Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active
Health Tips

Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

Senior Citizens are the new cool generation. The U.S. population of people over 65 is bigger than it’s ever been and growing every day. And many baby boomers are not creeping into old age quietly. More than any time in human history the ways and means to stay vital and active into old age are available. Take advantage of this abundance of information and learn how to make your golden years fun, healthy and happy. Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active
Let’s explore ways to stay healthy and active. At the top of the list is the food you eat. By giving your body optimum nutrition, maintaining a healthy weight and trying with all your wits to stay out of doctors’ offices, you are advancing your own wellbeing. Choosing the best foods is a priority. Research indicates that a plant-based diet may be the best all-round choice you can make. Check out the movie, “Forks Over Knives.” Or read this article in U.S News and World Report. Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active

Exercise is not a dirty word

It is the amazing ability your body has to move, bend, stretch, walk and run. You can only be physically active if you use your body and keep it moving. If it’s been a while since you felt strong and flexible, start slowly. Some simple stretches from your favorite chair are good ways to begin. You could also take a slow walk around your neighborhood. Get out during your favorite time of the day and take a stroll. Walk the dog. Meet a friend at the high school track. There are endless ways to get your body moving again. Once you feel you are ready, look for a swimming pool in your community, tennis courts or a yoga studio that you can join. Your body is what propels you through life, keep it in the best shape possible.

Sleep Patterns

You have probably noticed that your sleep patterns are a tad wacky: waking up in the middle of the night, feeling sleepy after lunch then wide awake again at midnight. That is all okay. You are lucky if you can just go with it. One nice thing about retirement is you can take naps. Sleep when tired. Get up when wakeful. Don’t stress about it. And when you do find yourself awake in the middle of the night use it to your advantage. Read, pray, meditate and thank your lucky stars you’ve made it this far. Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active

Get out an see the world

This might be the time in your life that you finally get to travel. Go visit your far-flung family. Check in with the senior center in your community and join an organized trip. You might even make new friends. Or go solo and vacation in a place you’ve never been before. Get out there and see the world. And take advantage of every senior citizen discount there is. Reduced fares on all modes of transportation, discounts on goods, services and entertainment are all icing on the cake.
Whew! The kids are grown, jobs are minimized and you get to sit back and rest on your laurels. Or at least rest on your backsides. You deserve it. The time for self-reflection is at hand. If you belong to a church, continue going. If you have yet to find a place of worship that is right for you, keep looking. Or explore other spiritual and meditative practices. Spending time alone in peace and prayer can be empowering.

Learning Never Stops

Leonardo da Vinci said, “Learning never exhausts the mind.” An active mind can be just as vital in old age as an active body. Do yourself a favor and keep learning. Read books. Join a book club. Get on a computer and start searching. Join a class to learn how to get on a computer. Keep learning and growing and expanding your mind until the very last second of your life.op Ways to Keep Active as a Senior Citizen

Carpe Diem

This is it. The home stretch. Whether you live another 30 years or just 3 more days. Grab it. Make the most of every minute. You matter. You get to choose how you want to go out. Take good care of yourself. Make friends. Reconnect with family. Learn something new. There are so many ways to stay active and engaged with life. Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active
Ryan Bridges is a contributing writer and media specialist for the Partners in Home Care. He regularly produces content for a variety of lifestyle and living blogs, based around the transitional challenges which comes with staying active.

Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active

Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active Top Ways for Seniors to Keep Active

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What you need to know about your eyes
Vision

What you need to know about your eyes

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

Our eyes are an important part of our overall health, and there are many things we can do to keep them healthy. These include getting a comprehensive dilated eye exam, knowing our family’s eye health history, maintaining a healthy weight, eating leafy green vegetables and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, not smoking, using protective eyewear, and wearing sunglasses. Healthy Vision Month, observed by the National Eye Institute (NEI) each May, is a great opportunity to help educate Americans about the importance of these steps for protecting vision. What you need to know about your eyes
what you need to know about your eyes
 
Our eyes are an important part of our overall health, and there are many things we can do to keep them healthy. These include getting a comprehensive dilated eye exam, knowing our family’s eye health history, maintaining a healthy weight, eating leafy green vegetables and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, not smoking, using protective eyewear, and wearing sunglasses. Healthy Vision Month, observed by the National Eye Institute (NEI) each May, is a great opportunity to help educate Americans about the importance of these steps for protecting vision.
Make an appointment to get your eyes checked today!

What you need to know about your eyes

What you need to know about your eyes
What you need to know about your eyes

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Home Improvements

Tips on Organizing Your Garage

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

Shop Garage Racks on Senior.com

If you are like my family and 60% of other American families who own garages, that is the one room you leave as well as enter your home several times a day. The garage is one of the largest rooms in your house and one of the most abused. on Organizing Your Garage

After the winter our garage barely has room for our cars. We have a two car garage and in order to pull both cars in you have to do the sideways walk with your breath held to make it down the alley between the car and the junk.

We have shovels, snow blower, bikes, tools, more bikes, holiday decorations, storage boxes, strollers and a bevy of other stuff filling the garage from floor to ceiling.

Tips on Organizing Your Garage
I spent the winter looking into sheds, so we could move a majority of our stuff into the shed and get our garage back. Here’s the thing about sheds: they are expensive, ranging between $750-$10,000, in many cases you need a permit, they take up a part of your yard, they eventually get old and weathered and if it’s a winter like this year, they can be snowed in and useless to you.

That’s when I turned to SafeRacks and The Garage Store to help me with my storage woes. SafeRacks are more than your run of the mill garage shelves, they are state of the art monsters that are built to take a beating, hold a ton and last a very long time. Ti

ps on Organizing Your Garage
The best thing about SafeRacks is they don’t take up additional space, they make new space for you, where there once was none. Ti

ps on Organizing Your Garage
If you look up in your garage, you will most likely see your garage door opener, a few lights and that’s it. What the folks from The Garage Store and SafeRacks see is an opportunity to organize your garage, making it a place you can get in and out of, while at the same time store your stuff.

We had two SafeRacks installed by The Garage Store for less than the cost of the cheapest rubber shed on the market. These are custom fit for your space and built to take whatever you throw at them. Each shelf holds up to 600 pounds, is made of 14 gauge industrial grade steel, are attached with multiple ceiling connections at each vertical support for added strength, is powder coated white for added protection and has a limited lifetime product warranty. Organizing Your Garage

I had been kicking around the idea of making my own wood overhead shelves but when you compare the quality of the SafeRacks to wood or a store-bought shelf there is no contest. The margin for error is the production and installation of the SafeRacks is pretty slim. That and the installation was fast and perfect. The guys from the Garage Store showed up, took about 15-20 minutes to review my needs and garage dimensions, from there they got to work, cutting, measuring, bolting and securing the racks to the ceiling and wall so tight and strong I could hang from them.

Could I have installed them myself, sure it’s an option, but it took them two hours for two shelves, where it would have taken be about five times that and I am estimating a good amount of Advil after. They show up with the right tools, cutters, portable heaters and know how to find studs, joists and get those shelves up fast.
The garage is the ugly duckling of the house. We throw stuff in it, leave it dirty, and use it as a storage locker. By organizing my garage and installing SafeRacks, not only was I able to organize my garage, but my house. I added so much space I was able to get the boxes of stuff that have been filling up my closets and basement floor and put them in my new storage space.

Now we are not only ready for Spring, our bikes are all hanging from hooks, our boxes neatly organized and not only do our cars fit, we have room to walk on the sides and the front of them! Our SafeRacks keep our stuff inside the garage out of the elements and out of the way.”
Shop Garage Racks on Senior.com
– D.A.D. – Dad All Day / SafeRacks

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Fun Apps for Elders
Tech Support

Fun Apps for Elders

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

Not Just for Calls: Fun Apps to Get Seniors Familiar with Their Smartphones

The best thing about smartphones is that they aren’t just for making phone calls. There are tons of different things you can do on today’s mobile devices and learning how to use one can be a fun experience for seniors. Fun Apps for Elders
Oftentimes, seniors may not want to worry about learning new technologies, but smartphones are actually easy to learn and worth taking the time to do so. Not only can they help keep you in contact with your family, they can provide hours of entertainment. Here are a few apps that can help seniors learn about their smartphones. Fun Apps for Elders

Coloring Book for Me & Mandala

The main way the people interface with smartphones is through the touchscreen capabilities. Knowing where to touch and when to touch are important to know, and this coloring book app can help seniors learn the different touching techniques.
By using a coloring book, seniors can learn how to hone in on the areas they want to interact with. This will quickly teach them about the touch technology properties through trial and error while having a visible reward when they succeed.
The app has hundreds of colors and designs to choose from, so they will always have something new to color: everything from plants and animals to geometric designs like mandalas are available for free through the app. They can also share their creations with their family and friends through social media or email. A few praises from the people they care about can really go a long way in making seniors want to stay with a hobby. Fun Apps for Elders

Skype

Another prominent smartphone feature is cameras, which can be a little tricky to learn at first for some seniors. By using a face-to-face call service like Skype, seniors can quickly learn how to manipulate the cameras so they can talk to their family and friends.
Skype will show seniors how to use the forward-facing camera to have conversations over the phone as if they were in the same room as the person they are talking to. The app will show the other person on a large portion of the screen, while they will be able to see themselves in a small window at the bottom. This can help them familiarize themselves with the smartphone orientation and camera capabilities. Fun Apps for Elders

Games

There are too many games that seniors can enjoy on their smartphones to name any specific ones. If they browse the store, they will be sure to find one that appeals to them quickly.
After they learn the basics of the smartphone, they can play almost any game offered, whether it’s an old-school game like chess, checkers or even board games like Monopoly, or a new puzzle or mystery game, there are hundred — if not thousands — of games that seniors can enjoy when they want a little time alone.
Seniors may balk at the idea of having a smartphone, but these apps can really help them quickly learn how to use one.

Fun Apps for Elders

Fun Apps for Elders Fun Apps for Elders Fun Apps for Elders Fun Apps for Elders Fun Apps for Elders

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Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims
Fraud & Security

Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims

by Rod Spurgeon
written by Rod Spurgeon

When a thief uses extreme force to rip open a cluster box unit to steal mail, owners of that mail typically have no way of knowing what was stolen. Not anymore. Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims
The Postal Service recently released a new feature called Informed Delivery. Informed Delivery is a free service that offers customers the opportunity to see what’s arriving soon in the mail before items are delivered.
Once signed up for the optional program, a participant will receive grayscale images of the outside of his or her letter-sized mail pieces in an email. After reviewing these images, the recipient will know what to expect in the mailbox. This type of advanced knowledge has many benefits, but for those who might be the victim of mail theft, it takes on a new purpose.
Criminals are on the hunt for cash, gift cards, and other valuable items in the mail as a source of instant income. They’re also interested in financial instruments such as checks and credit cards as well as personal information including social security numbers and birthdates. Knowing what a thief has stolen will significantly enhance a victim’s ability to respond to the theft.
If, for example, a person arrives home after work and discovers a mailbox break-in with all contents removed, that person can review Informed Delivery emails for the past few days to see what the thief might have stolen. If one of the stolen items is a new credit card, the victim can call that company and cancel the card immediately. If it’s a gift card, the victim can contact the sender to report the fraud to the issuing company.
While Informed Delivery won’t prevent mail theft, it will increase mail transparency and allow victims of mail theft to act more rapidly to reduce the damage a criminal can cause from using the contents of the mail.
To see if your ZIP Code is eligible to participate in the program, go to http://informeddelivery.usps.com. Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims

Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims

Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims
 

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Exercise & Fitness

Finding Zen in Your Golden Years with Yoga

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

The fantasies of retirement paint almost the perfect picture of finding your zen in life – you’re done working for a living, stress simply washes away, you’re in perfect health to work on your garden every day or go on that cruise you’ve been eyeballing. The reality, however, is not always so picturesque. Retirement is a symbol of getting older, and with aging can come medical ailments, tightening the purse strings if you’re on a budget and no longer working, fighting harder to maintain relationships and seek out social interaction, and the seemingly inevitable stresses of losing independence. Finding Zen in Your Golden Years with Yoga

What effective, mindfulness activity is a sure-fire tool for finding zen in your Golden Years no matter what life throws at you? You guessed it, yoga. While the practice of yoga has grown significantly in popularity over the past 15 years, for many seniors the vision of yoga is one of curling and twisting yourself into a pretzel, which obviously seems painful and impossible. Breaking down these yoga misconceptions is a must for living a full, happy and healthy life in retirement. Check out these 5 superior health benefits of senior yoga: Finding Zen in Your Golden Years with Yoga

Relieves Stress

The stress of getting older is enough without piling on anxiety over health, money and family situations. Yoga for seniors is a proven stress-reliever in both its focus on meditation and relaxation, as well as its physical effects on the body. Regular exercise (about 30 minutes a day) including yoga, has been shown to boost endorphin production, endorphins being those feel-good brain chemicals that lead to feelings of euphoria and diminish the negative associations stress has like depression, tense muscles, and stomach aches. Finding Zen in Your Golden Years with Yoga

Builds Strong Bones and Muscles

You don’t have to run a marathon to feel the physical benefits of exercise. Low-impact exercises, of which yoga is included, may seem lighter on the exertion but are extremely beneficial (and recommended) for seniors. Moving the body, stretching the spine, and holding yoga positions helps your body build up bone mass and fight osteoporosis, while a boost in heart rate strengthens the heart muscle and consistent deep breathing expands and strengthens the lungs.

Alleviates Back Pain

The gentle, flowing stretching and deep breathing of yoga practice have been shown to help alleviate back pain as well. By stretching tense muscles and tendons in your back, yoga boosts blood flow to the affected area and aids in reducing inflammation. The mindfulness and meditation of yoga can also alter your perception of pain – as you relax and your nervous system unwinds, your body produces more endorphins, you focus your thoughts positively, and stretch sore and tense muscles like they haven’t been stretched before. The American College of Physicians, in fact, issued new recommendations at the beginning of 2017 that hailed practices like yoga, tai chi, and acupuncture for relieving low back pain over medicines and pharmacological aids. Finding Zen in Your Golden Years with Yoga

Encourages Socialization

Yoga classes are a great way for seniors to get out with friends, or meet new people and interact with others socially. Look for a class near you to join by reaching out to your local YMCA or senior center, or look online with free services including DoYogaWithMe.com and YogaFinder.com. Even though yoga is practiced in quiet, relaxing settings, the before and after engagement with others is fun, welcomed and continues to boost overall mood. Avoiding social isolation and seeking out the company of others regularly is also an important way to prevent memory loss, dementia, and age-related cognitive decline.

Helps Prevent Falls

With the statistics on senior falls being pretty drastic, 1 in 3 seniors over 65 will experience a fall at some point, fall prevention plays a vital role in your health as you age. Yoga practice naturally incorporates balancing, flexibility and coordination activity – from holding poses to gently bending, arching, lunging, and grounding yourself to the floor. The stronger your balance and coordination, the less chance of falling as you age, which means avoiding serious injury, hip fractures, and potential hospitalization. Finding Zen in Your Golden Years with Yoga

Practicing yoga is possible for everyone, even older adults with mobility problems. Chair yoga can be done sitting down or bracing yourself with a chair while water yoga is actually practiced in a shallow warm pool, allowing for weightless movement with all the same mental and physical health benefits. The ancient practice of yoga has truly transformed into a modern way for seniors to stay healthy, fight stress, and live their best life in retirement.

By Joe Fleming

Co-Founder, Vive Health

Finding Zen in Your Golden Years with Yoga

Finding Zen in Your Golden Years with Yoga Finding Zen in Your Golden Years with Yoga Finding Zen in Your Golden Years with Yoga Finding Zen in Your Golden Years with Yoga Finding Zen in Your Golden Years with Yoga Finding Zen in Your Golden Years with Yoga

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What Aging Parents Want from their Kids
Aging

What Aging Parents Want from their Kids

by Kendall VanBlarcom
written by Kendall VanBlarcom

What Aging Parents Want From Their Kids and How It Can Help Develop A Care Plan

It always hard when you have to take care of your parents. All those years of being raised and cared for by them make it difficult to reverse roles. But like it or not, it’s a part of life. What Aging Parents Want from their Kids
Fortunately, we’re here to help. We’ve put together a list of what aging parents want from their kids, and how it might help you to develop an effective simple care plan.

1. Be there to offer help when they need it, not all the time.

The challenge with parents as they get older is the conflicting feelings they have towards their kids.
On the one hand, they want their kids to leave them alone, to let them lead their lives as they see fit.
At the same time, older parents know that they can’t do everything themselves. Even if they could, it’s nice to have someone help you if they need to.
So, what does this mean for what aging parents want from their kids? It means that having a plan can reduce a lot of the pressure and stress. With a care plan, you know when your parents need your help, and your parents know when to expect it.

2. They don’t want to feel assessed.

It can be hard to understand your parents as they get older. However, one thing that is made clear again and again is that as people get older, they feel more and more frustration at feeling assessed.
Especially by their family!
For starters, it’s embarrassing. They don’t want you to have to do everything for them. Second, it makes them feel like they’re losing control. And as we all get older, we struggle more and more with the feeling of control.
Finally, no matter how old your parents get, they’re always going to be your parents. They’re never going to get used you assessing them, just like they did when they were raising you.

3. Want to know what aging parents want from their kids most? To be treated as your parents.

As simple as it might seem, it’s what they want most of all. It’s easy to forget that your parents are, well, still your parents. They’re always going to be your parents.
Before they started getting older, they had careers, passions, hobbies. They were experts in their field, had friends, and of course, raised you.
If you want a good relationship with your parents as they get older and require more care, this is the number one thing to remember – they weren’t always sick.
As much as you can, try and treat them like they were and (in some cases) not how they are.

Now that you know what aging parents want from their kids…

There are plenty of struggles to face as your parents get older, not the least of which is trying to understand what aging parents want from their kids.
Hopefully, we’ve helped you understand how best to help them, and how having a care plan might be the solution you’re looking for.
Have you got more questions about taking care of your folks? We’ve got answers. Get in touch now to explore your options. What Aging Parents Want from their Kids

What Aging Parents Want from their Kids

What Aging Parents Want from their Kids

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5 Ways To Stay Healthy When Life is Busy
Healthy Living

5 Ways To Stay Healthy When Life is Busy

by Andrew Vertson
written by Andrew Vertson

A few weeks back some of our patients were chatting and the conversation was all about wanting to get fitter, but why sometimes it’s so hard to stay in shape. They all agreed that they knew they needed to exercise, sleep more, and eat healthier – but knowing and actually doing, are two different things. 5 Ways To Stay Healthy When Life is Busy

So it got me thinking about the real reason why it can be so difficult to keep active and healthy, and these are the three things that always come up in conversation:

  1. People are too busy, either because they work full time and have kids… Or have Grandchildren to look after as well on top of the daily chores to do.
  2. They plan to make healthy decisions, but when the time comes, they feel too tired to cook, exercise, or resist the temptation of reaching for the biscuit tin.
  3. In social situations and with family, people feel the pressure to eat like everyone else and join in.

I know finding the time to keep active and stay on board with being healthy can be hard. Life isn’t always so predictable, and it’s easy to let things spiral out of control when it feels like you’ve got a million things to do – it happens to all of us!
But here’s the bright side – it’s actually a lot easier than it seems to incorporate healthy habits when you’re on the go and when life feels busy.
It’s not about being ‘perfect’, it’s just about being ‘prepared’.
So here’s 5 simple things you can do, to stay in shape even if you feel like you haven’t got the time…

  1. Make Water Taste Better

A lot of people find drinking water ‘boring’…sometimes I do too!
Drinking enough water not only quenches my thirst, but also prevents me from feeling hungry when I’ve already eaten, helps keep me feeling awake through the ‘afternoon slump’, and keeps me in a good mood.
To make it easier to drink more and to make it less ‘boring’, I stick some lemon in it overnight to add flavor.
And if lemons aren’t your thing, you can add anything you like! Berries, limes, mango’s!.

  1. Make Sleep A Priority

Most people need 7-9 hours of sleep a night, and if they don’t get it, the next day doesn’t always feel so great!
It’s a known fact that when people don’t get enough sleep, their mood drops, they overeat and they’re unproductive.
I know it can be tough. Sometimes you feel like there’s too much to do before you can call it a day and finally rest your head, but when you sacrifice sleep for your routine, that’s when you get caught up in the cycle of under-sleeping, being unproductive, and when mood swings kick in.
Making sure you get enough sleep each night (making it a habit), will help things fall into place and keep you feeling alert and energized.
Plus, when you’re in a good sleep routine, the odd late night won’t affect you as much as it does when you’re not getting enough.

  1. Fill Up On Your Veggies

Include a rainbow of vegetables with every meal, and eat as many as you like, in any way you like!
Filling your plate full of vegetables will help you get more fiber and more of the good nutrients your body needs to feel great.
You’ll also find when you go out to eat with friends and family in restaurants, there’s usually vegetable based appetizers to choose from before your main meal, if you want to order a starter.
So even when you’re socializing, there’s always a way to stay healthy and on track.

  1. Double Up On Dinner!

Whenever you cook your evening meal, double up on it! (Or cook even more).
Cooking more than one serving at a time will mean you’ll have something healthy on hand in the fridge to take to work the next day, or pop in the microwave to heat up during the week.
Tip: choose times to cook extra meals when you know you’ve got time, like a relaxing Sunday or as soon as you get home from work. Don’t choose a time when you know you won’t feel like doing it, such as a late Saturday night, or when you’ve been running around all day.
When you’re prepared, there’s less of a chance of going off track.

  1. Walk When You Talk

My rule is no phone calls sitting down. I put my headphones in and walk around for every call I take during the day.
Also, getting up and walking and talking on your feet can lift your mood and energy, which is great for any telephone conversation.
Still think this won’t work for you and you’re worried you don’t have enough time?
Of course you do!
Staying in shape only takes a couple of hours a week – and when you can include these simple tips above in your daily routine, you don’t have to change much in your routine, or even put any extra time aside.
Most of the time when people say they ‘don’t have time’, what they really mean is, they don’t have the energy.
But that’s exactly why we make sure to get movement in with our daily activities – like walking to the farther parking spot…
…and making sleep a priority and cooking enough healthy meals for your week, to keep your energy levels high.
There’s no reason to not make your health a priority, no matter how busy you are. Life can get in the way for all of us.
But being healthy and active is a win-win; it gives you more energy so you can be more productive, feel great, and have more time to do the things you enjoy.

5 Ways To Stay Healthy When Life is Busy

5 Ways To Stay Healthy When Life is Busy 5 Ways To Stay Healthy When Life is Busy 5 Ways To Stay Healthy When Life is Busy 5 Ways To Stay Healthy When Life is Busy 5 Ways To Stay Healthy When Life is Busy 5 Ways To Stay Healthy When Life is Busy 5 Ways To Stay Healthy When Life is Busy

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Introduction to new Medigap Plan G
Medigap

Introduction to New Medigap Plan G

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

For many years now, the Plan F Medicare Supplement has been the top selling plan. Because of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, the Plan F will no longer be available for sale for people who turn 65 in 2020 and thereafter. People who have a Plan F in force at that time can keep their current plan or switch to another Plan F with a different company, but they may not want to. Here’s why: Introduction to new Medigap Plan G
As history has shown with other plans that have been eliminated in the past, Medigap enrollees can likely expect their premiums to rise significantly if younger and healthier seniors are prevented from enrolling in their plan. That is what exactly what happened when Medicare did away with the Plan J in 2010, and many experts expect the same result with the Plan F. Introduction to Medigap Plan G

Let Me Introduce You to Plan G

Plans F and G are identical with one exception – Plan G does not cover the annual Part B deductible (see the Medicare supplement plan chart on our comparison page). Part B of Medicare is the part that is paid to physicians or outpatient facilities for your care. So with a Plan G, you would be responsible for the annual Part B deductible – which is $183 in 2017.
Today, more and more seniors are finding that they can save on out of pocket costs by choosing Plan G instead of the Plan F. In most areas of the country, the difference in premium between a Plan F and Plan G is $280-360 per year. There is no need to pay the insurance company up to $360 more for the only additional benefit of them paying the $183 deductible for you. If you will pay that deductible yourself, you can pocket the difference. The Part B deductible will get paid to Medicare whether you pay directly with a Plan G or by letting the insurance company pay it through a Plan F with a convenience fee tacked on.

Why The Big Difference In Premium?

There are many theories as to why there is a big difference. Many experts attribute it to the fact that Plan G does not accept Guaranteed Issue enrollees. These are typically enrollees who are leaving an employer plan to go on Medicare. Plan F policies must accept all Guaranteed Issue enrollees without any underwriting, regardless of their current health.
Another school of thought says that many people will be more apt to seek treatment for minor issues as they have no deductibles or co-pays under the Plan F for Part B services. This is what is referred to as “first-dollar coverage.”
Either way, the better option is to go ahead and look at the Plan G (or even Plan N). The good news is that Plan G is already a better value today as I demonstrated above. Making a change could actually be beneficial now instead of waiting to see what possibly happens to Plan F premiums down the road. IIntroduction to new Medigap Plan GG
Keith Murray is an independent agent and the founder of ExpertMedicare.com and Integrity Senior Solutions Inc. Keith has over 21 years of experience working with Seniors on their Medicare insurance needs. He can be reached at 1-888-228-6119 or through the website. Introduction to new Medigap Plan G

Introduction to new Medigap Plan G

Introduction to new Medigap Plan G Introduction to new Medigap Plan G Introduction to new Medigap Plan G Introduction to new Medigap Plan G Introduction to new Medigap Plan G Introduction to new Medigap Plan G Introduction to new Medigap Plan G

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