Family Health and Life

25/07/2024

. 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."

10/05/2023

13/03/2023

21/02/2023

‘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...

21/02/2023

Great time last night.

29/01/2023

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

23/01/2023

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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13/09/2021

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