Family Health and Life

07/25/2024

. PLEASE READ...Anyone over 65, working for a company over 20ee, and receiving Health Benefits.....

Newsweek headlined Monday, "New Medicare rule could force seniors to switch health insurance plans." From the story: "Many seniors who continue to work past 65 are still on their employer's health plan instead of the government-run Medicare. However a new update to Medicare coverage under the Inflation Reduction Act means seniors could face additional hurdles when it comes to drug coverage. Currently, seniors are able to avoid late penalties for Medicare Part D as long as their company's plan pays on average just as much as the traditional Medicare prescription drug plan."

"Starting January 1, though, employer plans may no longer be accepted as a way out of the late penalties because they will no longer pay as much as the new and improved Part D coverage. January 1 is when out-of-pocket maximums will be set at $2,000, and some of the previously accepted creditable employer plans will no longer meet the qualifying threshold. 'The primary concern is that most employer group plans have combined health and prescription max out-of-pocket benefits with are generally higher than $2,000,' Chris Fong, a Medicare specialist and the CEO of Smile Insurance Group, told Newsweek. 'Thus, it would make the employer plan with max out of pockets higher than $2,000 unqualified as creditable overage and subject the Medicare eligible employee to the late enrollment penalty.'"

What it means: Essentially, all the private company-offered plans that do not cap policyholders' out-of-pocket costs at $2,000 or less would no longer be eligible for seniors. That means seniors who stay on those plans could fact the late enrollment penalty. The late enrollment penalty goes into effect every month you are enrolled in Medicare, if after the initial enrollment period, you had 63 or more days without Medicare drug coverage or an employer-provided creditable drug plan. The penalty is calculated by multiplying 1 percent of the national base beneficiary premium, which was $34.70 for 2024, times the number of how many months you went without Part D or otherwise creditable coverage. The monthly penalty is then permanently put on your monthly Part D premium."

"What Seniors Need To Do: While the new Inflation Reduction Act stipulates that insurers must notify their Medicare eligible customers if their prescription drug coverage is considered creditable or not, seniors should act now to avoid any confusion around the late penalty. Experts recommend calling ahead of time to make sure your Part D insurance replacement remains creditable."

05/10/2023

03/13/2023

02/21/2023

‘Controversial’ Message Seen On Back Of SUV Sparks Online Debate February 18, 2023 Osman Jakupi Viral 0 A message written on the back of an SUV quickly went viral after being shared online.The message was spotted on the back of the SUV, and many applauded the driver after a Reddit user shared th...

02/21/2023

Great time last night.

01/29/2023

Along with Representative Mike Zabel, helped sponsor Veterans Bowling night at the Garrett lanes in Drexel Hill. Fun time for all.

01/23/2023

Healthy Ways to Spice Up Your Water
Hydration is important for your health, but water can be boring. Check out how you can make it taste better while staying healthy.

Water is an essential part of any healthy diet and a great source of hydration without calories, sugar, fat, or sodium. It’s just a shame that water doesn’t have much of a flavor. Sure, it can curb your appetite and prevent dehydration, but enjoying your food and drinks is also important. Adding a lot of sugar or flavorings isn’t the solution either. So, is it possible to make water taste better without making it unhealthy?

Adding Fruit or Vegetables
A classic way to add flavor to water is with a bit of fruit. Most restaurants will give diners the option to have water with lemon, for example. While you may want to skip the lemon wedge in the restaurant, it can definitely add a nice zing of flavor at home. The same is true of other fruits, especially ones that are particularly juicy. This could include oranges, strawberries, berries, kiwis, or any other of your favorite fruits.

There are also vegetables that can add a bit of flavor to your water like cucumbers and zucchini. As an added benefit, you’ll also get some of the nutrients along with the flavor!

Using Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs can also make your water tastier. Mint or basil are especially nice as their flavors work well with water without being overpowering.

In this case, fresh herbs may work better instead of dried herbs for two reasons. First, much of the flavor will come from crushing or gently soaking the herbs to coax out the herbaceous oils. Dried herbs require soaking for some time to have a similar effect. Second, dried herbs can have a gritty texture and may create an unpleasant mouthfeel unless you use a teabag.

There are two general ways to make herb water. One is to add fresh herbs to the water and crush or let them soak. The second is to boil the water and add the herbs so they can steep like tea.

Tea
Tea is another excellent option for making your water better. Tea has been a popular drink for thousands of years, originating in China before making its way to Europe and beyond. Most of us have made tea before, but if you haven’t, it’s super simple (unless you want to get into the milk first or last minefield).

Simply place a teabag in a mug and pour hot water to allow the tea to steep until your desired strength. If you’d prefer cold tea, you can add a few ice cubes or place it in the fridge. Tea can offer you different flavors, different levels of caffeine, and even some health benefits, as we’ve covered before.

Sparkling or Fizzy Water
The biggest issue with water is that it’s a bit boring. Adding flavor may fix that sometimes, but usually it’s still a bit dull. That’s why the fizziness of soda can be a nice change. You can get this without the sugar and calories by switching to sparkling water. While sparkling water may not be adding a great deal of flavor, bubbly water may help you feel more satisfied.

Some sparkling waters and seltzers even have flavors, though some of these come with sugar and calories so be sure to read the label.

Flavor Add-Ins
Finally, there are several flavor add-ins you can find at the grocery store. Some are even calorie- and sugar-free. Another benefit of these is the wide array of flavors they can offer you, from fruit punch to pina colada and beyond.

If you’re a big soda or juice drinker and looking for a way to cut back, these are an excellent option to help you scale back. It’s worth remembering, however, that not all flavor add-ins are sugar- or calorie-free. Some can even be quite high in sugar so make sure to read the label before you buy.

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Water can be refreshing, cooling, and essential, but it’s not exactly fun or delicious. For anyone trying to hydrate more, you might need to get clever to get more water into your diet. The best part is that many of these solutions can work together! Try some mint and cucumber water for a refreshing, delicious summer cooler or add a few flavor drops to some sparkling water. The options for experimentation are endless, so go nuts and don’t forget to hydrate!

Just like you, your health is one of a kind. What works for one person may not for another, so the information in these articles should not take the place of an expert opinion. Before making significant lifestyle or diet changes, please consult your primary care physician or nutritionist. Your doctor will know your own health best.

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09/13/2021

My Granddaughter, Kiera, 1st Birthday Party!!!

03/08/2021

How is Medicare Funded???

We talk a lot about what Medicare costs to use, but not how the benefits are financed. Here's how Medicare is funded, and how we each help ensure enrollees receive affordable health care.
There are 61 million people in the United States that are enrolled in Medicare and rely on its coverage to afford vital health care. While there are costs associated with Medicare, like premiums and copays, there’s still a lot that Medicare covers that isn’t paid for by those costs. In fact, in 2020, 99 percent of Medicare Part A beneficiaries received their coverage premium-free. With the substantial amount that Medicare covers, how does the program stay solvent?
While it’s easy to say “taxes” and move on, that doesn’t tell the whole story. Understanding what taxes and trust funds pay for the health care of millions of beneficiaries — many of them with the greatest need for the care and coverage — offers clarity for those funding measures and shows just how affordable these programs are when we all chip in.
The Medicare Trust Funds
The way Medicare is funded is, in a large part, through taxes. Most of us know that much, but different taxes help pay for different parts of Medicare via trust funds. The United States Treasury holds two trust funds that directly fund the parts of Medicare. The taxes that have been placed in the trust funds can only be used to run and support Medicare. Not only do they allow Medicare to run, the trust funds are authorized to help cover administrative costs like collecting Medicare taxes and combatting Medicare abuse and fraud.
Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund
The Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund is designed to fund the benefits covered under Medicare Part A. This mostly includes inpatient services, like stays at hospitals or skilled nursing facilities and the care that you receive there. In some circumstances, Part A will also cover things like home health care and hospice care, and many of the tangential parts that go along with inpatient care. This could include a semi-private room, prescription drugs taken as part of inpatient treatment, and meals.
Supplemental Medical Insurance (SMI) Trust Fund
The second trust fund, the Supplemental Medical Insurance (SMI) trust fund, covers more services and care than the HI trust fund. The SMI trust fund covers the services offered by both Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D. Medicare Part B covers many of your medical needs, including doctor visits, preventative care, and durable medical equipment. Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs. Together, they cover a wide range of health care needs that beneficiaries may have.
How Does the HI Trust Fund Receive Funding?
The HI Trust Fund receives the grand majority of its funding through payroll taxes. For example, in 2018, the trust fund received 88 percent of its money through this tax. For the portion to be that large, it must be a huge tax on your payroll, right? Actually, unless you’re considered a high earner, you’ll only pay 1.45 percent toward the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (F**A) tax, while your employer pays another 1.45 percent. As mentioned earlier, high income persons pay a little more. If you exceed the threshold for the Additional Medicare Tax, you’ll owe an additional .9 percent. The thresholds for this tax are:
Tax Filing Status
Income Threshold
Married, filing separately
$125,000
Single
$200,000
Head of Household (with qualifying person)
$200,000
Qualifying Widow(er) with dependent child
$200,000
Married, filing jointly
$250,000
Beyond the F**A tax, Medicare Part A and the HI Trust Fund are funded by taxes on the benefits of Social Security (making up about eight percent of the funding in 2018). A small percentage of the money also comes from interest on the trust fund’s various investments that helps swell the available cash. Finally, the HI trust fund receives a small boost from Medicare Part A premiums. This is a very small proportion since, as noted earlier, almost all Medicare Part A beneficiaries qualify to receive the coverage premium-free.
How Does the SMI Trust Fund Receive Funding?
The SMI trust fund differs from the HI trust fund in that it doesn’t receive funding from payroll tax. Instead, the largest portion of the funding comes from general revenue allowances. For example, it accounted for 72 percent of the funding for Medicare Part C and 71 percent for Medicare Part D in 2018. General revenue includes funds that have been authorized for use as part of the overall budget by Congress.
The other major source of funding for the SMI trust fund is premiums, which both Part B and D have. They make a surprisingly low percentage, accounting for 26 percent and 17 percent of Part B and D funding, respectively, in 2018. The rest of the funding is made up of smaller sources like interest from trust fund investments.
What About Medicare Advantage Plans?
You may be wondering about Medicare Part C, or Medicare Advantage as it’s sometimes called. While this type of plan is offered by private companies, they still receive funding from the government as part of the Medicare program. As such, they still are at least partially funded by both the HI and SMI trust funds, though costs that go above this are picked up by either the plan or the beneficiary, in the form of premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
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They say nothing in life is free, and this goes for affordable health care coverage, too. But when you weigh the good that Medicare coverage offers, like ensuring beneficiaries can get critical health care when they need it, along with how little we each have to chip in to make a big difference, the value of this program may become clearer. No wonder why Medicare programs have remained so popular over 50 years after their creation.
Just like you, your health is one of a kind. What works for one person may not for another, so the information in these articles should not take the place of an expert opinion. Before making significant lifestyle or diet changes, please consult your primary care physician or nutritionist. Your doctor will know your own health best.

02/22/2021

The Benefits of Healthy Proteins

Proteins are an important part of any meal, but too much can be unhealthy for our hearts. Here's why proteins are so healthy for us and sources of lean protein to incorporate in your diet.
For many Americans, proteins are the central focus of our meals. If dinner was a football team, the protein would be the quarterback. In other words, the protein tends to be the foundation of the meal that the other ingredients play off of. This flavor importance comes at a good reason. Not only are proteins very tasty and robust, but there’s a lot of nutritional value in them. What are these health benefits, and are all proteins made equally?
The Upsides and Downsides of Protein
Protein is one of the most important macronutrients that you can commonly get in your diet. It serves many purposes in your body. Protein is critical for growing and maintaining your muscles, though the benefit of this isn’t just for body builders. As we age, we can start to lose muscle mass, making physical activity more difficult and tiring. A healthy diet with enough proteins can also be good for your bones, power your immune system, and help you lose weight by promoting fullness and boosting your metabolism. These are only a few of the benefits, illustrating just how important proteins are to our general health.
High protein intake is associated with a number of health risks, most notably cardiovascular issues, mostly from saturated fats.
But there can be risks to having too much protein, and even the right amount isn’t without its downsides. High protein intake is associated with a number of health risks, most notably cardiovascular issues. The main culprit here is meat-based proteins, which can often be high in saturated fats. Over time, these can raise your LDL, or bad cholesterol. While all fat may not be as bad for us as we once thought, an overabundance of it (especially the unhealthy types) can still cause a number of issues. Red meats specifically, like beef or pork, tend to be higher in saturated fats, leading to studies that link high protein intake to cardiovascular events (i.e. heart attacks). It is worth noting that red meat can be healthy in the right amounts, especially unprocessed red meat, but again, it should be part of a balanced diet.

Why Healthy Proteins are Important

At this point, the importance of finding a balance between getting your recommended amount of protein each day without overdoing it is clear. You need a good bit of protein, but too much can be bad for your heart, especially the wrong sources of protein. Luckily, there are good sources of protein that lack the high saturated fat content that can put your heart at risk. One study looked at a few of these lean protein diets compared to a high fat protein diet and found a statistically significant difference in lowered chances of chronic heart disease and total mortality rates. It all comes down to making healthier choices for your proteins.
Healthy Sources of Protein
A good rule of thumb when looking for healthier proteins is that the less saturated fat they have, the leaner they’ll be. We’ll look at a few of the most widely available and healthier suggestions.

Lean Cuts of Red Meat

Yes, red meats tend to be the highest in saturated fat, but sometimes, you just need a good steak. If you’re craving some beef or another red meat, you can avoid some of the fat by looking into leaner cuts. Not all cuts of meat are created equal, with come containing more fat than others. Pork belly is going to have more fat than tenderloin, for example. In fact, that pork tenderloin is as lean as a skinless chicken breast (more on them later). For beef, stick with sirloins and roasts, which tend to be the leanest cuts.

Fish

Fish tend to be some of the best sources of lean animal-based proteins. It’s no surprise that, of the foods where almost all the calories come from protein, over half are white fish. This rises to 70 percent of the list if you include shrimp, which are also excellent sources of low-fat protein. We also can’t leave out one of our favorite fish, salmon. We’ve written about this red-tinted fish a ton, but for good reason. It’s a lean protein, but what fat is does have are mostly omega-3 fatty acids, which are outrageously good for you. (Seriously, here are three articles where we discuss different benefits of salmon and omega-3 fatty acids.)

Poultry and White Meat

Chicken and other poultry are also lean proteins that you can use in just about every meal. There are many ways you can ensure your poultry is as lean as possible. Of all the different types of chicken meat, the leanest is white meat, so it pays to stick with the breast meat. You can also make the meat a bit leaner by removing the skin, which contains saturated fat (though it also has a lot of healthy unsaturated fats). You should be careful with ground chicken or turkey, however, because fat can be snuck in to keep the meat moist. Watch the percentages and try to stick around 90 percent if you’re watching your fat.

Non-Meat Proteins

Of course, if you’re looking for lean proteins, non-meat (vegetarian) proteins can help you get your essential nutrients without much of the added fat. The abundance of meat substitute products on the market now have made it easier than ever to get non-meat proteins, though some may have added fats and sugars to mimic the flavor of meat. Among the vegetables that are high in protein, you can find soy (one of the most popular meat replacements), different varieties of beans, spinach, mushrooms, and Brussels sprouts, to name a few. These vegetables, especially soy and mushrooms, can handle many different flavors and styles of cooking, making them great versatile ingredients.
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Protein is an essential nutrient to the way our bodies function properly. If you’re watching your fat intake or your heart health, paying attention to the right kind of protein can make a massive difference. It certainly helps that you have a lot of delicious and versatile options to pick from!
Just like you, your health is one of a kind. What works for one person may not for another, so the information in these articles should not take the place of an expert opinion. Before making significant lifestyle or diet changes, please consult your primary care physician or nutritionist. Your doctor will know your own health best.