Title: Costco egg recall for salmonella receives FDA's most severe designation
Saturday, December 28, 2024
Costco egg recall for salmonella receives FDA's most severe designation
Saturday, December 21, 2024
SSA.gov | How do I sign up for Medicare?
Title: How do I sign up for Medicare?
Article Snip: "...If you already get Social Security benefits, you do not need to sign up for Medicare. We will automatically enroll you in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) when you become eligible. We will mail you the information a few months before you become eligible.
Because you must pay a premium for Part B coverage, you can turn it down. However, if you decide to sign up for Part B later, your coverage can be delayed and you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B coverage. Residents of Puerto Rico or foreign countries will NOT automatically receive Part B. They must elect this benefit.
If you don’t get Social Security benefits and are not ready to apply for them yet, you should sign up for Medicare three months before your 65th birthday. The easiest way to apply for Medicare is by using our online application or you can make an appointment by calling us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For more information read our Medicare publication.
..."
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
How a Decades Old Loophole Lets Billionaires Avoid Medicare Taxes
Title: How a Decades Old Loophole Lets Billionaires Avoid Medicare Taxes
Article Snip: "Most working Americans have to pay Medicare taxes, but some of the richest figures on Wall Street have found a way to opt out, a ProPublica investigation found. ...It’s so automatic for many workers that they may not even realize it takes a bite out of every paycheck. In theory, everyone is required to contribute to the country’s health insurance program for seniors, no matter how poor or rich, from cashiers to CEOs. Not on Wall Street. There, some of the most powerful people in finance found a way to opt out. The trove of tax records...these maneuvers by the rich hasten Medicare’s future crisis."
Reference: www.propublica.orgThursday, December 12, 2024
Are you having trouble signing in with login.gov?
Title: Are you having trouble signing in with login.gov?
Article Snip: "...Forgot your login.gov password? Locked out of your account? We’ll help you resolve account access issues. ...
How to sign in to Login.gov
Forgot your password
Issues with face or touch unlock
"
Health | Scientists identify ultra-processed foods that fuel colon cancer and healthy alternatives that may offset the damage
Article Snip: "...Previous evidence has linked increased inflammation to diets high in processed food, such as chips, sausages, packaged desserts, and refined carbs. ..."Our bodies are designed to actively resolve inflammation through bioactive lipid compounds derived from the healthy fats, like avocados, that we consume." ..."
Reference: www.businessinsider.comWednesday, December 11, 2024
Health | Risks and Complications of Breast Implants
Title: Risks and Complications of Breast Implants
Article Snip: "...The FDA has updated the Risks and Complications of Breast Implants, clarifying information about Implant Removal and adding ultrasound as an acceptable alternative imaging for screening for rupture for asymptomatic patients to Silicone Gel-Filled Implant Rupture. The FDA also added a new subsection entitled, Reports of Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), Various Lymphomas other than BIA-ALCL, and Mesenchymal Tumors, including Sarcoma. ..."
Reference:www.fda.govHealth | I’m a doctor — here are 4 simple ways to lower your risk of dementia
Title: I’m a doctor — here are 4 simple ways to lower your risk of dementia
Article Snip: "...All of our brains inevitably shrink with age — a change that is most accelerated and profound in the nearly 7 million Americans currently living with dementia. While there isn’t a way to reverse this loss in brain volume, we can potentially curb it by prioritizing our mental and physical health.
Dr. Arjun Masurkar, a cognitive neurologist and dementia specialist at NYU Langone Health, shared with us four major ways to maintain a healthy mind as we age. ..."
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Medicare Log In | Sign In or Create a Medicare Account
Title: Medicare Log In | Sign In or Create a Medicare Account
Article Snip: "...Your secure Medicare account lets you access your information anytime. ...To get started, you'll need your red, white, and blue Medicare card. I don't have a Medicare card If you don't have your Medicare card, you can get your Medicare Number by logging in to your Social Security account. If you need more help, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. My Social Security Account"
Reference: www.medicare.govWhen can I sign up for Medicare? Get My Medicare Sign Up Date
Title: When can I sign up for Medicare?
Article Snip: "...Get My Medicare Sign Up Date. Answer a few questions here to find out
These questions don’t apply if you have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
..."
Reference: www.medicare.gov
Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage
Title: Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage
Article Snip: "...Consider these things when deciding between Original Medicare and a Medicare Advantage Plan for your health coverage..."
Reference: www.medicare.govGet Started With Medicare | Your Medicare Card
Title: Get Started With Medicare | Your Medicare Card
Article Snip: "...
Your card has a Medicare Number that’s unique to you — it’s not your Social Security Number. This helps protect your identity.
The card shows:
You have Medicare Part A (listed as HOSPITAL), Part B (listed as MEDICAL), or both.
The date your coverage begins.
Once you’re signed up for Medicare, we’ll mail you your Medicare card in your welcome packet. You can also log into (or create) your secure Medicare account to print your official Medicare card.
..."
Reference: www.medicare.gov
Apply for Medicare Part D Extra Help program
Title: Apply for Medicare Part D Extra Help program
Article Snip: "...Medicare Part D provides drug coverage. The Extra Help program helps with the cost of your prescription drugs, like deductibles and copays. You can apply for Extra Help any time before or after you enroll in Part D. ..."
Reference: www.ssa.govMonday, December 9, 2024
Sports Record | Juan Soto agrees to largest and longest contract in Major League Baseball history
Title: Juan Soto Agrees to Record $765M, 15-Year Contract With Mets
Article Snip: "...Star outfielder Juan Soto and the New York Mets have agreed to a record $765 million, 15-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement, first reported by the New York Post, was subject to a successful physical. Soto's deal is the largest and longest in Major League Baseball history, topping Shohei Ohtani..."
Reference: www.newsmax.comNo, Fighting Wasteful Scams Isn’t ‘Cutting’ Medicare
Title: No, Fighting Wasteful Scams Isn’t ‘Cutting’ Medicare
Article Snip: "...The Medicare program does pay these Medicare Advantage plans targeted toward veterans slightly less, ostensibly to reflect the fact that veterans receive many health services from the VA. But the Journal examined one Humana plan for veterans that received 22 percent less than other Medicare Advantage plans in a given area, but whose participants had 38 percent fewer days in the hospital, and 63 percent fewer doctor visits and surgeries. In other words, even though Humana received less than other Medicare Advantage plans, it was still paid too much — which probably explains why Humana and other insurers are creating these plans targeted at veterans in the first place. ..."
Reference: thefederalist.comWednesday, November 27, 2024
Social Security Announces 2.5 Percent Benefit Increase for 2025
Title: Social Security Announces 2.5 Percent Benefit Increase for 2025
Article Snip: "...Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5 percent in 2025, the Social Security Administration announced today. On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $50 per month starting in January. ...Over the last decade the COLA increase has averaged about 2.6 percent."
Reference: www.ssa.govTuesday, November 26, 2024
The ABCs of health care | Here are some terms to know this open season
Title: The ABCs of health care | Here are some terms to know this open season
Article Snip: "...To help USPS employees navigate their way through this year’s open season benefits enrollment period, here are some important definitions for sometimes confusing health insurance terminology: ..."
Reference: news.usps.comSunday, November 24, 2024
What’s the difference between an HMO and a PPO?
Title: What’s the difference between an HMO and a PPO?
Article Snip: "...The Postal Service wants employees to understand the four types of health plans available during this year’s open season.
The plan types are..."
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Here’s How Much Grocery Prices Have Increased for Retirees in Every State
Title: Here’s How Much Grocery Prices Have Increased for Retirees in Every State
Article Snip: "...GOBankingRates reviewed the 2013 and 2023 cost-of-living index for groceries to find the average national grocery expenditure cost for retired individuals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator was then used...Alabama Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $7,830.20"
Reference: yahoo.comMonday, November 18, 2024
Social Security Fairness Act Passes U.S. House, Heads for Senate Approval
Social Security Fairness Act Passes U.S. House, Heads for Senate Approval
Snippet of Article: "...The answer now lies in the U.S. Senate. On Tuesday, the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), which would repeal both the WEP and GPO that reduce or even eliminate Social Security benefits for millions of workers..."
Source: www.texasaft.orgSunday, November 17, 2024
Everything You Can Try if You Can’t Hear Dialog in Movies and Shows
Title: Everything You Can Try if You Can’t Hear Dialog in Movies and Shows
Article Snip: "...Tweak these settings and stop missing out on what’s being said. ..."
Reference: www.wired.comWednesday, November 6, 2024
America Wins | Donald Trump wins 2024 presidential election, defying the odds again
Title: Donald Trump wins 2024 presidential election, defying the odds again
Article Snip: "Trump, 78, was on course for an Electoral College landslide over Vice President Kamala Harris after he reversed his 2020 losses in the crucial states of Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. ...“We’re going to help our country heal,” Trump added, “and it needs help very badly. We’re going to fix our borders … fix everything about our country.” ..."
Reference: nypost.comTuesday, November 5, 2024
Wallethub | Best & Worst Places for Veterans to Live
Article Snip: "...veteran homelessness is still a big problem, and there are over 33,000 homeless veterans. Some states offer better conditions for those who have served our country, though. To help military veterans find the best places in which to settle down, WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 19 key indicators of livability, affordability and veteran-friendliness. They range from the share of military skill-related jobs to veteran income growth to the availability of VA health facilities. ..."
Reference: wallethub.comTrump Has the Best Plan of Action for Retirees | Eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits, Lower Taxes ...
Title: Donald Trump presidency could have pros and cons for retirees, according to financial observers.
Article Snip: "... Eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits
Encourage lower interest rates
Extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
..."
Monday, November 4, 2024
Amazon One Medical Healthcare Service (Prime Members Only)
Title: Amazon One Medical Healthcare Service
Article Snip: "...Taking care of your health has never been easier. Get 24/7 virtual care for common conditions with One Medical..."
Reference: health.amazon.comThursday, October 31, 2024
Get the New 'Medicare & You' Handbook for 2025 (PDF)
Title: Get the New 'Medicare & You' Handbook for 2025
Article Snip: "six ways Medicare will change next year, according to this official Medicare guide. ...The Medicare handbook has many formats
There are multiple formats of the "Medicare & You" handbook available for download. Whether English is your second language or if you suffer from impaired vision — you should be able to find one to suit your needs.
A large print edition can be found here, you can access an audio version here and you can download copies in e-book or Mobi formats here. A braille edition can be requested by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and you can also make the request online through your Medicare.gov account. ..."
Reference: www.kiplinger.com
Monday, October 28, 2024
Trump Offers More Help 'Action' for Americans | Trump unveils new tax break for family caregivers at Madison Square Garden rally
Title: Donald Trump unveils new tax break for family caregivers at Madison Square Garden rally
Article Snip: "...Former President Donald Trump revealed a new tax break policy aimed at family caregivers at the start of his address to a packed Madison Square Garden Sunday night.
“I’m announcing a new policy today that I will support a tax credit for family caregivers who take care of a parent or a loved one..."
Retired Americans Suffering on Social Security Income (SSI) During Four Years of Democrat Rule Want Trump To Help Them
Title: I’m a Retiree: 5 Reasons I Believe Voting for Trump Is What’s Best for Social Security
Article Snip: "...According to Drew, Trump comes across as the more credible candidate because she believes he follows through on his promises. “I personally trust Trump because he does what he says he will do; he will stop the taxation of Social Security..."
Reference: finance.yahoo.comSaturday, October 26, 2024
Mapped: Retirement-Age Adults (65 and Older) Still Working By State
Title: Mapped: Retirement-Age Workers by U.S. State
Article Snip: "...More and more older adults in the U.S. are choosing to continue to work well into their retirement years.
br>
Overall growth in the 65 and older population, higher cost of living, and various social factors have led to a growing share of older adults in the American workforce.
This map shows the percentage of U.S. adults 65 and older who are still working by state using figures from a LendingTree analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data...."
Friday, October 25, 2024
Medicare coverage will change in 2025. Some boomers are already struggling to keep up with their medical bills.
Article Snip: "...Many insurers are making significant changes in 2025. Deductibles and prescription drug costs will become more expensive for some Medicare recipients — and it could impact whether older Americans can afford healthcare. ..."
Reference: www.businessinsider.comBold Promise by Trump | Trump Says He Will Cut Energy Bills In ‘Half’ and End Damaging Sanctuary Cities
Title: Trump Says He Will Cut Energy Bills In ‘Half’ During Fox News Town Hall
Article Snip: "...“I’m making this pledge here,” Trump said. “But I have made it a couple of days before,” Trump teased. “Your energy bill, which is a very big bill, will be down 50 percent starting one year from Jan. 20.”...“We’re going to end all sanctuary cities in the United States, and we’re going to go back to normalcy,” Trump responded. “And we’re going to have law and order.”"
Reference: thefederalist.comNote: On this date (10/25/2024; 7:18 AM Central), Crude Oil WTI (NYM $/bbl) opened at $70.79
Monday, October 21, 2024
Thanks to Harris and Biden, The American Dream is Gone for Retirees and the Lower-Income Middle Class
Article Snip: "...The price of the American Dream now stands at $4.4 million — a mind-boggling $1 million more than what it cost just a year ago and $1 million more than what most individuals earn in a lifetime, according to Investopedia. ..."
Reference: finance.yahoo.comCompare the costs of Medigap plans in your area
Title: Compare the costs of Medigap plans in your area
Article Snip: "...In Original Medicare, you generally pay some of the costs for approved services. Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) is extra insurance you can buy from a private company to help pay your out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover...."
Reference: www.medicare.govSaturday, October 19, 2024
Why do doctors not like Medicare Advantage plans?
Title: Why do doctors not like Medicare Advantage plans?
Article Snip: "...Many doctors and healthcare physicians don't like Medicare Advantage plans due to coverage restrictions, limited networking, and overpayment rates, which cause increasing difficulties for patients. Since pre-authorization and referral requirements often impede patients' needs, doctors refuse to accept these plans. ..."
Reference: silveredgeadvisors.comWhat is Medicare Part B and why do I need it?
Title: What is Medicare Part B and why do I need it?
Article Snip: "...Part B helps cover medically necessary services like doctors' services, outpatient care, and other medical services that Part A doesn't cover. Part B also covers many preventive services. Part B coverage is your choice. However, you need to have Part B if you want to buy Part A. ..."
Reference: www.medicare.govFriday, October 11, 2024
Important: Lock Your Social Security Number Now! | Official U.S. Government E-verify Social Security Number Lock
everify Social Security Lock | Protect Yourself From The Foreign Invasion
Snippet of Article: "...Self Lock is the unique feature that lets you protect your identity in E-Verify and Self Check by placing a "lock" in E-Verify on your Social Security number (SSN). This helps prevent anyone else from using your SSN for an E-Verify case. If an employer enters your locked SSN in E-Verify to confirm employment authorization, it will result in an E-Verify Tentative Nonconfirmation (mismatch). With Self Lock, you are always in control...How to Use Self Lock
To access Self Lock, you must be logged in to your myE-Verify account.
To lock your SSN, you must select and answer three challenge questions. Select questions you can easily answer, because you will need to answer them again to verify your identity if you receive an E-Verify Tentative Nonconfirmation (mismatch) due to Self Lock.
If you are about to start a new job with an E-Verify employer, you should log into your account and unlock your SSN."
Friday, September 27, 2024
The US is mailing Americans free COVID tests again. Here’s how to get them
Title: The US is mailing Americans free COVID tests again. Here’s how to get them
Article Snip: "...reopened the program on Thursday, allowing any household to order up to four at-home COVID nasal swab kits through the website, covidtests.gov. The tests will begin shipping, via the United States Postal Service, as soon as next week. ..."
Reference: www.dailybreeze.comSaturday, September 21, 2024
Social Security COLA 2025: Retirees Should Be Prepared for Bad News and More Bad News
Title: Social Security COLA 2025: Retirees Should Be Prepared for Bad News and More Bad News
Article Snip: "...The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release September's CPI-W information in early October, and the SSA is expected to announce the COLA based on that data later in the month. Until then, we won't know exactly what the adjustment will look like. However, some experts are already making predictions, based on inflation data so far this year. Analysts at advocacy group The Senior Citizens League, for example, estimated in mid-September that the 2025 COLA will be 2.5%...."
Reference: www.fool.comThursday, September 19, 2024
Trump promises to halt taxes on Social Security; cites 'inflation nightmare' for seniors
Title: Trump promises to halt taxes on Social Security; cites 'inflation nightmare' for seniors
Article Snip: "..."To help seniors on fixed incomes who are suffering the ravages of Comrade Kamala Harris' inflation nightmare — I'm promising NO TAX on SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS!" he wrote on X. ..."
Reference: www.foxbusiness.comThursday, September 12, 2024
Spanberger, Graves File Discharge Petition for Social Security Fairness Act, Push to Force U.S. House Vote on Bipartisan Bill to Eliminate WEP & GPO
Article Snip: "...U.S. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) and Garret Graves (R-LA-06) today officially filed a discharge petition and are building support to force a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on their bipartisan legislation to eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).
Spanberger and Graves filed a discharge petition to force a vote on the U.S. House floor on their bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act. The legislation would eliminate both the WEP and the GPO, two provisions added to the Social Security Act in 1983 that unfairly reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits for millions of Americans who have devoted much of their careers to public service — including federal employees..."
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Did you know FSAs can help pay for these items?
Title: Did you know FSAs can help pay for these items?
Article Snip: "The special spending accounts cover the costs of many products and services...A dependent care FSA can be used for child care, before- and after-school care and day care.
The IRS determines which expenses can be reimbursed by an FSA.
The FSAFEDS website has a complete list of products and services that are eligible for reimbursement under an FSA. ...
"
Monday, September 9, 2024
Health | 'Night Owls' More Likely to Develop Type 2 Diabetes
Title: 'Night Owls' More Likely to Develop Type 2 Diabetes
Article Snip: "...Folks who like to stay up late are nearly 50% more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than those who go to bed earlier, a new study finds.
However, it’s not just because they have an unhealthy lifestyle, according to findings presented...
night owls might be able to improve their health by altering the timing of meals, van der Velde said."
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
Health | This metabolic brain boost revives memory in Alzheimer’s mice
Title: This metabolic brain boost revives memory in Alzheimer’s mice
Article Snip: "...The finding, published in the journal Science, suggests that it may eventually be possible to reverse some symptoms of Alzheimer’s in people, using drugs that boost brain metabolism. ..."
Reference: www.npr.orgFriday, August 30, 2024
If You Hate America, Do Nothing Kamala Harris is Your Gang Loving, Pro-Illegal, America Hating Next President to Rep Your Values
Title: Armed Gangs of Illegal Aliens Taking Over Aurora, CO Apartment Buildings - and Nothing Is Being Done
Article Snip: "...In Aurora, Colorado, armed criminal gangs are taking over apartment buildings. The gangs are charging rent on the apartments they have seized; they are selling drugs and, according to accounts from displaced residences, engaged in sex trafficking. And the local authorities seem unable, or unwilling, to do anything about it. ... Potential gang activity was caught on surveillance camera in a Colorado apartment building after what one former resident calls "no accountability" kept law enforcement from assisting."
Reference: redstate.comSunday, August 25, 2024
Here is the true value of having a fully paid-off home in America — especially when you're heading into retirement
Article Snip: "...analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, Bloomberg found the number of Americans in this category jumped between 2012 and 2022 by 5 percentage points to just shy of 40%. Moreover, Bloomberg reports that more than half of these owners have reached retirement age. So if you’re fortunate enough to be mortgage-free and headed towards retirement, chances are you have a lot going for you financially. For starters, the worth of your home, should you choose to sell it, represents 100% equity. ..."
Reference: moneywise.comNational Public Data Hack Exposes Millions: Essential Steps to Safeguard Your Identity and Combat Fraud
Article Snip: "...The recent massive data breach at National Public Data (NPD), a background check company, has potentially compromised the personal information of millions, if not billions, of individuals, including their Social Security numbers, dates of birth, phone numbers, current and past addresses, the names of siblings and parents, and other information. The hacker responsible for the compromise claims the stolen files include 2.7 billion records. ..."
Reference: www.foley.comThursday, August 22, 2024
Social Security COLA Increase for 2025 Could Be the Lowest in Four Years
Title: Social Security COLA Increase for 2025 Could Be the Lowest in Four Years
Article Snip: "...Don’t expect a substantial cost of living amount (COLA) increase in your Social Security checks in 2025. The latest estimates put the COLA at 2.6%, according to the non-profit Senior Citizens League, down from 2.7% in July and 3.2% last year. The drop reflects the easing of inflationary pressures. ... While a lower inflation rate should lead to a smaller increase in prices, it does nothing to lower current prices for groceries, utilities or housing that many are struggling to meet. Changes to the COLA are based on the CPI-W, which is a measure of price changes for a selection of goods and services ..."
Reference: www.kiplinger.com7 Statin Alternatives You Can Take to Help Lower Your Cholesterol - goodrx
Title: 7 Statin Alternatives You Can Take to Help Lower Your Cholesterol
Article Snip: "...Statins, such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), are first-choice medications for treating high cholesterol. But they’re not the right medication for everybody.
Along with a heart-healthy diet and regular exercise, statin alternatives such as ezetimibe (Zetia) can be taken with or without statins to help you meet your cholesterol goals. Other options include fibrates like gemfibrozil (Lopid), ATP citrate lyase (ACL) inhibitors like bempedoic acid (Nexletol), and more.
Natural and over-the-counter medications, like fish oil supplements, may also help ...
"
Are Statins Dangerous? Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks - Mayo
Title: Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks - Mayo
Article Snip: "...While statins are highly effective and safe for most people, they have been linked to muscle pain, digestive problems and mental fuzziness in some people. Rarely, they may cause liver damage. If you think you're experiencing side effects from taking statins, don't just stop taking the pills. ...Statins are effective at lowering cholesterol and protecting against a heart attack and stroke, although they may lead to side effects for some people. ... If you think you're experiencing side effects from taking statins, don't just stop taking the pills. Talk to your health care team to see if a change in how much medicine you take or even a different type of medicine might be helpful."
Reference: www.mayoclinic.orgNAACP is a Registered Lobbyist for Pharmaceutical Giant Novo Nordisk (Lobbying for Ozempic and Wegovy)
Title: Wegovy works. But here's what happens if you can't afford to keep taking the drug
Article Snip: "...insurance coverage is very spotty. Medicare does not cover Wegovy or other weight loss drugs, and many insurers follow Medicare's lead. Increasingly, there's pressure to change this. As STAT reported last week, the Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida is lobbying for legislation that would allow Medicare to pay for obesity drugs, citing the link between obesity and cancer risk. The NAACP is also registered to lobby on this issue. ..."
Reference: www.npr.orgHealth Watch | Drugmaker Novo Nordisk Ozempic and Wegovy Maker Courts Black Leaders to get Medicare's Federal Funding Favor
Article Snip: "...Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk has turned to influential Black Americans in pursuit of what would be a lucrative victory: having Medicare cover a new class of weight loss drugs, including the company's highly sought Wegovy, which can cost patients more than $1,000 a month. During a conference of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation last fall — a jampacked gathering featuring prominent Black lawmakers and President Joe Biden — Novo Nordisk sponsored a..."
Reference: www.npr.orgHealth Watch | Up to 1 in 20 new users of Ozempic and other GLP-1s may develop stomach paralysis
Title: Ozempic and Stomach Paralysis - WebMD
Article Snip: "...While the slowing down of the digestive system is necessary for Ozempic and these other drugs to work, if it slows down too much, you can get a serious problem: stomach paralysis. What Is Stomach Paralysis? When food enters a healthy stomach that’s working as it should, the stomach...Here’s what to look out for:"
Reference: www.webmd.com/Monday, August 19, 2024
Social Security | Why It’s Important to Tell Us About Changes When You Get Social Security Benefits
Title: Social Security | Why It’s Important to Tell Us About Changes When You Get Social Security Benefits
Article Snip: "...If you receive Social Security, you can help to make sure we pay you the right benefit each month. You can do that by telling us about relationship or other life changes that could affect your eligibility for retirement, survivors, or disability benefits – or your benefit amount. You and your family may miss out..."
Reference: ssa.govSaturday, August 10, 2024
Seven Lessons for New Retirees
Title: Seven Lessons for New Retirees
Article Snip: "...The former editor of Kiplinger Personal Finance shares key financial takeaways from his first year of retirement. ..."
Reference: www.kiplinger.comThursday, August 8, 2024
Huntsville, Alabama | This Alabama city might be 'South's best-kept secret destination'
Title: This Alabama city might be 'South's best-kept secret destination'
Article Snip: "... One Alabama city is getting some love from Forbes.com for being possibly “The South’s Best-Kept Secret Destination,” and it’s a lot farther from the beach than you might guess.
The new article at Forbes.com depicts Huntsville as a “charming Southern city [that] doesn’t usually top travel lists” but says “that’s part of what makes it so fascinating.” ...
"
Monday, August 5, 2024
CRASH: Retirement Investments Take Hit | Trump Blames Biden, Harris for Market Losses
Title: Trump Blames Biden, Harris for Market Losses
Article Snip: "...The Dow appeared it could be headed for its first 1,000 point decline since September 2022.
Soon after the bell sounded on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures dropped 1,064 points, or 2.7%, following a 611-point loss Friday, CNBC reported.
S&P 500 futures were down 3.6% after the benchmark lost 1.8% on Friday. Nasdaq-100 futures lost 4.8% as big tech stocks got hit hard in early trading.
"STOCK MARKETS CRASHING. I TOLD YOU SO!!! KAMALA DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE. BIDEN IS SOUND ASLEEP. ALL CAUSED BY INEPT U.S. LEADERSHIP!" Trump posted Sunday night. ...
"
New homes are getting smaller. That could be big news for first-time buyers | Intelligent Buyers Move Away From Larger Money-Wasters
Title: New homes are getting smaller. That could be big news for first-time buyers
Article Snip: "...For most of the last half-century, new single-family homes kept growing. In 1973, the median size of completed single-family homes was 1,525 square feet, according to US Census data. By 2015, that number had ballooned to 2,467 square feet. ..."
Reference: www.cnn.comSaturday, August 3, 2024
The Democrat Years | Retirees' Social Security checks have lost significant buying power
Title: Retirees' Social Security checks have lost significant buying power since 2010, a new report says
Article Snip: "...Retirees would need, on average, a $370 monthly boost in their Social Security checks to make up for a 20% loss of buying power since 2010.
That means today’s average monthly benefit of $1,860 for retired workers would need to rise to about $2,230, according to a new report from the Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan group.
The spoiler: inflation.
...common senior household expenses such as car insurance, food, out-patient hospital care, and housing rose much more than that.
“The reality is that COLAs have become less and less likely to match inflation over time,” Benton said. “In the 1990s and 2000s, 60% of COLAs beat inflation. In the 2010s, only 40% did. Through the 2020s so far, only one COLA out of five—the 8.7% increase in 2023— has done so.”"
Thursday, August 1, 2024
Retirement | A Vote For Trump Is a Vote For Your Financial Benefit | Don't Let This Opportunity Pass
Title: Donald Trump calls for elimination of tax on Social Security
Article Snip: "...Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for scrapping the tax that seniors must pay on their Social Security checks.
“SENIORS SHOULD NOT PAY TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY!” the 45th president straightforwardly wrote on Truth Social. ...
Generally speaking, there is a tax of up to 50% tax on one’s Social Security benefits if total income is between 25,000 and $34,000 – and up to an 85% tax on benefits when income is over $34,000, according to the Social Security Administration.
Trump, 78, made waves in his own party earlier this year with his vow to eliminate taxation on tips.
The Republican Party’s platform, which was approved earlier this month and personally written in part by Trump, rules out cuts to Social Security and Medicare, including any potential lifting of the retirement age. ..."
An Update on the Social Security Fairness Act | H.R. 82, S. 597
Title: An Update on the Social Security Fairness Act
Article Snip: "..pass the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82, S. 597). This bill would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), which are parts of Social Security law that unfairly reduce, or sometimes eliminate, Social Security benefits for millions of federal annuitants. The GPO and WEP penalize CSRS retirees that meet the requirements for Social Security benefits and have paid their fair share into the program. To address this inequity, 324 members of the House and 61 members of the Senate from both parties now support this legislation. ...."
Reference: apwu.orgMonday, July 29, 2024
Balancing a fixed income with inflation, a Georgia retiree feels stuck
Title: Balancing a fixed income with inflation, a Georgia retiree feels stuck
Article Snip: "... Retired and taking care of her husband, Breland has seen rising prices for everything from groceries and utilities to insurance and home maintenance eat into her fixed income. She has also seen her friends struggle with inflation, as well, through the church she volunteers at. ... increasing financial pressure and has been looking to cut her monthly expenses in the face of rising prices for groceries, utilities, insurance and home maintenance. “All the money I will ever have come in is what I have now,” she said."
Reference: www.nbcnews.comHow is America Doing Under Kamala Harris and Joe Biden? Not so good! Credit Card Data Identifies The Economic Fail
Title: Credit card balances past due reach highest level since at least 2012: Philly Fed
Article Snip: "percentage of credit card balances past due reached the highest levels since at least 2012. ...New card originations also fell on a Y/Y basis, falling by $3.8B, or 3.6%. Number of accounts fell by 3.4M, or 17%, Q/Q and by 1.3M accounts, or 7.4%, Y/Y.
Mortgage originations bottomed out at a series low at $44.4B and 80,100 accounts in Q1 2024, the study said. However, with the price of houses continuing to climb, the average new loan size rose to $554,450. The median new mortgage size increased 9.6% to $335,000..."
Sunday, July 28, 2024
Alzheimer’s blood test catches 90% of early dementia cases, study finds
Alzheimer’s blood test catches 90% of early dementia cases, study finds
'...One part of the blood test — called plasma phosphorylated tau 217, or p-tau217 for short — is one of several blood biomarkers scientists are evaluating for use in the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment and early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. ...'
Reference: www.cnn.com
Tags:
Saturday, July 27, 2024
There’s a catch in USPS insurance program for Medicare-eligible retirees
Title: There’s a catch in USPS insurance program for Medicare-eligible retirees
Article Snip: "As preparations ramp up to launch a new health insurance program for the Postal Service, the Office of Personnel Management is anticipating the possibility that some USPS annuitants will opt out of Medicare prescription drug coverage without realizing the full consequences. For USPS employees and annuitants, Open Season will look somewhat different this fall. In tandem with the standard open enrollment period for participants in the existing Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, all USPS employees, annuitants and their family members will have to switch into the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program. ...USPS annuitants who opt out of Medicare Part D will lose underlying prescription drug coverage, according to OPM's regulations. ..."
Reference: federalnewsnetwork.comSunday, July 21, 2024
Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General Releases Scam Report to Congress
Title: Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General Releases Scam Report to Congress
Article Snip: "...Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently released its quarterly Scam Report to Congress. The report provides information about scam trends in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2024 (January 1 — March 31, 2024). “As public servants, we must use every tool at our disposal to raise awareness and protect the American ... To learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones, visit our Protect Yourself from Scams page. If you receive a suspicious call, text, email, social media message, or letter from someone claiming to be from Social Security: ..."
Reference: ssa.govThursday, July 18, 2024
Best states in the country for retirees
Title: Best states in the country for retirees
Article Snip: "...Florida remains one of the best states in the country for retirees because of its tax laws overall, according to U.S. News and World Report. “Making the move to Florida comes with multiple tax benefits,” U.S. News reported. ..."
Reference: www.meadvilletribune.comWednesday, July 17, 2024
Biden Is Starving Retirees On Social Security; Trump Will Help Protect Your Social Security
Article Snip: "...The platform addresses a range of economic issues, including a pledge to "end inflation" and "make America affordable again." It also says it would preserve Social Security and Medicare benefits without any cuts and not raise the retirement age.
The platform says the GOP would address inflation by ending illegal immigration and lifting restrictions on American energy production, which it says would allow access to more affordable energy. ..."
Monday, July 15, 2024
West Virginia is the most affordable state, study says
Title: West Virginia is the most affordable state, study says
Article Snip: "...CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — If you’re looking for an affordable state to live and buy a home, several recent studies say that West Virginia is your best option in the U.S. A recent report by doxo used the 2024 Cost of Bill Index (COBI) found that West Virginia’s standard cost of living is 25% lower than the national average. ..."
Reference: www.wboy.comThursday, July 11, 2024
Bankrupting Social Security Retirees | This Is the Average Social Security Benefit for Age 62
Title: This Is the Average Social Security Benefit for Age 62
Article Snip: "...The average retired worker who collects Social Security receives a monthly benefit of $..."
Reference: www.fool.comTuesday, July 9, 2024
Federal employee gets conflicting advice on Medicare
Title: Federal employee gets conflicting advice on Medicare
Article Snip: "...Your friends are correct: You should enroll in Medicare Parts A and B when you retire. The rules regarding when and how to enroll in Medicare also apply for federal employees, a change that took place a few years ago. Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) must ..."
Reference: www.reviewjournal.comMonday, July 8, 2024
1 in 4 Americans in their 50s will become 'silver squatters' and need financial support from family in retirement
Article Snip: "...Few retirees dream of spending their golden years living in their adult kids’ basements or begging family members for money. Unfortunately, that's the harsh reality for a significant number of GenXers, according to Prudential's 2024 Pulse Of The American Retiree Survey...."
Reference: yahoo.comSunday, July 7, 2024
When You And Your Spouse Meet While Partying
Title: When You And Your Spouse Meet While Partying
Article Snip: "The most common is when one partner stops wanting to party so hard and the other still does. ...the partner who isn’t ready to give up constant socializing or getting drunk at work happy hours will really frustrate the partner who is ready to transition to a more stable life...Another issue that can plague couples who primarily spent time together when drunk/partying is a difference in sexual desire. When low libido people are drinking or using drugs, their libido may be artificially inflated and their inhibitions are much lower. ...If this resonates with you, read the memoir Smashed. The author talks about how she was thought to be, and felt internally, much younger than her age because she had only really learned to socialize when drunk. When she stopped drinking, she realized she had lost years of social development and was basically frozen at the age that she was when she started binge drinking, which was early adolescence. When you don’t learn to talk to others when sober at a younger age, you need to learn this later on."
Reference: www.drpsychmom.comThe big problem with couples retiring at different times?
Title: The big problem with couples retiring at different times?
Article Snip: "...The big trouble, however, is with couples retiring at different times — and how it impacts long-term financial security. More than half of American households do not retire all at once if you count individuals working in retirement and spouses retiring at different times. ...The result is that 6 in 10 couples “experience spending volatility at the beginning of retirement ..."
Reference: finance.yahoo.comSaturday, July 6, 2024
The disability benefits application process just got a little easier thanks to SSA adjustments
Title: The disability benefits application process just got a little easier thanks to SSA adjustments
Article Snip: "The Social Security Administration (SSA) is adjusting its evaluation process to help Americans with disabilities more easily access the benefits they need. Typically, when an individual becomes disabled, the SSA offers benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. ..."
Reference: www.foxbusiness.comThursday, July 4, 2024
I Used to Think It Was Possible to Retire on Social Security Alone. Here's Why That's Definitely No Longer My Plan.
Article Snip: "I can admit that there was a time when I thought it was possible for a person to retire comfortably on Social Security without any other source of funds. ...But relying on Social Security alone to cover your budget in retirement is a horribly bad mistake. And I'm grateful that I learned that years ago so I could switch gears on my long-term financial planning. My new game plan Even though I've only been writing about Social Security for about 10 years now..."
Reference: www.aol.comMonday, July 1, 2024
Biden’s Medicare Advantage Cuts May Come Back To Haunt Him
Title: Biden’s Medicare Advantage Cuts May Come Back To Haunt Him
Article Snip: "President Joe Biden’s move in April to cut Medicare Advantage benefits for seniors may come back to haunt him. ...The Biden administration in April finalized plans to cut MA benefits, which experts said could lead to an additional $33 a month for out-of-pocket costs, or $396 a year, for enrollees. Critics of the cuts said they would be especially devastating to seniors living on fixed incomes who are already coping with ongoing inflation issues. ..."
Reference: dallasexpress.comSunday, June 23, 2024
The Trump Drug Rebate Rule Would Have Saved Seniors Billions; Biden Repealed It and Gave Billions to China EVs
Article Snip: "...What can’t be denied is that his administration, whether he’s actually in charge of it or not, is abusing American seniors just trying to get their medicine. The cure – as for many of the world’s problems – is to go back to what Donald Trump had already been doing. This year, premiums are up more than 20 percent for the more than 50 million Americans enrolled in Medicare Part D. In 2025, it’s estimated that premiums could go up another 50 percent! What could actually lower healthcare costs for seniors is if the federal government brings back the Trump Rebate Rule. In 2020, President Trump announced a policy that provided seniors the chance to capture the rebates..."
Reference: www.breitbart.comMonday, June 17, 2024
Yay! Bidenomics CPI Manipulation Got You Again | Inflation isn't as bad as yo feel it, don't believe your lying purse
Title: Cooling Inflation Has 2025 Social Security COLA Estimate Dropping
Article Snip: "These latest estimates are based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) consumer price index (CPI) data for May, ... For the month, the index decreased 0.1% prior to seasonal adjustment. ...As such, the CPI-W can undercount when compared to spending patterns of older consumers Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E), which means it can subsequently underpay Social Security recipients, she notes. “This disparity suggests that my COLA estimate, which is based on the CPI-W, may be undercounting real senior inflation by more than 10%,” says Johnson. "
Reference:Friday, June 14, 2024
Flag Day
Article Title: Flag Day (United States) | Flag Day is a holiday celebrated on June 14
Article Excerpt: "...The History of Flag Day | The first celebration of the U.S. Flag's birthday was held in 1877, on the 100th anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777. However, it is believed that the first annual recognition of the flag's birthday dates to 1885 when schoolteacher BJ Cigrand organized a group of Wisconsin students to observe June 14, the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes as the Flag's Birthday. Cigrand, now known as the Father of Flag Day, continued to publicly advocate the observance of June 14 as the flag's birthday, or "Flag Day," for years. Just a few years later, the efforts of another teacher, George Balch, led to the formal observance of Flag Day on June 14 ...."Reference Source: www.military.com