Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Dangerous Silent Heart Attacks

A study that tracked nearly 9,500 men and women from 1987 to 2013 discovered that approximately 45% of heart attacks are silent and the victims have no idea that they have experienced a heart event.  Men are more likely to experience silent heart attacks, but women are more likely to die from them.  In fact, anyone who has experienced a silent heart attack has triple the risk of dying from heart disease and is 34% more likely to die from all other causes.

How Do You Know if You Have Had a Silent Heart Attack?

Since these types of heart attacks do not exhibit the classic symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath, how can someone find out whether or not they have had one?  A doctor can detect them with an EKG, which measures the heart's electrical activity.  In fact, most of the time people only learn that they have had one accidentally, during a routine physical.

What Symptoms Could Indicate You are Having a Silent Heart Attack?

The symptoms of a silent heart attack can be very subtle, but anyone should see their doctor for a physical if they are experiencing several of the following symptoms:

Unexplained fatigue
Muscle pain in the upper back, jaw or arms
Painful indigestion
Sudden sweatiness
Nausea
Flu-like symptoms

Often, people do not recognize that they have had a heart attack at the time.  They only recognize these symptoms when a test shows damage to their heart and they look back and remember a time when they experienced some of the above symptoms.

Are These as Dangerous as "Typical" Heart Attacks?

Yes!  In fact, silent heart attacks can be even more dangerous than a typical one, because the patient may not get the treatment they need in order to prevent another one.  This lack of treatment is even more common for women than it is for men.

"Just a Little Heart Attack" is a short movie about silent heart attacks you can watch using the link to this CNN article:  "Almost Half of All Heart Attacks are Silent."

How Can You Reduce Your Heart Attack Risk?

If you would like to reduce your risk of having a heart attack, either your first or a second one, there are some steps your doctor can help you take.  You should quit smoking, lose weight, get exercise and, if appropriate, make sure your cholesterol and blood pressure are both under control.

Treatments for Silent Heart Attacks

Hospitals and doctors should treat you in the same way they would if you had experienced more traditional symptoms.  There is no difference in the damage that could have been caused by the different types of heart attacks and, in fact, the damage could be more severe in a silent one because of a delay in seeking treatment, since any heart attack will stop or reduce the flow of blood to the heart for a period of time.

If you have been experiencing unusual fatigue, nausea or shortness of breath, especially during mild exercise, you should talk to your doctor about your symptoms.

Interested in learning more about medical issues, financial planning, where to retire, Social Security, Medicare, or other topics that pertain to Baby Boomers?  Use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credit:  Morguefile.com

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Will You Enjoy Retirement?

If you spent the last decade of your working years looking forward to the day when you could "take this job and shove it," have you given much thought to how you will spend your days once you walk out of your office or workplace for the last time?

According to research by the National Center for Health Statistics, the average person who reaches age 65 can expect to live another 19.3 years ... or until they are age 84.  What do you plan to do with those extra two decades of life?  Have you given that serious thought?

Will Retirement Be Fun?

Many people imagine spending long days on the golf course, in their fishing boat, or taking cruises and vacations to exotic locations.  However, is that really what you want to do every day for the last twenty years of your life?  Will you even be able to afford that daily round of golf, the fishing boat, or the travel?

According to U.S. News & World Report, the typical retiree between the ages of 65 and 74 spends four hours a day watching television ... and that is the age group of the youngest retirees, the ones who are most capable of being active.

Is it inevitable that your retirement will eventually leave you feeling isolated, bored, and lonely?  Not necessarily.

What Retirement Options Will Keep Your Life Interesting?

In addition to financial planning, people who are preparing to retire, or who are newly retired, should spend plenty of time thinking about the lifestyle choices they can make as they approach their mid-60's.  Below are some options they may want to keep on the table:

Keep working at their current career - What?  After all these years of planning to retire, why would you want to keep working?  Presumably, you have earned a nice income from your job in the past and now you will be able to supplement that income with your Social Security benefits ... which will give you extra money for travel and having fun.  You might also decide to postpone collecting your Social Security until you are age 70, thus substantially increasing your benefits.  Staying at your current job also enables you to maintain your work friendships and connections with other people.  It can give structure to your life and keep your brain alert ... without resorting to endless crossword puzzles.

Find an Encore Career - What if there is no way you want to keep working in your old career?  That doesn't mean you need to give up working altogether and just sit home every day.  There are so many possible career choices.  You could find a job with a local business or non-profit, work as a consultant in your former field, become a tutor, or give lessons.  Retirees are even eligible to sign up for the Peace Corps and share their valuable knowledge and experience around the world.  Yes, many people in the 60's (and sometimes a little older) join the Peace Corps.

Volunteer in your community - If you really don't need extra income, you still do not want to spend your days sitting around the house, watching television.  Why not contact your local hospital or charity and see if they need your help?  I know a woman who helps out one day a week in a local hospital. She particularly enjoys caring for premature babies that just need extra time being held.  The work is not physically demanding, but she feels it is very rewarding.

Find affordable, social hobbies - Everything you do in retirement does not need to be expensive.  Nor do you need to spend time alone when you are pursuing your hobbies.  Join a book club or other activity that you can enjoy with other people.  If you don't know how to find other people who enjoy your hobbies, try www.meetup.comThis website helps you link up with people in your community who are looking for people with common interests ... whether that means hiking, traveling, tai chi, golf, playing games, learning bridge, dancing, tennis, photography, dog walking, writing, painting, yoga, attending movies, boating, playing music, cycling or eating out. Many places of worship also have special activities for their older members.  Go to your local senior center to find exercise classes, low-cost meals and a wide variety of activities.  There is no reason to pursue your favorite activities in solitude when it is so easy to connect with other people who enjoy doing the same things you do.

Plan Your Life After Retirement

Financial planning is a very important part of getting ready for retirement.  However, it is equally important to plan what you will do with that free time ... and hopefully that will not mean just sitting around for the last twenty years of your life.

Plan to have a satisfying and fulfilling life during this period of time.  Think about how you could enrich your life while sharing your gifts with others.

I know people who are as busy or even busier in retirement than they were when they had full-time jobs during their "working years."  What is most interesting is that those are the people who seem to be the happiest as they age!

Are you looking for more information about retirement planning, where to retire, common medical issues, Social Security, Medicare and changing family relationships?  Use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credit:  morguefile.com

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Confusing Parts of Medicare

Are you confused about all the different parts of Medicare ... the so-called Medicare "alphabet?"  If so, you are not alone. Whether people are getting prepared to sign up for Medicare for the first time or are already using it, the different parts can seem like a foreign language.  Below is a brief summary of the different parts, as well as a little basic information that everyone needs to know. 

Medicare Parts A, B and D

Medicare is broken up into four different parts and each one has a different purpose and, in some cases, different requirements that determine whether or not you are eligible.

Medicare Part A:  This section will help pay for your stay in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. It might also pay for home health services and hospice care, if the patient meets certain criteria.  If you or your spouse paid into Medicare long enough during your working years, you do not pay monthly premiums for Part A.  If neither you nor your spouse paid into it while you worked, you can still buy Part A services by paying monthly premiums.  Everyone is entitled to Medicare Part A, either free or for a monthly fee.

Medicare Part B:  This section will help pay for doctors' services (whether in or out of the hospital) and outpatient care, including lab work, tests and health screenings.  It can also cover the cost of some types of medical equipment and supplies, under some circumstances, as well as most vaccines or drugs that the doctor gives you in his office.  You do pay monthly payments for Part B.  However, low-income people may quality for state assistance.  There is a seven month window to sign up for Part B ... three months before your 65th birthday month, during your birthday month, and three months after your birthday month.  If you wait too long to sign up, you can still obtain it, but you will pay extra premiums for the rest of your life.  Medicare Part B only covers about 80 percent of their approved costs and the patient pays the other 20 percent.  At the bottom of this article is more information on the two options you have for covering your portion of the bills.

Medicare Part D:  This section covers the cost of prescription drugs that you take at home.  There is an additional premium involved in getting a Part D drug plan, unless you purchase it as part of a Medicare Advantage Plan.

Medicare Supplements and Medicare Part C

Medicare parts A, B and D are frequently called "basic Medicare."  People often believe they are all you need.  However, sometimes they do not realize they need to sign up for Part D to cover their drugs.  In other cases, people do not realize that when they settle for basic Medicare alone, they are still obligated to pay 20 percent of their medical bills ... which can be substantial.

What do people do to solve these problems?  They have two choices.  First, they can get the three parts of basic Medicare (A, B and D) PLUS purchase a supplemental health insurance policy.  Second, they can simply get a Medicare Advantage plan, also known as Medicare Part C, PLUS a Part D plan if the Medicare Advantage plan they choose does not include drug coverage.  Confusing enough?  Below is a little more information.

Supplemental Insurance:  Many insurance carriers offer supplemental policies, sometimes called Medigap policies, including Anthem, Humana and United Healthcare.  There are different rates, depending on the size of the deductibles and co-pays you prefer. The government even has a website to help you compare Medigap policies.  If you decide to get a Medigap supplemental policy, do it as soon as you sign up for Medicare Part B.  If you buy one within six months of enrolling in Part B, the insurers cannot deny you coverage or charge higher premiums because of preexisting medical conditions.  With supplemental insurance, your doctor or hospital will send medical bills to Medicare first.  Once Medicare reimburses the doctor or hospital, next they bill the supplemental insurance carrier.  After that, they will bill you for any remaining costs.  This system sometimes confuses people, because they keep getting statements from the hospital, doctor and the insurance companies for the same procedure.  Sometimes they think they are being double-billed.

Medicare Advantage or Part C:  This is a completely alternative way to receive your Medicare services.  Everything is administered by one private managed care plan.  There are both HMO and PPO options.  These plans are required to cover everything that is offered in basic Medicare, but they may charge lower co-pays and/or offer additional benefits.  Some of the companies that offer these plans are Kaiser Permanente and Scan. The government also has a website to help you learn more about Advantage plans. The plan you buy may also include Part D drug coverage, or the company could offer you a choice of drug plans at a separate price.  Often they offer extra benefits such as dental, vision and hearing care.  In some cases, there are NO premiums, other than what you would pay for basic Medicare.  With other plans, you may have an additional premium.  They may restrict your choice of doctors to only ones who are in their network, or they may charge a higher copay if you go out of network.  Only one company is billed, the Medicare Advantage company, which is less confusing for some people, since they only receive one set of statements and bills for each procedure.

The Medicare Advantage choice is often the least expensive, since there is frequently no premium or only a small premium above the cost of basic Medicare.  However, it is always beneficial to shop around to make sure that you are getting the most for your money, from a reputable insurance company.  Make sure you are aware of all the major choices available in your state.

Summing Up Medicare

To bring it all together, it is important that everyone contact their local Social Security office as soon as possible when they get close to age 65.  In addition, most people will want to attend informational meetings and get more details about the insurance options for both Medicare Supplemental Plans and Medicare Advantage Plans in their state.  Don't make a decision until you have met with two or three different companies and learned about all your choices.

If you start with a company and realize that you wish you had chosen a different company or type of plan, you are not stuck with your first choice.  There is an open enrollment period every year between October 15 and December 7.  During that time, you are free to move to a different plan.

You May Also Want to Find Out About Common Medicare Mistakes

In addition to knowing the various parts of Medicare, you may also want to read the blog post linked below.  It explains the most common Medicare mistakes made by people approaching retirement:

COMMON MEDICARE MISTAKES  

Looking for more information about Medicare, retirement planning, where to retire, common health problems as we age or more?  Use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credit:  morguefile.com


Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Healthcare Advocates for the Seriously Ill

Life can get complicated at times and illnesses late in life can be especially difficult to handle.  Sometimes, a healthcare advocate can help patients get things sorted out and improve the quality of their lives.

An elderly couple we know have suddenly and unexpectedly gone through dual health problems at nearly the same time.  The wife injured her arm, making it difficult for her to lift or carry things.  Her husband developed multiple myeloma, causing cancerous tumors along his spine.  He cannot walk without a cane or other assistance.  She cannot help him.  They both are in physical therapy.  His chemotherapy includes numerous pills a day.  Their children do not live close enough to help with all the details of life ... handling doctor's visits, insurance forms, bills, etc.  Overwhelmed, their children hired a healthcare advocate to make certain the parents are getting the help they need.

The healthcare advocate will not carry the laundry for the wife; nor will the advocate help the man walk.  Her job is to help them hire a caregiver, go to doctor's appointments with them, get answers to their questions about treatment, make sure they are getting the attention and care they need and, at the same time, help them with insurance forms and other paperwork.

What Does a Healthcare Advocate Do?

Below is a list of the duties of a healthcare advocate. Most people will not need all of these services. However, it can be beneficial to have someone capable of handling these issues for you when you or a close family member is seriously ill:

•  Are you confused about choosing a new doctor or specialist? The healthcare advocate can provide you with a physician referral service.
•  Frustrated with your insurance company?  They will handle insurance disputes for you (fight for your payment, and handle insurance appeals & grievances).
•  Are your doctor and hospital bills too complicated to understand?  They will perform medical bill audits and dispute any questionable fees.
•  Are you paying a reasonable fee for your procedures?  Many of them will have a cost navigator that is designed to help you find lower cost procedures, when appropriate.
•  Are you getting the best deal for your prescriptions?  They will help you compare prices.
•  Are there alternative treatments or drug trials that may help you?  A healthcare advocate will assist you in finding treatments that could benefit you.
•  Do you have the best health insurance plan for your medical issues?  Your healthcare advocate will review your current insurance plan and help you decide if you would be better off with a different one.  Then, they will assist you in making the change, during the appropriate enrollment period.
•  Are you using the best prescription, dental and vision plans?  They will help you compare your choices and pick the appropriate one.
•  What if you need to go into a nursing home or assisted living facility, either for a short time while being treated, or permanently?  They will help you find one that will meet your needs both medically and financially.  They can help you apply for programs such as long-term care using Medicaid or VA benefits, if you qualify.
•  What if you are able to live at home during your treatment and recuperation, but only with the services of a home care aide?  Your healthcare advocate can help you hire one.  They can also coordinate visits with physical therapists, occupational therapists and other healthcare providers who may come to your home.
•  Do you feel as if you have a million forms to complete, and you feel too ill to deal with them?  The healthcare advocate can consolidate some of them and complete many parts of them for you ... especially the parts that are repetitive.
•  What if your physician tells you there is nothing more they can do to help you?  In this sad situation, you will be grateful for the assistance of the healthcare advocate in connecting you with caring hospice services to help you in your final days.

How Can I Find a Healthcare Advocate?

You can contact the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants
They have a member directory at:
http://nahac.memberlodge.com/

You can also learn more about the services provided by healthcare advocates at:


http://www.healthcareadvocates.com/services.html
(215) 735-7711
info @ healthcareadvocates.com 


What are the Advantages of Hiring a Healthcare Advocate?

Dealing with a serious illness can be overwhelming ... whether you are the one who is ill or it is your spouse, parents or another family member.  Whenever you are under stress or don't feel well, it can seem almost impossible to deal with insurance, hospital bills, medical specialists and all the other problems.

In addition, it can be extremely difficult to search for a skilled nursing facility or to hire a home care aid for yourself, should they be needed.

Using a healthcare advocate can be expensive, but they sometimes pay for themselves by saving you money in other ways.  They can also lower your stress ... important to help you heal both mentally and physically.

Interested in learning more about retirement planning, common medical problems, Medicare, where to retire, family relationships and more?  Use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credit:  morguefile.com