This year, there is a host of adjustments to Medicare that both new enrollees and existing beneficiaries will need to navigate. In order to get the most from your plan, it’s important to understand your out-of-pocket costs, which will vary depending on your income and the type of plan you choose. Here’s a rundown of […]
Take these steps now to shore up your future as you age Chicagoan Joy Loverde was in her 20s when she began planning for retirement. That decision, says the eldercare expert, was key. “I was newly divorced and the solo parent of a 4-year-old daughter. My first course of action was to seek the advice of […]Read More
Financially exploited? Family members are often perpetrators As our loved ones age, we often worry that someone may take advantage of them financially. Most of us are aware of scammers — the strangers who target the elderly with deceitful phone, email, or internet messages to trick them out of money. But often, in what’s termed […]Read More
Expanded Medicare benefit brings access to millions Telemedicine coverage is not new, even for Medicare, which began expanding coverage for telehealth services in 2019. But when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made changes to cover a broader range of services in response to the coronavirus pandemic, telehealth exploded. Previously, Medicare only covered […]Read More
A buyer’s guide to protecting yourself for future care costs No one wants to think about needing care as we get older, much less about the cost of that care. But, in reality, we may eventually need help managing our daily living — and we will need to pay for that assistance. Long-term care insurance […]Read More
A primer to help you consider your needs and understand your options If you’ll be turning 65 soon, it’s time to start thinking about Medicare coverage. Before you enroll, though, take the time to learn about your choices. Your first step is to understand your options. At the simplest level, you have a choice of […]Read More
Q: How does a shared-benefit rider for long term care insurance work? Does it cost more than regular coverage? A: One of the big unknowns with long-term-care insurance is predicting how long you’ll need benefits. Although the average need for care is about three years, you might die before needing any care or you could […]Read More
Ah, the rituals of fall: The leaves change color. The temperature drops. Sweaters and boots pop out of the closet. And Medicare opens the doors for beneficiaries to shop for Part D and Advantage plans. As you cozy up to the first fire of the season, now is the time to peruse your options to […]Read More
People who are newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease typically experience a tsunami of emotions: disbelief, fear, anger, depression, sense of loss. But after the initial shock, a person can assert some control over the future by creating an action blueprint that will guide the patient and caregivers as the disease progresses. “When someone is still […]Read More
By Eleanor Laise, Kiplinger Retirement Report The vast majority of seniors don’t have long-term-care insurance. For all but the wealthiest, deteriorating health or an imminent need for care can raise real concerns about running out of money. One solution: a medically underwritten single-premium immediate annuity. Like traditional immediate annuities, these contracts offer a lifetime of […]Read More