Health

First time posting here and let's see if this comes out right... I am based in the US but spend about half of the time travelling in other countries.  Any recommendation on insurance plans that can supplement US-based Marketplace plans for emergencies when I travel?  I guess the cheaper base plans typically do not cover things when one is out of town. Thanks.

    I hope all those that voted for DJT & Republicans are happy now that you thought they would lower prices for you. DJT just rescinded Biden's EO to lower prescription drug prices for all of you. You have been scammed.  https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/hours-into-presidency-trump-rescinds-attempts-to-lower-prescription-costs-rolls-back-some-aca-rules/

Mental health therapists and counselors in my area are overworked and overloaded with patients. Especially since the covid pandemic. This means it’s nearly impossible to find a mental health professional to help those of us who are not in immediate crisis and/or harm. As someone who has clinical depressions, ADHD, and anxiety disorders, I haven’t been able to see or speak to a therapist in over 2 years. My last counselor relocated and no one is able to take new patients. Are there any online therapists that accept Medicare or provide reasonable rates for those who need it?

Last year i ended up in a GA hospital while visiting family. I live in New York State and had Blue Cross Medicare Supplemental Insurance at the time. The original hospital ER sent a bill to Medicare and Blue Cross. The hospital for the last 11 months has said the secondary payer has not paid the bill and want me to pay it. After numerous hour long conference calls in the spring I discovered the problem. The hospital (or Medicare) had sent the wrong hospital name and address for the bill. The hospital had been taken over by a large regional hospital, but this had happened 2 years before I was there. For the first few months the hospital claimed they had not received the original Blue Cross check but later they admitted they had it. It was decided among all parties that a corrected form would be sent by the hospital to Blue Cross and then Blue Cross would send a new check and void the old one. I am now told, months later, that form was never sent and my account has not been fully paid. I

Eating well is one of the six pillars of brain health, and it starts with the contents in your kitchen. Keep your pantry filled with olive oil, beans and whole grains, and spices — especially if you’re following the Mediterranean Diet. These staples will make healthy cooking easier and more enjoyable. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more information on brain health.

..... you are increasing the radon gas level in your house. I have monitoring equipment, and I've done testing with it. Even with an average residential exhaust hood, heavy natural gas use can double your average ambient radon gas level in your house. Radon comes along for the ride when you use natural gas. My monitoring rig is in the back of my house, almost one hundred feet from my range top and stove. I can see, easily, that using natural gas, even with an exhaust hood, will increase your chances of getting certain cancers that may be caused by radon gas. I don't like electric ovens and range tops, but I may switch from gas in the next year. Do your own research. 

I'm a big plain greek yogurt and kombucha fan, and the probiotics help keep my gut balanced and healthy! What foods do you eat regularly for gut health?   A nourished GI track can make you stronger, fitter and happier. Check out What to Eat to Improve Your Gut Health if you're looking for ideas on what to eat.

Outside bike riding is an excellent way for people  to exercise, improve one’s cardiovascular health, experience nature which is therapeutic and reduces stress. As well as a great way to meet new friends. As an incentive for adults over the age of 50, I’m looking to organize a group bike club. For those of us who don’t want to be confined to a gym and want to improve our quality of life.Does anyone have any advice, suggestions, recommendations or resources to help me? Thank you.

MAHA (Make America Heathy Again)

Beginning in 2025 my state (Connecticut) has a new law that requires medical insurance companies to cover the cost of cardiac calcium scans. Unsurprisingly, no one involved with my upcoming scan--cardiologist, insurance company, or radiology center--knows anything about this law. It's a state law, and AARP touts its legislative advocacy branch--how would I get them involved to try to attack what appears to be willful ignorance of this law? Thanks.

You are only offered nonsense to buy

 I am sure that the changes to part D planes next year will help a lot of people but not all.My mother will be paying over $1,000 more out of pocket for her medicine due to these changes. Same drugs same insurance but she will be paying $1998.70 out of pocket next year compared to just over $900 this year. One of her medicines that cost her $2 a month for 10 months this year and $142 a month for the last 2 months of the year will cost her $142 all 12 months next year. I feel bad for those with much higher drug costs and I am glad they are getting some relief, but it seems the relief is not coming from the drug or insurance companies or from the government but from people like my mom. Fortunately, she can manage it for now, but some may not be able to. Is this happening to anyone else? 

This video has been categorized as "annual" (or yearly) but I truly believe it should in the least be "monthly", please consider... "Holly Robinson Peete’s ‘Hard Road’ Caring For Dad"  Thank you in advance for considering this improvement.

I greatly appreciated Chris, a nurse at 720 Puahi Queens Medical Center. He anticipated my needs, whether it was making the bed, finding late-night snacks, or getting the doctor to sign a couple of prescriptions. Whenever he heard about how soon I’d go home, he told me my status. I could always count on Chris to handle me confidently, gently, and graciously.  He is a true mensch, as we say in Yiddish. Give him the highest honors at your facility.

Building resilience is about more than just bouncing back — it's a skill you can develop to thrive in the face of adversity. The Building Resilience challenge from AARP® Staying Sharp® offers practical tools to help you reframe your thinking, strengthen your mindset, and harness your inner power. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more information on brain health.

Does anyone know how the $ 2000 'limit' for medications is calculated? With the previous 'doughnut hole' method, the combination of what the insurance company paid and what the individual paid was used to calculate the amount to get you to the 'doughnut hole.'  Once the individual reached the 'doughnut hole,' ONLY what the individual paid was used to calculate the amount needed to reach the catastrophic coverage level.   This article uses the word 'sharing.'  Does that imply that both the insurance company's and the individual's payment(s) will be combined to reach the $ 2000 limit?  Or are we to assume that only what the individual pays counts towards the $ 2000 limit? Thanks.  This could make a significant difference in whether or not to use the extended payment program offered in 2025. Dave

You trust your doctor. He prescribes a test, image or treatment but wants you to sign an ABN (Advanced Beneficiary Notice of Non Coverage) - So what is your choice on the ABN if you trust your doctor?  I know what I do - but what do you do? Option 1: You want items or services that Medicare may not pay for. Your provider or supplier may ask you to pay for these items or services now, but you also want your provider or supplier to submit a claim to Medicare.If Medicare denies payment: You’re responsible for paying. However, since a claim was submitted, you can appeal to Medicare.If Medicare does pay: Your provider or supplier will refund any payments you made (not including your copayments or deductibles).Option 2: You want items or services that Medicare may not pay for, but you don’t want your provider or supplier to submit a claim to Medicare. You may be asked to pay for the items or services now. Because you asked your provider or supplier not to submit a claim t

FROM THE ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE!!! 5 Actions to Take for 2025 During Medicare Open Enrollment. Tips for choosing a Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription plan in a year of historic change. By Kimberly Lankford, AARP. Published October 04, 2024. Be prepared for one of the biggest changes to the Medicare prescription drug program ever: In 2025, out-of-pocket costs for covered drugs will be limited to $2,000 annually. The new cap applies to stand-alone Part D and Medicare Advantage (MA) plans with drug coverage. But the change is rippling down to other costs and coverage. https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-insurance/info-2024/open-enrollment-action-plan.html

I have my go-to recipes, but I’m always in the mood to try something new. What’s the last recipe you tried? If you’re looking for a new recipe, try Baked Eggs, Tomatoes & Chiles (Shakshuka) for your next Sunday brunch. Find more recipes at AARP® Staying Sharp® today, an AARP member benefit.

Really good article here on AARP and how they make 3 times as much money from insurance sales commissions from United Healthcare (yes that one) than they do from member dues.  https://prospect.org/blogs-and-newsletters/tap/2024-12-11-how-aarp-shills-for-unitedhealthcare/ Everyone here should understand AARP finances and if this post is removed by the moderators then you know they do not want to be honest or transparent with us.  Follow the money

 Regarding my new-found longevity pitted against the wilderness of my recent hospital and nursing home-rehab stays, I learned about the abundant and abiding prayers for my recovery voiced by people in Hawaii and on the mainland. I never used to believe in the efficacy of prayer, but now I am convinced that group prayers created a bedrock of wellness for me. Many times, the doctors speculated that I wouldn’t survive long after my six surgeries. In fact, one doctor said that I would die in an hour at Queen’s ICU. These medical experts were wrong time after time. Not only did I survive; I thrived, thanks in part to the bountiful prayers voiced by my own ministering angels throughout the world.Prayer can trump a medical prognosis. Now the doctors admit that I am a miracle, and prayers (for which I am so grateful) were instrumental in assuring my regeneration.  Amen.

Apologies if this posts twice, first one "authentication failed."My 91 year old mother-in-law lives in an independent living facility near us. She is having a partial knee replacement in January. She needs a cane or walker to get around and can walk up one step, maximum. She does not have a driver's license. Talking with the doctor's nurse yesterday, I was informed that she is ineligible to receive home physical therapy after surgery (but will need PT 3 times a week for 6 to 8 weeks). The nurse said that: not driving is not a criterion, she can take a ride share; this is elective surgery so she can't have in-home PT; she "does not qualify for that level of ". I looked at the Medicare handbook, as did she, and we are interpreting this differently! Also just had a friend with a knee surgery get in-home PT so not sure what to do next! Any thoughts on how to pursue this? This is a well-known surgical center and I've had friends (younger) who have gone there with no problems; we like the do

When you're resilient, you embrace each day with joy, purpose and courage. The Building Resilience challenge helps you explore key skills like rethinking your mindset, shifting your perspective and recognizing your strengths — empowering you to approach life with confidence and create lasting positive change. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more information on brain health.

Just so everybody is clear - A royalty payment is a regular fee paid by a licensee to a licensor, in exchange for the use of the licensor's intellectual property. This happens when both parties enter into a licensing deal, which could be as part of a franchising arrangement or as a more standard intellectual property licensing agreement. Business owners (for profit and non-profit) receive royalties for their intellectual property or real property assets. A royalty payment is a payment made to an owner for the use of their intellectual property, creative works, or natural resources. The payment is made through a license or royalty agreement.  In the case of AARP - AARP ®️ the letters put together as their logo is their registered trademark, and is their marketable intellectual property.  

Hi,AARP's Medicare Supplemental Medicare Insurance sounds great... but I decided that before I purchase it I should read the reviews.I was astounded! Consumer affairs reviews were the worst I have EVER seen for any product or service from any company. People were talking about outright misrepresentation of services, copays, non-existent customer service. Representatives simply hanging up on customers, drug formularies not covering many common medications. Increasing co-pays. A litany of misrepresentation and worse. Now I understand the Internet. You will always find people more willing to badmouth a product or service than to praise it... but I looked for positive reviews and found none... http://www.consumeraffairs.com/insurance/aarp_medicare.html Is it really this bad? If so why does AARP tolerate this if they are, as they claim, an organization that exists to promote the best interests of senior citizens? Have I simply been looking for reviews of AARP United Heal