frequently Asked Questions
Though COVID-19 is no longer an official public health threat, it is crucial to maintain it as a priority for public health’s safety. Now that we have successfully transitioned from a phase where it is dangerous to go outside and interact with people to a phase where we manage to reduce the risk of getting COVID-19, it is important for us to keep lowering the infection rate, especially for older adults. Unfortunately, COVID-19 won’t completely disappear, but there are ways for us to protect our health from this fatal virus, including wearing high-quality masks, washing your hands frequently, getting fully vaccinated, and avoiding the crowd. If you think you might get COVID-19 or tested positive for COVID, getting early treatments is an essential step to decrease your possibility of getting more serious illnesses.
More information about medications for COVID-19 treatments can be found here.
There are various ways in which voting has been made more accessible via the mail. First is the absentee ballot, which requires an excuse to not vote in person. Second is the no-excuse absentee ballot, which does not require an excuse. Finally, there is the universal vote by mail, where registered voters can receive their ballot at their address.
More information regarding the voting processes in specific states can be found here.
The common scams that tend to target retired and elderly people are government impersonator scams, fake prize, sweep stakes, and lottery scams, computer tech support scams, and the grandparent scam. To get more information about how to report and avoid scams there are three different places you can contact as follows: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Trade Commission, and the National Elder Fraud Hotline. Certain tips that the elderly can use to avoid scams and fraud are: don’t wire money, don’t pay with a gift card, don’t pay with crypto currency, and report fraud to the FTC. You can report fraud to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. You can learn how to protect the elderly in your family by accessing “Money Smart for Older Adults” and passing it on!
More information about the scams listed above can be found here.
More information about how to prevent and report scams can be found here.
Social security is a pay as you go insurance program that provides benefits to people with inadequate or no income, or people who are retired. To qualify for social security retirement benefits, you need to earn at least 40 social security credits. As you work throughout your lifetime, social security taxes are taken out of your income. The normal retirement age (NRA) is 65-67. You may claim benefits as early as age 62, but they will not be full benefits like you would receive at age 65-67. To apply for social security benefits, you must fill out some forms and provide certain documentation such as your birth certificate, social security card, etc. You should apply four months prior to the timeline you would like to be receiving benefit.
For more information on social security, click the links below!
https://www.ssa.gov/about-ssa
https://www.findlaw.com/socialsecurity/basics.html
https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/economics/social-security/
Medicare is federal health insurance for people 65 years of age and older. It also includes people under 65 with a disability. There are 2 main types of Medicare: Part A and Part B. Part A is assisted hospital insurance while Part B is medical insurance as it covers some outside wellness care.
For specificity regarding what each of the parts cover, click the links below!
https://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers
https://www.medicare.gov/coverage
https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/is-your-test-item-or-service-covered
Medicaid is a joint federal and state health program for American citizens, mainly low-income adults and people with limited resources, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities. The state administers this health coverage, which offers benefits that Medicare doesn’t usually cover, like a nursing home and personal care services.
More information on Medicaid can be found here.
How to apply?
https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/national-medicaid-chip-program-information/medicaid-chip-enrollment-data/index.html
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) runs programs benefiting veterans and members of their families. It offers education opportunities and rehabilitation services and provides compensation payment for disabilities or death related to military service, home loan guaranties, pensions, burials, and health care that includes the services of nursing homes, clinics, and medical centers.
Those who believe they may be eligible for these benefits can check here.
Do you qualify? Apply Here.
Senior discounts are available across the U.S in various different stores and services. Some of these include Kohls, AppleBees, and American Airlines.
For a broader list of services and stores that allow senior discounts, click here.
Telehealth is certain medical or health questions from a doctor or provider using audio and visual communications such as a laptop or your phone. You can get many of the same services that usually occur in-person as telehealth services, like psychotherapy and office visits. In order to access your appointment, log into the provided link for the appointment from your doctor, ensure that the camera is stable, you are centered in the frame, and that your sound is working and then begin your appointment.
For more information on Telehealth and how it works, click the links below!
https://www.medicaladvantage.com/blog/what-is-telehealth-and-how-does-it-work
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/telehealth/art-20044878
Many insurance companies pay for telehealth services. Looking into your insurance provider and finding out what they cover in terms of telehealth could be very beneficial in seeing what your insurance company covers and if your telehealth visit would be covered by your insurance. Your doctor’s office should be able to inform you if your visit is covered by insurance as well.
More information on paying for Telehealth can be found here.