Savvy Senior

Dear Savvy Senior, What’s the process for getting Medicare to pay for an electric mobility scooter or power wheelchair? My 76-year-old mother has arthritis in her knees and hips, and has a difficult time getting around anymore. Searching Daughter Dear Searching, Getting an electric-powered mobility scooter or wheelchair for your mom that’s covered by original Medicare starts with a visit to her doctor’s office. If eligible, Medicare will pay 80 percent of the cost, after she meets her $147 Part B deductible. She will be … [Read more...] about How to get a Medicare covered power scooter or wheelchair

Dear Savvy Senior, Is life insurance needed in retirement? I’m about to retire and have been thinking about dropping my policy to escape the premiums. Is this a good idea? Over Insured Dear Over, While many retirees choose to stop paying their life insurance premiums when they no longer have young families to take care of, there are a few reasons you may still want to keep your policy. Here are some different points to consider that can help you determine if you still need life insurance in retirement. Dependents: Life … [Read more...] about Is life insurance needed in retirement?

Dear Savvy Senior, What kinds of reacher grabber tools can you recommend for seniors who need help picking things up off the ground. I bought a cheap one at Walmart a few months ago that doesn’t work very well for me, and would like to find one that does. Need a Hand Dear Need, A good reacher grabber is a very handy tool for anyone with mobility issues. It works like an extension of your arm allowing you to reach down and pick things up off the ground without bending or stooping over. It can also help with reaching and … [Read more...] about How to find the best reacher grabber tool

Dear Savvy Senior, I run a community counseling program for needy families and am frustrated that so few eligible seniors take advantage of the food stamp program. Can you write a column on this to help educate seniors to this underutilized benefit? Reaching Out Dear Reaching, It’s hard to imagine that a government program serving more than 46 million Americans each month is considered severely underutilized. But that’s the reality of the federal Food Stamp Program when it comes to serving seniors. Nationwide, food stamps … [Read more...] about Food assistance programs can help seniors in need

Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend any advocacy organizations for seniors other than AARP? I cut up my AARP card a few years back when they supported Obamacare, and am now looking for another organization that better represents me. Conservative Senior Dear Conservative, There are actually quite a few senior advocacy organizations out there promoting themselves as conservative alternatives to AARP. While AARP, with a membership of almost 38 million, is by far the biggest and most powerful advocacy group for people age 50 … [Read more...] about Senior organizations that appeal to conservatives

Dear Savvy Senior, What are the cheapest cell phone options available today to seniors living on a shoestring budget? I only need it for occasional calls. Seldom Calling Senior Dear Seldom, For financially challenged seniors who only want a cell phone for emergency purposes or occasional calls, there are a number of inexpensive no contract plans you can get. Or, depending on your income level, there are also free cell phones and monthly airtime minutes you may qualify for. Here’s where to find some of the cheapest deals. … [Read more...] about Low-cost and free cell phone options for seniors

Dear Savvy Senior, Since retiring, my husband and I love to travel but hotel costs eat up our budget so fast we can’t stay as long, or go as often as we’d like to. I’ve heard that there are alternative lodging options like short-term apartment rentals or even house sitting that offer a much cheaper way to travel. How can we find these? Retired Travelers Dear Travelers, If you’re willing to do a little research and preplanning, there are a number of ways you can lower (or eliminate) your travel-lodging costs and live more like a … [Read more...] about Alternative lodging options for retirees who travel

Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some good ergonomic gardening gear for seniors? My 72-year-old mother loves to work in the garden, but has been plagued by various gardening injuries this year. Looking for Solutions Dear Looking, There’s no doubt that gardening can be tough on an aging body. Garden work often requires a lot of repetitive stooping, squatting, kneeling, gripping and lifting, which can lead to back and knee pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and various other injuries. To help make your mom’s gardening chores … [Read more...] about Ergonomic tools that can ease gardening pains

Dear Savvy Senior, I just turned 65 and received my Medicare card. I see that the ID number on my card is the same as my Social Security number, and on the back of the card it tells me I need to carry it with me at all times. What can I do to protect myself from identify theft if my purse and Medicare card get stolen? Conflicted Beneficiary Dear Conflicted, Many people new to Medicare are surprised to learn that the ID number on their Medicare card is identical to their Social Security number. After all, we’re constantly … [Read more...] about How to protect your Medicare card from identity theft

Dear Savvy Senior, At age 63, I will be retiring in a few months and need to find some health insurance coverage for my wife and me until Medicare kicks in. Is Obamacare my only option? About to Retire Dear About, There are actually several places early (pre-Medicare) retirees can go to find health insurance coverage – Obamacare isn’t the only game in town. Here are your options depending on your income and health care needs. Government Marketplaces If your yearly income falls below the 400 percent poverty level, the … [Read more...] about Health insurance options for early retirees