Medicare mistakes seniors wish they’d known sooner

Title: Medicare mistakes seniors wish they’d known sooner

Article Snip: "... the most serious costs tied to those choices often surface years later. By the time health declines and medical needs increase, options may already be narrowed or gone.

Medicare decisions made quickly or without guidance can carry permanent consequences. Late-enrollment penalties, coverage restrictions, and lost flexibility are frequently irreversible, making Medicare a core retirement planning decision, not a box to be checked.

The remedy, advisers say, is prevention through planning. ...Medicare.gov offers this example: If you wait two full years, or 24 months, to enroll in Part B and do not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you owe a 20% penalty, reflecting two missed 12-month periods.

For 2026, that would work out as follows:
• Standard Part B premium: $202.90
• Late enrollment penalty (20%): $40.58"

Reference: www.thestreet.com
Medicare Mistakes, Medicare part B, Late-enrollment penalties,

---

---

6 super simple ways to have a younger brain into your 60s — and beyond

Title: 6 super simple ways to have a younger brain into your 60s — and beyond

Article Snip: "...Building brain health with movement and mental curiosity helps keep your mind’s wiring strong and resilient over time. ...Nuts, in particular, are packed with heart-healthy unsaturated fats, plant-based protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. The Mediterranean diet also."

Reference: nypost.com
Health Watch,Brain Health,Mediterranean Diet,Walking, Aerobic Activity,REM Sleep,Sleep Quality,

---

---

Oprah Winfrey Reveals Health Challenges From Weight Loss Drugs

Title: Oprah Winfrey Reveals Health Challenges From Weight Loss Drugs

Article Snip: "...While reflecting on her weight-loss journey, Winfrey shared some surprising side effects she’s experienced while taking a GLP-1 medication.

Jastreboff stated that the most common symptoms for people taking weight-loss medication include nausea, diarrhea, and constipation.

“I never had nausea or diarrhea, but I did have the third one,” Winfrey stated. “I finally figured out, for me, what the right combination of magnesium and water is. I have to drink a lot of water. ..."

Reference: www.aol.com

---

---

Cybersecurity Tips | 10 simple cybersecurity resolutions for a safer 2026

Title: 10 simple cybersecurity resolutions for a safer 2026

Article Snip: "...The good news is that cybersecurity need not feel overwhelming. You do not need advanced skills or expensive tools. With a few smart habits, you can lower your risk and protect your digital life throughout 2026. To help you start the year strong, here are 10 simple cybersecurity resolutions that actually work. ..."

Reference: www.aol.com
Cybersecurity Tips,

---

---

Federal Employee Retirement | What to expect while you’re expecting (your retirement benefit, that is)

Title: What to expect while you’re expecting (your retirement benefit, that is)

Article Snip: "...The OPM director uses his weekly updates to detail efforts to replace paper applications, guide employees through the Online Retirement Application system, and address delays and data issues in retirement processing. ...Most agencies are required to use the system, though a few, including the U.S. Postal Service, are not yet required to participate.

The Postal Service has a 90% accuracy rate when submitting completed retirement packages to OPM. They use a streamlined process called the “Blue Book,” which instructs employees to contact the Human Resources Shared Service Center immediately to schedule retirement counseling."

Reference: www.govexec.com
Federal Employee Retirement, Online Retirement Application system vs. Manual Processing,OPM retirement backlog,

---

---

My mom, 80, needs special care, but Medicare won't pay. Now the home wants to take her Social Security. Is this legal?

Title: My mom, 80, needs special care, but Medicare won't pay. Now the home wants to take her Social Security. Is this legal?

Article Snip: "...Can the nursing home take that money, even though your mother has bills to pay, debts she took on before getting sick and a home she wants to maintain after she gets out of the care facility?

Here's what you need to know. ...Medicare does not ever cover routine nursing care (called custodial care) for those who can't do basic life tasks. Medicare does cover skilled nursing care for up to 100 days, but only under limited circumstances, such as when you've just left the hospital.

Since your mother just left the hospital, you may want to appeal the denial of the skilled nursing care. "

Reference: finance.yahoo.com
Long-term care crisis in America, Robbing Our Elders of a Penny, Disgusting Treatment of Seniors in America,

---

---

Just 4 simple behaviors can improve your sleep consistency — they’re good for your heart and nervous system, too

Title: Just 4 simple behaviors can improve your sleep consistency — they’re good for your heart and nervous system, too

Article Snip: "...A new study reveals that the foundation of solid sleep may rest on four core habits.

Over 31 days, roughly 39,000 healthy adults participated in what a team of international researchers dubbed the “Core Four Challenge.”

The objective of the study was to determine the combined impact of four circadian-aligning behaviors on sleep quality and overall health. ..."

Reference: nypost.com
Health Watch, Circadian-aligning behaviors, Sleep Quality,

---

---

Retirement life is very short if you retire at 65 and live to 85. And your ‘go-go’ years of full health, wealth are even shorter. Maximize them ASAP

Title: Retirement life is very short if you retire at 65 and live to 85. And your ‘go-go’ years of full health, wealth are even shorter. Maximize them ASAP

Article Snip: "...Several studies have demonstrated that spending on experiences is likely to be much more satisfying than acquiring material possessions. (2) The pleasure of buying your dream car or luxury clothes could be short-lived, but spending time with your grandkids on a beach in Europe can live in your memories forever.

By front-loading your budget for vacations, family gatherings and fun experiences, you can make the most of your most physically and mentally active years. ..."

Reference: moneywise.com

---

---

Today is the Day The Social Security COLA Arrives for Some Retirees

Title: Today is the Day The Social Security COLA Arrives for Some Retirees

Article Snip: "...While the COLA impacts benefits in 2026, some Social Security retirees are actually going to get their first increased payment today. Here’s why that’s the case. ...For those seniors who do not collect SSI benefits and who get retirement benefits only, your first payment that includes the 2026 COLA increase will come on the standard date when you get your first Social Security check in January. ..."

Reference: 247wallst.com
Social Security

---

---

Is there a best blood type? The ups and downs of A, B, AB and O — including who’s at higher risk for cancer, norovirus and bug bites

Title: Is there a best blood type? The ups and downs of A, B, AB and O — including who’s at higher risk for cancer, norovirus and bug bites

Article Snip: "...The short answer: No, there is no “best” blood type. But each of the four main categories — A, B, AB and O — have their own advantages and disadvantages. ..."

Reference: nypost.com
Is there a best blood type? ,Health Watch, What is my Blood Type?,

---

---

Blood of Exceptionally Long-Lived People Reveals Crucial Differences

Title: Blood of Exceptionally Long-Lived People Reveals Crucial Differences

Article Snip: "...Emerging evidence suggests that centenarians, who live to 100, and supercentenarians, who live to 110, have unique blood profiles that differ from those who don't live as long. ...Research suggests that centenarians begin showing favorable biomarkers in their blood at just 65 years of age. ...The findings, the authors argue, reveal a "critical role of essential fatty acids to connect lipids with other metabolic processes.""

Reference: www.sciencealert.com
Health Watch,SuperAgers,Centenarians,Short Telomeres, Essential Fatty Acids,

---

---

Doctors Are Warning That Most Humans Lack This Essential Vitamin, And Your Immune System Is Probably Trying To Tell You

Title: Doctors Are Warning That Most Humans Lack This Essential Vitamin, And Your Immune System Is Probably Trying To Tell You

Article Snip: "...“It is one of the major regulators of your immune system,” Holick added.

Diane Stadler, the director of the graduate programs in human nutrition at the school of medicine at Oregon Health & Science University, agreed. “There is a lot of evidence that is becoming readily available to associate vitamin..."

Reference: www.buzzfeed.com

---

---

Mark Wahlberg shares the high-protein breakfast he eats every day

Title: Mark Wahlberg shares the high-protein breakfast he eats every day

Article Snip: "...Mark Wahlberg eats a high-protein breakfast every morning that would likely get a big thumbs-up from longevity researchers. ..."I eat the same breakfast every day, but I feel better every day!!" the caption reads. ..."

Reference: www.businessinsider.com

---

---

Social Security January payment schedule: Here's when recipients get their checks

Title: Social Security January payment schedule: Here's when recipients get their checks

Article Snip: "...If the 1st falls on the weekend or a holiday, as is the case for next month in January, then the payments are typically issued on the previous weekday. ...SSA beneficiaries can expect a payment on Jan. 2, Jan. 14, Jan. 21, and Jan. 28. SSI recipients will receive January payments on..."

Reference: www.livenowfox.com

---

---

3 things retirees must know now about Social Security in 2026

Title: 3 things retirees must know now about Social Security in 2026

Article Snip: "Every retiree needs to read this to start preparing now. ...Tax rules on Social Security remain exactly the same as the rules that were in effect before the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Benefits become partly taxable once:...Single filers have a provisional income of $25,000 or higher (provisional income is all taxable income, some non-taxable income, and half of Social Security retirement benefits)...No change was made to these thresholds.

The Trump administration created a separate $6,000 deduction per retiree to add to the standard deduction. It’s in effect through 2028, and it will reduce tax bills for more seniors overall"

Reference: The Street

---

---

What Science Reveals About Money and a Happy Retirement

Title: What Science Reveals About Money and a Happy Retirement

Article Snip: "...research from academics, social scientists, and financial services providers is shedding light on what it takes to be truly happy in retirement — and what behaviors and circumstances detract from that happiness...How you get your money is more important than the amount.

If you get most of your spending money in retirement from guaranteed sources of income — say, Social Security combined with a pension or annuity — chances are you’re a lot happier than your peers who have to withdraw money from savings to help pay the bills. That’s the conclusion of multiple studies, which show that happiness in retirement is strongly linked to the form in which your income comes to you.

Using HRS data, for example, a Rand Corporation study found that retirees who get a regular income stream from annuities were 43% more likely to consider themselves “very satisfied” 10 years into their retirement than were retirees without annuitized income.

Your best moves: Erasing debt before you retire has a big payoff... "

Reference: www.kiplinger.com
Science and a Happy Retirement, The Intelligent Chose Striving For A Pension Over Higher Pay Careers,Pensions, Erase Debt Before You Retire, Eating Out With a Friend, Health,

---

---

Simple daily habit could help people with type 2 diabetes manage blood sugar

Title: Simple daily habit could help people with type 2 diabetes manage blood sugar

Article Snip: "...Sitting next to a window may help people with type 2 diabetes control their insulin levels, according to new research.

The study, published in Cell Metabolism, found that exposure to natural light — even indoors next to a window — changes how the body processes glucose and uses energy. ..."

Reference: www.foxnews.com
Type 2 diabetes control,Health Watch,Diabetes, Natural Light,

---

---

Is there a high dose flu shot for 65 and older seniors?

Title: Is there a high dose flu shot for 65 and older seniors?

Article Snip: "...Since the summer of 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that adults 65 years and older get immunized with what’s known as a high-dose or adjuvanted flu vaccine...."

Reference: www.aarp.org
High-dose flu shot,Flu vaccines for the 2025-2026 season,Adjuvanted flu vaccine, 65 and Older Immunization Recommendations,

---

---

What is the life expectancy of a U.S. male born in 1960? (Actuarial Life Table)

Title: What is the life expectancy of a U.S. male born in 1960?

Article Snip: "...The life expectancy of a U.S. male born in 1960 is approximately 77.4 years as of 2022. This figure reflects the average remaining years expected prior to death for a person at that exact age, based on mortality ..."

Reference: www.ssa.gov
life expectancy of a U.S. male born in 1960, Actuarial Life Table,

---

---

Dave Ramsey’s Advice for Aging Baby Boomers: ‘Take Social Security Early at 62’

Title: Dave Ramsey’s Advice for Aging Baby Boomers: ‘Take Social Security Early at 62’

Article Snip: "...Ramsey thinks it makes the most sense to claim Social Security as soon as possible because, as he puts, it, "Your retirement payments die when you die...so you might as well take the money and make the most of it while you can."

What Ramsey means is that if you don't end up living a long life, you can get the most money out of Social Security by signing up for benefits at 62. ..."

Reference: finance.yahoo.com
Social Security, Life Expectancy vs. When to collect Social Security,

---

---