As I sit here, I am thinking of all the help and funds we
have received from our health insurance plans for physician appointments,
medical tests, surgeries and illness.
Welcome to Thrifty Living Today,
a special way of life for the Twenty-first Century.
My name is Lori Blatzheim and I am your host.
I became a retired nurse on Feb. 16, 2012. With that
decision came a need for my husband and I to change our health insurance. (He
had been on my plan until I retired).
I spoke with friends and family, asking which health
insurance plan they had. I wanted to know what they thought of their plan and
whether they were going to stick with it.
Once we decided on a plan, we called customer service and
asked for information on prices, educational opportunities, and benefits.
We came to meetings, received lots of information and
paperback books. Speakers did their best to present the plan and help us
understand it.
My husband was considering surgery and in the months
following my retirement, we had a number of phone conversations with the new
health insurance team. By the time the surgery was performed, we felt we
understood the payment process and were much more confident.
Why it is important
to know and understand your health insurance plan
Some health insurance plans are looking at activities which
help the insured. I recently learned that our new Senior health insurance plan
supports activities which help the Senior before he/she becomes ill or
injured. These include dated physician
appointments, special testing, and more education on diseases or conditions
that the insured might have.
My favorite benefit
from our health insurance program
My favorite benefit is “Silver Sneakers.” Have you ever
heard of this? It is a plan that (as far as I can determine) is only available
to those on Medicare.
I discovered, a few months ago, that our insurance plan allows
us to go to certain fitness centers, at no additional cost. I was thrilled! I
had gone to gyms and fitness centers before I retired, but now that I had a
different income, I had thought this was no longer possible.
Our plan started on Jan. 1, 2013. I am now in the process of
visiting the gym, checking out the treadmills, attending classes and participating
in other opportunities. I feel better and I enjoy all the material I am reading
about exercise and healthy living.
Not all insurance plans are presenting this opportunity to
those they insure. If you want more information on Silver Sneakers, please read
some of these posts:
http://www.humana-medicare.com/medicare-coverage/silversneakers-health-fitness-programs.asp
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anthem-blue-cross-expands-silversneakersr-to-additional-members-in-california-81345902.html
http://www.silversneakers.com/TellMeEverything/WhichhealthplansofferSilverSneakers.aspx
I know not what the future will bring but I hope that the
Silver Sneaker plan continues. I love the feeling of doing something that might
help my mind, body, and spirit.
Lori Blatzheim is a wife, mother,
grandmother, writer, thrift advocate, and retired nurse. She knows that use of
Thrift can help people because she has experienced the benefits.
Are you a Senior? Do you have a friend or relative who is considering
retirement or has already retired? Check out this web site: Retire and Renew:
http://retireandrenew.com
