Share this post:

Summertime and the Living is Easy

Published by Thair Phillips

George Gershwin had a way with words and there are no words more recognizable than the title of this blog . . . at least to those of us who are over 60 or someone who has listened to one of the more than 25,000 recordings that have been made of that song. But the real question remains, is the living really easier in the summer?

For those who have weathered a long winter of shoveling snow or driving on slick streets, summertime is a welcome relief. For all of us it’s a time to enjoy the warm weather and the promise of a vacation, especially given many of us have been robbed of our vacations over the last two years. It’s a time to come out from the shadow of the pandemic and begin to again live our lives unencumbered by a virus.

So, what do we do this summer to make the living easy? One thing you might think about is trying some new recipes. As we found ourselves eating at home more often due to the pandemic, we may have found that we got tired of the same old things. Some of us may have tried out the new cooking appliance, the air fryer. I’ve found it’s a great way to fry food without the mess of hot oil and it’s much healthier. If any of the eight air fryer meals below look interesting, you can get the recipes by clicking here.          

  • Breakfast
  • Hard “Boiled” Eggs
  • Roasted Tomatoes
  • Crispy Tofu
  • Roasted Fish
  • Snack Chips
  • Leftovers
  • Desserts


You also might have found some new ways to stay physically fit. Pickleball has caught on with the older crowd. The increasingly popular paddle sport, which has similarities to tennis and ping pong, has attracted 4.8 million U.S. players of all ages and fitness levels, according to the 2022 Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) report on pickleball. It doesn’t require an excess of running but keeps the participants moving and, most importantly, it gives us a reason to get out and get some exercise. I have friends who play almost every day, they all say it beats trying to force yourself to go to the gym and workout. Older adults are especially drawn to the fun sport: The SFIA report notes that among the 1.4 million “core” participants — defined as those who play at least eight times a year — 60 percent are 55 or older and more than 33.7 percent are 65 or older. Older people enjoy this sport because:

  • The court is small enough that you don’t need to move much to hit the ball, especially if you’re playing doubles.
  • The game encourages players to socialize.
  • There’s less of the frustration factor that accompanies sports like golf.
  • It’s designed to be carefree and fun.
  • It’s inexpensive.


The great thing about this sport is it’s readily accessible. You can input your zip code on the USA Pickleball Association website to find out where to play near you. 

Finally, it seems we’ve found a sport, besides golf, that older people can play, and it no doubt is better exercise than riding around in a golf cart. You’re hearing this from a guy who loves to play golf but is going to give pickleball a try this summer.

Volunteering is another activity that you might find very rewarding. Helping someone else gets us out of looking inward at our own problems and allows us to focus on others. There is nothing more satisfying than giving of your time and skills to help someone else. Below are five non-profits that accept and need volunteers. Just click on their name to find out more about their organization.


I hope you can find something new and exciting to challenge yourself this summer and you do it while also keeping yourself healthy and safe. I’ve written past blogs about taking care of your skin and your eyes and your joints as you venture outdoors this summer. Do a quick search of my blogs if you need some good guidance in these areas. One little hint, you might take some time to do a little training before you venture out on your vacation. I just spent a week walking around and touring Boston and I found out pretty quickly that I wasn’t as ready for that much walking as I thought.

Finally, while we’re looking forward to this summer it’s not too early to start looking at Medicare open enrollment coming up this year. I’ve been working hard these last few months to catch up on the preventative screenings and checkups that I put off because of COVID-19 (don’t you hate the preparation required for the colonoscopy). Keep track of any health changes that have occurred this year so you can make an informed decision as you review your insurance coverage. Especially keep track of any new prescription medication you may now be taking.

Above all, get out this summer and try something new, and also try to get that George Gershwin song out of your head. I haven’t succeeded yet.

Best, Thair

Share this post:

Our Legislative Focus

Published by SSO

As summer wanes and fall begins to come into focus, it’s time to look ahead to the healthcare legislative issues that could come into play. With campaigns heating up and the debates beginning, you can guarantee that promises will be made and accusations leveled concerning your healthcare. Some of the issues that will be brought up might have a small chance of actually being implemented, but this doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t pay attention. In the past, seemingly long shot proposals have become late night trading fodder when politicians make deals on far reaching legislation. Many of the issues I’ll talk about today were thought to be not-starters a few years ago and now they are political realities. What I will do is offer a simple explanation of each issue, give you an idea on how it could affect you and how likely I think it will be to be implemented. I’ve written an earlier blog about many of these issues. You can look through recent posts to get a more detailed explanation of some of the issues.

International Pricing Index/Favored Nation Pricing

Background – In an effort to lower drug costs some in Washington (most recently the President) have proposed that we fix the cost of a drug to the lowest price a “favored nation” paid. As I’ve explained before, price fixing has never been a long-term solution to any cost problem. There are better ways to have other nations share in the costly research and development that goes into discovering and manufacturing prescription drugs.

Impact – If this approach is implemented the supply line safety that we have enjoyed over the years will be jeopardized with no guarantee that any savings will make its way to you.

Chance of Implementation – While this idea has been around for at least a couple of years, its chances of becoming a reality have gone up. It would be difficult to implement and the chance of unintended consequences high. This makes its implementation politically unpopular but a great thing to talk about during debates.

Importation

Background – This issue has some of the same characteristics as the international pricing index. The goal is again to lower drug prices by allowing importation of these drugs from Canada. I talked about this proposal in my earlier blog explaining how it bypasses the safety net we now enjoy without any proof that the patient will see any savings while counting on Canada to implement a program that they have already said they can’t support.

Impact – While you or someone you know has gone across either our southern or northern boarders to purchase medicine at a lower price, this is not what this proposal is about. This importation proposal is at a much higher-level involving suppliers and transporters and large volumes. Some states have passed laws allowing importation but none of them have been implemented.

Chance of Implementation – This approach has been around for many years and no one yet has found a way to safely implement it. A pilot program of some sort may be started but it will take some real political will to make it happen.  Canadian officials have indicated they will not support it. However, the chances of it happening are much more likely than they were just a few years ago. This is one of those solutions that may gain some traction.

Changes to Medicare Part B

Background – The price of drugs administered and paid for under Medicare Part B have increased substantially. These are drugs that are often injected at a doctor’s office for serious diseases like cancer and many types of autoimmune diseases. A proposal to fix the cost of these medicines has been put forth. This approach would go against the market-based approach that is now in place. It would impact many of the doctors who perform these services and upend and regulate this vitally important portion of our healthcare. Again, fixing prices has never been and efficient, long range solution.

Impact – If implemented, this approach would change the economics of this vital service. Any savings to the patient has been hard to quantify but it would most certainly put pressure on already pressured neighborhood practices. Losing these close, more accessible, services would have serious consequences.

Chance of Implementation – Part B drug prices have become a focal point for people seeking solutions to increased costs. We need to correct the underlying parts of the system rather than using a sledgehammer to bludgeon one part of the business.

Part D Cap

Background – Almost all of us, either in private insurance or Medicare or Medicare supplemental insurance, have experienced caps on our healthcare out-of-pocket costs. It helped us budget our money, we even decided what type of insurance to buy based on the yearly cost caps. Medicare Part D has no such caps. Depending on what prescription drugs, we need we may have out-of-pocket costs that balloon to the tens of thousands a year.

Impact – While we have been against the other proposed changes, a Medicare Part D cap would have a huge impact on those of us who are already retired and everyone younger as they plan for their retirement. I’ve known people, maybe you have also, who were living comfortably until an illness struck and their drug costs forced them to tap into their retirement. The peace of mind that a cap on our drug costs would give all of us, whether planning for or already retired, would be immense. This a change that is worth fighting for.

Chance of Implementation – This change is gaining some traction. While it probably won’t be something that is done on its own, it is a change that could be incorporated in some larger legislation as a balance or concession to reach final approval on the bigger legislation. It would be a most welcome change.

It is guaranteed that there will be other changes to our healthcare put forth as we near election day. We will keep you up to date on each one, explaining in simple terms what the change is and its impact on you. There is one over all criteria that I would like you to consider. Making short term, knee jerk, politically popular, changes is not the answer. Trying to band aid or quick fix a broken process never ends well. We need to fix the underlying problem, simplify the process, and let the free market drive us to the most effective, cost efficient solution. I believe the reduction of administrative overhead and regulations is a big step toward this goal. Measure each change to see if it offers simplicity and transparency in its solution.

Let’s stay informed as we approach this critical election. Get involved, tell those in Washington how you feel. Also, get registered to vote and then vote! It’s one of the most powerful things we can do.

Thair

Share this post:

Call on Congress to Fix the Medicare Part D Cliff!

Published by SSO

Attention seniors! In 2020, you may be faced with a significant spike in out-of-pocket spending under the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit.

A measure included in the Affordable Care Act that slowed the growth rate of the “catastrophic threshold” is set to expire. This will cause the catastrophic threshold, or the amount of out-of-pocket spending needed to reach catastrophic coverage, to increase by an estimated $1,250 from 2019 to 2020.

Such a drastic increase could have terrible consequences for seniors on Part D. As you may know, once beneficiaries reach the catastrophic coverage phase, we are responsible for about 5 percent of our prescription drug costs. Unfortunately, this change will force many Medicare beneficiaries to spend substantially more out-of-pocket before reaching that phase, threatening our ability to afford the medications we need. The dramatic out-of-pocket cost increase many will experience could have especially disturbing consequences for patients with chronic conditions and mental illness, who might be forced off their medication entirely.

We need to let our Members of Congress know just how important Part D is to our health and wellbeing. Join us in calling for Congress to protect our access to medication NOW!

You can tell your members to stand up for a fix to this coverage cliff by signing on to the letter here: https://www.votervoice.net/SSO/campaigns/59358/respond 

Share this post:

The Women Who Changed the Face of Healthcare

Published by SSO

Did you know in 1987, Congress designated March Women’s History Month? In celebration, I thought it appropriate to reflect on a few trailblazers who made advances in medicine and science during times when women in healthcare and research weren’t all too common. Without these innovators, modern medicine as we know it would not be the same.

One such example is Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell. Born in 1821, Dr. Blackwell was inspired to become a physician after the death of a close friend. Despite others telling her it was impossible, she became the first woman to receive a medical degree from an American medical school. Over the years, she practiced in London, Paris, and New York, and eventually oversaw the opening of the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children (now called the New York University Downtown Hospital) to both care for the poor and train women physicians and nurses.

A contemporary of Dr. Blackwell, Florence Nightingale, was herself responsible for forever changing the nursing profession. Gaining prominence during the Crimean War when she reduced the British field hospital’s death rate by two-thirds, she overhauled poor hospital conditions in which wounded soldiers were treated and earned the nicknames “The Lady with the Lamp” and “The Angel of Crimea.” Her efforts warranted commendations from Queen Victoria, and even when she was bedridden and homebound, she continued to study and write about improving patient care.

Ten years after Nightingale’s death, Rosalind Franklin was born. Largely unrecognized even today for her revolutionary accomplishments, she learned numerous X-ray photography techniques, with one of her photographs of DNA structure used by other scientists to prove the existence of the DNA double-helix, a discovery for which she received only a footnote’s credit. Even when this was brought to her attention, she didn’t actively seek credit for a discovery largely based on her research.

Today, more women are changing the face of medicine than ever before. One such innovator is Patricia Bath, the first African-American female doctor to receive a medical patent. Bath graduated high school in just two years and graduated from Howard University’s medical school with honors before receiving a fellowship at Columbia University. She was also the first African American to complete a residency in ophthalmology. Bath received her patent for the invention of the Laserphaco Probe, a device that treats cataracts and helped restore eyesight to some who had lost it.

These women represent just a small sampling of those who have forever benefitted medical practice and study. Without them, the technologies and practices employed in modern healthcare may not exist, and many treatments we take for granted would be impossible. This Women’s History Month, let’s remember those women who devoted their own lives to making all of ours better.