The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Happy New Year

Happy New Year.

I spent most of yesterday working on an article about the top consumer stories of 2019. Today, I'll be working on the top consumer stories of the decade. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

The United States of America has such potential. It's a big, diverse country with tremendous resources. But, time and time again, we miss the mark. The opioid crisis. Mass shootings. Climate change inaction. Barriers for minorities and women. Ongoing wars. A lacking health care system.

But, as a consumer writer, the thing that bothers me the most is the continual favoring of corporate interests over the public interest. One of the biggest stories of the decade, in my opinion, is the increase in income inequality. I read about it on social media every day. Families struggling to get by, living paycheck to paycheck.

Baby boomers get ready for Halloween

As Halloween approaches and it gets colder and colder, baby boomers are bundling up, raking leaves, and getting ready to hand out candy. And they’re writing about:

• The tale of a long-held family possession.
• The best way to get inspired is to start working.
• A warning to beware of all the ads and phone calls hyping Medicare Advantage plans during Medicare open enrollment.
• A pitch for online dating for baby boomers.
• A tour of a historic battlefield.
• A spooky dream.

Carol Cassara of Heart•Mind•Soul writes about these articles in the Best of Boomer Blogs #620. Click here to get the links to the articles. And let us know your thoughts. It’s fun to hear from readers.

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Consumer and Personal Finance Journalist

Don't be pressured into buying or switching to a Medicare Advantage plan during open enrollment

It’s that time of year again. Advertisements for Medicare Advantage plans are flooding my mailbox and email. I’m even getting phone calls about the plans. And, every time I turn on the TV, there’s another ad about Medicare advantage, with infomercials to be tolerated, too.

From Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, people on Medicare can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan or vice versa.
• Join, drop, or switch a Part D prescription drug plan if they are on Original Medicare.
• Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan if they are already on one.

New information for those selecting a nursing home

By Brian O’Connell, Analyst, insuranceQuotes.com

Guest blogger

Finding the right nursing home for an elderly family member is a serious responsibility, and often a daunting task. But many Americans aren’t aware of the tools that the federal government provides to make the search smoother and more trustworthy.

The U.S. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services rolled out its new Five-Star Quality Rating System in April, with the goal to help families compare local nursing homes and get key questions answered.

The CMS’s website rates nursing homes on a scale of one to five stars, taking into consideration three key areas: health inspections, staffing, and quality measures.

Baby boomers get ready for fall

Summer is an amazing thing. I love it every year when it so nicely appears here in the Seattle area. However, shorter days and cooler nights remind us that it’s time to prepare for a new season’s activities and learn something new. 

This week, baby boomer bloggers have some ideas to help jump-start your autumn. 

They’re writing about:

Facts and figures for Labor Day 2019

Source: WalletHub

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Consumer and Personal Finance Journalist

Baby boomers keep writing despite the devastation of mass killings

Rebecca Olkowski of Baby Boomster says she’s been paralyzed by the horrifying things that have been happening with four mass shootings in the United States in one week – Brooklyn, Gilroy, El Paso, and Dayton.

Myself, I find the inaction on responsible gun laws appalling. I just can’t understand why Congress won’t do something. I applaud states and local government who have taken action in recent years.

But, it’s not enough. In Washington where I live, the Washington State Legislature passed open carry laws. It’s terrible. One day I went to the state capitol to take photos, and a gun group was having a rally. Guns were everywhere. I asked men at the edge of the group what they were doing. They said they were “protecting the perimeter.” Appalling, just appalling. And Washington is supposed to be a progressive state.

I took photos because I’m a photojournalist and I have a right to take photos in public places. Above is one of the photos I took at the rally. Fortunately, no one shot me.

Baby boomer bloggers are keeping at it, despite upsets, and are writing about:

• The gift of being there for our friends.
• Whether you should tell your age.
• The characteristics of your favorite restaurant.
• How the fear of flying abates for the wonders of Scotland.
• Information on what to do about the Equifax data breach payment for consumers.
• Medicare updates.
• Ethical fashion brands.

This is the Best of Boomer Blogs #608. Click here to get the links to the articles. And be sure to leave comments. It’s fun to hear from our readers.

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Consumer and Personal Finance Journalist

CVS-Aetna merger harmful to patients, consumer advocates tell the judge

Photo: JJBers

CVS-Aetna lawyers, consumer advocates, and health care organizations gathered Thursday in Washington, D.C., for oral arguments on whether the Department of Justice’s proposed final judgment in the CVS-Aetna merger is in the public interest. 

U.S. Public Interest Research Group, which filed a friend of the court brief with Consumer Action, called CVS’ claim that the merger would reduce prescription drug prices “absurd.”

“CVS is claiming the merger will simultaneously boost profits to investors and help save consumers money,” said Adam Garber, consumer watchdog for U.S. PIRG. “But without an impartial party holding the combined company accountable, it is more likely than not that instead prices will go up, to the detriment of patients.

How to select the best health insurance policy to meet your needs

When you’re hired by a company, it’s likely that you’ll be able to get health insurance through your employer. In America, 58 percent of people get their health insurance this way.

If your employer doesn’t offer health insurance or if you’re self-employed or do contract work, you can get health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

In either case, you’ll need to pick out a policy. It’s a complicated process.

In addition, every year there will be an open enrollment period. That means you’ll be able to look at the different companies and policies your employer or the ACA offer to see if you want to switch.

Here are some tips to help you:

Where are baby boomer living now?

By Florentina Sarac, Guest Blogger

Researcher for RENTCafé

As a generation that values individual choice and can easily adapt to change, baby boomers are known to favor certain parts of the country when it comes to retiring.

No longer tied to a particular city, many prefer to pack up their bags and leave for sunnier places. But while some only take a nice climate and entertainment options into consideration when choosing their next destination, others might want to move closer to family. Affordability also plays a big part in their decision as choosing a city with lower taxes can help them save money.

A study by the apartment search website RENTCafé shows that along with popular retirement zip codes in warm states such as Florida and California, baby boomers also prefer living in lively zip codes in New York or Las Vegas.