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When you reach age 65, you find that traditional Medicare offers very extensive medical coverage . . . up to a point.  Medigap plans provide coverage for those times when you go beyond those points.

Medigap plans are supplements to the traditional Medicare Parts A & B.  These plans offer coverage of the medical charges that are not covered by Parts A & B.  Although the companies involved vary state by state, the coverage provided by plans themselves, listed A through N, are fixed by the federal government.  (Note: Plans E, H, I and J are no longer being sold, but they can be retained by those that already have them.)  Although different companies may charge different amounts for different plans, the coverage provided by the plans themselves is uniform throughout.  With the new changes coming in 2011, the specifics of these plans will undoubtedly by modified, but their overall thrust will likely remain unchanged.

During the past decade, Congress introduced Medicare Part C, aka Medicare Advantage, in an attempt to reduce costs.  These plans offered broader coverage but limited the choice of doctors and hospitals.  Ironically, Congress legislated higher payments for these plans in an effort to entice people to change to them.  On the flip side, the amounts paid to doctors with traditional Medicare patients were reduced.  When physicians stopped accepted new Medicare patients as a consequence, Congress relented and reversed the cuts to traditional Medicare.  Your doctor should welcome your new Medicare status.

Now, with the new health care legislation, Congress is eliminating the price advantage of Part C while adding coverage for many preventative care measures to the traditional plans.  As a consequence, you will be able to keep your own doctors, and Medigap will likely live on.

Of all the Medigap plans, Plan F has been the most popular.  But that does not mean that is the one you should choose.  The different plans are for different situations, and you have to spend the time to determine what is best for your lifestyle, health, and wallet.  For example, some plans offer coverage for medical expenses while traveling abroad.  If you are not a traveler, it makes no sense to pay for that feature.

Some sites to visit for further information are -

Guide by Medicare

AARP Medigap description of plans

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Everyone who has entered the realms of retirement has to answer a question, “What do I do about money?” An annuity is often a simple answer, but not necessarily the best.

If you happened to buy a fixed annuity in 2006, you are feeling pretty good right now. With 2010 interest rates almost non-existent, a 6% fixed annuity can make you feel both relieved and smug at the moment. You should feel good, because you have a great deal . . . at least for the moment.

In principle, annuities should be a simple investment. Their basic purpose is to give you a monthly flow of income after you hand over to the company (typically an insurance company) a large chunk of your money. Insurance companies are professional investors. They are sufficiently confident in their management of money to offer either -

• fixed annuities, which pay a set amount per month, or
• variable annuities, whose payments can vary within a set of parameters.

The downside for annuities is twofold.

1. Your money is committed and no longer accessible to you, and
2. The rates of return for annuities are invariably lower, over time, than other investments available at the time of purchase.

As a result, you should be very careful when investing in annuities.

• They are usually a good deal for the salespeople who befriend the senior to whom that are selling, but often may not be a good deal for the senior.
• Annuities can be sold with some very complicated features. If it is too complicated, back off. Especially be wary of any fees that can be added.
• Do not put all your savings into annuities. At most, they should only be one component of your savings.
• If you are considering any annuity from any company, have at least one objective, knowledgeable person look it over carefully.
• Consider other alternatives. Typically, you can set this up yourself by investing the money in a safe fund and pulling a set amount out every month. Usually, this approach will allow you to control your own money and typically cost you less.

For further information, try -

• New Retirement.com
• CSMonitor.com
• Money Magazine

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Most of the things we buy repeatedly are bought locally. Groceries, clothes, fuel, and flowers are purchased from stores in our neighborhood. The store could be an outlet of a national retailer or a small independent, but it is local. However, many people now make their special purchases, i.e. items that are purchased infrequently or only once, from an online store.

Not too long ago, making a purchase at an online store almost qualified as an adventure. Today, anyone who is reading these words has, in all likelihood, made a number of online purchases. The intent of these comments is to provide an update, for myself as well as you, of the best shopping practices you should use.

• Check on spyware - It is tragic, but necessary to start with that comment. Spyware exists, and if you, or one of your visitors, opened an email that said, “Congratulations, you’ve just (fill in the blanks)”, spyware that can capture your credit card information may be lurking on your system. Do a scan, e.g. PCTools, and check to make sure you are safe.
• Read the reviews - It used to be that you could go to the library, find the category in Consumer Reports, and feel confident that you could discover the basic things you needed to know before making a reasonably informed buying decision. Although you can still use that approach, you can also find a fair amount of information on the Internet. Just enter ‘review (name of specific product)’ into your search engine, and any number of information sites will vie for your attention. Typically, one or two of them are quite through. For example,

1. Consumers Search can be helpful, and
2. cNet provides detailed advise on technology products.

• Find the Best Deal - Once you have identified the specific product you are after, i.e. manufacturer and model number, you can start looking for the online merchant that will best serve your purchasing requirements. Since the price comparison sites all vary slightly in their approach, it is in your best interest to try a few. Even these reviewers are reviewed, and one good comparison can be found at Smart Money. Since some online merchants will offer special deals through one pricing site and not another, it is best to search a few before you make your final decision. For example, try -

1. Price Grabber,
2. Yahoo Shopping,
3. Dealtime,
4. NexTag,
5. Shopzilla, or
6. Street Prices.

For travel deals, try -

1. Kayak, or
2. Travel Zoo

For special deals, try -

1. Fat Wallet, or
2. Finders Cheapers

• Carefully Select Your Merchant - Product price is definitely NOT the only factor. The cost of shipping can change the monetary profile of a deal. Obviously, the best shipping charge is ‘free’. Beyond that, your have to shop online just the way you shop locally, i.e. find a merchant you can trust. The price comparison sites recognize this need and most of them rate their vendors. Choosing a vendor with a high performance rating can seem like wisdom if something happens to the shipment or later to the product.

Once you click, enjoy the anticipation. Your purchase will appear at your door in just a few days.

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What kind of pet person are you? There are bird-lovers, dog-lovers, cat-lovers, and goldfish-lovers. Everyone has their own particular favorite that was usually established during their youth. People that have had pets can even be classified as such. For example, we have dog-people, cat-people, and bird-people. Are you a certain pet-person?

If you are, maybe you are currently pet-less and rethinking that decision. Obviously, there are a number of pros and cons to such a decision, but the choice of the type of pet has a lot to do with most of them. There are a wide variety of pets that seniors may choose.

Dogs -
Dogs need and give love. Many studies indicate that having a dog really can help a senior’s health and attitude. Not only do they offer companionship, but their needs serve as an ongoing encouragement for some good exercise as well. Also, they are probably the best security system available on the market today.

If you are particular about breeds, you can contact the American Kennel Club and get a list of local breeders. Be prepared to open your wallet, however, since many breeds now go for $1,500 or more.

Another approach is to take a visit to the local animal shelter. These pets often have that wonderful price of ‘free’, although small donations are very welcome. These pets can vary widely, so you must look carefully to find the right dog for you. The people in the shelters understand animals and can provide you with a wealth of information. Don’t be afraid to ask. Before you “take the plunge”, consider -

• Age - If a dog is older than 18 months, it will not only be housebroken, its teeth will have grown in and it will also be less inclined to eat your slippers. If a dog is older than six, you may find not only health problems but an inability to adapt to new surroundings.
• Size - Golden Retriever mixes and Labrador mixes are great, but if you are going to walk the dog, you may need a smaller dog (who won’t pull you over when it chases after a squirrel). However, if you aren’t used to having a small dog around, you probably shouldn’t get a dog weighing less than 25 pounds. You don’t want to trip over the little thing because you didn’t see it.
• Allergies - If you have avoided dogs because you are allergic, look for dogs that don’t shed. Many terriers and poodles have this trait.
• Temperament - Undoubtedly, the vast majority of dogs have better temperaments than many people. A few, however, may have experienced poor treatment and developed a nasty streak as a consequence. Pay attention to how the dog reacts to you, since initially you are a stranger.

Cats -
“For a balanced ego, a person that has a dog to adore him should have a cat to ignore him.” That old quote is harsh, but contains an element of truth. Cats are much more independent than dogs. As long as they are properly fed and stroked occasionally, cats require far less attention than dogs. They quickly learn how to use a litter box and can amuse themselves for hours with a favorite toy. This independence allows a cat to tolerate much longer absences from their owners than dogs.

If you are looking for a cat at a shelter, many of the same cautions for dogs apply to cats. Their sizes, however, are much smaller. They compensate for their small size by their pronounced ability to quickly leap out of the way.

Other Critters -
For the most part, other small animals kept as pets live in defined enclosures. This reality makes them far less intrusive than dogs or cats. They each offer their own special qualities that can both divert and delight. They still require care, however, and someone else must mind them if you take a trip.

If you do live alone, having another living creature around the mansion has distinct benefits for all involved. Yes, they do require you to expend extra effort and care, but that is a gift. Answering needs is what life is all about.

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Ever since the passage of the Health Care Reform Act on April 23rd, I’ve been looking for a good summary of its components. Of course, any legislation with that many pages will be difficult to summarize, but someone had to take a swing at it. I guess no one will be surprised that it was the AARP that took up the challenge.

At the link, AARP User’s Guide to Health Care Reform, you will find a summary that doesn’t take that long to read. It does, however, have a sufficient sweep and level of detail, that you can develop a sense of the legislation.

Three things to note -

1. Medicare will finally start to cover its most foolish lack, i.e. some preventative services. Catching conditions sooner rather than later should always reduce the cost of their care.
2. The Part-D Donut Hole will be phased out over the next decade.
3. The overpayments for Medicare Advantage Plans will be phased out.

Every senior should read this summary. Thanks AARP, you did a good job!

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A couple of weeks ago, I heard some news commentators talking about Page Plus Cellular. The story-line centered upon a subscriber to their “unlimited” service whose contract was canceled because of overuse. Obviously, there was a disconnect at many levels.

Without question, the marketing crew at Page Plus should change the plan name to “universal” or “vast”, but that is all they should change. I’ve been a customer of Page Plus Cellular for nearly a year, and I could not be more pleased. Their plans are flexible and aggressively priced, and their service is rock solid. I have recommended them on this site, and I continue to recommend them to family and friends.

You have to understand the realities of their business.

Page Plus Cellular is a re-seller. They buy large blocks of time from a network operator, i.e. Verizon, create usage packages for different market niches, and then service their customer base in an efficient and effective manner. This approach allows Verizon to supply users they would otherwise never capture, and users access to services they could otherwise never afford. It is a true win-win.

This service model breaks down whenever certain users lock onto a connection for an extended period of time, because the switch is prevented from reallocating its resources. An occasional incident is never a problem, but continued patterns do upset the apple cart. At the end of the day, any re-seller can only offer as much as it has acquired.

But I continue to find the Page Plus Cellular service compelling. It is so easy to buy one of their phones at the Circle K. Using their standard plan, a senior citizen can have 300 minutes of access to a reliable network for $30 a year. That is a service that offers both peace of mind and value. Who knows how many worries it has eased and lives it has saved.

Thank you Page Plus Cellular for your outstanding service!

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Don’t you just love all of the “Best Places” listings. It’s like a reality show about geography. The “Best Here” and the “Best There” always seem to be someplace else other than where you are at. (Since our own little burg was recently listed within the Top Ten by one national magazine, I’ve really started to wonder. It can be nice, but . . . Top Ten?)

There doesn’t seem to be any listing that incorporates and prioritizes all the criteria that you would like to see. However, what they do show can be interesting. Take a sampling of the many listings, and you will invariably learn something new. For example, look at -

• Money Magazine Best to Retire
• Money Magazine Best to Live
• US News & World Report
• AARP Best Destination Choices
• Forbes Magazine
• Wikipedia Best in World
• Sperling’s Best Places
• Business Week Best for Kids
• Kiplinger Best for Taxes
• Weather Statistics

The criteria used by any of these listings seem to be those that appeal to their editors. For example, weather and climate patterns, population size and growth, recreation opportunities, arts and culture organizations, cost of living comparisons, housing costs, job opportunities, colleges and universities, health care facilities, crime statistics, and libraries. But every senior considering a change of location must evaluate these criteria in the light of “How will you spend your time?” From that perspective, the various criteria can be organized into an order that best fits each person’s needs and aspirations. Your “best place” make not make anyone’s else Top Ten List except your own, but that is the only one that matters.

To find your own Best Place -

1. Really decide how you want to spend your time.
2. Reorder the various ranking criteria into a priority list that makes sense to you.
3. Using that list, reevaluate locations based upon your personal aims.
4. If your can, visit your top one or two location choices to get a reality check on how your criteria selection actually feels to you.
5. Once you have decided upon an area, rent there for a year to validate your choice and learn more about the nuances of the location.

The conclusion of all this research may well be that your Best Nest is located right were you are sitting. But “just looking”, never hurts, and you might be surprised at what you find.

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The vast majority of retirees spend their ‘golden’ years not only in the same town, but often in the same house. My wife and I, who spent practically all of our adult lives within seagull distance of the Atlantic, now find ourselves watching seagulls from the Pacific. We’ve not only changed houses; we’ve changed oceans.

Our first choice for our retiree home was a house on the East Coast that we thought would act as a magnetic and encourage visits from our three children. Unfortunately, the magnet had the wrong polarity. All three of our children landed in Seattle. Rather than live with phones and planes, we chose to pick up and engage the experience of West Coast living. After nearly five years of building a new nest and settling in, we still exchange glances at odd moments that say, “We did the right thing.”

What have we learned in the process?

1. The most important question every retiree must answer is not “Where will you be?” Instead, the real question is “How will you spend your time?” Activities of your choosing will define how live the rest of your life. Any destination you consider should be particularly suited to supporting how you want to spend your time. If alpine skiing tops your list of things you want to do, it is unlikely that Florida would be a good choice for you.
2. Location is the second most important choice for a retiree since it can enable or delimit so many other opportunities you will have. Make certain you are both comfortable with your reasons for changing your location. You both don’t have to have the same reasons, but you should understand what each other is expecting from the move.
3. Communication is key to this decision process. Some of you may be thirsting to try something new or to pursue a passion that has long festered. Others may want to get to, or return to, remote family or friends. You may find that some reasons may surprise you. But the only way to discover them is to talk a lot about it.
4. Once your general objectives for activities are clear, use them to build a balanced set of criteria for your new destination. Even if you already know the general area of your new location, you also have to decide on what are you looking for in any new home. Evaluating destinations seems to work best as an iterative process. Expect a few cycles of reevaluation before you start to feel comfortable with the ideas of both your choices. Obviously, there is no perfect home or place, but careful planning and discussion can increase your odds for success.
5. If possible, visit the new area a few times and talk to as many locals as you can. You want to find a place where people are quite willing to share their positive views. Each slice of geography and neighborhood has its own particular quirks. Use the time you have to learn as much as you can before you put the house on the market.
6. Once you are both comfortable with your decision, you must face the ugly realities of listing, selling, packing, and moving out. Home Buying and Selling can vary by market location, and the financial factors involved may influence some of your other choices. The only good thing about this process is that ultimately it has an end. The other side benefit is that you do get rid of a lot of ‘stuff’ that you have been meaning to discard for a long, long time.
7. The best advise we received for a major move was to rent for awhile before you buy any real estate. We thought we would avoid this step, but did not. In hindsight, we learned an awful lot during our rental period and made different purchase decisions as a consequence. For example, one of the first challenges in any new location is to [[find doctors, services]], and other resources to replace the familiar ones left behind. However, that search process can reveal a lot of subtleties about your new location that are impossible to detect otherwise.
8. Finding new friends can be the toughest challenge for seniors in any new setting. Since the kids have long flown the nest, the common meeting places of schools and youth activities no longer act as the common infrastructure for meeting and sharing with new friends. But friends are a critical component to any new location. Give yourself time, but fight any natural tendency you may have toward shyness. Prior to your move, research any local chapters of organizations or groups that you have belonged to in the past.
9. After you have learned the area and know what kind of home you are looking for, start your search and take your time. This may be your last nest, so make sure it has the features that are most important to you. Once you find it, you will both ‘know’, and the final stage of your relocation, ‘moving in’, can begin.

Some additional insights on relocation by seniors can be found in the Ohio State Senior Series.

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Most senior citizens simply stay put right where they are when they retire. They cherish the friendships they have established, the history they have lived, and their familiar grocers, doctors, druggists, etc. However, staying in the same town doesn’t necessarily mean staying in the same house. Downsizing is one trend that many active seniors embrace as a way of simplifying their lives and prolonging their independence.

The ties of family and grandchildren may pull others to unfamiliar locations where their children have become entrenched. Selecting new doctors, finding new dentists, and coping with this change can be a stiff challenge for any senior.

Others, especially those who have had to face frequent moves during their working lives, like the idea of a new place to retire. They are enticed by the latest “Best Places to Retire” article and the challenge of a new adventure.

On any “Now that I’ve Retired List”, location is placed first because it influences so many other choices. For example, telephones, taxes, insurance, legal, and caregiving all have rules that vary by state.

What’s a person to do??

Whichever you choose, re-evaluating your location is a healthy exercise . . . even if it is the old homestead. Your location can determine -

• to which hospital a call to 911 will deliver you,
• the range of community support services that are available to you,
• the types of activities that are readily available to you as well as,
• the amount of snow that will have to be shoveled to get you out of the house.

Some people make this choice quickly. Others spend time and consider the wide range of choices available, i.e.

1. Staying Put Keeping the same, familiar roof, where the pencil marks of the children’s heights on the door jam still mark the progress of their growth. Here, the support of old friends, the history with known doctors, and the connections developed over the years provide a personalized support network that is impossible to duplicate elsewhere.
2. Moving locally - Changing to another nest and neighborhood within the same community might offer a better fit for the needs of your newly evolving senior lifestyle while maintaining your lifelong network of friends and community around you.
3. Downsizing - Simplifying your life and reducing the demands required for the upkeep and care of your nest, a move to a smaller structure can prolong your ability to stay there as the clock keeps ticking.
4. Relocating farther away - Making a move to another community, state, ocean, or country is for the brave of heart. You can’t wait too long to make this move since the effort involved can be taxing. Evaluating destinations, together with its weather patterns, safety concerns, theater offerings, and recreation, can become a major project in and of itself. Once you decide on a place, those with wisdom advise renting for a year while you discover the innuendoes of the locale and its neighborhoods. During that time, you can address the challenges of a new place, e.g. to Find doctors, services as well as Finding new friends.
5. Retirement communities - For those that prefer the amenities of a planned community, developments designed for the 55+ crowd offer an alternative that many people find very attractive. It’s like moving into a neighborhood with an established network. Many people make this choice because the want to follow friends who are already there.
6. Active/Assisted living facilities - If one member of a couple has an emerging health issue, these facilities with built-in medical services can provide a support structure that tiers the living accommodations to the health of the individuals,where care is provided with housing
7. Living abroad - This move can scratch a lifelong itch of an adventurous soul. However, if adaptability is your strong suit, there are many locations in the world where you can stretch your dollar.

Of course, once you make your decision, then the financial issues, Renting versus Home Buying and Selling, must be considered. These are quickly followed by the practical issues of Moving and Home Maintenance.

For further reading, try the AARP Article on Housing Choices.

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If you’re reading this, you already know about the Internet. The use of the Internet by the senior community is continually expanding. And it doesn’t have to cost you anything. At local libraries, computers are siting there waiting for your curiosity and fingertips.

What do seniors do with the Internet when their fingertips start moving? According to a report by the Pew Research Center, they are involved with -

*Email - This still drives their primary usage of the Internet. Keeping in touch without the hassle of time zones and time charges, email remains the primary reason why people keep going back to the Internet. It’s especially delightful when the message is from your grandchildren. Free email accounts can be established at Yahoo and other services.

*Finding Information - Once they finish with their email, people typically switch to Google or Yahoo to find out about something. They might be planning a trip, researching a problem, or comparing different brands of toasters. Not surprisingly, Most Internet searches on health topics are performed by seniors.

*Online Shopping - Once they have completed their research, seniors are not afraid to actually make a purchase. As noted in the Pew Report, nearly 50% of the online seniors actually are making purchases. One area of particular interest is travel, both planning and booking tickets. They also are not afraid to both sell and buy items on eBay.

In addition to these top three activities, seniors also explore other facets.

*Reading News - If they’ve moved away, seniors are very likely to scan the pages of the old hometown newspaper online. They are also avid readers of specialized news topics on politics, entertainment, and other targeted sectors. Even the headlines of major newspapers, e.g. New York Times, are available online.

*Sharing Photos - Whether directly through email or via a service like Flickr, seniors love to see the latest images of their grandchildren, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

*Skype - If you are geographically removed from loved ones, skype is a treasure for everyone regardless of age. Simply speaking, skype not only allows you to talk to those you love, but to see and interact with them from many miles away. The visuals of loved ones make them feel so much closer, and it can ease the worries and loneliness that distance can engender.

*Social Sharing - Seniors have not flocked to Facebook or Twitter. They might view a My Space or You Tube link contained in an email, but they are not going to enroll. At this point in their lives, seniors are far less intrigued by the social and gaming aspects of the Internet than are the younger members of our society. Instant messaging holds as little appeal as instant gratification. They prefer to respect privacy and to savor the anticipation of a thoughtful reply. They find important items more interesting than urgent ones.

*Blogs - Because seniors have the time, there are a surprising number of blogs by, for, and about seniors. They are quite often frank, intelligent, and very thought-provoking. They can not only make for fascinating reading, but they can often make you chuckle, cry, and pray. One huge favorite blog that publishes links to many others is Ronni Bennett’s Time Goes By A visit to Ronni’s site is always worthwhile.

The Internet presents all of these facilities and more. It has become an indispensable part of our lives. You should encourage any of your friends that are not involved to take a free course at the library. They may feel uncomfortable at first, but they will thank you profusely later.

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