Medicare open enrollment is right around the corner, and the decision between Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare is bigger than a monthly premium. Aging expert Amy O’Rourke says the starting point is your budget and your health history, and the step people skip is confirming that their own doctors accept the plan. Doctor networks change every year, so a physician who took your plan last fall may be out of network by January. A five-minute phone call to your doctor’s office can prevent a very expensive surprise.
Autoimmune conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are another area where older adults face an uphill climb. Dr. Rhea Rogers notes that immune system changes with age make these diseases harder to diagnose, and inflammation is often the engine underneath. The encouraging news is that CAR T-cell therapy, a treatment first developed for cancer, is showing promise for lupus in a clinical trial, and patients like Rachel Dib are sharing their experiences. There is still no cure for lupus, but the research is moving.
Finally, a simple idea worth borrowing: in Phoenix, the R.U. OK? program places daily automated check-in calls to seniors living alone, offering a safety net for people whose families live far away. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most effective tools are the simplest ones. Have you ever helped a parent or neighbor sort through a Medicare plan? What did you learn along the way?
