Kansas Senior Press Service News ArticlesKansas Senior Press Service News ArticlesBy Kansas Senior Press Service
Q: My former employer is cutting its retiree coverage next year, and then I will only have Original Medicare. Can I buy insurance to fill the gaps in Original Medicare?
A: Yes, several insurance companies sell supplemental coverage to fill Original Medicare’s gaps. These policies are called “Medigaps,” and they help cover Medicare deductibles, co-insurances, and, depending on the plan, some additional benefits.
There are 12 standardized Medigap plans, labeled A through L. The cost of your Medigap policy will depend on the type of Medigap plan you choose and from whom you buy it. All plans of the same letter cover the same set of benefits, but costs vary greatly by company (one company’s Plan A may cost much more than another company’s Plan A). It pays to shop around.
Do you currently require few medical services? The following plans charge a lower monthly premium in exchange for higher up-front costs when you need care. Keep in mind that if your medical needs increase, these plans could end up costing you more than higher premium plans that cover more.
There is also a type of Medigap plan called a Select plan, which works like an HMO.
You will want to look into buying a Medigap before you will lose your retiree plan so you have no gaps in coverage. To get started, find out which Medigap plans are available in your state.
In Kansas call Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas at 800-860-5260 to access a network of volunteers who can help you with your Medicare and Medigap questions.
Source: MedicareRightsCenter
By Ione Warne
Kansas Senior Press Service
Hands come in many shapes and sizes — big hands, strong hands, chubby little baby hands, gnarled hands, boney hands, and some with missing fingers.
There are willing hands, helpful hands, loving hands, and those that offer comfort. Then there are hands that have become useless and numbed by pain. And there are those that reach out for help.
Some are beautiful with polished nails and some wear jeweled rings. Many hands have great talents — the hands of the musicians, the painters, the sculptors, the doctors, and the hands of the working man.
There are the praying hands that ask God for his blessings.
There are the busy hands always ready to help where help is needed.
When I see people, I see hands!
When people see me, I hope they look beyond the big knuckles, the arthritic joints, the twisted fingers, and see the hands that say, “I am your friend. Let me be your hands when you need my help.”
Thanks to Alan Warne, of Kansas City, Mo., for sharing this essay, which was written by his mother about a decade ago. She died last June, just after her 89th birthday.
By Kansas Senior Press Service
Q: How do the guidelines to lower heart disease in women compare to diet recommendations for lower cancer risk?
A: Many of the steps to lower cancer risk are precisely those that protect against heart disease: avoidance of tobacco and second-hand smoke; limiting alcohol and sodium; weight control; physical activity 30 to 60 minutes daily; and a plant-based diet with fruits, vegetables and whole grains, which supply antioxidants and fiber.
The new heart-focused recommendations call for at least two servings a week of oily fish, which supplies protective omega-3 fats. Omega-3 fats may help protect against cancer, too, but evidence is less clear.
The American Heart Association guidelines emphasize a limit of 7 percent saturated fat (found in high-fat meats and dairy products) to control blood cholesterol. Currently, there is not enough data to provide specific limits on saturated fats for lower cancer risk — so people are encouraged to follow the widely recommended limit of no more than 7 to 10 percent saturated fat to reduce heart disease.
Q: Do different types of onions, and different members of the onion family, all have the same anti-cancer effects?
A: Members of the allium family — onions, garlic, leeks and chives — all contain sulfur compounds. Laboratory studies show that these compounds play a role in rendering carcinogens harmless before they can lead to cancer. Quite a few sulfur compounds exist, and the amounts and types vary. Studies suggest that at least some sulfur compounds can stimulate the self-destruction of cancer cells, so these foods are a valuable part of our arsenal for preventing cancer. Some research shows that different types of onions have varying levels of antioxidant compounds called phenols. Laboratory estimates of anti-cancer effects among the different onions also vary. In one study, milder sweet onions (such as Vidalia, Empire Sweet, and even several white onions) ranked lower in phenols and anti-cancer effects than some sharper-flavored yellow onions.
As researchers learn more, we may make more effort to choose or breed onion varieties high in protective compounds. For now, simply incorporating all the members of the allium family into your diet is a smart move both for health and making food taste delicious.
Q: Does sugar increase cancer risk?
A: Too much sugar in your diet may indirectly increase your risk of cancer, but that doesn’t mean you need to avoid it completely. Large amounts of sugar raise blood sugar and, thus, insulin levels. Sugar can come in many forms, such as table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, which is used in commercial drinks and sweets. Routinely elevated levels of insulin seem to promote development of colon cancer and perhaps other types, too. The people who may be most affected are those who are overweight, sedentary, or have insulin resistance and diabetes in the family.
Another way that high sugar consumption could increase cancer risk is by leading to weight gain. Excess weight is linked to greater risk of several types of cancer. Overeating sugar that is either refined (table sugar) or unrefined (molasses, honey, or brown sugar) has the same effect on weight and insulin levels. Limiting cake, cookies, candy, sweetened cereals and sugar-sweetened soft drinks reduces sugar consumption, cuts excess calories, and leaves more room for foods that promote good health.
Source: American Institute for Cancer Research
By Kansas Senior Press Service
A collaboration between the National Archives and Footnote.com has put 47 million World War II documents and photographs online.
The site, www.footnote.com/wwii , contains photographs, enlistment records and interactive maps relating to World War II.
Highlights include a searchable image of the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii, 80,000 photographs and nine million “Hero pages” that users may update by themselves.
These articles are also available electronically at the Center on Aging Website: http://www2.kumc.edu/coa/Senior_Press_Article/Topic_Index.htm