By Kimberly Lankford, AARP | Updated October 19, 2023   If you aren’t already receiving Social Security benefits at age 65, you won’t be signed up automatically, so you’ll have to decide when you want to enroll. But if you continue to work and have health benefits through your job, depending on the size of your employer, you can delay enrolling in Medicare. The same goes for your health insurance if it’s through your spouse’s job. But you need to consider some rules about

I was truly honored to attend the 26th Annual Raincross Trophy Dinner  this past week in Riverside. This event is a powerful reminder of the deep bond between our community and the men and women of the Fourth Air Force . A highlight of the evening was the opportunity to sit with the 927th Air Refueling Wing  from MacDill Air Force Base, FL. Their dedication to the mission is inspiring, and I thoroughly enjoyed our conversations. It was also a privilege to connect with Colonel

If driving at night feels more stressful than it used to, you are not imagining it. Headlight glare has become one of the most common complaints among motorists, and safety groups say it is a real and growing issue. The main culprit is whiter, harsher LED lighting, which risks blinding oncoming drivers. This glare can reduce contrast, slow reaction times and make it harder to spot pedestrians, cyclists or road hazards — especially for older drivers. Those who drive vehicles w

One of the biggest challenges as we age is the prospect of having to spend days, weeks, months, or even years in a hospital. If you're enrolled in Medicare Part A (hospital coverage) it can help foot the bill for the first 60 days, but far less in the following 30 days, and after that you will pay full price out of pocket. Also, the number of days in the hospital that Medicare will cover over your lifetime is capped, and once you burn through those days, you are on your own f

More and more Americans are being saddled with high out-of-pocket medical expenses after an accident, especially those enrolled in high-deductible health plans. HDHPs have become popular, especially among younger and healthier individuals because of their lower monthly premiums. The tradeoff is that they carry the risk of significant out-of-pocket costs if medical services are needed. Depending on the deductible, a broken leg can end up costing thousands of dollars out of poc

If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan and find that it is not working as well as you hoped, there is a special window each year that gives you a chance to make one change. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from Jan. 1 through March 31. This enrollment period is different from the fall Medicare Open Enrollment Period that runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. It is only for people who are already enrolled in an MA plan. If you have Original Medicare and want

The oldest Gen Z workers and youngest Millennials who are just entering the workforce face a steep learning curve when selecting group health coverage and are increasingly turning to apps, the internet, and family for advice, according to a new report. The survey by Justworks and The Harris Poll found that the youngest workers experience the greatest stress during open enrollment, lean heavily on AI tools and social media for guidance, and rarely ask their employer's HR team

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued fitness guidelines that recommend adults get two and a half hours of moderate exercise every week, at a minimum. The slogan of the new guidelines is "move more, sit less," in an attempt to address the two main reasons many of us don't get enough exercise. This new guidance is the first update to the guidelines since 2008, when they were first released. Here are the report's main suggestions: Adults At least two and a

You've decided that buying a long-term care policy for yourself and your spouse is the right choice. The figures, however, are daunting, and the premiums exceed your budget. If you are considering long-term care insurance, the option to receive necessary assistance in your own home may be preferable to living in a nursing home.  Because the vast majority of the middle-aged and senior population favors this option, the insurance industry has responded. The assisted living and

With 2026 now upon us, so are a slew of new laws and regulations that affect California businesses. Every year, legislation passed by the state Legislature and signed into law by the governor takes effect, and 2025 was a busy legislative session in Sacramento. The end result is another wave of new legislation that California employers need to stay on top of. Here's what California employers should be aware of.   1. Protected leave expanded AB 406, which took effect Oct. 1, 20