The Advantage plan program is an alternative to “original Medicare”. With this program, Medicare beneficiaries enroll with a private company for the management and administration of their Medicare benefits. Since the program’s inception, it has been controversial in some circles, as the Federal Government pays the private companies a large amount of money per person, per year to manage each individual’s Medicare benefits through the private company.

In early 2009, the Obama administration, in conjunction with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced plans to overhaul the way these plans are handled. These changes will affect the companies that administer the private plans, as well as those enrolled in them. Some of the major changes include:

* As a large part of an announced $316 billion Medicare funding cut, funding to the private Medicare Advantage plans will be reduced. To go along with this, there will be a competitive bidding process for these private plan contracts.
* Annual out-of-pocket expenses will be required to be capped in 2010. The anticipated cap amount is $3,400.
* Plans with 10 or fewer enrollees in a certain area, or county, will be required to not offer plans in that area.
* CMS projects that 10 million Medicare Advantage customers will face monthly premium increases of $40-70 per person in 2010. To go along with the higher premiums, many of the South Carolina Medicare Advantage plans will also be reducing services/coverage to compensate for lower reimbursement rates from the Federal Government.
* Starting in 2011, the private MA plans are required to develop networks for their coverage. Currently, the private-fee-for-service (PFFS) plans are not required to have networks. This elimination of the PFFS plans as they are now is already having an impact for 2010. Coventry Health Care, Well Care Health Plans and Health Net all have announced the end to their PFFS plans as of 1/1/2010 – between these three companies, this affects 428,000 people nationwide.

Without a doubt, it is apparent that the marketplace for South Carolina Medicare Advantage plans is changing. Each individual must look past any pre-existing notions of the differences in “original Medicare” and the MA program and re-examine how these plans are going to work for them moving forward. While some may find it advantageous to stay with the government’s Medicare Advantage program, even after all of the changes; however, others may find more reasonable and comprehensive Medicare Insurance coverage elsewhere.

The Advantage plan program is an alternative to “original Medicare”. With this program, Medicare beneficiaries enroll with a private company for the management and administration of their Medicare benefits. Since the program’s inception, it has been controversial in some circles, as the Federal Government pays the private companies a large amount of money per person, per year to manage each individual’s Medicare benefits through the private company.

In early 2009, the Obama administration, in conjunction with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced plans to overhaul the way these plans are handled. These changes will affect the companies that administer the private plans, as well as those enrolled in them. Some of the major changes include:

* As a large part of an announced $316 billion Medicare funding cut, funding to the private Medicare Advantage plans will be reduced. To go along with this, there will be a competitive bidding process for these private plan contracts.
* Annual out-of-pocket expenses will be required to be capped in 2010. The anticipated cap amount is $3,400.
* Plans with 10 or fewer enrollees in a certain area, or county, will be required to not offer plans in that area.
* CMS projects that 10 million Medicare Advantage customers will face monthly premium increases of $40-70 per person in 2010. To go along with the higher premiums, many of the South Carolina Medicare Advantage plans will also be reducing services/coverage to compensate for lower reimbursement rates from the Federal Government.
* Starting in 2011, the private MA plans are required to develop networks for their coverage. Currently, the private-fee-for-service (PFFS) plans are not required to have networks. This elimination of the PFFS plans as they are now is already having an impact for 2010. Coventry Health Care, Well Care Health Plans and Health Net all have announced the end to their PFFS plans as of 1/1/2010 – between these three companies, this affects 428,000 people nationwide.

Without a doubt, it is apparent that the marketplace for South Carolina Medicare Advantage plans is changing. Each individual must look past any pre-existing notions of the differences in “original Medicare” and the MA program and re-examine how these plans are going to work for them moving forward. While some may find it advantageous to stay with the government’s Medicare Advantage program, even after all of the changes; however, others may find more reasonable and comprehensive Medicare Insurance coverage elsewhere.

The 10th annual Christmas on Limestone begins on December 3 at 5pm in historic downtown Gaffney. The campus and surrounding neighborhoods will be magically lit by over 10,000 luminaries. Other activities on campus include a holiday reception, a visit from Santa, and the lighting of the Limestone College Christmas tree on the front lawn. A “Sounds of the Season” holiday concert will be presented by the Limestone College Music Department. The concert is a montage of choral music performed by community choral groups and the Limestone College Children’s Chorus. Festivities will take place over several blocks of the downtown area as well. Activities will include horse and carriage rides, live music and caroling, the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree, a live nativity, and free ornament making at the Gaffney Visitor’s Center.

The Gaffney Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday, December 11. The parade begins at 10am in Thompson Park and proceeds along Limestone Street in downtown Gaffney. Participating in the parade will be ROTC units, local and regional bands, decorated floats, and Santa. After the parade ends, visitors may wish to visit the Festival of Trees at Gaffney City Hall, or do some Christmas shopping in one of downtown Gaffney’s specialty stores.

Visitors to the area should also plan to spend some time shopping for holiday gifts at the Gaffney Premium Outlets. The 75 outlet stores at the mall include such favorites as Brooks Brothers, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Gap, Polo Ralph Lauren, Coach, and Pottery Barn. The outlets will be open extended holiday hours following Thanksgiving, and many of the stores will offer sales and special holiday promotions.

Whether in town for the weekend or just passing through, visitors are welcome to join Gaffney residents for the festivities. Gaffney’s small town charm and friendly atmosphere are sure to put visitors in the holiday mood. No matter your preference in size and pace, staying active is the key to a successful and enjoyable retirement. Good luck in your search to find your Best Places to Live in South Carolina!

Just outside of Charleston is Middleton Place, the oldest landscaped gardens in the United States. Columbia, SC’s largest city is home to the Columbia Museum of Art and boasts an expanding art and theater scene in its revitalizing downtown. Other South Carolina landmarks include the Spartanburg Art Museum, and Brookgreen Gardens, in Murrells Inlet South Carolina, a national historical landmark with the world’s most significant collection of figurative sculpture by American artists in an outdoor setting.

SC is home to noted art & design schools such as Winthrop University (est. 1886) accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Council for Interior Design, and the University of South Carolina-College of Visual and Performing Arts (est. 1801), accredited by the National Association for Schools of Art And Design (NASD).

A number of liberal arts colleges and universities in South Carolina offer programs for students interested in pursuing studies in the fine arts, graphic design and related fields. The College of Charleston, for example, was founded in 1770 and is the 13th oldest college in the U.S. The school is located near the Gibbes Museum of Art and offers majors in Arts Management, Art History, Music and Studio Art.

The Visual Arts Program at South Carolina State University offers a Bachelor of Art in Studio Art with concentrations in Ceramics/Sculpture, Digital Media, and Printmaking as well as a Bachelor of Science degree program in Art Education for individuals wishing to teach art.

The largest SC Universities include the University of South Carolina-Columbia with a total enrollment of over 27,000 and Clemson University, located in Clemson South Carolina and enrolling over 17,000 students. Both schools offer degree programs for students interested in a career in fine art or commercial art and design.

Winthrop University, in Rock Hill South Carolina, offers Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Ceramics, Jewelry/Metals, Painting, Photography (both commercial and fine art), Printmaking, Sculpture and Visual Communication Design (in illustration or graphics). The emphasis is on combining creativity and community and preparing students for the technical, aesthetic and intellectual challenges of understanding the changing global environment, and preparing for careers working creatively in the arts in their communities.

Coastal Carolina University is a small school located in Conway South Carolina, near the lovely oceanfront community of Myrtle Beach and owns it’s own 1,000 acre barrier island on the Atlantic coast. The school offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Studio Art and Graphic Design with coursework in ceramics, painting, photography, printmaking, art education and art history. The program allows students to explore many media before choosing a focus and producing a body of original work exhibited in the university’s Rebecca Randall Bryan Art Gallery.

Most liberal arts schools teaching art and design provide a grounding in art history, design theory, media and technique, as well as computer technology. Students develop portfolios with samples of their completed projects to present to potential employers, graduate schools or galleries if they decide to pursue careers as independent artists or artisans.

There is a significant demand for creative people in all industries in SC. Artists and designers can find employment in corporations creating advertisements, brochures, logos and packaging and product designs. They can work in agencies, design firms, film and media companies and publishers, as well as museums, and galleries.

The most well known beach in South Carolina is Myrtle Beach. It is considered a desirable vacation spot for many people – and with
approximately sixty miles of beautiful, sandy beaches, it is little wonder why. Over twelve million people visit this beach each year and enjoy all the things that Myrtle Beach has to offer. From live entertainment to water parks and amusement parks, as well as the specialty shopping outlets, golf courses, and incredible restaurants, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is teeming with things to do and see.

Part of the area known as the Grand Strand is Huntington Beach. It is situated in historic Murrells Inlet and is only a short distance from the
renowned Brookgreen Gardens. Here, in Huntington Beach State Park, you will find the sprawling Spanish-style castle known as Atalaya. This
castle was once the winter home, and the studio, for the American sculptor, Anna Hyatt Huntington and her husband, Philanthropist Archer Huntington. It is here that several of Anna Huntington’s beautiful sculptors still reside, like the incredible Diana of the Hunt. While there, you can enjoy walking the grounds of Brookgreen Gardens and, if you visit in mid- to late-September, you can also enjoy the annual Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival.

The beautiful and historic sands of the Isle of Palms is a perfect place to stop and see a sunrise. Its shimmering sands and crystal blue waters are a majestic sight. Not far from the Isle of Palms is Kiawah Island, a small beach and golfing resort situated on a small barrier island just south of the city of Charleston, South Carolina. The island was named for the local Native American tribe of the Kiawah Indians, who led the English to Charlestowne Landing in 1720. Known as the a prime golf destination, the island of Kiawah offers five different award winning courses, such as the Turtle Point Golf Course, designed by professional golfer, Jack Nicklaus. There is also the Ocean Course, which was designed by golfer Pete Dye, as well as three other golf courses.

Hunting Island and Edisto Island are also very beautiful beach areas with incredible attractions. Hunting Beach has many different types of wildlife for wildlife watchers. The Great Blue Heron, as well as Osprey and Bald Eagles make their homes here and can be seen anywhere you go. The same is true of many different types of aquatic life like alligators and horseshoe crabs. Edisto Island is an island between the Edisto Rivers that are North and South of the Island. It offers many diverse recreational opportunities including golf courses and local restaurants. On your next vacation to South Carolina, be sure to check out these premier beaches and all that they have to offer.

South Carolina is very popular for its crappie fishing and it continues to grow as word spreads about the wonderful opportunities this state has to offer. In fact, just about all the lakes, rivers and ponds in this state have crappie in them, which is why so many anglers are drawn to South

Carolina to fish for this species.

Crappies are divided into two categories which are called Black Crappie and White Crappie. The black crappie is, of course, darker in color
than the white crappie but this is not the only difference. It has seven or eight dorsal spines and several spots on its sides. When fishing in deep water and large impoundments you will most likely find the black crappie because this is the type of environment they prefer.

White crappies are lighter in color and have only six dorsal spines. They also have eight or nine vertical bands on both of its sides instead of spots and the white crappie prefer living in more quite remote places than the black crappie.

The average weight for a crappie is one pound but it is possible to catch crappie weighing up to five pounds.

Lakes in South Carolina
South Carolina has many lakes where you can go crappie fishing with great success. If you are not familiar with this state and all it has to offer, then the list of lakes listed below will help to give you an idea of some of the options that are available to you.
Lake Marion
Lake Murray
Hartwell Lake
Lake Wylie
Lake Moultrie
Lake Greenwood
Lake Jocassee
Wateree Lake
Lake Moultrie
Lake Keowee
These are just a few of the options that you have when you go crappie fishing inSouth Carolina. You will find that there are many more areas where the crappie fishing is excellent. Talk to local bait shop owners and local fishermen to see where they would recommend you go.

If you are visiting friends or family in South Carolina they may be able to direct you to some remote ponds, creeks or lakes that have the potential for some great crappie fishing. These are places that you would probably never find on your own.

How to Catch Crappie
There are several ways to catch crappie as they are a fairly easy species to reel in. The most commonly used methods for crappie fishing are drifting, casting, trolling and still-fishing. Either of these techniques should render you some excellent results. Springtime fishing is the best time to go South Carolina crappie fishing because it is when the crappie are getting ready for spawning season. They will be migrating into the shallow, warm water to begin spawning.

In the summer the crappie will move out to deeper water during the middle of the day where the water is cooler and then back to the shallows during the night time hours. In the fall you need to fish in the shallow to moderately deep water during the late evening to early morning hours. However, they do still go out to the deeper water during the day when the sun is at its brightest.

You need not be an ardent admirer of the golf sport either, in order to be able to enjoy the attractions at these locations. Those who indeed love golf would of course, find these areas, situated right beside championship style greens, much to their liking. These communities also offer superb modes of lifestyle to their residents, and that, coupled with the rolling plains, the chirping of the birds, the peaceful and calm ambiance, and the scenic greens certainly provide more than adequate compensation to all those who do not like golf that much.

Golfing and scenic attractions aside, you can also enjoy rich entertainment attractions, as well as play tennis, enjoy horse riding, swim, and enjoy indoor games too on the South Carolina gated community. You can choose to simply relax during your stay here, and not participate in the sporting activities. Stretched over a considerable distance across the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, the golden beaches from Charleston, boasts of several high-value heritage sites, and you can go and take a look at them by moving from your home on the golf community. On top of all this is the famous Southern charisma, a sure-shot way to attract even the most disinterested resident.