I would just like to take a moment and apologize on behalf of the Federal Government here. They really are trying to help – in their clunky way. Signed into law in 1965 by President Johnson, Medicare began with only two parts: A and B. Things stayed that way for quite a long time. Fast forward to 1997 (!), more than […]
When is the best time to prepare for Medicare? I hope you didn’t say 65! Yes – you don’t become Medicare eligible until three months before you turn 65; but Medicare is full of complicated terminology, weighty decisions, and confusing “windows” of time in which to enroll or disenroll in different plans. The Medicare Early-Bird gets the worm. Show up […]
As someone gets closer to 65, there seems to be a hushed roar all around them; quietly in office corners and in huddled groups at the gym: “Did you hear about the Part B late-enrollment penalty?” “Yes. My aunt waited too long to sign up and had to pay an extra 10% each month for […]
Who else remembers being sick as a kid? Maybe you were from a “rough n’ tough” type of family who made you do chores even when you were ill. I came from a home where being sick was code for being king for a day. My mom would attend to me at the drop of […]
I stumbled upon something disturbing in my inbox the other day. The suicide rates had been steadily declining since 2018. But in 2021 – those rates took a sharp turn upward and the trend continues to grow. As of right now, the rate is at 14.3 suicide deaths per 100,000 total deaths – the highest it’s been […]
When wildlife biologist Jeanette Parker stopped to feed a hungry kitten near the Florida Everglades, it nipped her finger. Since the bite broke the skin, Jeanette wisely cleaned the wound but then began to worry about rabies. Calling her local health department and hearing it was closed, she decided to go to the nearest ER. […]
Remember when you were a kid at the pediatrician, and they wanted to check your eyesight? “Stand behind this line and read off the letters to me,” the nurse would say. And one by one, little you read off those letters, from big to small, feeling mighty proud of yourself when you were able to […]
I watched a YouTube video the other day about 8 elderly Aussies who signed up for a 50-week tour through Europe by bus. The glossy brochure explained that they would see Europe’s best sights, enjoy cozy accommodations, and be served by a friendly crew. What they got was the exact opposite. Boris Tunis and his […]