan insurance in Mount Pleasant or simply have questions about signing up for Medicare, our team is here to help.
Service Areas
What is Medicare?
If you're approaching the golden years of your life, it's important you understand what Medicare is if you don't already.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program reserved for people older than 65 who have worked full-time for at least ten years. The Medicare program is paid for by a combination of worker payroll tax, premiums paid by Medicare enrollees, and the U.S. government.
There are four parts of Medicare:
This type of Medicare is free for most U.S. citizens. Medicare Part A helps older adults pay for care in a nursing facility, hospital visits, and some forms of in-home senior care.
This tier costs around $100 per month. It covers different outpatient services like lab tests, preventative care, doctor's visits, mental health care, clinical trials, and some forms of surgery.
This type of Medicare is most often called Medicare Advantage. This tier of Medicare allows seniors to choose health plans provided by insurance companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Individuals who use Medicare Advantage commonly use Medicare supplement plan insurance to help pay for health care costs that Original Medicare won't cover, like coinsurance, deductibles, and copayments.
Sometimes called "PDPs," these plans add drug coverage to standard Medicare, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS), some Medicare Cost Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans (MSA).
The amount of money you pay for your health care depends on several factors, including:
- What kind of care you need, and how often it is needed.
- The type of Medicare coverage you choose.
- Whether there are alternative insurance policies that will help fill gaps in your coverage
- Whether a doctor agrees to charge you the same amount that Medicare will cover for a medical service
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, we offer a number of health insurance solutions for seniors. Two of our most used services include Medicare Advantage plan insurance and Medicare supplement plan insurance.
Senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Mount Pleasant
Sometimes called Medigap, the purpose of Medicare Supplement Insurance is to help fill in "gaps" that might not be covered by Original Medicare. You can think of a Medigap policy as a supplement for your Original Medicare benefits.
Private companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services sell this type of insurance right here in South Carolina. While Original Medicare will pay for much of the cost associated with health care services you need, it may not cover all of your expenses. Generally, Medigap policies do not cover costs stemming from eyeglasses, private-duty nurses, dental care, hearing aids, or long-term care.
Depending on the Medicare Supplement Plan that you choose, it may cover out-of-the-country medical services when you travel abroad. Assuming you have Original Medicare coverage, your policy will cover its share of Medicare-approved health care costs. Once your Original Medicare coverage reaches its limit, your Medigap policy will pay its share of the fees.
Our Medigap policies are drafted to meet your specific needs, and can help cover remaining health care costs such as:
Deductibles
Copayments
Coinsurance
Important Information About Senior Supplement Plan Insurance
To dispel some confusion, you should know that a Medigap policy is not the same as a Medicare Advantage Plan. The latter helps you receive Medicare benefits, while the former supplements the benefits you obtain through your Original Medicare plan. As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
- To qualify for a Medigap policy, you must first have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.
- Payments on your Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan will be made to the private insurance company that you choose, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. These payments are made every month and are paid in addition to the monthly payment you make for Medicare Part B.
- If you are the holder of a Medicare Advantage Plan, it is illegal for an insurance company to sell you a senior Medicare Supplement Policy. If you plan on switching back to an Original Medicare plan, you may be able to purchase a Medigap policy.
- If you have health problems as you age, your standardized Medigap policy is guaranteed to be renewable. So long as you pay your monthly premium, your insurance provider cannot cancel your policy.
- Medigap policies only cover one person. If you have a spouse or family member that would like coverage, they must purchase a separate policy.
- You may only buy a Senior Medicare Supplement Plan from an insurance agent that is licensed to sell them in your state. Senior Medicare Insurance Services has been licensed to sell Medigap policies in South Carolina for years. We have helped countless seniors get the Medicare coverage they need and continue to do so to this day.
- In the past, Medigap policies were able to cover costs related to prescription drugs. As of January 1st, 2006, prescription drug coverage is not available on Medicare Supplement Plans. The best way to get coverage for your prescription drugs is to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, often called Part D. Contact our office today to learn more about paying premiums on Medigap and Medicare plans.
For many people, the best time to buy senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Mount Pleasant is during the 7 months Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This period starts the day you turn 65 years old, so long as you hold Medical Insurance (Medicare Part B). Generally, during the enrollment period, you get more policy choices and better pricing. Once the enrollment period is over, you may not be able to purchase a Medigap policy. Contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services today to determine if you qualify for a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan.
Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance in Mount Pleasant, SC
A Medicare Advantage Plan is a kind of Medicare health coverage designed to provide seniors with all their Part A and Part B Medicare benefits. Many Medicare Advantage Plans will often include coverage of the following:
- Preferred Provider Organizations
- Special Needs Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service
- Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans
- Health Maintenance Organizations
In addition, most Medicare Advantage Plans give seniors coverage for their prescription drug needs. When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan through Senior Medicare Insurance Services, your Medicare benefits are covered through your plan and will not be paid for by traditional Medicare.
How Medicare Advantage Plans Work
Sometimes called "MA Plans" or "Part C," Medicare Advantage Plans are considered an "all in one" solution to Original Medicare. Senior Medicare Advantage Plans are only offered by private companies that are approved, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Seniors who enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan are still on Medicare. However, these individuals enjoy bundled plans that give seniors the benefits of hospital insurance (Medicare Part A), medical insurance (Medicare Part B), and sometimes drug coverage (Part D).
Medicare Advantage Plans are very popular because they cover all Medicare services and make life a little easier for seniors who have trouble understanding the nuances of Medicare.
When you contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services to choose your Medicare Advantage Plan, ask your agent about Medicare prescription drug coverage. Unless you already have drug coverage (Part D), you should seriously consider Part D coverage to help reduce costs associated with prescription drugs. You may also want to consider a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan to help fill gaps in coverage that Original Medicare will not cover.
Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Rules
Medicare works by paying a set amount of money to the companies that offer senior Medicare Advantage Plan insurance in Mount Pleasant. That money is used to pay for the care services that you need. Because Medicare Advantage Plans are different, you should expect out-of-pocket costs to vary depending on the plan you choose.
Different plans have different rules for how you receive services, such as:
If you must go to facilities, suppliers, or doctors that belong to your Advantage Plan for non-urgent and non-emergency care.-
Whether you must get a referral to see a specialized doctor
Companies that offer Medicare Advantage Plans must follow strict rules, which are set by Medicare and can change every year.
Paying for Your Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance
How much you pay for your Medicare Advantage Plan varies and depends on a few different factors. In most cases, if you need a kind of medical service, you will need to rely on the doctors and providers in your plan's service area and network to pay the lowest amounts. In some cases, if you choose to use a service outside of your plan's network of coverage, you may have to pay out-of-pocket.
We encourage you to contact our office today to learn more about Medicare Advantage Plans, how they work, what your options are, and how often you will have to pay out-of-pocket, if at all.
The Senior Medicare Insurance Services Commitment
Since our company was founded, we have led the insurance industry by providing our clients with the most valuable, helpful insurance solutions available. We are fully committed to our current and prospective clients by:
Choosing to focus on personalized, one-on-one service. When you work with our team, know that we will always design your health insurance plan with your best interests in mind.-
Listening to your specific needs. -
Responding to all inquiries and questions promptly and with a friendly attitude. -
Providing you with the best customer service in the senior health insurance industry, whether you have questions or are ready to move forward with a Medicare plan.
Our mission is to help give seniors the best Medicare assistance available so that they may understand the Medicare process and make an informed health coverage decision. We have the knowledge, skills, and experience to assist anyone interested in Medicare. Our personal goal is to become a lifetime resource for our clients and give them greater confidence in choosing their insurance plans.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 82 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
Latest News in Mount Pleasant, SC
HOT PROPERTIES: Retail center sells for $28.5M in Mount Pleasant
Ross Nortonhttps://charlestonbusiness.com/hot-properties-retail-center-sells-for-285m-in-mount-pleasant/
Alan Freeman and Jeff Yurfest of The Shopping Center Group represented the buyer, Edens, in the sale of 104,000 square feet and 8.8 acres of retail space at Moultire Plaza on Coleman Boulevard and Simmons Street in Mount Pleasant.GMB LLC sold the property for $28.5 million. Tim Wood and Woody Kapp of Meyer Kapp and Associates represented the seller.Other commercial real estate transactions in the Charleston area include:Jing “Julia” Donovan of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atla...
Alan Freeman and Jeff Yurfest of The Shopping Center Group represented the buyer, Edens, in the sale of 104,000 square feet and 8.8 acres of retail space at Moultire Plaza on Coleman Boulevard and Simmons Street in Mount Pleasant.
GMB LLC sold the property for $28.5 million. Tim Wood and Woody Kapp of Meyer Kapp and Associates represented the seller.
Other commercial real estate transactions in the Charleston area include:
Jing “Julia” Donovan of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic represented the tenant, Manqing Ye, in the lease of retail space at 1039 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. in Mount Pleasant. Mark J. Tezza of Kennerty, Ratner, Tessa LLC represented the landlord, Caro-Cal Associates LLC.
Hannah Kamba and Brent Case of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic represented the tenant, Dulce Inc., in the lease of 2,404 square feet of retail space at One Nexton Blvd. in Summerville from The Shopping Center Group. Jeff Yurfest represented the landlord.
Robert Pratt of Re/Max Pro Realty represented the landlord, 113 N. Magnolia LLC, in the lease of 1,366 square feet of retail space at 113 N. Magnolia St., Suite A, in Summerville to Sip of the South LLC. Roy Oglesby of Carolina One Real Estate represented the tenant.
NAI Charleston veteran broker Will Sherrod recently facilitated the sale of a 23,755-square-foot former bank branch and additional office space on 3.7 acres of land at 201 N. Spence Ave. in Goldsboro, N.C. The property is located approximately one mile from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and sits near N. Berkeley Boulevard, which is the main retail corridor serving the Goldsboro market.
Jenna Philipp of Palmetto Commercial Properties LLC represented the landlord, James Island Business Park LLC, in the lease of 15,315 square feet of industrial space at 1750 Signal Point Road to Jenna Mobile Philipp.
Caroline Boyce of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic represented the tenant, Sweet Moon Bakery, in the lease of 1,200 square feet of retail space in Unit 12 at 5131 Dorchester Road in North Charleston. Vitre Ravenel Stephens and Taylor Sekanovich of Harbor Commercial Partners represented the landlord.
Hannah Kamba and Brent Case of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic represented the tenant, Blue Clements Ferry Inc., in the lease of 4,000 square feet of retail space at 834 Foundation St. in Charleston. Fritz Meyer and Eric Meyer of Meyer Kapp & Associates LLC represented the landlord.
Hannah Kamba and Brent Case of Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic represented the tenant, Catrinas Nexton Inc., in the lease of 4,567 square feet of retail space at One Nexton Blvd. in Summerville. Jeff Yurfest of The Shopping Center Group represented the landlord.
Todd Garrett, Tradd Varner and Crawford Riddle of Harbor Commercial Partners represented the buyer, 2514 Oscar Johnson Road LLC, in the sale of 4,968 square feet industrial space at 2514 Oscar Johnson Road in North Charleston from the estate of Johnathan Uram for $785,000. Robin Pye of Carolina One Real Estate represented the seller.
Vitré Ravenel Stephens and Taylor Sekanovich of Harbor Commercial Partners represented the landlord, Fifty-Two Associates, in the lease of 2,750 square feet of retail space at 8410 Rivers Ave., Suites B and C, North Charleston, to Mulligan's.
Mark Erickson and Jarred Watts of Colliers represented Geopolymer International LLC in the leasing of 4,000 square feet of industrial space at 200 Varnfield Drive in Summerville.
Hot Properties highlights recently sold or leased commercial properties in the Charleston region. Send in your transactions using our online form.
Mount Pleasant awards $5.3 million contract for new road project by Highway 17
Anna Sharpe asharpe@postandcourier.comhttps://www.postandcourier.com/news/all-american-boulevard-extension-mount-pleasant/article_d85b83ea-f68a-11ee-bafd-6b423fe197f3.html
MOUNT PLEASANT — Town leaders approved a $5.3 million contract for less than a mile of roadway that will connect All American Boulevard to Park West Boulevard near Laurel Hill County Park.Mount Pleasant's Bids and Purchases Committee awarded the multimillion-dollar contract to Charleston-based general contractor Gulf Stream Construction Company.The town received four bids for the two-phased project, ultimately assigning the project to Gulf Stream Construction for $5,294,722.Phase 1 of the project will extend All Am...
MOUNT PLEASANT — Town leaders approved a $5.3 million contract for less than a mile of roadway that will connect All American Boulevard to Park West Boulevard near Laurel Hill County Park.
Mount Pleasant's Bids and Purchases Committee awarded the multimillion-dollar contract to Charleston-based general contractor Gulf Stream Construction Company.
The town received four bids for the two-phased project, ultimately assigning the project to Gulf Stream Construction for $5,294,722.
Phase 1 of the project will extend All American Boulevard to George Browder Road. Phase 2 will connect All American Boulevard from George Browder Road to the roundabout on Park West Boulevard near Publix.
The new road will span 3,025 feet — just over half a mile — and run parallel to Highway 17, improving access between neighboring communities and businesses, Molli LeMin, a project manager for the town, said.
"The purpose of the project is to serve as a frontage road to U.S. 17, promoting interconnectivity of neighborhoods, provide access to local businesses and provide facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists for improved multimodal transportation," LeMin said.
The new road will include a shared-use path along its entirety as well as dedicated bike lanes from George Browder to Park West Boulevard.
Construction could begin as early as April and is expected to last 18 months. Laurel Hill County Park will not be impacted by the roadwork, though some trees outside of the park will be removed.
LeMin said construction will be restricted during certain months "to minimize or avoid impacts to the tricolored bats."
Though not yet endangered and therefore not protected under the Endangered Species Act, tree clearing and cutting will be prohibited from May 1 to July 16, and again in the winter if the bats are officially declared an endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
In its current configuration, All American Boulevard is a dead end. Sitting at the end of the road is Charleston Design Center, a home improvement center that houses Source Consulting and Wholesale Appliance Center.
COLUMBIA — A South Carolina Senate committee voted to fast-track a sweeping and controversial energy policy reform bill despite concerns from members of the public — and some lawmakers — that the process was moving too quickly.
Dubbed the South Carolina Energy Security Act, the bill seeks to knock down a number of regulatory roadblocks to allow Dominion Energy and state-owned utility provider Santee Cooper to join together to develop a gas-fired power plant at a former coal-fired plant in South Carolina’s Lowcountry as a response to the state’s burgeoning energy-capacity crisis. The facility most likely to be converted is the old Canadys coal-fired plant near Walterboro, which was decommissioned several years ago.
It also gives the companies significant leeway to build new gas pipelines to support the plant, and cuts the regulatory red tape involved in breaking ground on projects that have already received a thumbs-up from the Public Service Commission, the regulatory oversight body that oversees in-state utility projects.
But the bill — which advanced through the House of Representatives at a rapid pace late last month before landing on Senators’ desks for the first time last week — includes a series of policy changes some say go well beyond the scope of clearing the way for a new and reportedly necessary natural gas facility.
These changes were enough to leave lawmakers like Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, Penry Gustafson, R-Camden, Tameika Isaac-Devine, D-Columbia, and Wes Climer, R-Rock Hill, with numerous questions before voting it out of the Senate Judiciary Committee to the full Senate on April 9.
Particularly after a single subcommittee meeting the previous week in which the only organizations to give verbal testimony were utility companies.
“Less-significant bills are beat to death on the floor all the time,” Gustafson said. “If we’re going to do that, I think we need to do that bills just like this.”
Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Myrtle Beach and chairman of both the Judiciary Committee and the subcommittee that worked on the bill, wanted to push ahead.
They all agreed South Carolina needs new energy generation now, Rankin said. The Senate is currently in the throes of debating a budget, he said. And with session ending May 9, time was short.
“I’m not trying to make this into a subcommittee,” Rankin said in the middle of a nearly two-hour debate on the bill April 9. “But we do have a responsibility to advance the bill.”
Others on the committee believed there was still much left to resolve. Davis, the chief author of a companion bill in the Senate, offered an amendment in the committee seeking to rectify multiple policies in the legislation he had concerns with.
Plans to reduce the membership of the Public Service Commission from seven members to three, he said, went too far. The Legislature making findings of fact on behalf of utilities companies, he said, was inappropriate. A proposal to move the Office of the Consumer Advocate from the current position in state government to the Office of Regulatory Staff — which oversees the development of various utilities — potentially ran counter to the public interest.
Others just simply wanted longer than two weeks to vet the bill. Particularly given concerns the bill did more than clear the way for a single power plant to begin construction.
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“This is a far-reaching bill that has significant consequences up and down the regulatory, governmental and private actor processes related to the generation and transmission and distribution of electricity around the state,” Climer said.
Climer then attempted to demote the bill back to the subcommittee level, saying he believed they as a committee needed to adequately “weigh the consequences of giving absolutely de minimis consideration of what’s before us.”
“My opinion is that this is not a subject matter that lends itself to that kind of rushed process, or that kind of haphazard process,” Climer said. “And that’s what we’re talking about. We’re talking about a haphazard process on a bill that is ultimately going to touch, I would suspect, tens of billions of dollars in private investment and all five and a half million South Carolinians.”
New attainable housing coming to Mount Pleasant community
Carlie Bakerhttps://www.live5news.com/2024/04/12/new-attainable-housing-coming-mount-pleasant-community/
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) - Mount Pleasant’s Carolina Park is expected to see more growth in the coming years after town council approved the final reading of the proposed attainable housing district.The housing development will sit on a 12.64-acre parcel located off of Park Avenue Boulevard and contain up to 100 attainable houses. Prosperity Builders will develop the houses. They previously built another attainable housing development called Gregorie Ferry Towns in Mount Pleasant.Seacoast Church previously owned the la...
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) - Mount Pleasant’s Carolina Park is expected to see more growth in the coming years after town council approved the final reading of the proposed attainable housing district.
The housing development will sit on a 12.64-acre parcel located off of Park Avenue Boulevard and contain up to 100 attainable houses. Prosperity Builders will develop the houses. They previously built another attainable housing development called Gregorie Ferry Towns in Mount Pleasant.
Seacoast Church previously owned the land but decided to sell it to developers for this housing district. The community can expect to see the new townhomes in the next two to three years.
“You talk about listening to our community, 10,000 people go to Seacoast and Seacoast made the decision to sell this for this purpose, because it’s best for our community,” Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie said at the town council meeting.
One of the concerns council members said they had heard from citizens was the impact traffic would have in the area. Haynie said at the meeting that even though traffic would increase, it would be far less traffic than if other businesses were built on that land.
“This is the least intense use of that property,” Haynie said.
Mount Pleasant Council member Guang Ming Whitley said this project is privately funded through Seacoast Church and Prosperity Builders, so there are no tax dollars going towards this project.
“I think this is an exciting opportunity for people who work in Mt Pleasant, but can’t necessarily afford to live in Mt Pleasant, to have an opportunity to move and live where they work,” Whitley said.
Whitley also said that they had a representative from Charleston County Schools come to one of their meetings due to concerns about schools becoming overpopulated in the area.
They said that with the expansion of the elementary school that is happening this fall, there will be no issues with overcrowding.
The townhomes will be for sale at around $300,000 to $400,000.
Bill Hoffman, one of the owners of Rooted Bottle Shop, a Carolina Park business off Park Avenue Boulevard shared his thoughts on what the new development might do for the area.
“The fact that they are doing something that’s a little bit different, to help people who can’t afford housing, which is skyrocketing in Mount Pleasant as everyone knows, I think it’s a good thing,” one of the owners of Rooted Bottle Shop, Bill Hoffman says.
Hoffman added that he thinks growth will be good.
Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.
$2.4B deal buys 3 South Carolina hospitals, including Mount Pleasant facility
Ross Nortonhttps://charlestonbusiness.com/2-4b-deal-buys-3-south-carolina-hospitals-including-mount-pleasant-facility/
Listen to this articleThree area hospitals have been sold in a $2.4 billion deal to North Carolina-based Novant Health by the previous owner, Tenet Healthcare of Dallas, Texas.The sale of East Cooper Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, Hilton Head Hospital in Hilton Head and Coastal Carolina Hospital in Hardeeville includes the associated physician clinics and other operations, according to a news release from Novant Health.“We are beyond thrilled to welcome our new team members...
Listen to this article
Three area hospitals have been sold in a $2.4 billion deal to North Carolina-based Novant Health by the previous owner, Tenet Healthcare of Dallas, Texas.
The sale of East Cooper Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, Hilton Head Hospital in Hilton Head and Coastal Carolina Hospital in Hardeeville includes the associated physician clinics and other operations, according to a news release from Novant Health.
“We are beyond thrilled to welcome our new team members and grow our presence in South Carolina,” said Carl S. Armato, president and CEO, Novant Health, which is headquartered in Winston-Salem. “Novant Health’s long-term vision is to transform the health and wellness of these communities through expanded specialty services and clinical expertise. We are energized and united behind our cause to create a healthier future together by building connections with patients and clinicians in coastal South Carolina.”
The East Cooper Medical Center includes 15 physician clinics. Hilton Head Hospital includes the Bluffton Okatie Outpatient Center and 12 physician clinics. Coastal Carolina Hospital in Jasper County includes the Tidewatch Free-Standing Emergency Department in Bluffton, according to the news release.
Novant Health said continuity of care is a priority and appointments and procedures will continue as scheduled during the transition period. “We are working closely with our new Novant Health team members to ensure a seamless transition for patients and team members,” Joel Taylor, market CEO of Hilton Head Regional Healthcare, said in the release. “We are eager to move forward together in support of our teams and know decisions will be made with our community’s needs at the forefront.”
“There’s a lot to be excited about when planning for our future,” Tyler Sherrill, CEO of East Cooper Medical Center, said in the release. “Novant Health is known for elevating clinician leadership to provide patients with a trusted health care experience through world-class technology, personal connections and convenient access to care.”
Tenet Health also owns a cluster of imaging centers and urgent care clinics in York, Rock Hill and Fort Mill, but those South Carolina properties were not part of the deal for the coastal hospitals.
“We understand that taking care of our patients starts with taking care of our people, so I’m delighted to join a leadership team that strives to not only be a healthc are provider of choice but also an employer of choice,” Ryan Lee, CEO of Coastal Carolina Hospital, said in the release. “I look forward to expanding the resources available to our team.”
Novant Health supports health and wellness programs in the community, including health education/screenings, community health workers and mobile cruisers. Each year, Novant Health provides hundreds of programs that serve patients, neighbors and some of their communities’ most vulnerable citizens, the company said in the release.
The Novant Health network consists of more than 1,900 physicians and more than 38,000 team members who provide care at more than 800 locations, the release said.
Meet the candidates: Mark Flannery
Anna Sharpehttps://www.postandcourier.com/moultrie-news/news/meet-the-candidates-mark-flannery/article_bd6465d0-621e-11ee-bf7c-e7d85259d6ab.html
Tell me about your professional background and how you feel it makes you a good fit to be a council member.I've been teaching in Charleston County since 2016. This is my 24th year teaching. The local aspect of teaching, most of my career has been in teaching elementary school, but still the local aspect of working in the community where I live has always been something that I really like. Now I'm in North Charleston, so it's the greater community where I live. I think this is a theme of why I've chosen to run for Town...
Tell me about your professional background and how you feel it makes you a good fit to be a council member.
I've been teaching in Charleston County since 2016. This is my 24th year teaching. The local aspect of teaching, most of my career has been in teaching elementary school, but still the local aspect of working in the community where I live has always been something that I really like. Now I'm in North Charleston, so it's the greater community where I live. I think this is a theme of why I've chosen to run for Town Council because I would like to see Mount Pleasant make its own decisions on a local level and be responsible for them and with citizens participating in the process. I lived in France for seven years and I have a Bachelor of Science in French and psychology and a master's degree in educational technology. I've just always been part of the local community and have worked well with others.
What do you feel is the biggest issue facing the town today, and what plans do you have to address this?
I have a daughter, a six-year-old, and we went to James Island yesterday to go rock climbing in James Island County Park. I would like to see the green spaces improved in Mount Pleasant to make it something where travelers don't have to go across town to go to the (County) Park. I know that there’s a bike path in … Laurel Hill County Park and just a dirt road going in a half-mile circle and there are things that we can put back there that would be places you can take your kids and take your family.
The other thing is I think that health all across the United States is a problem. We pay more for healthcare. We have more healthcare issues related to obesity and diet. I would like to be somebody who spreads the message of healthy eating and healthy lifestyles lead to better lives. We have a great little local market there at Boone Hall...we have the Farmers Market on Tuesday and Boone Hall is open the rest of the week.
The results of the Public Input Matters survey found that throughout all seven districts in town, respondents feel that traffic in Mount Pleasant needs to be improved. What are some concrete solutions that you feel can address this?
The traffic in Mount Pleasant and housing in Mount Pleasant — I don’t know if ‘victims of our own success’ is the right word for it. We have a very unique geography here. We are a virtual island in that there's no shortcuts. There's one way in and one way out. You may come across I-526 or I-26 or you go north towards McClellanville and Georgetown up (Highway) 41. There just isn't room.
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I know that the Town Council has a plan and they've already hired a company to look into certain traffic solutions. As a new council member, I'm not sure if I would be able to offer anything different to what they have already decided on.
Another area Public Input Matters survey takers responded to was housing availability. Forty-one percent of respondents felt that affordable housing options should be increased. How do you feel this can be accomplished?
I think it speaks well to the people in Mount Pleasant that we want things for people like affordable housing, but whether or not there is a feasible solution to providing that affordable housing — where are we going to put affordable housing? It makes sense that people want affordable housing but do they want the affordable housing in their backyard?
I want to live locally, I want to buy locally, want to shop locally, but we can't escape the fact that a lot of our local decisions are made on a state and national and global level. How does Mount Pleasant make affordable housing when the interest rates are 7.75 percent? There are things happening on a national level that we just can't control that can make our job of creating affordable housing next to impossible.
Is there anyone who has served as a role model to you, either from politics, past experiences or family members, that you look to and consider while you run for office?
One thing my dad always taught us was sometimes doing the right thing is the hardest thing to do, but you can take solace in the fact that it's the right thing to do. I am a part owner of a restaurant in Washington, D.C. with my brother Eric and when Washington D.C. decided to impose the vaccine mandate on restaurants … we were the only restaurant in Washington, D.C. to actively say no, we're not going to check people's health papers. It was very hard on my brother to do that, and he's such a big part of the local community. What I just really admired was his courage and even though it financially wasn't the best decision. Financially, it wasn't a great decision, but it was the right decision to make and his principles are something that I truly admire and I try to follow that example in my own life.
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