Resources

Source: AARP

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to climb in the U.S., Medicare is increasing access to testing and treatment for older adults, who health experts say are most at risk for severe illness caused by the novel coronavirus.

In an AARP Coronavirus Information Tele-Town Hall event on Tuesday (March 11, 2020), Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), reiterated that Medicare beneficiaries will not be on the hook for out-of-pocket costs associated with coronavirus testing. Verma added that many Americans with private insurance will also see relief from cost sharing for services associated with the coronavirus.

“Anyone who feels like they need a test, we don’t want costs to be a barrier to getting that test,” she told the event’s moderators and listeners.

And with recently eased restrictions, more adults with Medicare now also have the option to connect with their doctor through telehealth technologies. “You can call your doctor, you can Skype with them, you can send them pictures — and all of those are covered services,” Verma explained.

To read the entire article from AARP, click here.

...

Smartphones don’t shape-shift like aliens in a Star Trek episode. Apps (short for applications)  are what make a smartphone or tablet acquire multiple uses. Apps like Dialer, Camera and others come pre-installed from the factory. Dialer, for example, is your telephone app. Tapping the telephone handset icon will enable you to enter the phone number or name of the person you want to call. Hit the green handset icon to call, red handset icon to hang up. ...

What could be easier than ordering groceries, getting a medical checkup or paying bills, all while sitting in your recliner at home? What if we told you all this was free - or mostly free? We'll walk you through the world of apps and how you can find fingertip convenience for everyday living. ...

If you're a small business owner or you work for one, the Social Security Administration can help make your life easier with a suite of services that allow you to file W-2/W-2Cs online and verify your employees’ names and Social Security numbers against official records. ...

If you're looking for new ways to save time, sign up for a secure 'my Social Security account' on social security.gov. Once you create an online account, you can review your work history and see an estimate of your future Social Security benefits. ...

Enjoy Chocolate, Wine and a free CEU! Laurie G. Steiner Esq. presents 'The Long-Term Care Bucket List: Protecting Yourself Before Long-Term Care' on February 11. ...

Our theme, “Get a Plan,” seemed like a tidy, ambitious topic to kick off 2020 when we hammered out our editorial lineup for the year.

Plans are good. Plans are necessary. I like plans in theory. Execution is another matter. Plans are fine for other people but my failure rate is too high to embrace much planning. 

Privilege and Plans
Clutter is a first-world problem. I’ve read about people in other parts of the world who collect cigarette butts, separate the pieces, and sell the bundles by the pound — you read that right, by the pound, to earn a bare-bones living. I’m assuming that’s a clutter-generating enterprise.

I’ve got first-world clutter; too many shoes and coats and casserole dishes and — I’m just realizing — a significant collection of drinking glasses. I planned to clear things out after reading Marie Kondo’s, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing.” I skimmed the book (too busy), fast-forwarded the show on Netflix (too impatient, ) and dove in (too hopeful). 

I ruthlessly bagged up my castoffs and dropped them at donation bins. I rolled sweaters, sorted clothing by colors, and rethought my casserole dish collection. The dogs thought they were the next to go.

The minimalist lifestyle suited me, but only for a minimal amount of time. I soon was back to my old habits, cruising consignment shops and hitting estate sales. I was a junkie who craved actual junk. My decluttering plans sputtered and then died in a heap on the closet floor.

That’s just one example of failed plans. Each January, I plan to carefully pack away my Christmas lights so I never have to untangle them again. Eleven months later, I’m untangling Christmas lights. 

Here’s another: I plan to watch higher-quality TV — more PBS less Bravo, but deep down I’m drawn to the Kardashians and “My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding.”

...

When our bodies are in a good physical state, that naturally transcends to a positive emotional state. Getting out, keeping busy, maintaining an active mind and socializing with others naturally makes one feel better. Isolation is to depression, as socializing is to connections. As humans, we’re naturally wired to desire connections with others. ...