Avoiding the Medicare Late Enrollment Penalty

Three months before you turn 65 you should receive a packet of information that tells you exactly what you need to do during Medicare open enrollment to insure coverage. Open enrollment only lasts for three months before the month you are set to turn 65 and for three months after. If you choose to enroll in Medicare outside this period, you will be subject to a late enrollment penalty.

Late Enrollment Penalty

There are four different parts of Medicare which each have their own penalty for late enrollment. These four parts are: Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Plan D. There are penalties for each separate part of Medicare if you choose to enroll late.

Medicare Part A

Most likely you will automatically qualify for Medicare Part A when you turn 65. If you do automatically qualify, often there is not premium. Automatic coverage occurs for recipients who have, or who have a spouse who has, worked at least forty quarters in the United States. This equates to ten years of employment in the U.S.

If you have not met this qualification, then when eligible you will be required to pay for premium for Medicare Part A. If you choose not to at the time, waiting until a later date, your premium will increase monthly by 10%. The increased premium will need to be paid for double the number of years you could have had Medicare Part A but did not choose to sign up.

Medicare Part B

Medicare Part B is like Medicare Part A in that your enrollment in benefits are automatic. Like Medicare Part A, if you are not enrolled automatically you will need to enroll in Medicare Part B when you become eligible. If you choose not to enroll in Part B when you are first eligible you will be charged a late enrollment penalty for the entirety of your coverage. The penalty has the potential to increase by 10% for every year you did not sign up but were eligible to do so.

Medicare Plan D

Medicare Plan D, also known as prescription drug coverage, is one plan that you will not automatically be enrolled in. It is encouraged that you enroll in prescription drug coverage with in the enrollment period. If you do not and you are not enrolled in any other prescription coverage the penalty you pay multiplies 1% of the “national base beneficiary premium” times the number of months that you have not had prescription drug coverage. The premium is rounded to the nearest ten cents.

Exceptions

If you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you may avoid the late penalty for Medicare Part A and B. This special enrollment period occurs when seniors are still working at 65 and delay enrolling in coverage. The same is true as well if you are covered under your spouse’s medical insurance.

The experts at eMedicare Supplemental Insurance, powered by Omega, have all the answers you are looking for when it comes to your Medicare Supplemental Insurance needs. More information can be found at http://emedicare-supplemental-insurance.com/.

Should I Hire A Professional Contractor for Renovations?

If you are like most homeowners, there will come a time when you must consider renovations around your home. It could be the kitchen is outdated or the plumbing in the bathroom is no longer working properly; whatever the reason you will start to consider whether you should tackle the renovations by yourself or if you should hire a professional to get the job done. Most homeowners will opt to hire a professional contractor because it saves time and money in the long run. The question than becomes who will you hire and how will you know that they are reputable?

Choosing a contractor starts with a search of the local area to find licensed, insured, and reputable professionals who offer services in your area. After meeting with contractors, you will be able to narrow down the selection based on the following:

Familiarity with Home Improvements That are Similar to Yours

Although no two home improvement projects are quite the same there are usually some common elements amongst them. It is important to hire a professional home improvement contractor that is familiar with the type of renovation you are seeking. If you are looking to renovate your kitchen or bathroom than it is important to find a contractor that has experience in kitchens and baths. If you are looking to do exterior home improvements then it is crucial you seek a contractor with experience in siding, window installation, chimney repair, roofing, and more.

Vendor Connections

To complete any project your contractor must have access to the materials and supplies that are needed. Better yet is when the contractor that you hire has access to materials and supplies through vendors that offer significant discounts thus allowing your budget to stretch further.

Experience in Various Home Improvement Skills

Not only is it crucial that the contractor you choose has expertise in the area in which you are seeking to have renovated but also that they have a wide range of expertise that have been developed overtime with on-site experience. The contractor that you hire should have experience with the pitfalls that can occur in your project. This way if they should incur any with yours they will know how to handle them effectively. From hanging windows, mounting doors, framing walls, or installing a new subfloor your contractor should have experience to keep your project running smoother.

An Understanding of the Importance of Safety in Renovations

Safety should be of the utmost concern when it comes to your home and family. When a contractor performs their job with safety as their top priority it means your job will be done correctly and without injury or property damage. The contractor should pull the proper permits for the job, understand OSHA regulations, and be compliant with local codes. Not only will they be schooled in safety surrounding home improvements so should their employees.

There is never a reason not to hire a contractor when it comes to all your home improvement needs. Not only can they save you time and money, it will help to ensure that your project is done correctly from the start.

As a full-service home improvement contractor servicing all Southeast Michigan, Kearns Brothers, Inc. offers clients a wide range of services to meet their construction needs including: roofing, siding, window, masonry, chimneys, gutters, and insulation services. More information can be found at www.kearnsbrothers.com.

iPhone Apps: Why Do They Seem to Perform Slower After Every iOS Update

I am not sure if I am the only one that notices but every time an update to my iPhone occurs my phone acts like a dinosaur. It seems so much slower than before the update, each and every time. Why?

Even though I have not downloaded any new mobile apps and am not using my iPhone any more than I previously was, the phone is downright slow. I have heard it repeatedly from many iPhone users, but it seems to continue. That leads me to wonder if it’s happening, is Apple doing it on purpose.

Battery Issues?

Some investigating into the health of the iPhone has been done over the years by several different outlets. Some truth has been found to the claim as some users have found that once the batteries of older iPhones are replaced the phones seem to speed up. What was found is that Apple’s iPhone processor seems to slow down after the battery hits several recharge cycles.

The issue in the past with iPhone batteries is that they have said there was life left on the battery, but the phone still shuts down without warning. It was found that the same processor is used in in a variety of iPhones and the issue occurs throughout. Apple also stated that they use Lithium-ion batteries which become less reliable in colder temperatures, when the battery has a low charge, or it is an older battery.

When an iPhone battery or processor ages it naturally decreases in efficiency and apps perform slower. To combat this known defect Apple released a feature that helps to level out peak instances. The new feature prolongs the battery by slowing it down over the lifetime of the phone.

Solutions To Speed Problems

If the speed of your mobile apps is affecting the way in which you interact with your phone there are a couple of things that users have offered as solutions. One is to replace the batteries in the phone. This simple fix allows the phone to basically function as new. The battery life is set back to one. Now, this process is not as simple as changing the batteries in your television remote. To update the battery in your iPhone you will need to make an appointment at one of many Apple stores. Having the battery replaced at an Apple store also help to avoid voiding the warranty.

Users can also choose to upgrade their phones. Most note that IOS updates always seem to occur around the release of a new model iPhone, coincidence? I think not!

Creative Programs and Systems, CPS, is an all-inclusive IT solutions company offering a variety of services including: managed IT services, IT consulting, residentia

Not All Yards Are Flat: Racking Your Aluminum Fencing Panels

When it comes to fence installation the Earth is unfortunately not flat but instead full of a variety of landscapes. The variety within your landscape can lead to some major difficulties when looking into adding a fence to the perimeter of your home. To combat this exact issue, iFenceUSA offers aluminum fence panels that conform to the slope of your landscape.

Racking

To ensure that your fence is installed with the slope of your landscape in mind it is important to work with an aluminum fence provider that offers fencing with what is sold in custom racked positions. This occurs more easily in aluminum fence panels because of their construction. Fence panels are screwed together, allowing the railing to be angled while the pickets remain straight up and down. In the fencing industry this is known as “racking”. This function allows the fence to follow the grade of your yard, uphill or downhill.

When planning for the installation of your new aluminum fence and gate it is crucial for homeowners to remember that it is impossible to follow every change in grade within the yard. The main goal of racked aluminum fence panels is to follow a gradual slope over the span of the fence rather than each slope individually.

Stepped Fencing

Steeper slopes can be addressed with a more customized aluminum fence panel that into consideration more sudden drops. This is often referred to as stepping or staggered. Instead of the panels being angled as they are in racking they are designed to create a step up or down with each panel. Each of the aluminum fence railings stay horizontal and the step is created when a new aluminum panel is installed lower/higher than the previous one. The aluminum panels are attached at different points which allows then to be positioned at a different level than the previous panel.

Stepped fencing often occurs when the landscape grade is more sudden rather than gradual as it is in racked fencing. Many times, stepped fencing occurs when used in conjunction with retaining walls. In stepping taller aluminum fence posts and additional rails may need to be worked into your online aluminum fence order.

Choosing IFenceUSA For Your Next Fence Purchase

iFenceUSA offers several customizable options when it comes to ordering wholesale aluminum fence online. Since most landscapes are non-conforming and there are more issues to address than a flat backyard iFenceUSA has specialists available to help you with every stage of your project from measuring the yard, determining tricky installation spots with in the space, measuring the yard, choosing a style, ordering, and installing your aluminum fence. From traditional black aluminum fencing to contemporary, bold bronze aluminum, iFenceUSA is your one-stop shop meeting all of your aluminum fence needs.

iFenceUSA is an online distributor of wholesale aluminum fences and gates for residential, resort, commercial, and industrial installation. As an industry leader in maintenance-free aluminum fencing products we have all your aluminum fence and gate needs covered. More information can be found online at https://ifenceusa.com/.

The Realities of Age in Place Remodeling

Although a new concept, aging in place has become a notion that not only seniors but middle-aged people have started to appreciate the importance of. Not only does it make sense because it makes life easier for you but also from a financial stand point.

No one ever wants to discuss getting older and not being able to care for themselves as they are today. Trust me, I get that; I know for me it is one thing that is brought up all to often among my kids when talking with me and it is the last thing I really want to talk with them about. However, the facts exist, whether we want to talk about it or plan for it, we will get older.

It is important to understand that if your goal is to remain in your home for as long as possible then the sooner you start preparing for the aging process the better. Yes, you may only be in your forties but if you are already considering renovations around the home then you should start to include features that will make it easier to grow old with.

Aging isn’t really the problem. The issue arises from the affects of aging. There are several changes that occur mentally, physically, and your abilities overall tend to slow down. It becomes harder to navigate the terrain later in life as the freedoms you once had become more difficult.

What Are Dangers In Waiting to Renovate To Accommodate Aging Needs

There are two areas in which I want to focus today as we discuss aging and the desire to stay within our homes, caring for ourselves: What are the most realistic dangers physically, mentally, and financially? and What will occur if you wait to act now?

Risk Of Falling

The biggest issue found in emergency rooms involving seniors comes from accidental falls. Not only does the fall impact you today but also your future lifestyle. Protecting yourself from accidental spills around the home is just one of the precautions that need to be considered sooner than later. If you are considering an update to your flooring be sure to use materials that offer some type of slip resistance, even when wet. The flooring should also take into consideration navigation, if a wheelchair or walker should be needed, the ease of maintenance, as well as the about of cushion and comfort it provides. A side effect of falling is an increase in serious, debilitating, long lasting issues from broken hips to an increase in dementia. It is crucial that steps are taken very early on to prevent the risk of falling as a fall will significantly decrease your quality of life.

If you wait to start planning and remodeling until after an incident you are really putting yourself in danger not only physically but mentally and financially as well. The less able you are to take care of your self the more mentally frustrated you will become. Especially for those of us who have remained active and are living a physical lifestyle. Financially we are also affected because are ability to earn income will decrease and our care expenses will increase.

It comes down to the reality that designing and preparing your home for aging in place when renovating not only is a solid financial investment but also makes your home safer to live in right now. Added safety around your home whether you are in your thirties or fifties can’t hurt. Age in place remodeling helps increase your longevity and preventing accidents such as unexpected falls. Without remodeling with aging in mind you could lose tens of thousands of dollars each year as you pay for assisted living and nursing home care.

Glen Miller the Home Doctor is a licensed general contractor servicing Livingston County and the surrounding areas. Glen offers a wide range of services including home maintenance plans, age in place remodeling, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, finished basements, and hardwood floor refinishing. More information can be found online at https://www.glenmillerthehomedoctor.com/.

Costs Involved with Filing Bankruptcy

When you are considering bankruptcy as an option to relieve your financial burdens the last thing you want to be worrying about is how much it is going to cost to hire an attorney and file the necessary paperwork. After all, money is tight which is the reason you are contemplating this option in the first place. In this installment we will discuss the fees involved with filing, hiring an attorney, and additional fees you may encounter.

Fees for Filing Bankruptcy

There are many bankruptcy options to choose from but the most popular being Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. The filing fee for Chapter 7 is $335 and for Chapter 13 is $310. There may also be a fee charged by the Bankruptcy Trustee which can range between $15 and $20 dollars. Another fee you may need to cover is the cost for mandatory credit counseling and financial management classes. These classes can cost upwards of $100 depending on where you are filing for bankruptcy and the options that are available.

Attorney Fees in Bankruptcy

Many people will unsuccessfully file for bankruptcy without the help of an attorney. Paperwork often is incorrectly filed, the steps necessary are not taken, and many other hiccups plague individuals filing “pro se”, (without the help of an attorney). The truth is that filing for bankruptcy successfully most often requires the help of a bankruptcy attorney.

Bankruptcy attorneys are responsible for setting their own fees. On average bankruptcy attorneys charge $1,250 for their services. This fee varies depending on where you are filing, the complexity of your litigation, your attorneys experience and reputation. The fees for filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy are often less than those found in filing for Chapter 13. This is most likely due to the extra services that go into filing Chapter 13 such as setting up a repayment schedule and executing automatic payments.

This fee may seem like a lot at the moment. It is to be assumed that your filing bankruptcy because you are lacking the ability to pay the debt. When you take into consideration the average debt that is written off in bankruptcy is $15,000 that fee seems relatively reasonable as it takes a large debt down to pennies on the dollar.

Filing for bankruptcy isn’t an option that is easy for individuals to make. It is one that should be made only after much research and contemplation.

Bohikian Law Group specializes in bankruptcy services including chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy. More information can be found at http://bohikianlaw.com.

Patient Safety Is Affected by The Design of Your Facility

When it comes to receiving treatment, both in patient and out-patient, our safety is always a concern. Whether a family member, friend, or even oneself is receiving care it is crucial that safety as a patient is of utmost concern for the facility where we are seeking treatment. Accidents that occur within a facility whether they are minor, like slipping in the bathroom or major an error in medication received, cost billions of dollars per year. The harm that is caused by ineffective patient safety measures don’t just affect the facility and patient, caregivers can also be scarred emotionally.

Patient care and safety is just one of the many reasons it is important to design your medical facility in such a manner that is basically fool proof. You will see this demonstrated in a million different ways throughout the facility including:

Standardized patient and treatment rooms:

When rooms throughout the facility are designed in the same manner throughout it helps to prevent errors from occurring. Rooms are set up in a manner that considers the predominance of right-handed professionals and patients. This helps to ensure that the room is set up in the most efficient manner possible for the greatest good.

Standardized facilities take the guess work out of patient treatment and therefore help to ensure the best possible outcome in patient care. Efficiency within the medical facility allows for a precise, standardized approach that allows treatment to be done quickly and safely. Familiarity within the space, knowing where you can find what you need when you need it within a familiar environment that keeps patients safe and the work flow moving along competently. When variation is removed all the guess work is taken out of the equation and thus error in treatment.

This is especially necessary when specialized treatment is sought. Radiation oncology departments are just one of the many departments within a hospital that use a standardized approach in treatment room layout. Radiation is an intense option in treating cancer using several large scaled devices like linear accelerators and CT scanners to find and treat cancerous tumors.

Although each patient’s treatment is unique the way it is received is not. Simplifying the routine elements allows doctors and nurses to focus on the specific requirements of each patient. Physicians can concentrate on patient information, dosing information, and the physical care of the patient over being concerned on where to find basic supplies.

Basic Principles To Promote Patient Safety:

As stated by author, John Reiling in Safe by Design: Designing Safety in Health Care Facilities, Process, and Culture, facilities must follow basic principles to promote patient safety. This includes:

Being Patient Centered
Environmentally Conducive
Resourceful/Efficient
Safe
Superior Care
Advanced Technology
Knowledgeable and Approachable Staff

As an independent LINAC service company, Acceletronics is dedicated to delivering the best equipment performance and services for linear accelerators and CT scanners across all major brands and models, as well as new and refurbished LINAC systems for sale. More information can be found online at https://www.acceletronics.com/.

Understanding the Basics of Laser Eye Surgery

Laser eye surgery, LASIK, is one of the most common eye surgeries performed in the United States, with millions of procedures being done every year. The procedure is performed by a trained, board-certified ophthalmologist who knows how to do the surgery. Like with any elective surgery you might have done, it is very important that you know all the risks, rewards and understands that there are no guarantees of success.

LASIK – Laser Eye Surgery

Weigh the Risks and Rewards – Be sure that before you go out and have LASIK refractive eye surgery that you have thought through everything completely. You never want to have any type of surgery without weighing everything first and be confident in your decision.

Choosing the Right Eye Surgeon – There are several thousand board-certified ophthalmologists who can perform LASIK and most have already performed thousands of them, depending on how long they have been in practice. However, you need to be sure that you are comfortable with your surgeon before you should allow them to perform a procedure on your eyes. Check around, ask for recommendations from friends and family members.

Determine Myopic Level – Get to know how bad your refractive error is beforehand, so you know upfront about the likelihood that you will need refinements later down the line. As a rule, the more Myopic, nearsighted you are the higher the likelihood you will require additional refinement procedures.

Know What to Expect – LASIK is performed with you 100% awake and therefore you will want to know what to expect during the procedures. You do not want to be surprised by something when you are halfway through your LASIK.

Understand the Risks – Be sure that you understand that with all surgeries that there are several risks involved with LASIK Eye Surgery. Make sure to ask plenty of questions of the surgeon during all consultation visits before you schedule the procedures to be performed.

Know the Limitation of Surgery – There are known limitations to LASIK Refractive Surgery, it is only designed to correct nearsightedness and astigmatism. You could still end up needing to wear glasses depending on your other vision issues. Also, LASIK will not prevent you from ever needing reading glasses or “readers” later in life.

Take Care Post Surgery – After you have decided to have the surgery done and the procedures are completed, you will be given a list of post-surgery care instructions. Be sure to follow them exactly, they will help you to heal properly and lets you know what some of the possibilities to expect.

Alternative Options – Last but, certainly not least, LASIK is just one of many eye procedures that can be performed to correct several eyesight issues. Be sure to discuss all your options before going with LASIK.

If you are looking to reduce or even get rid of your eye glasses and/or contacts let us at Rohr Eye & Laser Center help you! We offer several types of LASIK eye surgery including PRK, AK, CK, Cataracts surgery and more. We perform all these eye laser treatments with state of the art equipment. We are a leader in laser vision correction, and our goal is to help you achieve superior vision. Contact us today or view our website http://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment.

Tap Water: Is the Water in My Home Safe to Drink?

All you want to do on a really hot day or after a long, hard workout is to go over to your kitchen sink and fill an extremely large glass with cold tap water! However, is the water that is coming out of your tap safe to drink?

While tap water in the United States is safer to drink than some of the tap water found in other parts of the world, it can still be full of contaminants like minerals and chlorine. Small amounts of minerals won’t do too much harm to your health and you won’t even know that they are there, but you may be able to taste and smell the chlorine that is present if you have public water. Of course, well water won’t have any chlorine in it, but it can be full of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals.

Installing a Water Conditioner

To improve your tap water, and make it better for you, as well as better tasting, you may want to consider installing one of the numerous water conditioners that are available. Most water conditioners utilize sodium ions to replace the calcium and magnesium ions in the water. The sodium ions will make the water softer, which will make it taste better and it will even help keep your pipes and fixtures in working order for much longer. The water conditioners will also remove other minerals from your water.

How Much Salt Consumption?

You may be concerned about how much sodium you will be ingesting with each glass of water that you drink after it has been through your water conditioning system. Well, to ease your fears a little, let us tell you that a normal glass of water normally contains very little sodium. Now, this number does rise to twelve and a half milligrams for the same glass of water after it has gone through the water conditioning process, but that is still considered very low sodium content.

That means that the only reason why you may want to reconsider drinking the water out of your tap after it has gone through a water conditioner, is if you are required to keep a very low sodium diet. While the number is quite low for sodium content, it could be enough to make you go over your daily limits too easily. A quick fix to that is to try to consume as little sodium as possible in everything else that you eat and drink.

Having Your Water Tested

If you have been wondering if your tap water is safe to drink, you may want to consider having it tested to see what is in the water. You may be surprised to find out that the water that you have been drinking all these years is as safe as you thought it was, or you may find that you should have installed a water conditioning system long ago to make your water safer than it is.

At Reynolds Water Conditioning Company, we are here to help make sure our clients don’t buy water treatment systems that they don’t need. We are here to make sure you find a water softening system that gives you the results you are looking for, whether it is to remove iron or odor from you water; we have a solution that will help! For more information contact our experts at 800.572.9575 or at our website https://reynoldswater.com.

The Lifespan of a Linear Accelerator Parts

A linear accelerator has a wide range of built-ins that are designed to ensure patients are only given the recommended dose of radiation. The dosage recommended by the physician should never be ignored or changed as each treatment dosage is unique to each patient. Linear accelerators are comprised of several parts and mechanisms that age over time. This article will go over what facilities can expect when it comes to the average lifespan of the parts on LINAC systems, CT scanners, and other radiation oncology devices.

The Lifespan of Linear Accelerator Parts

The lifespan of linear accelerator equipment comes down to two major elements: usage and maintenance. On average medical facilities can expect that large scaled radiation equipment, such as linear accelerators, to last around 5 to 10 years before they begin to break down. Regular maintenance of your LINAC system keeps it running smoother, longer.

Examples of medical equipment lifespans are:

High use parts like Magnetron and iView detectors can last upwards of two to three years and with average use around four to six years.
X-ray tubes with high use last about eighteen months however with low usage can last if four years.
XVI detectors can last up to ten years within linear accelerators that have low usage whereas with high usage XVI parts last around five years.
Thyratron tubes have a lifespan of anywhere between three to five years.

Age and Usage of LINAC Parts

The average life expectancy of most linear accelerator parts depends on the legitimacy of the parts and the amount they are used. There are some parts that need to be replaced yearly with increased use, like the electron gun, however with low usage can last upwards of six years.

Environmental factors cannot be ruled out as it also affects the ion chamber of a linear accelerator, high humidity can cause a reduced lifespan. While an average ion chamber will only need a replacement after four years, one in an environment with high humidity will need a replacement after a year.

When to Replace Aging Parts

Replacing aging parts over time is necessary to avoid causing any damages to the equipment. Some corporation has a habit of considering the price of the equipment and the costs involved in changing the parts over time, and as such delayed the immediate replacement of an overdue or overused equipment. But, this is never a good yardstick of profit maximization, in the long run definitely, a breakdown of significant parts of the system may be disastrous to the equipment.

As a Linear Accelerator stays over time and ages, errors can creep in and this will have an adverse effect on the accuracy of the equipment. It is reasonable to expect a good 5 to 10 years of use out of the linear accelerator, but the maintenance also takes its toll on expenses if it stays much longer.

Companies can often get more usage out of a machine and ensure errors are resolved or controlled just by keeping the software up to date and replacing or upgrading linear accelerator parts as at when needed. Most importantly it is advisable to choose a reputable company to replace your LINAC’s aging parts as the wrong equipment can end up creating more damage to the machine instead of improving its performance. Most companies who sell linear accelerators and parts will have service contracts available that offer varying levels of support.

Radparts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for Linear Accelerators and Radiation Oncology equipment. Radparts provides high quality, user friendly, low cost parts support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment. More information can be found at https://www.radparts.com/.