As we age, maintaining an active lifestyle becomes increasingly important. Regular exercise can significantly enhance the quality of life for seniors by improving physical health, mental well-being, and social connections. Here are essential tips for seniors looking to embark on a fitness journey, tailored to ensure safety, enjoyment, and lasting health benefits.
1. Start with a Health Check-up
Before beginning any new exercise routine, it’s crucial for seniors to consult with a healthcare provider. This step ensures that the chosen activities are safe and suitable for their health status and physical condition.
2. Focus on Four Main Areas
A balanced exercise program for seniors should include activities that cover four main areas: endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility. Integrating these components can help prevent falls, improve mobility, and increase overall health.
Endurance
Incorporate aerobic activities that increase heart rate and breathing. Walking, swimming, and cycling are excellent low-impact options that can be adjusted according to fitness levels.
Strength
Strength training helps maintain muscle mass, which naturally decreases with age. Use light weights or resistance bands, focusing on major muscle groups. Exercises like squats, wall push-ups, and seated rows are beneficial.
Balance
Balance exercises are key in preventing falls, a common concern for seniors. Tai chi, standing on one foot, and heel-to-toe walks are effective practices that can be done at home with minimal equipment.
Flexibility
Stretching exercises enhance flexibility, promoting ease of movement and reducing the risk of injury. Gentle yoga or basic stretches targeting all major muscle groups should be part of the routine.
3. Gradual Progression
Start slowly, especially if you’re new to exercise or resuming after a break. Gradually increase the duration and intensity of workouts to avoid overexertion and injuries.
4. Listen to Your Body
Pay attention to your body’s signals. If you experience pain or discomfort beyond normal muscle fatigue, take a break and adjust your exercise plan as needed.
5. Stay Hydrated and Nourished
Proper hydration and nutrition are essential, particularly around workout times. Drink water before, during, and after exercise, and eat a balanced diet to fuel your body.
6. Make It Social
Exercise can be more enjoyable and motivating when done with others. Joining a group class or walking club can provide social interaction and accountability.
7. Incorporate Technology
Use fitness trackers or apps to monitor progress and stay motivated. Many devices offer features tailored to seniors, such as fall detection and activity reminders.
8. Create a Routine
Establishing a regular exercise schedule helps build a lasting habit. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week, as recommended by health authorities.
9. Find Activities You Enjoy
The key to a sustainable exercise regimen is enjoyment. Explore different activities to find what you like best, whether it’s dancing, gardening, or swimming.
10. Be Patient and Positive
Finally, approach your fitness journey with patience and a positive mindset. Celebrate small victories and don’t be discouraged by setbacks. Remember, the goal is to enhance your health and well-being, not to compete or compare yourself to others.
By following these tips, seniors can safely enjoy the myriad benefits of regular exercise, from improved strength and balance to enhanced mood and cognitive function. Always remember, it’s never too late to start, and every step towards a more active lifestyle counts towards achieving a healthier, more vibrant life.
The right Medicare Supplement plan for you is one that gives you access to your doctors and provides comprehensive coverage on the gaps in Medicare.
As long as the provider accepts Medicare, they must accept your Supplement plan regardless of the insurance carrier.
Consider your risk tolerance and the monthly cost to help you determine which plan may be best for you.
Findingthe best Medicare supplement planfor you is far more simple than you might think. Want the secret to choosing the perfect Medicare supplement plan for you?
I’m here to help you with that.
The best Medicare Supplement plan is the one that gives you access to your chosen providers and covers the gaps in Medicare that you are most concerned about paying. It also offers a competitive monthly premium compared to other plans in your area.
Many times when a person is new to Medicare, he or she feels overwhelmed by all the choices. In this post, we’ll walk you through a series of simple questions you can ask yourself that will help lead you to the best Medicare supplement plan for you.
In this article, we’ll be concentrating on Medicare supplement plans, also called Medigap plans. These plans get 5 stars in my book for a variety of reasons.
If you are unsure of the difference between Medicare supplements and Medicare Advantage plans, which are very different, read this post first and then return to this page to read the information below.
Which Medicare plans does your doctor take?
In my experience, the best Medicare supplement coverage for you is usually one that you know your doctors will accept. Most people don’t want to part with their trusted providers.
Fortunately, this is pretty easy with Medicare supplements. As long as your doctor accepts Original Medicare, he will accept any Medicare supplement. It doesn’t matter if that is an Aetna Medicare supplement or a Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare supplement or a Kmart Special Medicare supplement.
Clearly, I’m kidding on that last one, but I hope you get the point.
The chances that your doctor accepts Original Medicare are very good. There are over 800,000 providers on Medicare’s network. The Kaiser Family Foundation reported in 2015 that more than 9 in 10 primary care physicians accept Medicare. You can use your coverage anywhere around the nation without referrals.
How to Ask Your Doctor if He Takes Your Supplement
A quick phone call to your doctor’s office can help you confirm that a Medicare supplement (as opposed to a Medicare Advantage plan) would work for you.
Simply ask: Does Dr. Smith accept Medicare? Most of the time you will hear yes.
Sometimes you might find a doctor whose practice is full. It’s not that he doesn’t like your Medigap plan. It’s that he has too many Medicare patients. I have found that if you’ve been treated with a doctor prior to age 65, he will usually continue to see you once you transition to Medicare as your primary insurance.
An Important Distinction Between Medicare Plans
The best Medicare plan is always one that will allow you to see your favorite doctors.
If you are still trying to decide between Medicare supplements and Medicare Advantage plans, you can also ask whether the doctor participates in any Medicare Advantage plans, and get a list of those plans.
Verify what you find out by checking each Medicare plan’s provider directory. Ensure that the directory shows that doctor in the network. Cross-referencing this information against the plan directory is so important.
All too often we have people contact our agency after they tried to do this on their own. Inevitably they find out too late that the person in the doctor’s office gave them incorrect information.
Which Companies Get the Best Medicare Supplement Reviews?
Often our clients ask us who offers the best Medicare supplement plans in terms of financial ratings or customer service. This will vary based on the state you live in as not all carriers do business in every state.
Some of the carriers that offer popular Medicare supplement plans are:
Aetna
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Cigna
Manhattan Life
Mutual of Omaha
Transamerica
United Healthcare
Which insurance companies offer the best Medicare supplement plans?
I give all Medicare supplements an A+ when it comes to claims payment. You can read more about my opinion on this in my blog post called Medicare Plan F Reviews.
When it comes to customer service though, you will get that from your agent or Medicare insurance broker. When you have a problem, you will call and speak with your agent directly instead of calling some big insurance company call center.
A good Medicare insurance broker will have a Client Service Team in place to handle back-end services for you. This might include helping you with Medicare appeals if something gets denied, or conferencing in your pharmacy if there is an issue with getting a prescription filled. These are things that the Medicare supplement company definitely will NOT do for you.
Your own agent or broker will always be more helpful than a nameless, faceless customer service representative at your insurance carrier.
We work with all the top Medicare supplement plans in every market. We can tell you which of those makes the most sense for you based on the data we have.
What is Your Risk Tolerance?
Our agency often works with clients who helped their aging parents through a few illnesses. On such a client, Sue told me that her mother had battled lymphoma for many years and went through several rounds of chemotherapy.
She was astonished at the size of the medical bills they received and even further astonished to find that her mother’s Medicare supplement had covered every dime. Because of this, she knew she wanted the same kind of coverage.
What Sue said was “If I am sick, I want to be able to concentrate on getting well. I don’t want to be worrying about how many bills are accumulating in my mailbox.”
So for this client, the natural choice was a Medicare supplement Plan F, which has very predictable benefits and covers comprehensively. With Plan F, Sue would have nothing out of pocket at the doctor’s office or hospital.
On the other hand, if Sue preferred a lower monthly premium in exchange for her covering some of her own deductibles and copays, then the best Medicare Supplement might be a Plan N. There are 10 different standardized Medicare supplement plans to choose from. You can find one that covers enough for your comfort and peace of mind.
So ask yourself how much risk tolerance you have, and that should lead you toward one choice or another. This is the way we identify the best Medicare supplement plans for our clients here.
And that leads us to the next question regarding the best Medicare supplement plans, which is:
Which is the Best Medicare Supplemental Insurance for Your Budget?
Living on a fixed income is harder than most people think. You are still subject to inflation like everyone else, but the money you have coming in from Social Security and your investments has to last you for the rest of your life. Sometimes this single factor will make the decision for you.
Your budget is a consideration in identifying the best Medicare plan for you.
For a person turning 65 in Texas, you might expect to pay around $150/month for a Medicare supplement Plan F. It varies by zip code, gender, and age, but let’s use this number as an example. If your budget includes $1800/year for medical insurance, then a Medicare supplement Plan F provides great coverage.
If spending $1800/year leaves you with very little for life’s other expenses, you might be more comfortable with a Plan G or Plan N, or even a High-Deductible Plan F.
You can read more of my tips for saving money on Medigap in this Forbes article.
Get the Best Medicare Supplement for YOU
These are the things we discuss with our own clients when helping them determine the best Medicare supplement plans for them. An insurance agency like Boomer Benefits can help you answer these questions and then find the best Medigap plans that meet YOUR needs based on your answers.
If you enjoyed this blog post and learned from it, give us a try so that you can experience all the great back-end policy services that you’ll get. This includes free claims support and assistance with evaluating which Part D drug plan offers your medications. We also provide annual rate comparisons to ensure you stay with the most cost-effective policy in your area. With all of our experience, we can confidently say we speak Medicare and will continue to help you navigate through it.
The right Medicare supplement for you is out there! Get in touch with us for help finding it today.
Key Takeaways
All providers that accept Medicare must accept your Medigap plan.
You can consider the carrier rating, monthly premium, and risk tolerance to help you determine what will be the best Supplement plan for your needs.
For many seniors, retirement
brings a significant lifestyle change, often including the decision to
downsize.
Downsizing can mean moving to
a smaller home, decluttering, or transitioning to a retirement community.
While it can be an
emotionally charged process, it also offers a chance for a fresh start and a
simplified lifestyle.
Emotional preparedness: Downsizing
isn’t just a physical task; it’s an emotional journey. It often involves
letting go of possessions that hold sentimental value.
It’s important to acknowledge
the emotions that come with this process and take it at a comfortable
pace.
Financial considerations:
Downsizing can have economic benefits, such as reducing living expenses or
freeing up equity from a larger home.
It’s essential to consider
these aspects and plan accordingly, possibly in consultation with a financial
advisor.
Practical steps:
Begin by decluttering and deciding what to keep, sell, donate, or discard.
When choosing a new place to
live, consider accessibility, proximity to healthcare facilities, and community
support.
Legal and estate planning:
Downsizing is also an opportune time to review your estate plan.
This might include updating
your will and trust, considering new living arrangements in your healthcare
directives, and re-evaluating your financial plan.
Support systems:
Lean on family, friends, or professional services for support.
Don't hesitate to ask for
anything from emotional support to practical help with moving and
selling.
Downsizing in retirement
marks a new chapter that, with careful planning and support, can bring a
renewed sense of freedom and comfort.
We specialize in educating and helping you protect what you have for the
people you love the most. Contact
usto schedule a FREE
consultation
As the much-anticipated spring break approaches, many of us are gearing up for a trip or memorable adventure. Whether you are planning a beach retreat, a hiking expedition, or an international escapade, it’s crucial to consider the importance of insurance in safeguarding your spring break experience.
Travel insurance is a comprehensive solution that covers a range of unexpected events during your trip.
It typically includes coverage for trip cancellations, delays, lost luggage, and even emergency medical expenses.
Before purchasing travel insurance, carefully review the policy to understand the specific coverage it offers.
Securing Your Residence with Homeowners Insurance
While you embark on your spring break journey, don’t forget to ensure the security of your home through homeowners insurance.
Homeowners insurance protects against losses or damages to your property, including theft and vandalism.
Some policies may offer additional coverage for personal belongings that you take with you on your trip.
Make sure your policy is up-to-date and covers the duration of your absence.
Auto Insurance: A Must for Road Trips
For those planning road trips during spring break, auto insurance becomes a paramount consideration. Safeguarding your vehicle and ensuring your peace of mind on the road is crucial.
Verify that your auto insurance policy is current and provides coverage for the specific journey you are planning.
Roadside assistance coverage can be particularly beneficial during road trips, offering support for unexpected vehicle breakdowns.
Familiarize yourself with the details of your coverage, including deductibles and limits.
Prioritizing Your Well-Being with Health Insurance
Your health should always be a top priority, even when on vacation. Having adequate health insurance coverage ensures that you are prepared for unforeseen medical circumstances.
Confirm that your health insurance plan extends coverage to the destination of your spring break trip.
Consider supplemental travel health insurance for added protection, especially for international travel.
Keep a copy of your insurance card and any relevant contact information in case of emergencies.
General Tips for a Secure Spring Break
In addition to specific insurance considerations, here are some general tips to enhance your safety during spring break:
Inform a trusted friend or family member about your travel plans and provide them with emergency contacts.
Keep important documents, such as insurance policies, identification, and medical information, organized and easily accessible.
Be mindful of any travel advisories or health alerts related to your destination.
Spring into Safety
As you gear up for your spring break adventure, remember that our agents are here to help. Whether you have questions about your existing policies or need assistance in acquiring additional coverage, our agency is dedicated to ensuring your peace of mind. Reach out to us to discuss your specific needs and make the most of your travel plans.
Explore your spring break with confidence, knowing that you have taken the necessary steps to secure your journey. Our experienced agents are committed to making your spring break a worry-free experience tailored to your unique requirements. Prioritize your safety and well-being by partnering with us for comprehensive insurance solutions.
Medicare typically does not cover healthcare outside the U.S., except for specific situations like emergencies on a cruise ship in U.S. waters or en route to the U.S. when the closest hospital is in another country. It's crucial not to rely on Medicare benefits abroad and plan accordingly.
For international travel protection, both Medicare options – Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage – offer some foreign travel emergency benefits. Medicare Advantage plans often include worldwide emergency coverage. When seeking emergency care abroad, carrying your Medicare Advantage card is essential, as foreign hospitals may bill your plan directly. However, it's possible that healthcare providers won't bill your carrier, requiring you to keep receipts for later reimbursement through your insurance agent upon your return.
It's crucial to note that this coverage is specifically designed for unexpected emergencies and not intended for routine doctor visits during your time abroad. Planning ahead and understanding the limitations of foreign travel coverage can help ensure you're adequately protected during international trips.
For those who prefer Original Medicare due to network constraints or a preferred doctor not participating in Medicare Advantage, choosing a standard Medigap plan like C, D, F, G, M, or N can offer Foreign Travel benefits. Plans pay 80% of medical emergency costs after a $250 deductible but have limits – coverage is restricted to the first 60 days abroad, with a lifetime benefit cap of $50,000. For extended periods overseas, exploring short-term medical plans with extra emergency benefits is advisable.
Medicare Part D users need to be cautious when traveling. While Part D covers prescriptions within the U.S., it provides limited coverage near the border and none abroad. You'll be responsible for all costs from foreign pharmacies. Ensure an adequate prescription supply before international travel, as Part D enrollment abroad is not possible, but you can apply within two months of your return.
While Original Medicare allows flexibility across U.S. states, it generally doesn't cover healthcare services outside the country unless it's an emergency. Medigap Plans C, D, F, G, and N provide up to $50,000 in foreign travel emergency benefits. For those with Medicare Advantage, extended overseas travel beyond six months may result in dis-enrollment and a return to Original Medicare.
Common questions about Medicare and foreign travel include coverage across different states, international healthcare services, Medigap plan foreign coverage, Medicare Advantage implications abroad, and international use of Part D plans. It's wise to explore standalone travel insurance, as relying solely on Medicare may not provide comprehensive coverage. Check with your specific plan for its foreign travel policies, and note that certain U.S. territories are considered part of the U.S.
Does Medicare cover dental? It’s a common question we hear around here.
Indeed, many people are surprised to learn that Medicare does NOT cover routine dental care. We often have access to dental insurance coverage through our employer’s group health insurance plans during our working years. On those plans, we get benefits to cover the cost of our teeth cleanings and annual x-rays. We often also have coverage for more expensive things like crowns or root canals.
Medicare does not pay for anything related to keeping your teeth healthy, such as checkups or fillings. It also does not cover things like extractions or dentures in most cases. What you and I think of as “dental care” are things that Medicare considers “not medically necessary.”
Medically Necessary Dental Care
Medicare MAY cover dental work related to another health condition, or in other words, when medically necessary. An example of that would be if you need surgery to treat a broken jaw or if you have dental services ordered by an oncologist as part of your treatment plan for oral cancer. Another example might be an oral exam performed as part of a comprehensive workup before kidney transplantation.
Even in these circumstances, the prescribing physician must demonstrate to Medicare why this dental service is necessary. More on that later in this article.
Other than these few limited exceptions, everything else is pretty much not covered. Section 1862 (a)(12) of the Social Security Act defines a Statutory Dental Exclusion “where such expenses are for services in connection with the care, treatment, filling, removal, or replacement of teeth or structures directly supporting teeth.” (You can read more on the statutory dental exclusion at the CMS.gov website.)
Dental Insurance Options for People on Medicare
So, what is a person on Medicare supposed to do for routine dental coverage? There are a couple of options.
Medicare Advantage Plans
Some Medicare Advantage plans cover a small amount of routine dental services. I hesitate even to mention this because Medicare Advantage plans can change their benefits each year. If you opt for a specific plan just because of some minor dental coverage, you will be upset if the plan drops that benefit next year. Also, dental coverage within a Medicare Advantage plan may only have a small network of dentists. Chances are that your family dentist may not be in the network. Never choose your Advantage plan based only on the fact that you want a little dental coverage. Always select your Medicare insurance for its medical benefits first. Then if that plan also includes even $100 worth of dental coverage, consider that a bonus.
Standalone Dental Insurance
A more reliable option is to purchase individual dental insurance. This is a private dental insurance policy through a reputable dental insurance carrier. You enroll in it separately from Medicare.
Dental insurance plans provide benefits for all the things you expect, like cleanings, x-rays, fluoride, fillings, and even crowns and root canals. While there are many individual dental insurance plans out there on the market, there is one that we like because it does not restrict you to a dental network.
It also offers coverage for routine vision and hearing, which are two additional things that Medicare does not cover. Benefits are available immediately, with no waiting period for preventive care.
A standalone individual dental insurance plan like this one offers fuller coverage than the limited dental benefits that you can find in a Medicare Advantage plan. You can use the coverage for preventive care and basic care like x-rays, fillings, and extractions. Most importantly, it includes major coverage items like bridges, crowns, root canals, and dentures. Also, the benefit grows over time.
Dental benefits from an individual plan don’t change every year. Unlike Advantage plans, standalone dental plans don’t have to re-file their benefit plans with Medicare every year. You can also carry your family members on an individual plan if more than one person in your household needs the coverage.
Private Pay
Some individuals will privately pay for dental care. You can check with your dentist to see if they are willing to give you a discount for paying cash since that saves your dentist the burden of filing insurance claims on your behalf. My dentist gives me a 5% discount whenever I pay cash for my care. Yours might do the same…so it’s worth asking.
Does Medicare Cover Dental that is NOT routine?
Medicare defines “covered dental benefits” as medically necessary. If a dental procedure is an integral step of a covered procedure, Medicare will make payment. For example, let’s say you injure your jaw in an accident. Medicare may cover repair to your jaw. If the surgery to repair your jaw involves a hospital stay, Medicare Part A will cover the hospital stay, and Part B will cover the surgery.
Medicare will also cover dental exams required prior to major surgeries, such as transplants. Since your dental health can impact your overall health and ability to recover from major surgery, your doctor may order a preliminary dental exam before a heart transplant or kidney transplant. In this scenario, Medicare will cover the exam itself but may not cover the dental work you need to complete before the surgery.
What about cancer? Does Medicare cover dental work related to cancer treatment? The answer is: maybe.
People who undergo radiation treatment for head and neck cancer often suffer dental problems. Technically, Medicare should cover such dental work. In reality, though, many beneficiaries with medically-necessary dental procedures still find it difficult to get Medicare to pay for these procedures. They often have to file appeals to get someone to look at their claim more closely.
Does Medicare Cover Root Canals?
Original Medicare does not cover root canals. It also does not cover oral exams, extractions, fillings, dentures, teeth cleanings, or dental implants. Sometimes people wonder about root canals or dental implants since these procedures require surgery, but Medicare does not cover root canals or dental implants.
Remember that Medicare provides healthcare for injuries and illnesses, and medical conditions. Unfortunately, routine dental, vision, and hearing fall outside that umbrella. Preparing to make other arrangements for your dental care once you transition to Medicare is a good idea.
Imagine a world where voluntary benefits act as risk management tools to help reduce risk and exposure
for your clients. In an ever-changing environment, these are the concepts that top tier brokers are
deploying to stand out and create a unique vantage point in the marketplace.
What’s the correlation between workers’ compensation and voluntary benefits for employers?
Workers’ compensation provides legal entitlement to workers who are injured on the job. It’s designed to
help people pay for expenses incurred due to an injury that occurred while working.
For employers, the financial and administrative obligation is a hefty one. On top of having to shoulder
100% of the cost, improper management of risk can lead to excessive claims, and/or bad behaviors; all of
which drive up cost to the employer. Workers’ comp can also leave injured employees without financial
protection as they recover if they still have needs that expand beyond what workers’ comp is designed to
cover (i.e., pay bills and other expenses while out of work).
Recent trends in the market have employers looking to shift the cost of health insurance, at least more
heavily, to their employees with high deductible health plans. By shifting more of the risk on out-of-pocket
expenses to the employees, they can drive the price of their medical plans down, making it more
affordable.
The true risk lies in the behavior this might drive in the workers’ comp space. Most employee benefit
brokers tend to take a unilateral approach when considering plan changes to their core medical plan.
Making a plan more affordable, by proxy, usually means you also make it harder to use. Herein lies
the problem – when plans become more difficult to use, individuals will often default to the path of
least resistance.
Companies can add voluntary or supplemental benefits to help manage these and other risks. For
example, accident coverage gives employees the much-needed financial assistance to seek care, as
reimbursement is received quickly. It also goes a long way in encouraging employees to use workers’
comp properly. While this strategy might not be a great fit for the white collar market, it plays very well
in the blue and gray skilled labor markets.
Statistics show that 64% of employers plan to add voluntary and supplement products into their plans.
Employees are looking for these benefits, too, with interest in disability almost doubling (from 18% to
34%) compared to 2022. Additionally, life insurance interest tripled (30% combined for group and
whole life, up from 10%) compared to 2022.
Voluntary benefits can be partially or fully funded by the employer or completely by the employee, and
paid directly from the carrier to the employee in the event of illness or injury. You’ll manage risk more
effectively if everyone is included in the program (fully funded) vs. making it voluntary and only
capturing 30-40% of the employee population.
Where to get started
We are a trusted partner, guiding employers and their employees through healthcare choices including
voluntary benefits, benefits administration, and year-round advocacy services to reduce costs and
increase benefits engagement.
