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health tips, seniors

10 Health Tips that Help Older Adults Thrive

Even when you are covered by Medicare for your various healthcare needs, there's always a risk of developing serious illnesses. Prevention is key. In addition to the undergoing preventive screenings offered under Medicare Part B, there are other steps you can take to ensure a healthy life. According to Arthur Hayward, MD, a geriatrician and clinical lead physician for Kaiser Permanente, there ...

Medicare Fraud Scam Offers Free Back or Knee Braces

Have you been offered a free knee brace from Medicare? Beware of this rampant scam that’s been going on. The scammers claim to be from Medicare or a medical warehouse, and some even say they were referred by your doctor or a caregiver. They ask for your Medicare number, and callers are pushy in trying to get your personal information. Some telemarketers will ...

grief awareness day, seniors

National Grief Awareness Day: How to Support Grieving Loved Ones

As we age, grief becomes something we experience more often, mourning the loss of the people closest to us. It can be an arduous process. In honor of National Grief Awareness Day on August 30, we offer some insights and tips for handling grief, whether it’s you or a loved one who’s suffering. When we lose a loved one we are losing a part ...

MRI, medicare coverage

MRI Scans: Costs and Coverage with Medicare

MRI scans are pricey, but an MRI might be necessary to detect and diagnose certain medical conditions.  What is an MRI? A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan produces three-dimensional images of your body to detect certain abnormalities. Unlike x-rays and CT scans, this type of machine does not use radiation and instead relies upon powerful magnetic waves. This specialized scan allows doctors to differentiate ...

medicare coverage, liposuction

Liposuction: Does Medicare Cover it?

Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure used to break up fat deposits and reshape certain areas of the body. It is commonly used on hips, thighs, abdomen, neck, buttocks, back, or upper arms. It’s considered plastic surgery and sometimes paired with a tummy tuck or breast reduction. However, it’s not a treatment for obesity and cannot replace a healthy diet and exercise. The ...

social security, bill, Congress

New Bill Aims to Keep Social Security Recipients Out of Poverty

A new bill called the Social Security Enhancement and Protection Act introduced by Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) aims to improve benefits for senior citizens and keep them from dipping into poverty. The bill would improve benefits by: Updating the special minimum benefitApplying childcare credits toward future program eligibilityIncreasing monthly checks by 5 percent once retired for 20 years “My proposal would help us ensure ...

Biden, booster, vaccine, COVID

Biden Admin to Make Boosters Shots Ready in September

Booster shots are no longer just for the immunocompromised. Starting the week of September 20, boosters will be available for everyone who got the Pfizer or Moderna shot. Experts are still working on the plan for a Johnson & Johnson booster shot, as they are waiting on more data. Vaccine protection weakens over time New data has revealed that the vaccine efficacy does wane ...

insulin assistance, medicare, diabetes

4 Insulin Assistance Programs for Medicare Beneficiaries

Many people with diabetes were struggling to afford insulin and oral medications long before the COVID-19 pandemic began. But now, amid a global health crisis that’s led to a record-breaking unemployment rate in the United States, there’s a chance you’ve found yourself in this predicament for the first time. As a last resort, you may be considering taking advantage of a patient ...

Everything You Need to Know About Medicare Open Enrollment

Mark your calendars! October 15th through December 7th is open enrollment time for Medicare Advantage plans and Part D prescription coverage. Have you planned yet? Do you know what changes your healthcare providers have made recently? Open enrollment is about taking the time to assess your healthcare needs. Your Medicare Advantage Plan is unique to you.  Medicare is personal “Many of us ...

booster vaccine, coronavirus, seniors

FDA Approves Booster Vaccines for Immunocompromised People

The FDA has approved booster COVID vaccines for immunocompromised people. Those with weaker immune systems are very vulnerable to the highly contagious Delta variant, and they comprise 44 percent of hospitalized COVID breakthrough cases. Once the CDC approves, booster vaccines can be given immediately. According to Dr. Fauci, everyone will likely eventually need booster shots of the coronavirus vaccine. But for now, health experts ...

schumer, expanding medicare

Democrats Plan to Expand Medicare and Lower Eligibility Age

The newly released $3.5 trillion Democratic budget plan reveals a plan to add dental, vision, and hearing care to Medicare. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer released the outline today that included the new provisions. Adding dental vision, and hearing would make a big difference to Medicare beneficiaries, saving them potntially thousands of dollars each year. The Democrats also plan to lower the Medicare eligibility ...

seniors, publishers clearing house scam, sweepstakes scam

Scam Alert: Publishers Clearing House Scam

Seniors should be on the lookout for Publishers Clearing House scams that are being reported now. Scammers claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House call the victim, claim the person has won a prize, and say that to claim the prize they need to pay for an attorney’s fee, processing fee, or taxes.  Seniors have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in these scams. ...

breakthrough covid cases

Breakthrough COVID-19 Cases: What You Should Know

You have been hearing about breakthrough COVID-19 cases in the news. A breakthrough case happens when a vaccinated person gets infected with the COVID-19 virus. It may seem scary, but once you put the breakthrough cases in perspective, they actually do not account for a large percentage of cases at all. What's more, these breakthrough cases rarely cause sickness or hospitalization, and may not ...

CDC mask advisory, seniors, Medicare

New CDC Mask Advisory: What You Should Know

The CDC has made new masking guidelines in light of the quickly spreading Delta variant, which accounts for 80 percent of new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. Here’s what you need to know about when to wear a mask: What to Know About the New CDC Mask Guidelines The CDC now recommends that vaccinated Americans wear masks in indoor public spaces in areas with ...

seniors, medicare, muscle loss, sarcopenia

What is Sarcopenia, and How Can You Prevent It?

Sarcopenia refers to muscle loss as you age, and it affects more than 10 percent of adults over 50 and as many as 50 percent of adults 80 and older.   Sarcopenia on its own causes fatigue and difficulty with daily tasks, but it's also linked to more serious issues such as:  increased falling riskinjuryloss of independencediabeteshigh blood pressureobesityosteoporosisdisabilityshortened life expectancy If ...

long COVID, Biden, disability

Biden: Long COVID Could Be Considered a Disability

The Biden administration announced today that long-COVID could qualify as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.  An assessment is needed to determine whether an individual’s case is deemed a disability in that it "substantially limits a major life activity.” This announcement occurred on Monday morning, as President Biden and Vice President Harris celebrated with 31st anniversary of the Americans with ...