Life After 50 Expo

Exercise info !

By

You probably know that there are many benefits to getting regular exercise, but if you’re not sure how to get moving easily and safely, you can visit Go4Life, the National Institute for the Aging’s exercise and physical activity campaign. Go4Life recommends regularly getting all four types of exercise:

  1. Endurance: Activities like brisk walking, jogging, yard work, and dancing increase your breathing and heart rate. These exercises keep your heart, lungs, and circulatory system healthy.
  2. Strength: Exercises like lifting weights and using resistance bands that make your muscles stronger. These activities can help your overall strength and your ability to continue doing daily tasks like carrying groceries and climbing stairs.
  3. Balance: Activities like standing on one foot or doing Tai chi. These exercises are especially important because they can help prevent falls.   
  4. Flexibility: Exercises like yoga and stretching that help your body stay limber. Gaining flexibility can give you more freedom of movement in both exercise and daily activities.

If you’re looking for ways to get started with a healthy exercise routine, you can visit the Go4Life website to find exercise guides and other online tools.
 

Dear Marci,

By

Dear Marci,
I’ve heard that I can make changes to my Medicare coverage during Fall Open Enrollment. Should I look for a new plan? How can I enroll in one if I find one I like?
-Jing (Burlington, VT)

Dear Jing,
If you are considering changing your Medicare coverage, Fall Open Enrollment is the time to do it. Fall Open Enrollment is the period between October 15 and December 7 each year when people can make changes to their Medicare coverage. You can change your Medicare Advantage Plan, change your standalone Part D prescription drug plan, or switch between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare. Whether or not you are satisfied with your current coverage, you should review your current costs and benefits. Fall Open Enrollment is also a good time to compare your coverage to other available options. Research shows that people can save money by shopping for new plans each year.
If you are thinking of enrolling in a new Medicare Advantage Plan or stand-alone Part D drug plan, you should take the following steps:

  1. If you are looking for a new Part D plan, you can use the Plan Finder tool from www.Medicare.gov to compare options in your area. Before you use Plan Finder, make a list of the medications you take, the amount that you currently pay for them, and which pharmacies you like to visit. You will be able to get a sense of which plans cover the medications you need with the lowest costs and fewest coverage restrictions.
  2. If you are shopping for a new Medicare Advantage Plan, you can use the Plan Finder tool to compare options in your area. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask about plans in your area. Once you have a list of your available options, you can visit their websites to learn more.
  3. After you have researched plans and found one that you are interested in, call that plan directly to confirm what you learned online. Ask about your doctors and hospitals to check that they are included in your plan’s network. Check also that the plan includes all the drugs you need on its formulary, and that your pharmacies are in the plan’s network. Write down everything about this conversation, including the date of the conversation, who you speak to, and the outcome of the call.
  4. Call 1-800-MEDICARE if you decide to enroll in a new plan. This is the best way to protect yourself if there are any problems with enrollment. Write down everything about your call, including the date of the conversation, who you speak to, and any information the Medicare representative gives you during the call. Remember to confirm all the details about your new plan with the plan itself before calling Medicare.

If you need additional help, you can call or visit the website of your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). SHIP counselors can help you understand your Medicare coverage options.

-Marci

Tips for a good night’s sleep !

By

A good night of sleep can have you feeling your best, while losing sleep can contribute to irritability, memory problems, and experiencing more falls or accidents. But how do you sleep well? The National Institute on Aging has some suggestions for how to get a good night’s sleep:

  • Follow a regular sleep schedule and develop a bedtime routine that allows you to relax before bed.
  • Use low lighting in the evening, and don’t use computers, cell phones, or tablets in the bed room.
  • Exercise at regular times each day, but not within 3 hours of bedtime.
  • Remember that alcohol won’t help you sleep, and can make it hard to stay asleep even if you drink small amounts.

For more suggestions, and for information about sleep disorders and sleeping safely, visit the NIA’s informational page here.

Dear Marci,

By

Dear Marci,

I’ve heard that Fall Open Enrollment is coming up. What is Fall Open Enrollment, and what should I do to prepare for it?

– Andre (Dover, DE)

Dear Andre,

Fall Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7 each year, and it’s a time when you can make changes to your Medicare coverage if you want to. During Fall Open enrollment, you can

Between October 15 and December 7, 2017, you can make as many changes as you need to your Medicare coverage. The final change that you make will go into effect on January 1, 2018. To prepare for Fall Open Enrollment, you should begin to think about two major things:

First, think about your current health and drug coverage. If you have Original Medicare, review the 2018 Medicare & You handbook. This will outline your benefits for the upcoming year. If you aren’t satisfied with Original Medicare, Fall Open Enrollment is a good time to make changes.

If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or a stand-alone Part D drug plan, you should receive an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) and an Evidence of Coverage (EOC)from your plan. These documents outline which providers, pharmacies, drugs, and services your plan covers, and what costs you will be responsible for. They’ll also tell you what will change in 2018. If you aren’t satisfied (for example, if a drug you need is no longer on your Part D plan’s formulary, or a provider you see is no longer in your Medicare Advantage Plan’s network), you can make changes during Fall Open Enrollment. 

Even if you are happy with the coverage you get, you should review your current coverage and look at other options in your area to see if there are other plans that cost less and/or better suit your individual needs in the coming year. 

Next, think about costs. Costs can vary widely between different kinds of Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. Some Medicare Advantage Plans charge an additional premium on top of the Part B Medicare premium. Some Part D plans require people to pay a deductible, while others do not. Another plan in your area could offer you the same or better health and/or drug coverage at a more affordable price or have fewercoverage restrictions. Research shows that people with Medicare prescription drug coverage could lower their costs by shopping among plans each year. 

To prepare, create a list of all the health care providers you see, prescription drugs you take, and pharmacies you use. You might receive a lot of mail before and during Fall Open Enrollment, but keep an eye out for any notices from Medicare or your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. If you decide you want to make changes, you can do so by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

– Marci  

Dietary Change Tip !

By

A recent study found that middle-aged people and older adults who make sustained, positive dietary changes tend to live longer. This study was one of the first to suggest that this kind of dietary change is effective later in life, showing that “it’s never too late to improve diet quality,” according to lead researcher Mercedes Sotos-Prieto.

According to researchers and dietary experts, small changes can help improve diet, and therefore potentially improve life expectancy. Some suggestions include:

  1. Make changes you can stick with over a long period of time
  2. Overall diet is more important than finding “magic bullet” foods or nutrients
  3. Eat more plant-based foods and “whole foods,” and avoid processed foods
  4. When you do eat meat, choose leaner cuts, like grilled chicken or lean flank steak
  5. If you’re concerned about the cost of fresh, healthy ingredients, frozen fruits and vegetables can be more affordable