To My Patients,
Emailed on October 26, 2026
Hope all is well.
Fall has arrived, the garden is winding down, and the days are becoming noticeably shorter. Shortly, we’ll be talking about Thanksgiving and the holidays.
A Few Office Notes:
Insurance changes
It has been reported that between 15-20 percent of all patients switch insurance at the beginning of each year, true for commercial, private and Medicare patients. In addition, insurance companies may change your ID, which may seem like a subtle issue, but causes serious administrative complication, especially when it comes to prescriptions, prior authorization, and billing. As the new year arrives, please make sure your insurance information is up to date, and that we have that information.
Many insurance plans change their coverage, benefits, or physician networks effective January 1, 2027. Before selecting or changing plans, please make sure our office participates in the particular plan you’re considering.
Medicare
The annual open enrollment period, which started on October 15, runs through December 7, 2026. This is your best opportunity to change Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plans for the coming year.
The Medicare deductible is set at $292 for 2027 (it’s $283 for 2026). Depending on your supplemental insurance, "medigap," such as AARP or Anthem, some or all of the deductible may be covered for office visits. There also could be differences in medical coverage. Uaually, the higher the premium, the lower the copay, same for coverage.
Cigna
Our office generally does not participate with Cigna insurance. There are limited exceptions (very few...), so please check with us before enrolling in one of their plans.
Prescription refills
When calling or emailing for prescription refills, please specify the pharmacy/location you wish. Many patients use several pharmacies, including mail-order services. Providing this information with each request can save unnecessary calls, delays, and headaches - for you and for us.
High Blood Pressure: One of Medicine’s Greatest Success Stories
When we think of medical breakthroughs that have increased life expectancy, antibiotics, vaccines, and modern surgery usually come to mind. Yet one of the greatest, and perhaps least appreciated, has been the treatment of high blood pressure.
Until the 1960s, many physicians considered elevated blood pressure a natural consequence of aging, often best left alone. Landmark Veterans Administration studies in 1967–1970 helped change that thinking, showing that treating hypertension prevented strokes, heart failure, and premature death.
Since then, millions of patients have benefited. For every 10-point reduction in systolic blood pressure, major studies show, through risk calculation, approximately:
The landmark SPRINT study, published in 2015, New England Journal of Medicine, further demonstrated that more intensive blood pressure control in selected higher-risk adults reduced major cardiovascular events by about 25% and overall mortality by 27%.
Plus, blood pressure treatment may also help preserve cognitive function and independent living.
Few advances in modern adult preventive medicine have had such a broad and sustained impact on both longevity and quality of life.
For many adults with hypertension, the treatment goal is below 130/80, but, as with any other medical treatment, the benefit must be weighed against potential side effects, particularly in older or frail patients.
Best of all, you can become an active partner in your treatment. Exercise regularly, reduce excess salt, maintain a healthy waistline and muscle mass, get adequate sleep, limit alcohol, and take prescribed medications consistently. Home blood pressure monitoring is especially useful. Small, sustained improvements have long-term benefits.
Bottom line: Controlling blood pressure is not simply controlling a number. It’s about protecting your heart, brain, kidneys, and independence - adding life to our years, not only years to our lives.
Visceral Fat and Body Composition: More Than Just Weight
The number on the bathroom scale tells only part of the story. Two people of identical height and weight can have very different body structure and health risks.
Visceral fat, which accumulates around our internal abdominal organs, is of particular concern. Excess visceral fat contributes to inflammation, insulin resistance, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.
As we age, we may lose muscle and gain abdominal fat without any noticeable change in weight. That’s why body composition - not just BMI (Body Mass Index) - matters.
A healthy waistline, regular exercise, adequate protein intake, and maintaining muscle strength are important ingredients of healthy aging. Muscle is an asset worth preserving.
Whole-body DEXA scanning provides a detailed picture of body composition, measuring fat and lean tissue throughout the body with particular attention to visceral fat.
Parting words, a reminder!
Your periodic physical examination and the AWV (Annual Wellness Visit, as defined by Medicare) is much more than a routine appointment. It allows us to review medications, identify emerging problems, evaluate risk factors, and discuss appropriate screening and prevention.
Most insurance companies require a full year between exams, Medicare specifies 366 days between successive AWV visits.
Think of the periodic physical exam/AWV as your gateway to wellness and longevity. It’s about keeping you healthy, active, and independent for as long as possible.
Feel free to share this letter with family and friends (if I have their email address and permission, they can be added to the mailing list).
Stay well,
Igal Staw, Ph.D., M.D.
www.drstaw.com
Hope all is well.
Fall has arrived, the garden is winding down, and the days are becoming noticeably shorter. Shortly, we’ll be talking about Thanksgiving and the holidays.
A Few Office Notes:
Insurance changes
It has been reported that between 15-20 percent of all patients switch insurance at the beginning of each year, true for commercial, private and Medicare patients. In addition, insurance companies may change your ID, which may seem like a subtle issue, but causes serious administrative complication, especially when it comes to prescriptions, prior authorization, and billing. As the new year arrives, please make sure your insurance information is up to date, and that we have that information.
Many insurance plans change their coverage, benefits, or physician networks effective January 1, 2027. Before selecting or changing plans, please make sure our office participates in the particular plan you’re considering.
Please give us a call at 203-853-1919 if you need an appointment!
Medicare
The annual open enrollment period, which started on October 15, runs through December 7, 2026. This is your best opportunity to change Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plans for the coming year.
The Medicare deductible is set at $292 for 2027 (it’s $283 for 2026). Depending on your supplemental insurance, "medigap," such as AARP or Anthem, some or all of the deductible may be covered for office visits. There also could be differences in medical coverage. Uaually, the higher the premium, the lower the copay, same for coverage.
Cigna
Our office generally does not participate with Cigna insurance. There are limited exceptions (very few...), so please check with us before enrolling in one of their plans.
Prescription refills
When calling or emailing for prescription refills, please specify the pharmacy/location you wish. Many patients use several pharmacies, including mail-order services. Providing this information with each request can save unnecessary calls, delays, and headaches - for you and for us.
High Blood Pressure: One of Medicine’s Greatest Success Stories
When we think of medical breakthroughs that have increased life expectancy, antibiotics, vaccines, and modern surgery usually come to mind. Yet one of the greatest, and perhaps least appreciated, has been the treatment of high blood pressure.
Until the 1960s, many physicians considered elevated blood pressure a natural consequence of aging, often best left alone. Landmark Veterans Administration studies in 1967–1970 helped change that thinking, showing that treating hypertension prevented strokes, heart failure, and premature death.
Since then, millions of patients have benefited. For every 10-point reduction in systolic blood pressure, major studies show, through risk calculation, approximately:
- 27% fewer strokes
- 28% less heart failure
- 20% fewer major cardiovascular events
- 13% fewer deaths
The landmark SPRINT study, published in 2015, New England Journal of Medicine, further demonstrated that more intensive blood pressure control in selected higher-risk adults reduced major cardiovascular events by about 25% and overall mortality by 27%.
Plus, blood pressure treatment may also help preserve cognitive function and independent living.
Few advances in modern adult preventive medicine have had such a broad and sustained impact on both longevity and quality of life.
For many adults with hypertension, the treatment goal is below 130/80, but, as with any other medical treatment, the benefit must be weighed against potential side effects, particularly in older or frail patients.
Best of all, you can become an active partner in your treatment. Exercise regularly, reduce excess salt, maintain a healthy waistline and muscle mass, get adequate sleep, limit alcohol, and take prescribed medications consistently. Home blood pressure monitoring is especially useful. Small, sustained improvements have long-term benefits.
Bottom line: Controlling blood pressure is not simply controlling a number. It’s about protecting your heart, brain, kidneys, and independence - adding life to our years, not only years to our lives.
Visceral Fat and Body Composition: More Than Just Weight
The number on the bathroom scale tells only part of the story. Two people of identical height and weight can have very different body structure and health risks.
Visceral fat, which accumulates around our internal abdominal organs, is of particular concern. Excess visceral fat contributes to inflammation, insulin resistance, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.
As we age, we may lose muscle and gain abdominal fat without any noticeable change in weight. That’s why body composition - not just BMI (Body Mass Index) - matters.
A healthy waistline, regular exercise, adequate protein intake, and maintaining muscle strength are important ingredients of healthy aging. Muscle is an asset worth preserving.
Whole-body DEXA scanning provides a detailed picture of body composition, measuring fat and lean tissue throughout the body with particular attention to visceral fat.
Interested? Give us a call: 203-853-1919
Parting words, a reminder!
Your periodic physical examination and the AWV (Annual Wellness Visit, as defined by Medicare) is much more than a routine appointment. It allows us to review medications, identify emerging problems, evaluate risk factors, and discuss appropriate screening and prevention.
Most insurance companies require a full year between exams, Medicare specifies 366 days between successive AWV visits.
Think of the periodic physical exam/AWV as your gateway to wellness and longevity. It’s about keeping you healthy, active, and independent for as long as possible.
Please give us a call at 203-853-1919 if you need an appointment!
Feel free to share this letter with family and friends (if I have their email address and permission, they can be added to the mailing list).
Stay well,
Igal Staw, Ph.D., M.D.
www.drstaw.com
