When I was growing  up it was very common for people in their late sixties, early seventies to have dentures. But today, people are living longer and healthier lives, and older adults are more likely to keep their teeth for a lifetime than they were even a decade ago.

But, as most Medicare beneficiaries know, “Original Medicare” (Parts A and B) does not provide routine or preventive dental insurance coverage. Of course, there are some limited exceptions. For example, if a beneficiary has a medical emergency that involves teeth, original Medicare may cover those emergency costs, depending on what services are needed and who performs them.

But, when it comes to keeping your smile bright, the traditional dental coverage most people are accustomed to — cleanings, fillings, crowns and dentures — are not a part of basic Medicare coverage. Some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans do bundle in dental coverage, but not all of them.

For that reason, many Medicare beneficiaries purchase stand-alone dental insurance coverage. However, dental insurance is generally not as comprehensive as traditional major medical coverage so it’s important to do your homework before purchasing a plan.

Here are some things Medicare beneficiaries should keep in mind:

Medicare supplement insurance plans don’t provide dental insurance coverage.   If you have a medical emergency that involves your teeth, routinely Medicare Parts A and B (Original Medicare) may cover those emergency costs, depending on what services you need and who performs them. And, if Original Medicare covers your procedure, a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan is more likely to cover your out-of-pocket costs for that emergency. But, that supplement will not cover preventive dental services like cleanings, fillings and crowns.

Some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans provide dental coverage. Many Medicare Advantage plans routinely provide benefits like dental and vision coverage. So, if you’re on a Medicare Advantage plan or considering enrolling in one, check to see if the plan provides routine or preventive dental coverage before you buy a separate dental insurance policy.

Be sure your dentist takes your plan.  If you have a preferred dentist, find out what plans they accept before you enroll in a plan. Websites like eHealthInsurance, and the licensed agents in their call center, can help you search for plans with your dentist in them. Stand-alone dental insurance policies are typically going to give you a far better price for services performed by dentists in their network. Almost all policies use a tiered cost-sharing system, and you pay the least out of pocket for services when you use a dentist from the plan’s network.

Read the fine print.  Most stand-alone dental insurance plans have cost-sharing requirements (co-pays, deductibles and coinsurance) so you should be sure you know how much you’ll spend for regular checkups or emergency dental work not covered by Medicare. And, expensive procedures like crowns and root canals may be subject to higher deductibles and co-payments than routine cleanings or fillings, depending on the plan you have.

Cosmetic dental surgery is almost never covered.  Medicare beneficiaries should not expect an individually purchased dental insurance plan to provide coverage for cosmetic or elective procedures like teeth whitening or dental implants. There may be plans out there that provide those benefits, but they’re not the norm.

Only buy what you need.  If you’re over age 65, chances are you don’t need braces. And, if you don’t need braces, don’t waste money on a plan that covers them. Stand-alone dental insurance policies come in all shapes and sizes. Some plans cover everything from braces to cleanings, while others cover a more limited set of benefits. Skipping the plans that offer dental benefits you don’t need could save you money.

Don’t wait for problems to arise.  If you want to buy dental insurance on Monday and have major dental surgery on Tuesday, you may be disappointed. Most dental insurance plans have waiting periods for any major dental work so don’t procrastinate.

Selecting the medical coverage that’s best for you can seem overwhelming. But with a little time and research, you can find the dental plan that best fits your needs. And that’s something to smile about.

Ross Blair is President and CEO of Plan Prescriber, Inc. (www.PlanPrescriber.com)  a leading provider of comparison tools and educational materials for Medicare-related insurance products

Hearing loss is a problem shared by many people of all ages, but did you know that hearing loss among baby boomers is rapidly becoming a growing public health issue? In fact, the National Institutes for Health estimate that 25% to 40% of people over 65 already have some degree of hearing loss.

As we enjoy longer lives, hearing loss is becoming a leading disability among seniors. Because of this, the NYEE has released a new Public Service Announcement featuring world-renowned trumpeter and composer Chris Botti and composer, singer, author, actor, and activist Sting.  The PSA was created to raise awareness about hearing loss among baby boomers and urges viewers to visit http://iLikeMyHearing.org, a new educational website about hearing health.

Hearing loss can impact our relationships, work, leisure pursuits and even safety. That’s why all adults, and in particular baby boomers, should take control of their hearing health as soon as possible. So how can you learn more about getting your hearing tested? Below are few ways:

• Visit http://ilikemyhearing.org/?p=61to take an online hearing quiz where you can learn more about exactly how healthy your hearing is.

• Check out the new Public Service Announcement featuring Chris Botti with voice-over narration by Sting by visiting the following link: http://youtu.be/GpObUbm65A4

• Invite your readers to visit fb.com/iLikeMyHearing to enter the NYEE’s “Favorite Sounds Sweepstakes.” Visitors can choose to like the page by recording their own favorite sounds, and by doing so enter the sweepstakes. The sweepstakes prize is the $5,000-value opportunity for the winner and ten friends to share dinner with Chris Botti at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary’s November 15 fundraising gala.

It’s never too early to be concerned about your hearing health. That’s why I hope you can share this important message with your loved ones, friends and family. Please be sure to check out http://iLikeMyHearing.org for more information.

If you are of a senior age you might consider certain activities that you’ve had time to engage in before, one of which is getting out and about more often and further away. To ensure your travels are fruitful we have comprised a list of travel information and tips for the senior holidaymaker in mind.

Medication – Modern pharmaceuticals are used by people from all walks of life, but as the body matures people tend to rely more heavily on medication. Taking medication should not stop you from traveling and exploring even the far reaches of the world provided you plan well ahead. The work starts before you travel by researching the hand luggage allowance at the time of travel. Transportation Security Administration (part of Department of Homeland Security) offers a useful online resource that explains the latest restrictions. You will also benefit from retaining your new prescriptions with your travel documents. Finally, we recommend that you disperse any essential medication you might be taking between your possessions in case you misplace a bag or worse, one is stolen.

Check the status at the country of destination – A few days prior to your departure you will do well to check the situation at the destination country in particular if your travels take you overseas. We have all seen last year’s unrest in prominent North African countries that for years have been considered a safe place to travel to. The US State Department site is a handy place to check and keep informed.

Travel insurance – Travel insurance is a must-have at any age and regardless of the duration of your vacation, however more important as the body matures. Without one you face the possibility of returning from a holiday with a hefty bill to pay.

When flying – Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a life-threatening disorder that causes possible blood clots. People who are at risk are those on long flights as well as those over 40 years old. Certain precautions should be adhered to such as:

• Walking around the flight cabin every 30min to 60min
• Stretching while seated provided there is sufficient room
• Keep sleeping periods to below 30min to 45min
• Avoid alcohol during the flight and replace with plenty of water
• Engage in simple exercises such as shoulder rolls, foot lifts and forward bend

Valuables – Misplacing important valuables, documents and money can spoil even the best well-planned vacation. Certain steps can help:

• Inform your bank or credit company of your plans and destination to ensure that your account remains active.
• Spread your valuables and especially your money between you and other people in your party or at least in different locations.
• When arriving at your accommodation, place your valuable in a safe place.
• Keep a copy of your passport and other important travel documents with a family member or friend back home.
• Be sensible when you are away from home. Tourists are often prime targets for dubious characters.

Enjoy your vacation!

www.Boomeresque.com

Boomeresque: Definition
1. Adj.: Describing a person born between 1 Jan. 1946 and 31 Dec. 1964 
2. Adj.: Description of a person, place or thing possessing Baby Boomer je ne sais quoi 
3. See also, Boomer, Esq.: A Baby Boomer who is also a licensed attorney (like the author of this guest post)

You know you are Boomeresque if:

• You know what “duck and cover” means and in elementary school you believed doing that would save you from a nuclear bomb.
• Your lawyer, doctor and accountant are younger than you are.
• Your eighty-something year old mother thinks you’re a genius about computers and wireless communication, but your twenty-something year old child thinks your technology questions merit eye rolling.
• You have to be reminded that if anyone under 35 says something is “sick”, s/he means it’s cool—i.e. good.
• Growing up, your home telephone wasn’t a “land line”….because what else could it have been.
• You and your parents did not enjoy the same music, but your kids like “classic rock” (unless you are in the car dancing to it while you’re driving him/her somewhere).
• Your pediatrician made house calls.
• You had the measles, mumps and chicken pox, but not polio.
• You watched TV in black and white, the TV was a piece of furniture and a TV repairman would come to the house to replace the tubes.
• You know who Mr. Green Jeans was.
• You had to watch a TV show when it was actually being broadcast.
• Your father fought in World War II, but growing up, when you talked with him about  ”the” war, it was Viet Nam and it’s possible that you were against it.
• You had a transistor radio and maybe you even made it.
• You remember where you were when President Kennedy was assassinated.
• You remember Walter Cronkite describing astronauts returning to earth in a capsule that deployed a parachute and “landed” in the ocean.
• You know where you were and who you were with when you watched Neil Armstrong’s “small step for man and giant leap for mankind”.
• If you lived in or traveled through the South (in the U.S.), you had to use a bathroom and drinking fountain designated for your race.
• You remember the United States Congress doing big things like passing the Civil Rights Acts and creating Medicare.
• You remember that if you wanted a drink of water outside your house or a restaurant, you had to drink that yucky stuff that came out of a drinking fountain.
• If you were out in the street and you wanted to call someone, you had to find a pay phone.
• Your parents made a point of answering the home telephone so they would know who was calling you.
• You took home economics (if you were a girl) and wood shop (if you were a boy).
• When you were in the fourth grade, you didn’t know how to type—let alone keyboard.
• You got grades for handwriting.
•  Your school was so overcrowded that your assigned seat in chemistry class was on the radiator.
• When you started high school or college, you were a fresh”man” even if you were female.
• You coveted your college roommate’s electric typewriter and shower bonnet hair dryer.
• You had to go to a library to do research for school projects unless your family was fortunate enough to own a set of encyclopedias.
• You know what a card catalogue was.
• u  know how 2 spell & punctuate—even if u dont always do it anymore
• At some point you engaged in sex, drugs and rock and roll—not necessarily in that order—but perhaps simultaneously.
• You inhaled.
• There were urinals in the ladies room at your law school.
• You thought your parents were old when they were fifteen years younger than you are now.
• You considered your grandparents to be really old when they were the same age you are now.

For Baby Boomer travels for the body and mind, check out my new-ish blog: www.boomeresque.com

Picture of Arthur Koff and his dog Duncan

Many current retirees can’t. Here’s why and what some are doing to create some income.

Older Americans have lost a good part of their retirement savings in the stock market, the value of their homes and properties have substantially diminished, pensions have been pared back or eliminated and the cost of health care has increased exponentially. Even those who are on Medicare are paying a great deal more than they anticipated. The average 65-year-old couple retiring in 2011 with Medicare insurance coverage would need approximately $276,000 to cover medical expenses over the course of 20 years. This estimate includes deductibles, coinsurance costs, likely out-of-pocket expenses, and some services excluded by Medicare. The figure does not include over-the-counter medications, most dental services, and most long-term care expenses and perhaps a good deal more if they need to use a nursing home.

Americans are living longer, and as a result, health care expenses continue for many years past what our parents and grandparents paid as a result of their shorter life spans. Once Americans make it to age 65, men can expect to live an additional 17 years and women can expect to live 20 more years.

If you are looking for suggestions, other than save and invest more, to help you live the lifestyle you had planned during your retirement years I have tried to address them.

To start off your thinking, I have included a list of small business enterprises which have been developed by seniors, all of which took very little capital and provide a regular income stream. They are listed to excite your interest in what can be accomplished and hopefully spur ideas that you might be able to develop yourself.  Click here

Picture of Arthur Koff and his dog Duncan

This information is provided by Art Koff, a senior in his late 70’s who “retired” after 40+ years from a successful career in advertising to found RetiredBrains.com, a job and information resource for boomers, retirees and people planning their retirement.

Stroke symptoms: important actions you should take to perhaps save your life as well as creating a better quality of life after your stroke:

Similar to a heart attack, a stroke is an emergency that requires you to seek immediate medical attention. Perhaps the most important action you can take is getting to the hospital as soon as you recognize these symptoms. Immediate treatment is the key to improving your outcome.

Rapid diagnosis and treatment of a stroke can minimize damage to your brain tissue and improve the chances of survival. Do not hesitate calling for an ambulance as your symptoms subside as many seemingly attacks are often followed by full-blown strokes.

Here are some of the symptoms of a stroke and the immediate actions you should take.

1. Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm, or leg on one side of the body
2. Sudden loss, blurring, or dimness of vision
3. Mental confusion, loss of memory, or sudden loss of consciousness
4. Slurred speech, loss of speech, or problems understanding other people
5. A sudden, severe headache with no apparent cause
6. Unexplained dizziness, drowsiness, lack of coordination, or falls
7. Nausea and vomiting, especially when accompanied by any of the above symptoms

Recognizing a Stroke.

STROKE: Remember the 1st Three Letters….S.T.R.  Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

• S – Ask the individual to SMILE..
• T – Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. It is sunny out today).
• R  – Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
  

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call an emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke ——– Stick out Your Tongue.  Ask the person to ‘stick’ out his/her tongue.. If the tongue is ‘crooked’, if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.

Actions To Take

• Stay calm, but don’t downplay any of the symptoms or hesitate to take prompt action.
• Call or have someone call an ambulance. (Dial 911 in most parts of the United States.) Be sure to give your name, telephone number, and exact whereabouts.
• While waiting for the ambulance, the person having the stroke symptoms should be made as comfortable as possible and should not eat or drink anything other than water.
• If an ambulance cannot arrive within 20 to 30 minutes, have a family member, neighbor, or someone else drive the stroke patient to the hospital. Under no circumstances should the person experiencing the stroke symptoms drive.
• Notify the stroke patient’s doctor. The doctor can provide the hospital with the patient’s medical history, which may be important for determining the best treatment.
• At the hospital, be sure to list any medical conditions the stroke patient has (such as high blood pressure or diabetes), any allergies (particularly allergies to medications), and any medications the patient is currently taking, including over-the-counter remedies, vitamins, and dietary supplements.

Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician.

Personal experience of someone who suffered a stroke.

If you have experienced a stroke or have a friend or loved one who has, this information written by Mickey Padnos, an American currently living in France and recovering from a major stroke will be helpful and provide insights on what someone who has had a stroke is thinking and has gone through..  Click this link to read of his experience and thought process from the time he hit the floor through his therapy and recovery (page down to the “personal experience of someone who suffered a stroke” part of the page).

5 Best Books on Baby Boomers and Retirement

Be sure to visit and have a look!

In 2011, a record 2.8 million Americans turned 65 and became eligible for Medicare and this year, more will be become new enrollees. As a baby boomer, you are likely a newcomer to Medicare and if there is one piece of advice I recommend you take to heart, it is this: don’t wait until the last minute to start planning your Medicare enrollment.

Relax. You’re not locked into the same Medicare plan forever. You can change your Medicare Advantage coverage and prescription drug coverage once a year, and some Medicare supplement plans allow you to enroll at any time. If you take your time before your 65th birthday, the decision-making process should be easier.

Learn the basics. Trying to understand Medicare can make anyone’s head spin. Medicare is a different type of health insurance plan than you may be used to, so before you get inundated with sales pitches and unsolicited advice, try to understand the basics.

There are three basic ways to cover yourself: Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), with a Part D prescription drug plan; Medicare Advantage Plan, which can include vision, dental and prescription drug coverage; and a Medicare Supplement plan which fills certain gaps in Original Medicare.

Figure out what you can afford. It sounds simple, but if you haven’t estimated what your retirement income will be, start doing that math before you enroll in Medicare.

Calculate your income after Social Security benefits, pensions, IRA and 401(k) savings, etc. Then, create a list of monthly expenses including rent, utilities and food, as well as other things like your prescription drug costs. Subtract your expenses from your income to develop a good sense of what you can afford to spend on Medicare on a monthly basis.

Next, look at your savings and think about what kind of a Medicare deductible you can afford if you have a large medical expense. Once you know what you can afford to pay each month for premiums and prescription drugs, as well as what type of annual deductible you could afford if you have an unexpected illness or injury, you’re ready to start comparing plans.

In most states there are 10 standard types of Medicare Supplement plans. For the purposes of this article, I’m using the N supplement plans as an example.

There are many Medicare Supplement N plans available on PlanPrescriber.com if you input your zip code into our tool. There may be additional supplement N plans available in the county that are not listed on the site. Plan prices don’t typically vary within a county, but be sure to use the zip code where you live when you research your options.

Consider your health when making decisions. Your health status will help determine the type of Medicare coverage that best suits your needs. Talk to your doctor about the types of illnesses you’re at risk for later in life, based on your current health status and family history.

Some Medicare Supplement plans don’t allow you to enroll later in life, and those that do may cost you more money. So, you want choose a plan that will fit your budget today, and in 15 years. And, if you take prescription drugs use a drug comparison tool, to help you pick a plan that covers your drugs at the lowest possible cost.

Consider your travel plans. Whether you travel internationally or to different states, it’s important to understand the circumstances under which you’ll be covered. There are Medicare supplement plans that provide travel emergency health care coverage when you’re in foreign countries. If you migrate to another state for several months each year, look for Medicare plans that will cover you outside of designated networks. However, original Medicare and most Medicare supplement plans are good in any location in the United States.

Question brand loyalty. Some Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage plans come from companies you’ve heard of. If there is a brand you trust, investigate their coverage and consider it as an option. But, price is also an important factor. Don’t pay more for the exact same coverage, because you like the name of the insurer.

All Medicare supplement plans are required to offer the same benefits, but the costs can vary widely. So a Medicare supplement K plan from one insurer must – by law – cover the same services as a Medicare supplement K plan from another insurer in your area. Again, using a good online comparison tool helps you compare plans and prices side-by-side so you can make an informed decision.

Ask for help. Medicare is complex, but there are a number of resources available online, by phone and in person. In addition to online sites like PlanPrescriber, you can contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for assistance. SHIPs receive federal funding to provide free local health insurance counseling to people with Medicare. Also, the federal government has created 1-800-MEDICARE to provide information about Medicare coverage and costs, as well as health plan options.

Giving yourself the time to research and consider your Medicare coverage options can pay off.

Ross Blair is President and CEO of Plan Prescriber, Inc., www.PlanPrescriber.com , a leading provider of comparison tools and educational materials for Medicare-related insurance products.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has neither reviewed nor endorsed the information provided by PlanPrescriber.

The flu is a serious and potentially deadly disease that hospitalizes hundreds of thousands of Americans and kills thousands more every year. I want to do everything I can to help protect myself and my family from influenza and its related complications, which is why I make sure we all get our flu shots each and every year.

When my daughter Kristi was younger, I knew that getting the flu could ruin her dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal. In fact, during the 1988 Olympics, we saw another figure skater who was unable to compete due to a severe case of the flu. That really helped emphasize the importance of a flu shot even more for our family.

Influenza vaccination isn’t just important for athletes. Everyone 6 months of age and older is recommended for annual vaccination, and it is especially important that older adults like me get vaccinated. As we age, our immune systems often get weaker, and we might not be able to fight the flu as well as we used to. I encourage others who are 65 years of age and older to talk to their health care provider to learn more about the seriousness of influenza and the flu vaccine options for our age group.

To help increase vaccination rates, the American Lung Association’s Faces of Influenza campaign has worked for the past six years to show all Americans that they are among the many “faces” of influenza. This year, Kristi and I are spearheading the initiative to boost influenza immunization rates among family members of all generations. Mothers often are the primary health care decision-makers of the family, and it’s important we ensure our entire family, from children, husband and grandparents, get a flu shot every year.

It’s also important to recognize that there is still plenty of time to get vaccinated if you haven’t already done so. Many Americans associate influenza with the fall, but you may be surprised to learn that during many flu seasons, influenza activity doesn’t peak until winter or early spring. In fact, virus activity peaked in February or later in approximately half of the past 35 flu seasons.

Talk to your health care provider about your best options for influenza immunization, and put vaccination on your family’s “to-do” list now to make sure you have a happy and healthy holiday season and a great start to the new year.

http://www.onlineuniversities.com/13-secondary-effects-of-the-boomerang-generation

“In 1960, just nine percent of adult children lived with parents. Today, that number is closer to 17%, and grows to a whopping 52% when limited to new college grads. While high, the figures make sense when you consider the rather rough circumstances new graduates face when entering the real world. High debt from college loans and few job opportunities make it difficult for young adults to make it on their own, making it increasingly common to move back in with parents for support after graduation.

This phenomenon has long-reaching ramifications that extend well beyond those first few post-college years, however, both for parents and students. We take a look here at some of the secondary effects of the ever expanding Boomerang Generation and what they mean for the finances, attitudes, psychology, and future of parents and grads living through these strange times.“