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The Benefits of Learning a Musical Instrument at Any Age 🎸🎹🥁Labels: Music, Musical Instruments, Learning, Age, Personal Growth, Brain Development, Social Connections🌟 The Benefits of Learning a Musical Instrument at Any Age 🌟Have you ever considered picking up a musical instrument but thought it might be too late for you? Good news! 🎉 There's no age limit to learning a musical instrument, and the benefits are countless. 🎼 Whether you're 8 or 80, it's never too late to start. In this blog post, we'll discuss the advantages of learning a musical instrument at any age. 🎻🎺1️⃣ Brain Development and Cognitive Benefits 🧠Numerous studies show that learning to play a musical instrument can enhance brain function and improve memory. 🧠💡 Playing an instrument engages multiple areas of the brain simultaneously, promoting cognitive development and enhancing your mental capabilities. So, no matter your age, you can reap the benefits of music education. 🎓🎶2️⃣ Stress Relief and Emotional

It’s natural to wonder about memory loss as we get older. One way to assess your current performance is to take the Cognitive Assessment and Lifestyle Check-Ins from AARP® Staying Sharp®. It’s a free resource that will give you insights into your current performance in core areas, including memory. Best of all, you can retake it every 30 days to track your score. Visit AARP Staying Sharp for more information on brain health.        

I would love to thank Aarp reduced prescription drug program. My eye doctor recently wrote a prescription for an eyedrop which naturally fell under my deductible with my prescription drug program. The medication would’ve cost me $186 for a small bottle of eyedrop. I then went to a brand-name pharmacy Where initially the price would’ve been $334 had they not had prescription drug program I went to good RX, which offered a generic prescription for between 60 and $70 which was not available. I then went to Aarp and made a phone call and spoke to a young lady who told me the same medication Through the reduced Aarp prescription drug program would cost me $75.15. It’s just amazing the way that the cost for the same prescription can vary so much and this actually needs to be looked into. I would love to thank Aarp for all the great work. They’re doing For the seniors as well as the money that they are saving seniors so they do have a choice whether to take a medication and or eat and or just

If you use a different address on your medicare enrollment form than is listed with social security, will the medicare enrollment be denied? Also if they do deny the enrollment, do you have to appeal? These questions assume that you otherwise meet the qualifications to enroll and the denial would be based only on the information mismatch.

We all seek emotional well-being, but it takes time and effort. Are you feeling sad or depressed or simply overworked? Explore the Mental Well-Being challenges at AARP® Staying Sharp® and give yourself some well-deserved time to recharge your inner happiness. Visit AARP Staying Sharp for more information on brain health.

Hi. I'm 61 and newly divorced. I'm about to get kicked off my ex-husband's healthcare plan and I'm overwhelmed with trying to figure out ACA. The free state help offices are booked past the date I need to start. Where can I go for help? Thanks.

I saw some dialogue in a previous post regarding this subject. It looks like the potential exists for a double premium billing the 1st month that you receive social security benefits with the Part B premium auto-deducted. I reach FRA this month and get my first check next month (July).My last quarterly Medicare payment covers me thru the end of July.My understanding of my benefit payment next month is that my SS benefit is paid in arrears.But the Medicare premium deduction is in advance.That means my June SS check I receive in July is paying for my July Medicare premium. Am I understanding this correctly?If so, it appears that would create a double premium payment for the month of July. I'm sure I'm not the only one this has happened to and wonder if SS/Medicare addresses it. Thanks. Chuck 

 I am  looking for the AARP article (a Bulletin?) on a woman who had 3 spine surgeries and was in a wheel chair when her husband found a doctor out of state who gave him and his wife hope for help. The doctor was one of the few specialists in the country that dealt with nerve-related pain. Most doctors misdiagnosed the pain as something other than nerve related, according to the article.  I have looked back at all the Bulletins for the last 18 months. Didn't find it. Could it have been in another AARP publication that came by mail?  I have a friend who may have the same problem. I want to give her the article. Does anyone know where I can find it? I know it's an AARP publication. Thanks,Janet  

I have major dental issues. I had all of my upper teeth pulled years ago but after I got full time (six days a week), as a rural postal carrier,and a traumatic dental experience when I was a child. Now I have been in so much pain for the last week,ie fever and swelling of the gums . I'm 65 and really think that dental issues should be covered under my health insurance. It is part of my body, and shouldn't be considered as a separate health care problem. Going to call Tele-doc and hopefully get antibiotics at least. Wondering if I am an isolated case 🤔?

28 years ago, I gave up my fast growing career when my wife threatened to take my 3 kids and leave me. We moved back to our hometown, and she started her own business while I kept getting knocked further back down, that success ladder. I raised my kids mostly alone while working two jobs. In 2015, she tried to kill me while I was sleeping, and she lost her front teeth when I reacted to my attacker. Which made me a wife beater. Strange how there was no blood anywhere.  Three days later, I was served divorce papers, and she magically had a new pony farm with her female friend , "who had more money than she could ever spend unquote. My kids were instructed not to talk to me and haven't since, but they sure have nice, easy lives.  So no, I have not been able to forgive and move on. The bitterness remains, I have no friends, family is no help, I don't want to be bitter with my kids so i dont communicate with them either, I fear being around anyone that I will make them b

 “.. . . when Medicaid was created in the 1960s lawmakers did not include work requirements because it “never dawned on anybody that able-bodied people who work would be on Medicaid.”   CMS Administrator Dr. Oz Mehmet Now, we are asking these ABLED-BODIED Medicaid beneficiaries to either work 80 hours a month or volunteer or take care of a low income needy loved one or go back to school in order to preserve their ACA Expanded Medicaid benefits.   In listening to CSAN’s Washington Journal this morning during the open forum call in - I could not believe the people that are scared to death they would be losing their MEDICAID benefit even though they are on the program by being a low income elderly, blind, or disabled, a low income child, a low income pregnant woman and then the newborn for at least a year in most states (maybe in all by now).  They will not -  I get so tired of our legislators confusing the ignorant public with this ”name” recogniti

I believe there is a place where many beneficiaries will have some agreement in Medicare Reform and it is one that the Senate is currently looking into - it would involve NO cuts to benefits for beneficiaries.  POLITICO 06/05/2025 - Medicare is a target as Senate GOP faces megabill math issues  from the link:   Senate Republicans are currently discussing folding in language that would target overpayments to privately-run Medicare Advantage plans, which enables older Americans to buy private plans offering health coverage. It would help them recoup tens of billions of dollars, and it’s an idea that has also attracted bipartisan interest. … . . House lawmakers briefly floated the idea of overhauling Medicare Advantage into their version of the megabill but it failed to gain traction, as a band of House moderates is deeply uncomfortable with the concept of touching Medicare — even if it is in the name of slashing “waste, fraud and abuse.” Yes, there

For Medicare Supplemental plans, regardless of the insurer - your premiums can increase due to several different factors - some are policy specific (#1 & #2), others are based on market, usage and legal requirements (#3).  1. The (YOUR) Explanation of Coverage - this will explain any declining discount schedules and set amounts of increases, if applicable based on the policy.  This is the contract with the insurer.2. How your Medigap plan is rated - Community RatedAttained AgeIssue Age3. The (Your) State Dept of Insurance cause in most states, the state received the info for the premium increase from the insurance companies like amount of claims (amount paid out), amount of premiums paid in, and amount that is kept in reserve per the law and their forward looking requirements that may already be in the pipeline.   Do these increases all have to happen at the same time?  NO (#1 & #2 ) goes by your specific data - your Medigap insuranc

June is Brain Awareness Month, a great time to focus on building lifelong, healthy habits. Explore the Brain Health 101 challenge from AARP® Staying Sharp®, built on the six pillars of brain health. It includes useful tools, including a sleep calculator, exercise videos and brainteasers. Take this challenge and spend time learning about strategies for achieving better sleep, relaxation and energy to help live your best life.   Visit AARP Staying Sharp for more information on brain health.

I am a senior, AARP member, a pharmacist, and still working in a hospital oncology department. I have been specifically working in oncology for around the last fifteen years. Unfortunately, as we get older, our chances of having a cancer diagnosis increase.Elderly Medicare patients that have worked their entire lives and paid into the Medicare system are now being denied treatments that are part of standard, specific to their disease state protocol, better tolerated by their age group, and life extending just because they are now requesting that certain genetic markers be present before approval. Most of these are immunotherapy treatments, one being Keytruda. FDA has approved these medications for several types of cancer because they have been shown to work, and the tumors are seen as highly susceptible to immune attack. These medications have been added as a part of the treatment protocols for these cancer types.The cancer treatment medications are part of specific protocols

To my fellow Senior Citizens, to those who have loved ones on Medicaid (parents in nursing homes), to those whose children receive CHIP, and to all Americans who expect healthcare once they reach 65, It appears the Republican budget bill awaiting a vote soon in the House of Representatives has the potential to cut a half TRILLION dollars from MEDICARE in addition to gutting Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Affordable Care Act. I am attaching information below. You can Google for yourself. You may be interested in the links to the Congressional Budget Office analysis.https://democrats-budget.house.gov/news/press-releases/cbo-confirms-gop-budget-bill-triggers-medicare-cuts

Quality sleep, regular exercise and engaging your brain are habits that help support good brain health. Explore more healthy habits and fun ways to support your brain today. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health tips.  

If you go to a pharmacy and they hand you a prescription then tell you it cost $160, you have the choice of handing it back.  NOT WITH OPTUM RX.  Website said no co-pay.  Prescription recieved then credit card bill arrives with $160 charge.  Called Optum RX.  They will not accept any return nor issue any refund.  Called Regions Bank to dispute charge.  They refused to accept dispute but charge penalties and interest while reviewing my case and reported a late payment to credit bureaus.  The whole experience has been BAD!!!

The message keeps getting clearer: What’s good for the heart is good for the brain. Read this article for a deep dive into findings shared in a report by the Global Council on Brain Health, including recommendations for adults age 50 and older that may help preserve brain health. Ready to get started? Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more information on supporting brain health as you age.

As we get older, it’s normal to forget things here and there, and it doesn’t mean dramatic memory loss is inevitable. Learn about common memory lapses, explore quizzes and more in the AARP Staying Sharp Is My Memory Normal? challenge. Find more health tips at AARP® Staying Sharp® today, a member benefit.

Think brain health declines are inevitable? Think again. Research is breaking down common misconceptions about aging and cognitive function. Get the facts and take control of your brain health. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more information on brain health.

Do you know your State law involving switching or picking up a Medigap plan AFTER your initial enrollment period. IF NOT - you need to review them to see what effect they have on you and your specific situation.

With the new public information concerning UHC practices, will AARP reconsider its partnership? Seniors depending on your recommendations now know that they may be faced with devastating decisions made by this provider

I recently switched my homeowners and car insurance to the Hartford through Aarp and have saved about $2700 per year with better coverage.  I had my sister Mary look into it and she's saving about $5400 per year. I seriously can't believe I didn't take advantage of this opportunity much  earlier.  

Just spent over an hour with customer care and NY Life AARP... i login and it says there is no account associated with my contract number. i go through 2 people and the last one is working with someone higher. after spending 45 minutes only focusing on ME, i told him, we have tried 2 browsers and 2 computers, it is not on my end, it is on YOUR END. Oh, i just got a letter to change my beneficiary info, has my contract number right on the letter. anyone else having problem with the server on their end not finding your info?  He said he can see it, but i used to make webpages, sure, i can see anything and everything, but others cannot, the problem in on my side, server side. thanks for any positive help. He did put in a special ticket on it and said they will call me. i will be looking at other insurance or maybe a funeral account. at 65 my premiums are getting up there and that money would add up pretty quick.