Author Archives

    Sherri Martin

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    How to Keep Your Family Healthy this Holiday

    Multi Generation Family On Countryside WalkLast Wednesday we held a webinar on 7 Strategies to Keep Your Family Healthy this Holiday. Thank you to everyone who attended. We are thrilled with your interest and participation.
    We received a lot of great questions and, due to time limits, we were not able to answer all of them. So as we promised, here are some of your questions and the answers:
    1. Do you have to go through your employer to get a Health Savings Account?
    ANSWER: No, anyone can set up a Health Savings Account. To qualify, you must be under 65 years old and have high-deductible health insurance.
    2. When should I get my flu shot?
    ANSWER: Flu season runs from October to May, so the best time to get your flu shot is early fall.
    3. What should I do if I think one of my relatives is depressed during the holidays?
    ANSWER: Encourage them to see a therapist. Depression is a serious disease that should be handled by medical professionals. If you think your relative just has a case of the “holiday blues,” let them know you are there for them if they want to talk. Encourage them to exercise and get enough sleep. If they are stressed, offer to help in the kitchen, or help watch their kids, run last minute errands, and so on.
    4.  How can I help my loved one in an assisted living facility celebrate the holiday?
    ANSWER: There are many ways to celebrate with your loved ones in assisted living facilities. If they are unable to come to your celebration, bring some holiday cheer to them. Bring family photos and mementos, decorate Christmas cookies, watch their favorite Christmas movie with them. For my father, I had a special “small” Christmas tree decorated for his room. If the facility they live in is too far away, try Skyping or FaceTiming them and don’t forget to send a thoughtful Christmas card!
    5.  How do I enroll in Medicare?
    ANSWER: You may be automatically enrolled. If you are, you will get your red, white and blue Medicare card in the mail three months before your 65th birthday. You will need to sign up if you are not getting Social Security or RRB benefits or if you live in Puerto Rico. Apply online at https://www.socialsecurity.gov/medicare/apply.html, visit your local Social Security office, or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. 
    Please continue to send us your questions. We will be scheduling more webinars soon. I’d love to hear from you!
    To learn more about your healthcare, please subscribe to MyHealthSpin.com and receive a FREE copy of my toolkit which includes 2 free ebooks and lots of great information.
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    Ask Me Your Holiday Health Questions

    Multi Generation Family Celebrating ThanksgivingIf you’ve set foot in a store lately, you probably noticed that the holiday season is upon us. As we celebrate Thanksgiving this month and continue right on through to all of the December celebrations, you may be anticipating a lot of visits with family and friends.

    Whether you realize it or not, healthcare is likely to be on your mind. Perhaps your biggest concern is how you can avoid getting sick at this busy time of year. Maybe you are wondering if it is the right time to discuss family health concerns.

    So I want to know: What are your health questions this season? What are you concerned about? What are you preparing for? Let me know by leaving a comment on this post, sending a message on Facebook or Twitter, or send me an email.

    On Wednesday I will be answering your holiday health questions in my webinar 7 Strategies to Keep Your Family Healthy this Holiday, so send them in and let’s make sure you have a healthy, happy holiday season.

    If you haven’t already done signed up for the webinar, you can register here.

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    Understanding Health Insurance Costs

    Male Medicine Doctor Wearing Blue UniformWith the launch of Obamacare in late 2014, everyone is required to have health insurance whether through Obamacare or another provider. The enrollment period for most health plans begins in November. If you are planning to enroll or renew your health insurance, you may be wondering how much it will cost.

    Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy answer, but there are a few things you may want to know as you price plans.

    1. Costs vary.
    Why? Because costs are determined by your current health, age and income. Young and healthy individuals will pay less than those who are middle aged or older and have some health issues.

    2. What should you look for?
    Consider premium vs. out-of-pocket costs.     It is important to look not only at the cost of the monthly insurance premiums but also the overall costs of care. A $250 per month premium may seem expensive—that’s $3,000 per year! However, if you get sick or break a bone, your out-of-pocket costs for not having insurance could exceed the $3,000 cost with a single hospital visit.

    3. What can you do?
    Compare prices.     One of the good things that came from Obamacare is the ability to compare the costs of health insurance plans. Prior to this change, it was tough to decipher exactly what insurance plans cost and what was included. Now, all plans must include the same basic services and the prices for the various plans are listed on the health exchange, which makes comparing them much easier.

    Health insurance costs have become a lot clearer in the past year. Consider your family’s needs, then compare plans, and remember: the monthly fee may make you grumble, it could also save you money down the road if a health issue creeps up on you.

    Easy Healthcare: Set Two, by Lori-Ann Rickard - includes How to Choose Your Health Insurance, ObamaCare, and What You Need FirstTo help you prepare for health insurance enrollment, check out MyHealthSpin’s Easy Healthcare: Book Set Two which includes three of my ebooks: What You Need First, Choose Your Health Insurance, and Obamacare.

    Empower yourself with the knowledge to Spin Your Healthcare Your Way!