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Understanding Medicare isn’t as difficult as you might think. It’s a benefit most working Americans can count on. Here are some facts you might not know about the program.

Medicare at 65
If you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years, you’re eligible for Part A (hospital insurance) at age 65 for free. Part A helps pay for inpatient care in a hospital or skilled-nursing facility following a hospital stay. It also pays for some home health care and hospice care. You’re also eligible for Part B (medical insurance) if you choose to get it and pay a monthly premium.

Part B helps pay for services from doctors and other healthcare providers, outpatient care, home healthcare, durable medical equipment, and some preventative services. If you are receiving Social Security benefits already, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B at age 65. Because you must pay a premium for Part B, you can choose to turn it down. However, if you don’t enroll in Part B when you’re first eligible for it, and choose to enroll later, you may have to pay a late-enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B coverage.

If you’re not receiving Social Security benefits, you have a seven-month period (your Initial Enrollment Period) to sign up for Part B. Generally, your initial enrollment period begins three months before your 65th birthday, includes the month you turn age 65, and ends three months after your birth month.

If you are covered under an employer group health plan, you may have a special enrollment period for Part B.

If you are 65 or older and covered under a group health plan, either from your own or your spouse’s current employment, you may have a special enrollment period during which you can sign up for Medicare Part B. This means that you may delay enrolling in Part B without having to wait for a general enrollment period and without paying the lifetime penalty for late enrollment. Additional rules and limits apply, so if you think a special enrollment period may apply to you, read our Medicare publication at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/, and visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at Medicare.gov for more information.

To avoid a tax penalty, you should stop contributing to your health savings account (HSA) at least six months before you apply for Medicare.

If you have an HSA when you sign up for Medicare, you can’t contribute to your HSA after you your Medicare coverage begins or you may have to pay a tax penalty. Premium-free Part A coverage begins six months before the date you apply for Medicare, but no earlier than the first month you were eligible for Medicare. To avoid an unwanted tax penalty, you should stop contributing to your HSA six months before you apply for Medicare.

You can withdraw money from your HSA after you enroll in Medicare to help pay for medical expenses like deductibles, premiums, coinsurance, or copayments. If you’d like to continue contributing to your HSA, you shouldn’t apply for Medicare or Social Security benefits.

Part B coverage cost.

You are responsible for the Part B premium each month. Most people will pay the standard premium amount, which is $134 in 2018 if you sign up for Part B when you’re first eligible. This amount can change every year. You can find up-to-date premium amounts on Medicare.gov.

You can learn more about Social Security and Medicare at www.socialsecurity.gov/benefits/medicare.

 

Kirk Larson, who wrote this article, is a public affairs specialist for Social Security in Washington.

Contributing Author by — September 19, 2018 in Personal Finance/Consumers

Mental illnesses — including depression and anxiety — are among the most common health conditions in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 50 percent of our population will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime.

Although many people are familiar with physical ways to take care of their health, mental health or emotional health — while equally important — is sometimes ignored.

The World Health Organization defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and can make contributions to his or her community.”

Making our mental health a priority can boost our ability to be resilient and elevate our overall well-being. In short, our emotional state matters.

The mind-body connection

The mind and body work together for overall wellness. For example, prolonged stress can increase cortisol in the brain, which weakens the immune system and increases the risk of getting sick. Compromised mental health can also contribute to more serious health issues such as heart disease, obesity, stroke, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Likewise, physical health conditions can sometimes increase the risk of mental illness.

Raise your mental health awareness

Caring for mental health begins with personal awareness. Many factors can impact mental health. One of the most common of these factors is stress. While stress is part of life and can help with productivity and accomplishment, prolonged exposure to stress can lead to increased symptoms and lack of self-care.

The following symptoms are commonly linked to prolonged or elevated stress:

  • Sleep disruption.
  • Feeling anxious, worried or depressed.
  • Increased irritability.
  • Changes in appetite.
  • Difficulty concentrating.
  • Decrease in activity level and/or social connection.

Ideas for self-care

Although we can’t control the stressors or events that occur in our lives, we do have a choice of how we react, care for ourselves and manage our mental health through such events. Investment in self-care enriches coping skills, energy level, sense of well-being, and the ability to create balance. It can be helpful to think in terms of fine-tuning or adjusting lifestyle to include the following:

  • Managing time with purpose and intention. Prioritize needs, unplug from devices when possible, and schedule downtime to maintain the ability to decompress from the stress of life.
  • Choose healthy behaviors, including getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating well. Avoid alcohol and drugs, and get help for substance-abuse issues.
  • Practice relaxation through deep breathing, meditation (even 5 or 10 minutes to start or end the day can help), or being in nature.
  • Find ways to validate and care for your emotions (journaling, spending time with supportive friends, helpful self-talk).
  • Include activities that bring joy and fun.

Asking for help: A key component of self-care

For many people, self-care adjustments for enhanced mental health are possible and empowering. But if you have symptoms of mental health distress, and those symptoms persist despite lifestyle changes, further assessment is advised and available. Speak to your primary care provider and/or consider seeking support from a therapist.

Asking for help when needed is a sign of strength and reinforces self-care and overall well-being.

Angela Nugent, who wrote this article, is a licensed mental health counselor. She has worked for MultiCare Health System for 24 years. MultiCare is a not-for-profit healthcare organization in Pierce, King, Kitsap, Thurston and Snohomish counties and Spokane.

Contributing Author by — September 10, 2018 in Health & Fitness

Travel can sometimes feel more daunting than relaxing, between flight delays and bumper-to-bumper traffic. What’s more, it has potential health impacts, including leg swelling and increased risk for cold and flu.

“Air travel, long drives, less sleep and added stress can weaken your immune system at a time when you’re around more people and susceptible to illness,” said Dr. Fred Pescatore, nationally renowned natural health physician and best-selling author.

Pescatore has a few tips to help boost health while traveling.

Feed your immune system.

Being around so many people in tight spaces means you may be more at risk of catching a bug. “Take precautions before boarding your flight — wash your hands frequently, bring hand sanitizer with you and snack on antioxidant-packed vegetables like broccoli, carrots and sweet potatoes to keep your immune system strong,” says Dr. Pescatore.

Fend off fatigue.

The American Sleep Association estimates that nearly 93 percent of travelers experience jet lag and it can be severe enough to interfere with vacation plans. “Sleep disturbances make you feel tired, nauseous and irritable — not a good combination with a packed travel itinerary,” says Dr. Pescatore.

A peer-reviewed study shows that daily supplementation with the super-antioxidant, Pycnogenol (Pic-noj-en-all), reduces jet lag symptoms by nearly 50 percent. “Pycnogenol, a natural botanical extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, is a traveler’s best friend. You can spend less time feeling fatigued and more quality time enjoying your destination,” says Dr. Pescatore.

Boost circulation.

Long periods of immobility in a cramped space like a car or plane contribute to swelling and fluid accumulation throughout the legs. Known as edema, it can be uncomfortable and may feel worse after travel.

Dr. Pescatore recommends taking short breaks to move around on road trips and to stand up and stretch during long flights to keep blood circulating and reduce swelling. “Pycnogenol is also shown to promote circulation and studies show its benefits for reducing swelling and discomfort during long-distance travel. Again, it’s a good supplement for travel,” he says.

Pycnogenol is one of the most researched ingredients on the market with decades of studies showing its benefits for a variety of health applications. It’s available in more than 700 dietary supplements, multi-vitamins and health products worldwide. For more information, visit pycnogenol.com.

“Drink plenty of water, use a supplement for a beneficial boost and remember to enjoy yourself. Yes, even the travel to and from your destination can be fun,” says Dr. Pescatore.

Flight delays and navigating new places can be stressful enough without letting travel-related health issues crop up. (Photo credit: Rawpixel.com)
Contributing Author by — September 6, 2018 in Lifestyle, Home, Adventures

Seniors may be statistically less likely to be the victim of a violent crime than younger age groups, but the fallout of a violent crime against a senior can be much more devastating.

Reaction times are reduced as we age, and seniors may not have optimal health, so a physical attack can take longer to recover from, cause more injuries and be more life-threatening. Conditions like diminished vision and hearing or dementia can also make seniors more vulnerable to crime. A few ways seniors, their friends, families and caregivers can enhance personal safety include:

Fortify residences.

Seniors who are living independently in a single-family home should make sure that bushes and trees are trimmed back from the home. This will help eliminate hiding places for criminals. Bright landscape lighting can also help to deter burglars and motion-sensing lighting should be installed in dark corners of the yard or near access points.

Never allow anyone unexpected into your home, even if they have a work uniform. Check ID and if unsure, call the company, especially if you didn’t schedule any service.

Enhance security.

Security systems and personal emergency-response devices can help seniors reach help if a break-in occurs or if there is a medical emergency. Some devices have features that will also notify family or caregivers if something is wrong, so if for some reason a call is not responded to by the alarm company, loved ones or caregivers can follow up to ensure everything is okay.

Enroll in a self-defense class.

Seniors can benefit from self-defense classes that help to educate about scams or how to use body language and confident verbal communication to scare off a potential attacker. Classes can also help teach about mitigating risk factors and how to be more aware of surroundings.

Better safe than sorry.

If you return home and things don’t look right, don’t just chalk it up to forgetfulness that you left items out or out of place. Go to a neighbor’s house or get back in your car and call a family member or the police to come check the house with you. There is no reason to stumble upon a burglar alone. And, if there have been break-ins in your area, take extra precautions. Purchase something simple like a whistle or an air horn that you can sound if someone breaks in while you are home and you need help.

Invest in easy-to-use protection.

Don’t be afraid to protect yourself if threatened. The Defense Alert Device (D.A.D. 2) is an easy tool for seniors to wear on their hand when walking, running errands or checking who is at the front door. It combines a flashlight, emergency-alert system and a non-lethal, military-grade defense spray. A simple press of a button will send an SOS alert — to friends, family, good samaritans within one mile of your location, and the police who have the app — that you are being attacked.

Pepper spray and all other non-lethal devices typically have a 50 percent to 70 percent stop rate. Over 15 years, the technology in the D.A.D. 2 has tested to over 96 percent stop rates due to superior spray, partial size, pattern, velocity and most importantly, its stealth method of disbursement that does not allow the attacker to take defensive measures, especially that of holding his breath. Therefore, the respiratory impact is far more incapacitating.

 

Pepper spray, as demonstrated in a self-defense class, is one of the non-lethal ways seniors can defend themselves against attackers or thieves.
Contributing Author by — September 6, 2018 in Lifestyles