Text Size
Recent ColumnsAuto Aids for Aging DriversDear Savvy Senior,I’ve heard that there are some different devices you can buy for your car that can help older drivers. I’ve lost a lot of flexibility over the years and have a hard time getting in and out of my car, and my wife struggles with arthritis in her hands which causes her some problems too. What’s available that can help keep us mobile? Stiff Driver Dear Stiff, There are lots of gadgets and devices on the market today that can help make driving easier and safer for seniors. Here’s a breakdown of some popular budget-friendly products that can help with a variety needs. Mobility and Flexibility Each year in the U.S., an estimated 37,000 people age 65 and older are injured by simply entering or exiting their vehicle. If mobility problems or limited range of motion is hampering your ability to get in and out of your car, look over your shoulder to back-up or merge into traffic, or even reach for your seatbelt, here are some items that can help:
Drivers who have arthritic or weak hands may find the tasks of turning the ignition key to start the car, or twisting open the gas cap to fill up, difficult and painful. Items that can help include an “easy-to-grasp key holder,” which is a small handle device that attaches to your car keys to provide additional leverage making it easier to turn the key in the ignition or door. And for help at the pump, a “gas cap turner” makes removing the gas cap a breeze. Another comfy add-on is a “steering wheel cover” that fits over your existing steering wheel to make it larger in size and easier to grip. Sensitivity to Glare Aging eyes almost always become more sensitive to glare. A fantastic item that can help is the “Sun Zapper Glare Shield” – a device that clips right on to your existing sun visor to remove sun glare without obstructing vision. It also comes with a special sliding shield that lets you block extra-bright glare spots. Small Drivers Most seniors shrink a little as they get older (due to gravity and osteoporosis) and for those who were small to start with, it can be difficult seeing over the steering wheel, or reaching the pedals without being too close to the airbag. Solutions include getting an orthopedic (wedge-shaped) seat cushion that supports the back and elevates you a few extra inches to help you see. Or foot pedal extensions that allow you to reach the gas and brake pedals while keeping you 10-to-12-inches from the steering wheel. These cost around $200 and need to be installed by a professional. Shopping Tips: All of these items (except the foot pedal extensions) cost under $40, and can be found online at a variety of locations. Some good shopping points include Amazon.com, Dynamic Living (888-940-0605; dynamic-living.com), ActiveForever (800-377-8033; activeforever.com;) and AutoSport (800-953-0814; autosportcatalog.com). Strategies to Boost Your Social SecurityDear Savvy SeniorI know that the size of a person’s Social Security retirement benefit is based on how much they earn over their lifetime. But beyond earning a higher paycheck, which isn’t likely for me, is there anything I can do to boost my future Social Security benefits? Approaching Retirement Dear Approaching, Most people think that there isn’t much they can do about the size of their future Social Security retirement checks – but that’s not true! Depending on your situation, there are several ways to boost your benefits that few people know about. Here’s what they are and how they work. Waiting Strategy The most common strategy people use to increase their benefits is to delay taking them. While workers can start collecting their Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62 (and most do), postponing them to full retirement age (which is 66 if you were born between 1943 and 1954), or better yet to age 70, can make a big difference. Let’s say, for example, that you’re eligible for $1,000 monthly benefit at age 62. By waiting to 66 your monthly benefit would increase to $1,333. And by waiting to age 70, you would boost your benefit a whopping 76 percent to $1760. Waiting beyond age 70 will not increase your benefits. I do, however, want to add that if you’re strapped for cash or in poor health and don’t expect to live much past your mid-70s, you’re better off collecting early benefits. See www.ssa.gov/estimator to calculate your benefits at different retirement ages. Strategies for Couples In addition to delaying benefits, there are two strategies that can help married couples too. The first one is called “file and suspend” – part of the Senior Citizens Freedom to Work Act of 2000. It allows a worker to “file and suspend” Social Security benefits once he or she has reached full retirement age. Under this law, the higher-earning spouse (usually the husband) could file for benefits, allowing his wife to collect her share, and then suspend his own benefits while continuing to work and building a bigger payment for the future. Another benefits-boosting option few people know about is the “claim now, claim more later” strategy. This option lets you draw on your spouse’s Social Security benefits (once you reach full retirement age), while delaying the start of your own benefits. Here’s how it works: Let’s say that you and your wife are both 66. You’re still working and you’d like to delay collecting benefits based on your own earnings record until you’re 70. Your wife can collect full benefits based on her work record – and you can collect a spousal benefit which is half of what she gets. Then, once you reach 70, you stop receiving the spousal benefit and switch to your own benefit, which will be 32 percent higher than the benefit you would have collected at your full retirement age. Borrow and Invest Strategy This is an option for wealthier retirees with other sources of income. How this works is you start collecting early Social Security benefits as soon as you retire, and you save and invest that money. Then at age 70, you file a withdrawal application form 521 at your local Social Security office and pay back the benefits that you’ve received, with no interest or adjustment for inflation. Then you reapply for Social Security, claiming a larger monthly check based on your older age. And, you keep the profits you earned from the benefits you invested. For more information see www.ssa.gov/retire2/withdrawal.htm. Family Boosters Having children under age 19 who are still in high school can also boost your benefits. Each dependent child is entitled to benefits worth up to half of what you’re collecting. And if any child is younger than 16, your spouse can also qualify for additional benefits as a caregiver. To learn more about these options visit www.socialsecurity.gov or call 800-772-1213. How to Find Senior DiscountsDear Savvy Senior,It seems like senior discounts have been dwindling over the past few years. What’s the best way to find them? Penny Pincher Dear Penny, One of the great perks of growing older in the U.S. is the many discounts that are still available to seniors. While the recession has caused many companies to cut back or eliminate their senior discount programs, there are still plenty of good deals out there. You just have to dig a little deeper. Here are some tips and tools to help you find them. Just Ask The first thing to know is that not all businesses advertise it, but many give senior discounts just for the asking – so don’t ever be shy or embarrassed to ask. You also need to know that some discounts are available as soon as you turn 50, while others may not kick in until you turn 55, 60, 62 or 65. Here are some other tips that can help you find the best deals and discounts. Web Search The single best resource for finding senior discounts is SeniorDiscounts.com. A great resource that lists more than 150,000 businesses offering senior breaks on a wide variety of products and services like airlines, car rentals, travel, recreation, shopping, restaurants, hotels, state and national parks, medical services, pharmacies and museums. For an annual fee of $8 you can find discounts by the city, state, or zip code, or by the category you’re interested in. Or for $13 you can find and get discounts through their members-only club, and receive a printed copy of their SeniorDiscounts Guide to boot. Also check out SeasonedSpender.com and Bargains4seniors.com, two less established sites that let you search for discounts and deals for free. Join a Club Another avenue to senior discounts is through clubs and organizations. The one you’re probably most familiar with is AARP (www.aarp.org; 888-687-2277), which offers its members (age 50 and older) a wide variety of discounts through affiliate businesses. Annual AARP membership is $16. But that’s not all! There are a variety of other organizations that offer discounts, such as The Seniors Coalition (www.senior.org; 703-896-7615), Alliance for Retired Americans (www.retiredamericans.org; 800-333-7212), American Seniors Association (www.americanseniors.org; 800-951-0017), Christian Seniors Association (www.christiansenior.org; 202-547-4400) and the National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees (www.narfe.org; 800-627-3394). Also consider AAA (www.aaa.com). While you don’t have to be a senior to join, AAA provides a variety of travel and shopping discounts to go along with their emergency roadside services. Travel Discounts If you’re interested in discounted travel there are loads of options, most of which can be found at Seniordiscounts.com, or if you join an organization, through their Web sites and membership materials. In the meantime here are some of the best deals you should know about.
Living Wills: Planning for the inevitableDear Savvy Senior,Can you recommend some good resources to help my wife and me create our living wills? We want to avoid any artificial life-support at the end of our lives, but would also like to avoid a high-priced attorney to get them. What can you tell me? Procrastinating Paul Dear Paul, Creating a living will is one of those things most people want and plan to do, but rarely get around to actually doing. Less than 30 percent of Americans currently have one. But preparing one now gives you a say in how you want to be treated at the end of your life, not to mention it can spare your loved ones some very stressful decisions at an emotional time. Here’s what you should know. Advance Directives To adequately spell out your wishes regarding your end-of-life medical treatment you need two legal documents: A “living will” which tells your doctor what kind of care you want to receive if you become incapacitated. And a “medical power of attorney” (or health care proxy) which names a person you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so. These two documents are known as advance directives. Do-It-Yourself Today, there are several free or low-cost resources to help you write your advance directive, and it takes only a few minutes from start to finish. Here are some good places to find help: ¬ Caring Connections: A resource created by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization that provides free information and state-specific advance directive forms with instructions on their Web site (www.caringinfo.org) that you can download and print. Or, you can call 800-658-8898 and they will mail them to you and answer any questions you may have. ¬ Aging with Dignity: An advocacy organization that offers an easy-to-use legal document called “Five Wishes” that covers all facets of an advance directive. Five Wishes is legally valid in 40 states and costs $5. To get a copy, visit www.agingwithdignity.org or call 888-594-7437. ¬ Online resources: For under $15 Web sites like www.legacywriter.com and www.uslegalwills.com can create a living will and medical power of attorney for you by asking you questions and inserting your answers. Once you’re finished, you simply print it out (or they can mail it to you) and sign it with two witnesses present to make it legal. You may also need to get it notarized depending on the state you live in. Or, if you’re looking for a little extra help, try www.legalzoom.com. This site works like the others but will then have a specialist review your answers for completeness. The cost for this service starts at $39. ¬ U.S. Living Will Registry: This is a nifty service that electronically stores your advance directive and organ donor information and makes these documents available to your family or health care provider 24-hours-a-day via the Internet or telephone. The cost to register is $125. See Uslivingwillregistry.com for more information. Multipurpose Planning If you looking for a comprehensive estate planning tool “Quicken WillMaker Plus 2010” (www.nolo.com; 800-728-3555) is a top resource that uses computer software to create state-specific living wills, as well as property wills, trusts and many other documents. You can purchase it as a downloadable software program for $44, or you can get it on a CD for $50. Savvy Tips: To insure your final wishes are followed, be very thorough when you create your living will and medical power of attorney documents and give copies to your family and doctor. It’s also important to have a direct, candid conversation with your health care proxy and doctor so they know exactly what you want. And don’t forget to review your advance directive every few years and update it when necessary. If you would rather use a lawyer to draft your advance directive, look for one who specializes in estate planning and health care related matters. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (www.naela.org), and the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils (www.naepc.org) are good resources to start with. Job Resources for Un-RetireesDear Savvy Senior,What resources can you recommend to help retirees find a job? With the economy in the tank and my nest egg dwindling, I’ve had to cut back my monthly withdrawals to keep from running out of money. Now I need to find a job to help make ends meet. What can you tell me? Looking for Work Dear Looking, Unfortunately, the economic downturn has forced many retirees back into the workforce. To help you job hunt, there are a variety of resources available today that cater specifically to older workers. Here are some to try. Web Resources Whatever your skills or working interest (full-time, part-time, temporary or seasonal) there’s a growing array of online employment networks that can help you connect with companies that are interested in hiring seniors. Some top sites to visit are:
Uncle Sam may also be able to help you get a job through their Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, SCSEP offers lower-income folks, age 55 and older access to training and part time job placements in a wide variety of community service positions such as day care centers, senior centers, governmental agencies, schools, hospitals, libraries and landscaping centers. To learn more or locate a program near you visit www.doleta.gov/seniors or call 877-872-5627. Another government resource to tap into is a Career One-Stop center. There are more than 3,000 of these centers located around the country that provide free resources and services to help you explore career options, locate training and find a new job. To find a nearby center, call 877-348-0502 or go to www.servicelocator.org. In addition, some states, communities and local nonprofits may offer their own senior employment programs. To find out what may be available in your area contact the eldercare locator at 800-677-1116. Temporary Part-Time If you’re looking for temporary part time work, a great option to consider is the U.S. Census Bureau who’s currently recruiting census takers for the 2010 census. This is ideal for retirees looking to earn some extra income and work flexible hours. Pay ranges from $10 to $22 an hour, depending on the region. Thousands of census takers are needed to update address lists and conduct door-to-door interviews. Hiring will begin in February. To apply, call 866-861-2010 to schedule an appointment to take the employment test. And for more information go to www.census.gov/2010censusjobs. SSA Notes: Retirees who are looking to unretire need to be aware that working can temporarily reduce your Social Security (see www.ssa.gov/pubs/10069.html) if you are currently collecting retirement benefits and are under full retirement age, and earn more than $14,160 in 2009. Also note that some of your Social Security benefits may be taxable too if your adjusted gross income, nontaxable interest and half of your Social Security benefits reach more than $25,000, or $32,000 for married couples. For more information call the Social Security help line at 800-772-1213. How to Find Long Lost FriendsDear Savvy SeniorI just turned 60, and before I get any older I would like to get back in touch with some long-lost friends from years ago. What’s the best way to find them? Reaching Back Dear Reaching, There are actually many ways to go about tracking down people you’ve lost touch with, and thanks to the Internet, it’s much easier to do. Here are some tips and good Web sources to get you started. Remembering Before you start your search, a good first step is to take a moment and jot down any information you can remember about the person you’re trying to find. Things like their full name, age or birth date, last known address or phone number, old e-mail address, names of family members, etc. Knowing details can help you turn up clues as you search. Web Search After you gather some information, a good place to start searching is at Google.com. When you get there type in the person’s first and last name in quotation marks to indicate you’re searching for a specific phrase (for example, “John Doe”). Unless your friend has a unique name, you’re likely to get a ton of results, but don’t give up. You can narrow your search by adding other criteria like their middle initial or middle name, the city or state they may live in, or even their occupation. Also be sure to take advantage of the advanced search feature which is right on the front page. Some other good and free people search sites to try are www.411.com which also has a reverse phone and address look-up, www.zabasearch.com, www.find-people-free-search.com and http://people.yahoo.com. You can also find long lost friends through public records Web sites which provide a plethora of searching tools and massive amounts of data. To start digging, stop by www.searchsystems.net, the largest directory of links to free public record databases on the Internet. Or for a few dollars, you can search sites like www.peoplelookup.com, www.peoplefinders.com, www.public-records-now.com and www.intelius.com, all of which produce fantastic results. Back to School Two sites commonly used to track down former classmates and old high school sweethearts are Classmates.com and Reunion.com. Classmates.com claims 40 million users and offers free registration, but if you want to contact someone, you need to become a member, which costs $15 for three months. Reunion.com claims to have 51 million users and costs $36 for three months. These sites require users to register with them, so if the person you’re looking for hasn’t registered, you won’t find them. Another option is to check out your high school’s alumni Web page. Not every school has its own site, but many do and you can look for it by going to any search engine and typing in the name of your school with the city and state it’s located in. You can also do a search at www.alumniclass.com, which is a huge hosting site for thousands of high schools across the U.S. If you don’t have any luck here, contact your high school to see if they have any resources or recommendations. If you’re looking for old college friends, your best resource is your university alumni association who are experts at tracking people down. If they aren’t able to give you the contact information, they may be able to forward a message for you. You may also want to try the previously mentioned sites Classmates.com and Reunion.com, and for help in hunting down old sorority or fraternity members check out www.greekpages.com. Military Buddies If you’re looking for someone you served with in the military, Military.com offers a free Buddy Finder service that has a data base of more than 20 million records. Also try Militaryconnections.com and Classmates.com. Deceased Friends And finally, to find out if the person you’re looking for has passed away try www.legacy.com, a site that provides links to obituaries published by the company’s network of newspaper affiliates. You can also do a death search at www.ancestry.com – click on “search,” or through the public records sites previously listed. Social Security Can Help Divorcees TooDear Savvy SeniorWhat can you tell me about Social Security benefits for divorcees? I was married many years ago and would like to know what I may be eligible for. Happily Single Dear Happily, Social Security provides divorced spouses benefits just like they do current spouses – if they meet the right requirements. Here’s what you should know. Divorce Rules A divorced spouse can collect a Social Security retirement benefit on the work record of their ex-husband (or ex-wife) IF, they are at least age 62 and were married for at least 10 years, are unmarried now and are not eligible for a higher benefit based on their own or someone else’s Social Security record. In order to collect, however, your ex-spouse must also be at least 62 and eligible for Social Security benefits, but they don’t have to be receiving them in order for you to collect divorced spouse’s benefits. Even if your ex is remarried, it won’t affect your right to divorcee benefits, nor will it affect your ex’s retirement benefits or his or her current spouse’s benefits. In fact, the Social Security Administration (SSA) doesn’t contact ex-spouses so they won’t even know if you’re receiving benefits on their record. Benefit Amount A divorced spouse can receive up to 50 percent of their ex’s full Social Security benefit, or less if they take benefits before their full-retirement age – which is between ages 65 and 67 depending on the year you were born. To find out your full-retirement age and see how much your benefits will be reduced by taking them early see www.ssa.gov/retire2/agereduction.htm. Keep in mind though, that if you qualify for benefits based on your own work history, you’ll receive the larger of the two benefits. You cannot receive benefits on both your own record, and your ex’s work record too. To calculate your retirement benefits based on your own earnings history, see the SSA retirement benefits calculator at www.ssa.gov/planners/calculators.htm. And to get an estimate of your divorced spouse benefit, call Social Security at 800-772-1213. You’ll need you’re ex’s Social Security Number to get it. Remarrying Since 75 percent of U.S. divorcees get married again, it’s important to note that remarrying makes you ineligible for divorced spouse’s benefits unless the later marriage ends. And for those who have been married (and divorced) twice, with both marriages lasting more than 10 years, you can collect using the ex-spouse with the larger Social Security benefit. Divorced Survivor You also need to know that if your ex-spouse dies, and you were married for 10 or more years, you become eligible for divorced “survivor benefits,” which is worth up to 100 percent of what your ex-spouse was due. Survivor’s benefits are available to divorced spouses as early as age 60, or age 50 if you’re disabled. But be aware that you cannot get survivor’s benefits if you remarry before age 60 unless the marriage ends. However getting remarried after age 60 (50 if you’re disabled), will not prevent you from getting benefit payments based on your former spouse’s record. (Note: If you are receiving divorced spouses benefits when you ex-spouse dies, you will automatically be switched over to the higher paying survivor benefit.) Switching Options Divorced widows and widowers may have other options to consider, such as: If you are currently collecting Social Security retirement benefits on your own record, and your ex-spouse dies, you can switch to survivor’s benefits if the payment is larger. Or, if you are collecting survivor’s benefits, you can switch to your own retirement benefits as early as age 62 if it offers a larger payment. How to Collect To learn more about, or apply for, divorced spouse or divorced survivor benefits, or to switch benefits from your record to your ex-spouse’s record, call 800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office. You’ll need certified copies of your marriage and divorce certificates as proof of your relationship. And for more information on divorced benefits see www.ssa.gov/retire2/divspouse.htm. Getting Your Affairs OrganizedDear Savvy SeniorMy husband and I (both in our 70s) would like to get our personal and financial information better organized so our kids will know what’s going on when we die. Any tips on how to get started? Unorganized Edna Dear Edna, Collecting and organizing your important papers and information is a smart idea and a great gift to your loved ones. Here’s what you should know. Get It Together The first step in getting your affairs in order is to gather up all your important personal, financial and legal information, so you can arrange it in a format that will benefit your caregivers, survivors and even yourself. Then you’ll need to sit down and create various lists of important information and instructions of how you want certain things handled. Here are some key areas to help you get started. Personal Information
Coping with Low VisionDear Savvy SeniorWhat kinds of resources are available to help seniors with severe vision impairment? My wife has macular degeneration and has become very discouraged. What can you tell us? Looking for Help Dear Looking Unfortunately, there are millions of older Americans with incurable vision impairment, making everyday tasks like cooking dinner, reading the newspaper or watching television challenging. But the good news is there are resources, tools and techniques available today that can help. Here’s what you should know. Growing Problem According to the National Eye Institute, 3.3 million Americans age 40 and over currently live with low vision or blindness – usually brought on by one of the big four age-related eye diseases: macular degeneration; glaucoma; cataracts; or diabetic retinopathy – and that number is expected to double over the next 30 years. (The terms vision impairment, or low vision, means that even with eyeglasses, contact lenses, medicine or surgery, you don’t see well.) Those affected often sink into depression, suffer hip fractures and other injuries, and become socially isolated. While not much can be done to prevent these diseases, there are some things your wife and you can do to help her cope with and manage her condition. Hands-On Help Are you aware of vision rehabilitation services? Today, there are hundreds of vision rehabilitation agencies, organizations and clinics across the country that can help people, and their families, adapt to living with vision loss. While vision rehabilitation cannot restore lost sight, it does help people maximize their existing sight or, if they have no vision, it can equip them with techniques and tools to maintain an independent lifestyle. Services vary, but many offer eye examinations, low vision evaluations and professional counseling, along with special training on how to perform everyday activities in new ways and training to use visual and adaptive devices. They may also offer tips and guidance for modifying the home, and support from others with low vision. To find a program in your area visit www.lighthouse.org – click on “Help Near You.” Costs for these types of services range in the ballpark of $200 to $300 for an initial vision evaluation, and $50 to $100 per hour there after. While Medicare and most private insurance coverage is spotty at best and more often non-existent, most state agencies for the blind and visually impaired offer low cost or free services. Other Resources If you can’t find a vision rehabilitation service in your area, there are other resources that can help like the American Foundation for the Blind, which created a special site for seniors with low vision (www.afb.org/seniorsite), and VisionAWARE (www.visionaware.org), a nonprofit public charity. These sites offer tons of information, instructional videos and articles providing everyday solutions to living with vision loss including tips for adapting your home to make it safer and easier to maneuver, techniques for traveling safely outside the home, and ideas on how to manage your finances, medication and other tasks like cooking, cleaning, grooming, reading, writing and more. They also list a variety of low vision adaptive products and computer technology that can help improve your quality of life and help you get back to doing the things you enjoy. Another helpful resource is Lighthouse International, a nonprofit offering great information on their Web site and a free new guide called “Living Better: A Guide for People with Vision Loss.” To get a copy, visit www.lighthouse.org or call 212-821-9567. Pet TrustsDear Savvy SeniorWhen I read that Leona Helmsley (who recently died) left $12 million to take care of her dog, it got me thinking about my own pets. While I don’t have millions to leave my furry family, I want to make sure they’re well taken care of after I’m gone. What can you tell me about “pet trusts” and how do I set one up? Pet Loving Lucy Dear Lucy, Pet trusts have become increasingly popular in recent years as older pet owners are looking for ways to ensure their pets will be well cared for when they’re no longer able to do the caring. Here’s what you should know. Pet Trust A pet trust is a legal instrument that allows you to designate a specific amount of money for your pet’s care and name a trustee to carry out your wishes. There are two main types of pet trusts you can set up. One option is a “traditional pet trust,” which is effective in all states and is similar to a trust you’d set up for a child, but it’s pricy costing around $1,500 to $2,000. Or you could opt for a “statutory pet trust,” which is a much cheaper option (under $100) and is currently allowed in 38 states and the District of Columbia (see www.estateplanningforpets.org). To create a statutory pet trust you simply add a few lines to your will, instead of setting up a separate legal trust. But the drawback is it takes several months for the will to go through probate, so you’ll need to arrange care for the interim. If you want to set up a pet trust, talk to an estate-planning attorney (see www.aaepa.com), preferably one who has experience with pet trusts. Or you can work with a company like Pet Guardian (www.petguardian.com; 888-843-4040) which creates living pet trust in any state for birds, cats, dogs and horses, and charges around $500. Some factors you’ll need to consider before setting up a pet trust include:
If you don’t want to spend the cash or time on a trust, there are other options to ensure your pets are cared for, including:
How to Check-Up on Your DoctorsDear Savvy Senior,What resources are available that can help me research some doctors in my area? I’m looking for a new primary care doctor for my mother and an orthopedic doctor for me, but I could use some help. Hunting for Doc’s Dear Hunting Over the years, most people looking for a new doctor have turned to friends, family members, coworkers or doctors they already know for a recommendation. Or many simply pick a physician from their health plan who happens to be nearby, and hope for the best. But today, a growing number of resources are available that can help patients find the best medical care possible. Here’s what you should know. Finding Dr. Right The Internet has become the single greatest source for locating and evaluating physicians. Whether you’re researching a new doctor or looking to learn more about your current doctor(s) there’s a number of online resources that provide basic data on just about every licensed doctor in the U.S. Here are some good ones to help you get started:
After you find a few doctors you’re interested in, here are some additional sources that can help you dig a little deeper. To check into your doctor’s board certification status, for example, visit the American Board of Medical Specialties www.abms.org or call 866-275-2267. And to learn about any disciplinary actions taken against doctors, your state medical licensing board is your best resource. The Federation of State Medical Boards Web site has direct links to every state board at www.fsmb.org/directory_smb.html where you can search for free. Or you can go to www.docinfo.org and request a physician profile (for $10) that includes license and disciplinary status. If you’re looking for more information, there are several fee-based services that can help including Health Grades (www.healthgrades.com), which provides reports ($29.95 each) that cover education and training, board certification, professional misconduct or disciplinary action, and satisfaction scores from patients. Consumers’ Checkbook (www.checkbook.org) is another neat service that can help you search for top-rated doctors that have actually been recommended by other doctors. Their database lists 20,000 physicians, in 30 different fields of specialty, in 50 metro areas. They charge $24.95 for a two-year subscription. What to Know Once you have found a few names of doctors you might want to try, here are some additional things you need to find out, which you can easily do by calling their office:
Seniors Need Vaccinations Too!Dear Savvy SeniorI recently read that there are a variety of vaccinations that can help protect seniors. Can you tell me what they are and what Medicare pays for? Booster Bob Dear Bob Most people think that vaccinations are just for kids, but adults, especially seniors, need their shots too. Here’s what you should know. Roll Up Your Sleeve Outside of eating a healthy diet, regular exercise, not smoking and routine health screenings, the best way to prevent illness and stay healthy as you age is to keep up with your vaccinations. But far too few seniors are taking advantage of these important vaccines – usually because they either aren’t aware of them, they are afraid to get them or they don’t have the funds to pay for them. Here is a list of the different vaccines seniors need, and how they work with Medicare.
Social Security and Medicare Adjustments for 2009Dear Savvy Senior,Can you give me a full run-down on the Social Security and Medicare changes for 2009? Planning Ahead Dear Planning, In the midst of all the financial turmoil Uncle Sam has good news for seniors in 2009! Come January, you and over 50 million other Americans receiving Social Security benefits will get a 5.8 percent raise, the largest since 1982. But that’s not all. Medicare also recently announced that for the first time in eight years your Part B monthly premium (which covers doctor and outpatient services) will not go up next year. Here’s a rundown on what you can expect in 2009. SSA Adjustments To help keep up with inflation, every year since 1975 Social Security has been giving automatic cost-of-living-adjustments (COLAs). For 2009 that adjustment is a 5.8 percent increase, which is the largest in 25 years. The 2009 COLA is figured based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2007 through the third quarter of 2008. Here’s a run-down of some other Social Security COLA numbers that may interest you:
Your Social Security boost isn’t the only positive news. For the first time since 2000, and only the sixth time in Medicare’s history, your Part B premium will not be increased from the previous year. Your 2009 Part B premium will be $96.40 per month – the same as in 2008. The news, however, for wealthier seniors – who make up about 5 percent of Medicare enrollees – isn’t as good. Their premiums will be increased based on their income level. Here’s how it breaks down. For individuals with incomes of $85,000 to $107,000, or married couples filing joint tax returns with incomes of $170,000 to $214,000, their Part B premium will be increased to $134.90 per month in 2009; individuals earning $107,000 to $160,000 (couples $214,000 to $320,000) will pay $192.70; individuals with incomes of $160,000 to $213,000 (couples $320,000 to $426,000) will pay $250.50; and individuals over $213,000 or couples above $426,000 will pay $308.30. Other notable Medicare announcements you should know include your Part B deductible, which will not change in 2009. It will remain $135, which is what it has been throughout 2008. But your Part A (hospital insurance) annual deductible will go up $44 in 2009 to $1,068 for hospital stays up to 60 days. That increases to $267 per day for days 61-90 and to $534 a day for days 91-150. Savvy Tips: For more information on the 2009 Social Security cost-of-living adjustments visit www.socialsecurity.gov or call 800-772-1213. And for details on the 2008 Medicare changes call 800-633-4227 or visit www.cms.hhs.gov. How to Stop Junk MailDear Savvy SeniorCan you give me some tips on how to stop or reduce the mass junk mail and e-mail I receive? For some reason, my wife and I get bombarded with this stuff every day and are sick of it. What can you tell us? Retried Targets Dear Targets While most adults in the U.S. receive lots of junk mail, the biggest target tends to be retirees, ages 60 and older. But there are steps you can take to avoid these invasions. Here’s what you should know. Junk Mail To help you scrub your name and address from marketers mailing lists start with the Direct Marketing Association, who offers a consumer opt-out service at www.dmachoice.org/mps. This won’t eliminate your junk mail (because many direct mailers aren’t association members) but it will reduce it. This service is free if you register online, or $1 by mail. If you’re willing to pay $20 try Greendimes.com, a savvy resource that promises to reduce your junk mail up to 90 percent and will plant 10 trees on your behalf. Also see 41pounds.org which charges $41 for a five-year anti-junk mail plan. De-catalogue To reduce or eliminate the paper catalogs you receive go to Catalogchoice.org, a free new service that does the work for you. Stopthejunkmail.com is another good service but charges a $20 fee. Other options include calling the catalogs’ toll-free number and request to be taken off its list – have the customer number from your mailing label handy when you call. Or you can tear off the page with the mailing label and mail it to the retailer with a request to be removed from its mailing list. Credit Card Offers Are credit card offers clogging your mailbox? You can shut them down with the opt-out service run by the major credit bureaus at www.optoutprescreen.com or call 888-567-8688. Be prepared to key in your Social Security number and date of birth. You’ll have the option of removing your name either for five years or permanently from pre-screened marketing lists sold to credit card companies and insurers. You can also prevent financial institutions and other companies from sharing or selling information about you. Look for the privacy notices (sent once a year) that should come with your statements and follow their instructions. You should have to opt out only once with each institution. Can the Spam To cut down on the junk e-mail you receive, register your e-mail addresses at www.dmachoice.org/EMPS. And check your e-mail account to see if it provides a tool to filter out potential spam or a way to channel spam into a bulk e-mail folder. Also see www.ftc.gov/spam for more tips. Telemarketing Protection You’re probably already aware of the “National Do Not Call Registry,” which has helped millions of Americans reduce their telemarketing calls. If not, you can sign up at www.donotcall.gov or by calling 888-382-1222. If you already signed up, you don’t need to reregister. Sign-ups were supposed to expire after five years, but the FTC expects to make registration permanent. The registry however will not stop calls by charities, politicians, survey takers or companies that have a prior business relationship with you. In addition to the national registry, many states operate their own do-not-call program. Go to www.ataconnect.org/public/compliance/donotcallbystate.php for a list of state programs. Be Stingy Be very picky about sharing your information. Every time you order something online, check the site’s privacy policy and avoid sites that don’t let you opt out of advertising or ones that are looking to share or sell your information to others. Also, be wary about signing up for freebies, sweepstakes or contests, online or off, because many are simply ploys to collect contact information for marketing purposes. And always write “no mailing list” on product warranties or rebates you send in. Savvy Tips: Another good resource on this topic is the World Privacy Forum (www.worldprivacyforum.org/toptenoptout.html), a nonprofit group that offers a top 10 list of opt-outs. And if identity theft concerns you, you can freeze your credit files by mailing a certified letter to the three credit bureaus. See www.financialprivacynow.org for more information. New Options for Senior’s with CataractsDear Savvy SeniorI’ve read that there’s a new type of cataract surgery that can also correct vision so you don’t have to wear reading glasses anymore. What can you tell me about this? I will need cataract surgery in the near future and would like to learn more. Bifocal Bob Dear Bob For the millions of bifocal wearing baby boomers and seniors who will eventually need cataract surgery there’s great news! New types of implantable lenses are now available that allow cataract patients to see near, far, and in between without wearing glasses or contact lenses. Here’s what you should know. More Options Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most successful surgical procedures that has recently gotten better. In a typical cataract surgery, a patient’s aging and cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL) to restore the eye’s focusing power. Until recently, the only option was a fixed-focus lens, typically designed for faraway distances, which left the patient needing bifocals or reading glasses to see up close. But now, there are new multifocal and accommodating lenses that can restore sight at all distances so patients can go glasses-free. New Lenses The new lenses – all FDA approved – have been available in the U.S. for around three years and so far doctors and patients are pleased with how well they work. While these new lenses don’t guarantee 20/20 vision, they can reduce the need for glasses for most people by as much as 90 percent. Some of the different brands currently on the market include the ReStor (www.acrysofrestor.com) and ReZoom (www.rezoomiol.com), and the Crystalens (www.crystalens.com) accommodating lens. It’s estimated that around 20 percent of cataract patients nationally are now choosing these new multifocal lenses. However, some doctors have been hesitant to adopt the new technology, owing to scattered reports of halos, glare, and problems with night vision and blurring. Because these lenses have been available for only a short time, most of these doctors are waiting for more data on patient’s long-term experience. Also keep in mind that as with any surgery, lens implantation comes with some risk of complication. Infection, retinal detachment, and an increase in eye pressure, while rare, do occur but can almost always be successfully treated. Finding a Doctor Since the multifocal lenses are relatively new, not all cataract surgeons are trained to implant them. So if you would like to find out whether you’re a candidate for one of these lenses, you may need to call several surgeons in your area to find out who uses them. You can also search for trained physicians through the ReStor, ReZoom and Crystalens Web sites previously listed. After you locate a few, ask lots of questions and choose one who has significant experience with these lenses and is prepared to deal with any problems that could arise. Extra Cost You also need to know about the additional cost. While Medicare, Medicaid and most health insurance plans cover cataract surgery and the traditional lens implants, they don’t yet pay for new multifocal and accommodating implants. That means if you opt for the newer lenses you’ll have to pay the difference of what Medicare or insurance doesn’t cover, which will be around $2,000 to $2,500 per eye. Savvy Tips: To learn more about these new cataract lens implants visit www.allaboutvision.com – click on “Cataracts.” And for more information about cataract in general, the National Eye Institute offers a free publication called “Cataract: What you should know.” To get a copy, call 301-496-5248 or visit www.nei.nih.gov. Do-It-Yourself WillsDear Savvy Senior,What self-help resources do you recommend for writing a will? At age 60, I need to get my affairs organized, but I don’t want to go to a high-priced attorney to do it. Willing Wilma Dear Wilma, Creating a will doesn’t have to involve expensive visits to a lawyer anymore. Today, there are plenty of low cost ways to write a will, many of which take less than an hour from start to finish. Here are some good resources and tips to help you get started. Take Inventory Your first step in creating a will is to take an inventory of all the important assets that you have. You’ll also need to choose your beneficiaries and an executor. The beneficiaries are the people or organizations you want to leave your property and assets to. And the executor is the person you designate to see that your wishes are carried out. Do-It-Yourself There are many user-friendly, do-it-yourself resources available today that make creating your own will a snap and are plenty adequate for most people. Here are some places to get help:
Tip: If you have a blended family or a complicated financial situation that may require legal judgment, or if you have assets of more that $2 million (the threshold for triggering estate taxes), do-it-yourself wills are not your best option. You probably need to get help from a lawyer. Storing Your Will When you’re finished creating your will, you need to keep it (the original) in a secure location, but be sure the executor has access to it. A fireproof filing cabinet or safe in your home is a good choice. It’s also wise to make several copies and placed in separate locations. And be sure to review and update your will every two or three years, especially after any major life change, like a death, remarriage or if you move to a new state. Legal Help If you need some legal advice when creating your will, try the Senior Legal Hotline service, a resource sponsored by AARP that provides free legal advice by telephone in 27 states. Visit www.legalhotlines.org to get the phone number for your state, or contact your Area Agency on Aging (call 800-677-1116 to get your local number). |
Stay informed with our free Senior Newswire service