Protection during the Golden Years: Health Insurance and Retirement

Health insurance for retirees or senior citizens can be confusing, especially with so many options and requirements. However, health insurance is crucial for retirees. As you grow older, your health obviously becomes more of an issue; you may visit the doctor more, need to fill more prescriptions, or even receive in-home care. Before you retire, prepare for health insurance to ensure that you receive the best benefits.




The first step in planning your health insurance coverage in your retirement is to see if your employer offers insurance coverage after you retire. If the company does, you should certainly consider it. Look at the plan, the deductible, and the coverage. Many near-retirees believe that Medicare will cover their medical payments, but this is not always the case. With this sort of coverage, you will most likely receive better health care but at a more expensive cost. As a retiree, you will certainly have a health insurance budget to maintain, and you will have to decide if the cost of your employer's insurance is too expensive.




If your employer does not offer coverage, Medicare will be an important and integral part of your health insurance if you are 65 years of age or older. Medicare works like traditional health insurance plans in that you have been contributing a small portion of every paycheck you earn into this plan. Once Medicare begins, you will make co-payments for office visits or treatment. Medicare will also cover the expense of certain medical equipment or needs.




However, Medicare did not cover a number of items that are typical of health insurance. The government recently updated Medicare and divided it into three parts: Part A, B, and C. Part A covers hospital care, such as home health care, hospital stays, and hospice care. This part does not require a premium. Part B covers the more routine medical expenses, such as office visits and laboratory tests, while Part C enrolls you into a fee-for-service or managed care plan that reduces your out-of-pocket costs. Despite these different options, Medicare restricts your coverage by not covering certain kinds of care or illnesses and diseases. Thus, there is also Medigap coverage, which helps fill in the gaps in health insurance that Medicare leaves. Medigap coverage differs from state to state and has different payments.




Beyond Medicare and Medigap, there are also long-term care insurance plans that you can buy. You often see these plans advertised on the television at very low prices. These plans can help cover the costs of a nursing home or home health care. With so many different options and limitations, if you are retiring soon, you should take a look at your budget and what you can afford as well as what sort of coverage you feel you will need.

Eating Healthy During Pregnancy

Starting off your with a healthy well


balanced diet is the best thing you do for yourself


and your baby. This way, you'll only need to make


a few adjustments during your pregnancy.




Your first trimester


If you find it tough to maintain a balanced diet


during your first trimester, you can rest assured


that your not alone. Due to queasiness, some


women will eat all of the time and gain a lot of


weight in the process. Other women have trouble


getting food down and subsequently lose weight.




Preventing malnutrition and dehydration are your


most important factors during first trimester.




Calories


When you are pregnant, you need to consume around


300 calories more than usual every day. The best


way to go about doing this is listening to your


body when you are hungry. You should try to eat


as many foods as possible from the bottom of the


food pyramid.




If you gain weight too slow, try eating small


meals and slightly increase the fat in your diet.


You should always eat when you are hungry, as you


are now eating for 2 instead of one.




Calcium


By the second trimester, you'll need around 1,500


milligrams of calcium each day for your bones and


your baby', which is more than a quart of milk.


Calcium is something that's missing from many


diets. Along with milk, other great sources for


calcium include dairy products, calcium fortified


juices, and even calcium tablets.




Fiber


Fiber can help to prevent constipation, which is


a common pregnancy problem. You can find fiber in


whole grains, fruits, and even vegetables. Fiber


supplements such as Metamucil and Citrucel are


safe to take during pregnancy.




Protein


Unless you happen to be a strict vegetarian, your


protein intake is not normally a problem for women


who eat a healthy diet.




Iron


A lot of women will start their pregnancy off with


a bit of iron deficiency. Good sources of iron


include dark leafy green vegetables and meats. Iron


supplements should be avoided, as they can cause


internal symptoms such as cramping, constipation,


or diarrhea.




Vitamins


Seeing as how you get a majority of the vitamins you


need in your diet, you may want to discuss prenatal


vitamins with your doctor. Folate is one of the most


important, and if you are getting enough of it, you


may be able to avoid vitamins all together - just ask


your doctor to make sure.