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Post by lorando (NW PA) on Jul 20, 2024 9:13:32 GMT -5
Good Morning, Ed in Detroit. That sounds a day to forget. But you stuck it out and finished what you had to do. Not sure how many employees have that work ethic.
My bank came back online in the afternoon yesterday, but they are still behind in posting. You're right, it's a minor inconvenience compared to what travelers at the airports experienced.
Hello, Sneakers. I picked up a case of what I thought was an intestinal virus or food poisoning that interrupted my sleep every hour or so during the night. I feel fine, but don't dare wander very far. I finally realized I must have eaten something with sorbitol in it, or one of those other sugar alcohols, and sure enough, I checked the label on some salad dressing I used, and there it was. Duh! I usually check. Oh well, it's just a matter of time now until it all gets rejected and I can get back to normal.
Yikes. Keep those papers away from the AC adapter; but I guess that's AJ's job to nag you, not mine. Enjoy your free day, with nothing on the agenda.
Mornin', Patty. Sorry to hear how high and how often you have to deal with copays. I'm kind of a dunce when it comes to health insurance, but luckily, it all seems to get taken care of as part of my retirement benefits.
No more l-o-n-g walks for me! My knee won't permit it. But I've found that I can ride the exercise bike for half an hour, plus walk about 2 miles on days when it's not raining, without much discomfort. Actually It's safer now that I stay in the residential neighborhood, and don't wander along the highway anymore. Plus I always carry my Irish blackthorn walking stick just in case I have to keep a rogue squirrel or chipmunk at bay. 😁 Enjoy the day!
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soutxed
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Post by soutxed on Jul 20, 2024 9:33:23 GMT -5
Sneakers--My mom had the Medi gap insurance which in the 90's cost $2000 every six months. Then it went up to $2200. Plus the agent moved from Brownsville to Houston and was hard to reach. Tried to switch to another plan from a local agent who was a church member, but because of her diabetes, they could not insure her. Tried two other agents and had the same issues. Did get the plan that covered her medications. When I tried to get a Medigap plan in 2009, I was turned down due to my cancer. Good thing about teacher retirement is there is no cap, I will get it until I die. Wife's HEB has a maximum, but it is making money every year. Was able to return my Amazon purchase but due to the Lithium batteries, I had to pack it in the original container and put a mailing label. UPS took the box with no problem. Got my Max Lucado book.
Ed--I really didn't understand everything with lab bottles but understood the CrowdStrike meltdown, it was a problem. My bank was not affected. Last issue with them was Monday when someone (most likely evil BIL) tried to make an unauthorized withdrawal. A friend got up at 4AM to take his brother to the airport for a 6 AM flight but didn't get out until afternoon.
Patty--I guess what you need to do is compare the cost of Medigap insurance with the Medicare Advantage co-pay. So far for us the MA works better. Plus, my cancer kept me from getting a policy. Your previous health issues might be a problem, but the laws of taxachusetts may be different. You might want to consider applying for Medicaid. Since you do not own a home and have much money in the bank, you may qualify. Caretaker sister moved some money around and has no co-pays for most medical procedures and gets money for groceries. And this is in Texas which has some of the most difficult rules to receive Medicaid.
Lorando--I prefer my Bagels toasted or warmed up at least. Astros win put them in a tie for 1st place in the West. Play Seattle again tonight and tomorrow. Unless I go to a Sports bar, I cannot see the game. Wished Fox would show it but MLB makes the schedule so far in advance they do not know what key games will be.
I know losing sleep over our son's issues, at least last night I slept well. Heard stories about some ME's taking up to a year. Makes it ahard to collect life insurance and death benefits.
Got 1 inch of rain from a thunderstorm which knocked out electricity. But we were headed to a visitation for a friend who passed away. Checked as we left the funeral home and power was still off so went to get something to eat. As our food was served, got notification power was back on. Allso had a rosary Thursday night. Funeral for the lady was same time as visitation. There is no public funeral planned for the man.
Also had lunch with an older couple. First time since Covid. Sadly, their health is not good, but some of that they bring on themselves.
Will get together with a younger couple tonight, hopefully. If not there is something going on downtown, we may attend.
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Post by sneakers (Metro Houston) on Jul 20, 2024 11:11:05 GMT -5
Part B - $174.70/month
Part D - $47.10/month
Plan G Medigap - $236.97/month (at attained age 69)
I don't know if that's "affordable" for you but it takes about 10% of my monthly gross income. My single largest expense is $1133.23/month (about half my Boeing pension) on a debt management plan. Messed up one month and paid too much on another account and could only pay $833.23 that month. HEB Signature VISA pulls the money out of your account instantly and there is no good way to reverse it. I tried and failed.
Medical billings through July 15: $1,036,267.80
Amount I paid: $280.61 (mostly my Part B deductible)
I call it my "million-dollar foot." Skin grafts are fiendishly expensive!
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Post by sneakers (Metro Houston) on Jul 20, 2024 18:27:33 GMT -5
Hello, Sneakers. I picked up a case of what I thought was an intestinal virus or food poisoning that interrupted my sleep every hour or so during the night. I feel fine, but don't dare wander very far. I finally realized I must have eaten something with sorbitol in it, or one of those other sugar alcohols, and sure enough, I checked the label on some salad dressing I used, and there it was. Duh! I usually check. Oh well, it's just a matter of time now until it all gets rejected and I can get back to normal.
Yikes. Keep those papers away from the AC adapter; but I guess that's AJ's job to nag you, not mine. Enjoy your free day, with nothing on the agenda. |
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Post by sneakers (Metro Houston) on Jul 20, 2024 21:01:19 GMT -5
Sneakers--My mom had the Medi gap insurance which in the 90's cost $2000 every six months. Then it went up to $2200. Plus the agent moved from Brownsville to Houston and was hard to reach. Tried to switch to another plan from a local agent who was a church member, but because of her diabetes, they could not insure her. Tried two other agents and had the same issues. Did get the plan that covered her medications. When I tried to get a Medigap plan in 2009, I was turned down due to my cancer. Good thing about teacher retirement is there is no cap, I will get it until I die. Wife's HEB has a maximum, but it is making money every year. Was able to return my Amazon purchase but due to the Lithium batteries, I had to pack it in the original container and put a mailing label. UPS took the box with no problem.
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patty7841
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Posts: 32,196
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Post by patty7841 on Jul 20, 2024 22:11:33 GMT -5
Hi Everyone:
I read everyone's post. But it is now very late. Need to work in retail tomorrow (Sunday).
Will write to everyone on Monday or Tuesday next week.
Questions for Sneakers:
I am a bit older than 65. Does that mean I could not get Medigap insurance?
If I could get a Medigap plan, does this go by age?
I know Part A is hospitalization insurance.
Part B is medical bills (office, telemedicine, etc)
Part D is prescriptions.
Right now I have Medicare Advantage. Part A is free. Part B is what you mentioned ($174.70).
Part D I don't pay for so I guess with Original Medicare I would need to.
And then Medigap would be separate too.
Sorry for the boring post, but I am a bit confused with the whole insurance thing. I need to get rid of these constant co-pays. It will clean me out for sure.
Thank you for all your help, Sneakers. Insurance is awful!!!
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Post by sneakers (Metro Houston) on Jul 20, 2024 22:24:42 GMT -5
Hi Everyone:
Questions for Sneakers:
I am a bit older than 65. Does that mean I could not get Medigap insurance?
If I could get a Medigap plan, does this go by age?
I know Part A is hospitalization insurance.
Part B is medical bills (office, telemedicine, etc)
Part D is prescriptions.
Right now I have Medicare Advantage. Part A is free. Part B is what you mentioned ($174.70).
Part D I don't pay for so I guess with Original Medicare I would need to.
And then Medigap would be separate too.
Sorry for the boring post, but I am a bit confused with the whole insurance thing. I need to get rid of these constant co-pays. It will clean me out for sure.
Thank you for all your help, Sneakers. Insurance is awful!!!
If you have a Medigap Plan G (the best you can get at your age), your expenses are quite predictable. Just the premiums and the Medicare Part B deductible along with the Part D copays. IIRC, the Part B deductible was $240 in 2024. My deductible went bye bye on the ninth of January.
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Post by sneakers (Metro Houston) on Jul 21, 2024 0:58:48 GMT -5
Finally got settled down in bed this morning at about 1:30 AM. Slept to 10:30 AM, missing the Saturday morning news.
Sat down in the business room and turned on SiriusXM. Fell asleep in the task chair until 1:30 PM.
Took my morning pills when I woke up and ate lunch in the two o'clock hour. An eight-ounce can of Dole pineapple chunks and two sandwiches. HEB Super Duper Butter Bread, salami, and HEB Swiss cheese. Wiped out the meat and the cheese, only had to take the bread and the plate back to the kitchen.
About three o'clock, Chelsea (one of AJ's former girlfriends from 2014-2018) called. She has an alcohol problem, but she was not noticeably slurring her speech when I talked to her. When AJ talks to her, she is usually rip-roaringly drunk. AJ told her not to call me, but I told him that I don't really mind an occasional call. I'm considerably more chilled out than AJ is. When AJ drives, he yells at other drivers that cannot hear what he is yelling. Usually that they're too slow or blocking traffic. Usually using a racist epithet. Wonder if he'd do the same if they could hear him. Probably not, it could lead to road rage.
Middle of the afternoon, I dribbled in my diaper enough that I needed a change. Haven't done that since the change.
Hadn't heard the news all day so I switched SiriusXM to FOX News Headlines 24x7. Fell asleep in the task chair again and missed the Saturday late afternoon news.
Michelle went out to pick up the snail mail about 6:00 PM. It had two pieces of shredder food that I had seen in Informed Delivery. What it had that wasn't on Informed Delivery was a bottle of 30 pills from my mail-order pharmacy. The only one that they fill every 30 days. I would suspect 90 of them would be too dangerous to put in a patient's hands because one pill usually knocks me out. One milligram of active pharmaceutical ingredient leaves 275 pounds of patient very groggy most of the time.
Listened to SiriusXM, both Classic Vinyl and Classic Rewind.
Turned on the Astros-Mariners game about eight o'clock.
Supper tonight was five slices of default food (frozen pizza). I enjoyed it more than some times.
Drank all the Gold Peak tea. An 89-ounce bottle is about $0.50 more than a gallon jug of the Red Diamond that I usually get. Gold Peak is considerably sweeter, almost too sweet. It does have one redeeming quality: it's a Coca-Cola product and I'm a Coca-Cola stockholder. I've heard using your company's product called "eating your dog food" but in this case is it drinking your own pet water?
CrowdStrike has delayed Amazon twice. I was going to get my carton of diapers Thursday. Delivery slid to Friday and then Saturday. Now, they're saying Monday. Amazon said if they don't get it here Monday I can ask for a refund Tuesday. Don't want a refund, want my 15% off regular price carton of diapers. Fortunately, I have a yet unused carton of them.
My left big toe bandage fell off this evening. Wonder if I should call Home Health to get it rebandaged tomorrow. They would do a better job than I could. Next appointment is Monday.
Astros beat the Mariners 4-2. They are now top of their division.
Figure I'll get to bed by just after midnight. Have alarm set to 9:30 AM to get up in time for Cousin Martha's church service. Tomorrow is the last service for their senior pastor, who decided to move to a less rural area. He has a special needs son. Martha goes to see doctors that are out of town. So do I, but most of mine are one town over in Webster. I do see my podiatrist in Friendswood so we can get morning appointments.
No expenses today for me. Only three more days until Social Security Retirement should arrive after business hours.
Going to have to get up and get a glass of water for the five bedtime pills. Only one of them tastes bad when taken dry.
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soutxed
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Posts: 5,154
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Post by soutxed on Jul 21, 2024 8:09:53 GMT -5
Sneakers--Going one town over where the city limits touch each other is not much travel as Martha has, I suspect. Same with in-laws, ten miles to Raymondville and 30 miles to Harlingen for specialist appointments. Of course, travel in the Houston Metroplex is more difficult with the traffic. One thing I didn't mention about Medical Insurance is the valley has higher doctor and hospital rates than most of the rest of the state. Or at least when I turned 65. Hospitals then complained too many ER patients with no way to pay but by law they have to treat them. Doctors in this area are sued more often than the rest of the state so had high insurance costs to cover those. Worse is low educated jurors often sided with plaintiffs here. So Medigap insurance companies charge more.
Patty--I stll think you should look into Medicaid. Not saying they will cover you. Caretaker sister did have to move some money around and gave the house to the children. Since you own no property and with your issues, I would think you have a chance to qualify. But if your state is like Texas, they will make it hard to qualify.
Lorando--Guess are messages crossed yesterday. Astros win keep them in first place. Maybe things are working out. Watched last part of Yankees game and saw a small crowd. Wonder if the heat kept them away. MLB may have to limit day games in outdoor stadiums. We have limited our walks, partly due to heat and humidity and partly there have been some issues on the walking trails. Of course, we could just go to the empty mall and walk in A/C when the power is on.
Didn't do much yesterday. Wife cleaned house as she does nearly every day. It's her germaphobia.
Talked to sister in San Diego until she brags how cool it is there. She complained it was over 80 degrees there. But we got a rain shower that cooled things down. Caused the Evening outdoor event to be cancelled though by 7PM, it was nice weather.
Not much else today. May go to SP as caretaker sister has some food from the free food distribution. We have a few items we are discarding so wife says give it to her.
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Post by lorando (NW PA) on Jul 21, 2024 13:19:32 GMT -5
Good Afternoon, soutxed. I didn't see yesterday's game, but Friday night was a sellout. I guess afternoon games are like dinosaurs, but it's a good time to bring the family, without drunken fans acting out. But if you just saw the area behind home plate, that's always scarcely populated. Those are gazillion dollar season ticket seats owned by corporations and Wall Street types. Today is the rubber game. Friday was a Yankee blow-out, and yesterday was a Tampa Bay blow-out.
No surprise the Astros are back; the cream always rises. Which reminds me:
Being from Texas, you probably don't have experience with home milk delivery in cold temperatures, but the milkman would do his rounds before 6AM, and put your order in a semi-insulated insulated box on the back porch. The milk was in glass bottles with cardboard lids (pogs). If you didn't bring the milk inside right away the cream would freese and rise out of the bottle, and cause a mess.
Hello, Sneakers. Hope you enjoyed Cousin Martha's church service. We were comfortably cool this AM. I went in at 7AM (Mass starts at 10), opened every window, and turned on every fan I could find. It was bordering on chilly when it started.
I stopped in Walmart on the way home to buy some Greek Yogurt. That reaction to Sorbital sweetener emptied me out, so I have to give the old gut bacteria a boost.
Hi, Patty. Hope you have a civil acting crowd at retail today.
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Post by sneakers (Metro Houston) on Jul 21, 2024 14:14:00 GMT -5
Sneakers--Going one town over where the city limits touch each other is not much travel as Martha has, I suspect. Same with in-laws, ten miles to Raymondville and 30 miles to Harlingen for specialist appointments. Of course, travel in the Houston Metroplex is more difficult with the traffic. One thing I didn't mention about Medical Insurance is the valley has higher doctor and hospital rates than most of the rest of the state. Or at least when I turned 65. Hospitals then complained too many ER patients with no way to pay but by law they have to treat them. So Medigap insurance companies charge more. |
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edindetroit
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Posts: 2,525
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Post by edindetroit on Jul 21, 2024 16:04:10 GMT -5
Hi Everyone:
Questions for Sneakers:
I am a bit older than 65. Does that mean I could not get Medigap insurance?
If I could get a Medigap plan, does this go by age?
I know Part A is hospitalization insurance.
Part B is medical bills (office, telemedicine, etc)
Part D is prescriptions.
Right now I have Medicare Advantage. Part A is free. Part B is what you mentioned ($174.70).
Part D I don't pay for so I guess with Original Medicare I would need to.
And then Medigap would be separate too.
Sorry for the boring post, but I am a bit confused with the whole insurance thing. I need to get rid of these constant co-pays. It will clean me out for sure.
Thank you for all your help, Sneakers. Insurance is awful!!!
If you have a Medigap Plan G (the best you can get at your age), your expenses are quite predictable. Just the premiums and the Medicare Part B deductible along with the Part D copays. IIRC, the Part B deductible was $240 in 2024. My deductible went bye bye on the ninth of January.
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Post by sneakers (Metro Houston) on Jul 21, 2024 18:51:07 GMT -5
Hello, Sneakers. Hope you enjoyed Cousin Martha's church service. We were comfortably cool this AM. I went in at 7AM (Mass starts at 10), opened every window, and turned on every fan I could find. It was bordering on chilly when it started. I stopped in Walmart on the way home to buy some Greek Yogurt. That reaction to Sorbital sweetener emptied me out, so I have to give the old gut bacteria a boost. |
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Post by sneakers (Metro Houston) on Jul 21, 2024 23:23:31 GMT -5
Watched last night's Astros game, got to bed about one o'clock.
AJ got a phone call about that time from a riproaringly-drunk Chelsea. He stuck his head in my bedroom to see if I got one too. Turned out I was talking to Alexa, not Chelsea.
Woke up this morning about nine o'clock. Got up and went in the business room and watched the tail end of the ABC 13 Sunday morning news.
About ten o'clock, I turned off the ABC 13 news and started in watching for Cousin Martha's church service start to stream.
Today's service, they had the kids doing everything but the baptism at the start and the sermon. Drifted off to sleep during the sermon. Had a dream that I was doing the sound at my church back in Alabama which was when I was about half the age I am now.
No response to the altar call today, which I was back awake to see. They also mentioned the process they will be going through to get another senior pastor.
Swallowed morning pills about noon. Had an eight-ounce can of pineapple chunks for lunch. Along with two sandwiches. HEB Super Duper Butter Bread, bologna, and HEB Monterey Jack cheese.
Turned on SiriusXM The Message until about 2:30 PM, then I turned on the Astros game. Went to sleep during part of it, when I woke up when Michelle walked in with supper about 6:30 PM. Pork chops topped with mushrooms, onions, and various colored bell pepper strips, mashed potatoes, and a mix of green beans and peas. Ate everything but the peas.
Turned on SiriusXM Classic Rewind and wrote stuff on the Internet. Found out people were talking about Joe Biden's withdrawal from the Presidential race. Switched to SiriusXM FOX News Headlines 24x7 and listened to it to about 8:50 PM.
Turned on the nine o'clock CW 39 news and the ten o'clock KPRC Channel 2 news after that.
Was hungry and decided to get a can of pineapple to eat about ten o'clock.
No expenditures for me today but AJ found out he can't buy smokes on a credit card he maxed out buying smokes. Only two more days to go.
Going to have a busy day tomorrow. Should have home health nurse come by but she didn't text me today like she usually does. Eleven pieces of mail in Informed Delivery, one for AJ and one for someone who lived here long ago. The other nine are for me. Should get the twice-delayed box of diapers from Amazon along with the Smart Plug that they sent by UPS.
Took the five bedtime pills. Soon to go to bed.
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soutxed
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Posts: 5,154
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Post by soutxed on Jul 22, 2024 8:08:41 GMT -5
Sneakers--You are right about medical costs higher in areas where the income in lowest. Two counties have the lowest per capita income in the state if not the country. A McAllen hospital that is owned by doctors and a millionaire, has some of the highest rates in the country. Made the national news because of that some years ago. Also known for ordering more tests than medically necessary. EMTALA is a necessary here. Some local GOPS complain that hospitals treat illegals for free, but they, like the schools, cannot legally ask citizenship. Not surprised at your mother's reaction about you attending a Catholic church. Caretaker sister when living with us discouraged wife from attending my Methodist church. Said does services don't count in God's eyes. But then the whole time she lived with us she never went to mass with wife. She seems to think it onl counts when she attends the SP church. Anglican church calls their services mass.
Lorando--True the only fans I saw were those behind the plate and the Yankees were down by several runs. I remember the days of the milkman coming when ex-wife and I were first married, and the children were young. But we got behind on the bills and it was cut off. I see you open up the church, do you have to stay and close up? I remember when I was in junior high and high school, my dad opened and closed the church. We were the first to arrive and the last to leave. Also, in those days, we wore suits and summertime closing was hot as church had no A/C until I was in HS. We had fans from a local funeral home.
Ed--Don't feel bad. So many don't understand insurance. As a result, they get taken advantage by some crooked agents. One BIL had that happen when he had to quit work. They bought insurance which was not taken by any of his doctors or the favorite hospital. Neither of their children could help them. A nephew after a year with the bad insurance got them something that was helpful, but by then they were deep in medical debt. Had to sell BBQ plates for a couple of years.
Church went well, but had some brain freeze on the camera. Continues after church as I lost keys to the Escape. I was driving the pickup so not sure why I had those keys. Worse, it has a tracker, but the app didn't work.Told me I had to re-connect. Same app was on the house keys. Will get rid of that.
Went to SP. I was the only male with a bunch of sisters in laws and nieces. After they talked for a while they played Chalupa (Mexican Bingo.) One of the nieces ask about who they were going to vote for and one of the younger sisters said she has never voted. That got the nieces stirred up. Caretaker sister sat quietly as I don't think she has voted much since she took care of oldest sister.
Gym today and prayer time. Lot to pray about.
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