December 2009

New Year’s 2010 Approaching Fast

Posted on December 29, 2009 at 8:19 pm in
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Happy New Year
Image by woodleywonderworks via Flickr

New Year’s 2010 is approaching fast. There are plenty of parties all around planned. We have always stayed home and spent New Year’s Eve at home. It really isn’t safe here in Upstate New York to be out on the road at this time of the year especially partying.

It is pretty stormy out right now. The temperature is about 16 degrees out, snowy and windy which makes it feel more like about 0 degrees.

We are planning to attend a New Year’s Brunch on New Year’s Day. I live in a very small village but we do have a couple of very good restaurants and one is putting on a very good brunch.

I will be purchasing some Champagne for toasting the incoming New Year this week. We don’t go elaborate but it is a nice tradition. Not that at our age we make it until 12:00 midnight to do the toast but usually get one in before we go to bed.

And, what would a New Year celebration be with out Dick Clark in Times Square, Rockin in the new year?

I grew up in California and it was nice to be able to watch the New Year’s parties on tv as it started from the East Coast. Now I live on the East Coast and have to stay up most of the night to be able to see them.

Well, here is wishing all a very Happy New Year and a safe and fun celebration! If you have any fun New Year stories or plans to share please leave a comment and share.

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Health Care Insurance and Outrageous Costs

Posted on December 28, 2009 at 4:39 pm in
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Big insurance: Sick of it health care reform rally
Image by Steve Rhodes via Flickr

Well, recently I was informed by the company that my husband works for that not only was he going to get his wages cut 5% he was not going to be able to have the insurance we have had for the last 5 years.  We got the notice about the 2nd week of November that the company would not be able to re-up the contract with the current health insurance company and there would be big changes.  That we would not be insured as of December 1.  The only insurance they would be able to offer would have a $1300.00 deductible each.

I panicked.  I have a chronic illness that is controlled by medication but I don’t spend $1300.00 in a year.  This is ridiculous.  And you would have to still pay a monthly premium payment also.

I don’t get why the government is not addressing the real problem with health insurance.  Their CEO’s are sitting in their high-rise offices getting richer and fatter and we are struggling to survive.   I think that if we all got together and just didn’t get insurance at all… then what would happen to them?

Since my illness hit me about 5 years ago I lost my job and my insurance with my company.  I went on disability and I was added to my husband’s health insurance and we paid the monthly premium.  I became eligible for Medicare and kept the Medicare Part A.

Well, now that I was not going to be insured by his work insurance I needed to get signed up for all of Medicare.  I really thought this would be very confusing and hard to work through (you know, like anything the government is involved with).  But, to my surprise it was fairly simple.

Being on disability meant that I qualify for Medicare Advantage.  I never even heard of Medicare Advantage.   I was set up with an insurance company in my area that would cover my medications and my doctors and providers were a part of.  I do not pay anything more for the coverage and it is all paid by the monthly fee.  I have very little co-pays for the providers and some are free.  This insurance is better than what I had the last 5 years that cost us twice as much per month.

So, if you are getting close to the age for Medicare or have a need to get it for any reason, do not fret!  It is not that hard to do, or not that confusing.   The insurance company that I chose to go with sent out a representative that met with me to explain all my benefits and gave me all kinds of phone and online supports.  I am very pleased and feel a great relief.  We even went over when my husband would qualify for this insurance and how he is to apply since he is approaching the age of 65 in the next year.

All we have to do now is worry about what the new Health Care Reform is going to do to this in the near future.

What are your health insurance issues?  Do you have some helpful hints or a story to share or some questions?  Please leave a comment.

I added some links to some news releases on the opinions on the passing of the new health bill.  They are all pretty good and worth reading.  It will be interesting to see what happens because of this.  Leave a comment with your opinion.

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Merry Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2009 at 5:27 am in
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Merry Christmas 2008
Image by James Marvin Phelps (mandj98) via Flickr

Merry Christmas Everyone!  Well, it is finally here.  We are going to our daughter’s house today for a beautiful Christmas dinner and I am sending out Christmas cheer to everyone.  I know that the reports for travel are not great but then I don’t remember a Christmas time here in Upstate New York that they were any different.

My husband and I opened the gifts we got each other last night and discussed the new TV we plan to purchase after the holidays (our gift to each other) a nice big flat screen HDTV.

Now, it is time to finish up the wrapping for the kids today and get things packed up and ready to go.   I do not like to get out in the weather when it is bad but we have a pretty good forcast for today.   We are supposed to get a storm in on the overnight but we will be home by then and in bed.    Hubby got me a wireless mouse to use on my laptop.  I love it too.  I spend so much time on my laptop that it is really a great little toy.

Well, here’s wishing all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!  I hope it is a safe and happy holiday for all.  God bless the Men and Women in the armed forces and their families.

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