grow older better

Tag: seniors

  • New Scam Tied To Affordable Care Act

    phone scams

     

     

    Now that the Supreme court has upheld the Affordable Care Act –

    the scammers are in full swing scamming – using the act and saying they are from the government and need some further information.

    According to the Federal Trade Commission [the FTC:]

    They [the scammers] say they're from the government and that, using the Affordable Care Act as a hook, they need to verify some information. They might have the routing number from your bank, and then use that information to get you to reveal the entire account number. Or, they'll ask for your credit card or Social Security number, Medicare ID, or other personal information.

    I've said it before and I will say it again –

    Do not give personal information to people who call you!

    Even if they say they are from the government….

    Believe me, the government already has your information!

    Stay safe! Stay healthy! Keep your personal info private!

  • Important Medicare Change Deadline

    Seniors know that we are now in Open Season for changing our Medicare Advantage providers if we so choose.

    We know this as our mailboxes are filled with ads from every company in our zip code which provides this insurance!

    BUT – in 2010 we MUST make any changes by the end of this December.  The deadline is not next March like it used to  be!

    If you are a senior or know a senior – PLEASE – be sure if they want to make any changes that they do so by the end of this month!


  • Best Network Marketing Businesses For Seniors? 3 criteria for you to contemplate

     
    The myth of seniors sitting at home in their rocking chairs is rapidly dissipating, as more and more seniors are becoming entrepreneurs.

    Today’s 60 or 65-year-old is not ready to “retire.” And it looks like the 65, 70, [or even 75 and older] are not retiring either – instead many are becoming entrepreneurs. No sitting at home for these active minds!

    We know that staying active and challenging one’s mind with new tasks are ways to stay healthy as we age. What better way than to join a network marketing business where you are the CEO – a sure way to keep the brain cells active!

    How do you decide which MLM or network marketing company to join and work with? [MLM and network marketing are used interchangeably to describe the same business model.]

    There are 3 important criteria:

    • You must love and use the products.
    • You must like and enjoy being with the people in your network: locally, nationally and worldwide.
    • There must be a good compensation plan.
    1- Loving and using the products.

    When looking at a company you may want to try the products as a consumer before joining as an associate and make sure you love them. Or – you can skip this step if know and trust the person telling you about them – and you know that person uses the products.

    This knowing and trusting leads into the 2nd criteria:

    2- Liking and enjoying the others in your network. 

    Network marketing is a social activity. You have to talk with people and so it keeps one engaged socially as one ages. But it is best for your personal aging if you really enjoy spending time with those in your chosen company.

    Attend a few local meetings about the company and the products to see how much you enjoy chatting with and learning from those in the room. If you do join, you too will bring people to meetings like this and many will become your good friends – so this is an important criteria.

    3 – Make sure the compensation plan is a good one. 

    If you are going to put in your valuable time and energy – make sure you are well paid for your efforts. 

    There are so many variations on compensation plans; you will have to compare one with another and decide what works for you. Often independent sources rate MLM plans and you can look up that information online.

    Extra caveats:

    Don’t fall for the “make money fast” or “get in at the beginning.” Network marketing takes work and a good company will be around for a long time so it will not matter when you join.

    There are more criteria one can look at and I invite you to sign up for emails to learn more about network marketing and how it might be a good fit for you and your aging.
     
    Comments? Thanks

  • Fighting the Stereotypes of Senior Citizenship: 3 ways to do this

     

    older man

       

       

       

      In the United States, and some other countries, senior citizenship comes with some highly negative stereotypes.

      Sadly, we in the USA tend to see seniors as:

      • doddering
      • incompetent
      • weak
      • sick
      Some other countries tend to see seniors – or elders – as:
      • intelligent
      • statesmen
      • encyclopedic
      • worthy of reverence
      How can we change those stereotypes in the first list to those qualities in the second list?
       
      It can be done by seniors actively fighting against those stereotypes!
       
      But – how do we fight?
       
      Here are 3 ways to fight senior stereotypes: 
      • being honest about our age
      • accepting benefits such as senior discounts
      • taking care of our bodies and minds

    • More On Medicare Open Season Stupidity

      subtitled – why we need Health Care Reform and need it very badly

      Got my 186 pages of Medicare and my private insurance coverage information  a few weeks ago.  No I did not read it thoroughly and never will.  [Disclaimer – I counted the pages for notes, the unnumbered pages and the covers]

      Medicare 2010 document

       

      More recently I got the OFFICIAL medicare.gov document – it  for Oregonians as each jurisdiction gets its own version.  Page count = 128 [the feds do count covers in their numbering system.]

      What do these 314 pages tell me?

       

      • I really really need new glasses..so made that appointment
      • A lot of trees gave their lives for me 🙁
      • The proliferation of Medicare Advantage Programs is disgusting
      • If you aren't careful you'll get suckered

      That last comment came from scanning the most unbelievable company.  This ONE company – and I will not give them air time – ALL ON ITS OWN has 36 options.  Yes 36 different options!  By comparison mine has 3 – "basic" and "costs more" for anyone and "really costs more" for current members wanting to upgrade.   

      As others have options for different counties within the state maybe the 36 options have plans for block by block coverage – their descriptions are very vague… and all 36 options have the same phone number to get information – hmm call a sales rep to get truthful clear answers about each of the 36?  Not gonna happen.

      Health care reform should make this a more simple choice for those over 65.  The proliferation of plans and options is stupid and leads potentially to misrepresentation or even "honest" error by those who stand to make gobs of money from these choices.

      I did not look through the list of prescription drug plans – but add those to the mix and you have a confusing array of options here in Oregon – and elsewhere.

      Think of those who are blind or limited in reading capacity – how do they make their choices?  Scary – very scary!