Health

I trusted AARP to only "endorse" an insurance provider that would be sensitive to our increasing need for complex medical treatment as we age. Turns out AARP has failed us. UHC is literally killing me by trying to tell my heart specialist what he should be prescribing rather than what he wants to prescribe. This not a simple generic replacement for a brand name. They literally want him to select from 4 drugs that do not treat my HCM in the same way. AARP - you should be ashamed to make UHC the insurance provider that you are associating with - we trusted you & you clearly are making decisions based on something other than the quality of the organization in serving the senior population. 

  We pay for Medicare Part B or SMI Insurance (Supplemental Medical Insurance) by premiums which are either paid or deducted from our Social Security Benefit.  The amount we pay in premiums are based on our income.  Lower income beneficiaries have their premiums paid for them by their state if they meet the eligibility guidelines in income and assets; therefore these lower income beneficiaries actually have their premiums paid by YOU, the state taxpayers.  The majority of beneficiaries pay a premium that is equal to 25% of the cost of the program.  Higher income beneficiaries based on their higher income pay a premium that is higher in a percentage of coverage from 35%, 50%, 65%, 80% to 85% of the program cost instead of the standard 25% (these higher premiums are known as IRMAA or "income related monthly adjustment Amounts and these are very high.   The remainder of the Part B cost are covered by our government's general fund - meaning it adds t

Whether I’m feeling happy or sad, listening to music gives me comfort. That’s a common experience. There’s a large body of research on the benefits of listening to music, with some studies showing that music can lower stress levels and help with sleep. Want to learn more? Watch this video to learn about the connections between music and the brain and why music is considered a universal language. So tell me, what’s your favorite type of music? Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more information on brain health.

FROM THE ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE!!! Open enrollment for Part D and Medicare Advantage plans begins Oct. 15. By Kimberly Lankford, AARP. Published September 27, 2024. Average monthly premiums for Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans will decrease in 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Friday. The average monthly premium for a stand-alone Part D prescription plan is projected to be $40 next year, a decline of $1.63, almost $20 annually. https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-insurance/info-2024/drug-plan-premiums.html

Got hurt bad in oil field in Oklahoma 2014 and got retired sooner then planned . Been on pain management using morphine . It has helped and held it at level can have sort of life . Past few years it has got harder to find a pharmacy who has opioids in stock . Past year it is not uncommon to have to call 4 plus pharmacies to find it . Does anyone use THC gummies for pain management for bad pain . I have 8 herniated discs , 3 shoulder surgeries , nerve damage ect .  Trying to decide to try it or not . If I do I will have to stop the morphine . I have gone thru withdraw several times cause of taking so long to get meds refilled which is no fun . Plus add the pain you are dealing with . Not sure why it''s got so hard but everyone is having same problem . 

AARP® Staying Sharp® partners with leading universities to research health, habits and cognitive aging. Enrollment is now open for Boston University’s COVID-19 Brain Health Study, which will explore the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive function. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® today to learn more about enrolling in future research studies.

FROM THE ARTICLE: By Kimberly Lankford, AARP. *** There are 2 Comments on the AARP website. Stop by to add yours. *** Published June 16, 2022.➡️ Updated January 24, 2025. ⬅️ No the infamous donut hole — when Medicare beneficiaries with Part D prescription drug coverage had to pay 100 percent of their drug costs until they reached a certain threshold — has closed.Also gone is the less intense but still steep coverage gap, which occurred when you and your drug plan reached $5,030 spent on covered medications in 2024 and you had to pay up to 25 percent of the cost for covered drugs, more out of pocket than in your initial coverage period. USE THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.aarp.org/medicare/faq/donut-hole-coverage-gap.html

On my Medicare Claims and Medicare Summary, a service is not covered and Medicare States I may be billed / am responsible for $0. This is with a Medicare Contractrated Provider.  Stanford is taking the amount I am not responsible per Medicare and billing my Medicare Supplement Plan  - AARP UHC, which I was told by a Medicare rep is a violation of Medicare, and an investigation is supposedly being opened.  Of course, UHC wont pay it since Medicare isnt covering it. UHC states on their statement I may be responsible for charges unpaid. So Stanford says I must pay. I have tried everything you can think of to remedy this.  Any Ideas? 

  age 67 female.   Enrolled in 2023 , $84 a month     2024  $96 month . 2025  $113 a month

My wife turned 65 April 30 and wanted the supplement plan g she previously had an advantage plan,signed up for plan g, was approved coverage starting August 1st 2024, requested disenrollment in advantage plan, was not disenrolled requested disenrollment July with application, disenrolled August, disenrolled Sept, disenrolled Oct and disenrolled Nov was not disenrolled even after hours on the phone saying I was disenrolled. The favorite tactic is to say advantage plan cannot see the supplement plan and vice verse to call them. Contacting CMS was told they do not have jurisdiction over Medicare. I Paid the $153 extra per month August thru December 2024, for the plan g. I was told I had to wait for the annual enrollment period, they could not understand there is a window when you turn 65 to join and I was well within it. Finally Jan 1st 2025 advantage plan was terminated.   As a result and countless hrs on the phone I am left with $1600 or more in copays plan g would not pay. They al

     NPR.org 03/07/2025 - Walgreens agrees to be acquired by private equity firm for almost $10 billion    Change is always pretty inevitable - sometimes you just have to do what is necessary to stay afloat.   from the link ~  A buyout to take the drugstore chain private would give it more flexibility to make changes to improve its business without worrying about Wall Street's reaction. The company has already been making some big changes as it seeks to turn around its business. Walgreens has been a public company since 1927.

  I think the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services should cut their losses on this one - If they have NOT won the case by now maybe they should stop wasting money with continuing it.  Perhaps they should just stick to making the instructions for assessing higher risk patients clearer to all the insurers that participate in Medicare Advantage plans.   Continuing the case over and over when several ruling have already been made to vindicate the insurer is WASTEFUL spending on the part of the government (CMS). KHN 03/04/2025 - UnitedHealth Wins Ruling Over $2B in Alleged Medicare Advantage Overpayments  from the linkThe Justice Department’s years-long court battle to force UnitedHealth Group to return billions of dollars in alleged Medicare Advantage overpayments hit a major setback Monday when a special master ruled the government had failed to prove its case. In finding for UnitedHealth, Special Master Suzanne Segal found that the DOJ ha

Can meditating make you feel happier? Research suggests it can. By calming and quieting the mind,  meditation may help to enhance contentment, broaden your perspective, and improve overall quality of life. Try this practice to help bring more balance and joy to your day. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more information on brain health.

Since I am moving, I need to switch Medicare C plans. Will the Part D out-of-pocket limit be reset to $2,000 when I switch to a new plan, or does the prior value carry over? Will the $450 drug deductible I paid to first plan be applied to new plan's out-of-pocket limit?

 I received a phone call from 978-802-3052 claiming to be United Healthcare AARP wanting to speak to my dad.  I am his POA, and my cell number is listed on the account.  It was a voice activated survey, and I said I would not answer the questions.  Then I turned around and called the number back, and they said 2 names are associated with this number. Is this (dad's name)?  Mom is also associated with the number for UHC AARP, so it seemed like they really were from UHC AARP.  The questions only asked for dad's birth year which is public information.  Everything else was health oriented about his pain level, days of exercise, mental well-being, ability to meet needs, etc.  Weird thing is, dad has had dementia for years, and the questions did not make sense for a person with dementia.  At the end of the call, it said, if you have any questions, call UHC at 800-523-5800. That is the UHC AARP Med Supp customer service number. I called and spoke t

FROM THE ARTICLE: Congress Faces March 31 Deadline to Extend Medicare Telehealth Coverage.Benefit for home-based care begun during the pandemic will expire without lawmakers’ action. By Susan Milligan, AARP. Published February 27, 2025. Unless Congress acts before March 31, millions of Medicare patients who have been able to use telehealth as part of their medical care since 2020 will lose coverage for the pandemic-era benefit starting in April.The coverage has been a boon for those who have difficulty getting to an office to see a doctor, including older adults living in rural areas or with mobility problems. Caregivers strapped for time to transport their loved ones also have benefited. USE THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-insurance/info-2025/medicare-telehealth-coverage-deadline.html

Between  January 01 and March 31 every year, a beneficiary can CHANGE their Medicare Advantage Plan. Look for the heading of Medicare ADVANTAGE OPEN ENROLLMENT at this site -Medicare.gov - Medicare Open Enrollment 01/01 - 03/31  So if you don’t like the MA plan you have now, your can change to another MA plan during this period.    

  Do you routinely monitor and verify your Medicare usage on your Medicare Summary Notices ?  If for no other reason than to verify the charge is yours?

Being happy not only feels good but also can benefit the brain. Explore simple ways to add happiness to your daily life — from connecting with others to practicing kindness — in the Pursuit of Happiness challenge. You’ll discover what you can do on a regular basis to help create more joy in your life. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more information on brain health.

Whoa, just like that it’s time for Fitness Friday again! This standing belly fat blast workout with fitness expert Denise Austin will strengthen your core and back in the comfort of your own home. I did it yesterday and it's a good one!   With AARP Rewards, you’ll also score points for your workout! Get started today.     Did you like this workout? Hit reply and let us know what you thought!

Is it something we’re born with, or can we develop it? Learn where confidence comes from, and how can you take steps to strengthen it. Watch this TED Talk to learn more. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more information on brain health.

A morning walk not only perks you up — it sets the tone for an energized day. Get your steps in early, soak up the natural light, and enjoy the benefits of a healthier lifestyle. Plus, the sunlight can help regulate your circadian rhythm, promoting better sleep at night. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more information on brain health.

IRA drug caps are why your drug part D premiums increased.  AARP makes billions of dollars selling products from UnitedHealth Group, the nation’s largest insurer. And insurers made out like bandits in the IRA — the new “negotiations” (read: price controls) on pharmaceuticals help pad their bottom lines, as does the extension of enhanced Obamacare subsidies in the law, paid for by raiding the Medicare program.  AARP always claims that policy, not politics, dictates its stances. But when the organization’s tax filing with the IRS admits that “gross revenue of AARP and its affiliates … are considered in employee compensation,” and royalties, primarily but not exclusively from UnitedHealth, constitute over 60 percent of the organization’s revenue — and growing — each and every AARP employee has thousands of reasons to toe the UnitedHealth line, in the form of their paychecks.

Digital distractions are everywhere — constant pings keep us busy and pulled in every direction. Take five minutes to watch this video and learn about different meditation styles that may help reduce distraction, ease stress and enhance positive thinking. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more information on brain health.

  Here is the situation:     1. I know someone whose sole income is just about $1200 per month from Social Security     2. Her health is bad:   she only has  (had) Medicare   3,   She was recently approved for Medicaid.    She was told that she would no longer have Medicare, and that she would no longer be billed monthly for Medicare, because she was now entitled to receive care under Medicaid.   4.  She was receiving about $90 a month in SNAP benefits, but those benefits have been cancelled because she is now on Medicaid.   5.  Finally, will  her change in status affect her ability to receive reduced heating billing because of her low income? My big question:  who is qualified to explain these things in a manner which is understandable?   I want to advise her about who she can talk to about her situation.  It is often impossible to find someo