On May 5, 2022, the Internal Revenue Service published a brief guide on tips to help you prepare for natural disasters. The month of May includes National Hurricane Preparedness Week and National Wildfire Awareness Month. Other natural disasters could include tropical storms, tornadoes, winds, floods, landslides and mudslides.

The month of May is an excellent time to begin reviewing your emergency preparedness plan. Part of that plan includes taking steps to protect personal documents and tax-related information.

1. Secure Key Documents — You should gather your tax returns, birth certificates, deeds to property and insurance policies and place them in a waterproof container or a secure location. Many individuals also create a duplicate of key documents and leave those with a trusted person or store them on an external drive.

2. Document Valuables — If there is a natural disaster, you could suffer the loss of valuable collections, furniture and other items in your home. You will have a much better opportunity to receive compensation from an insurance company or claim tax benefits for a disaster loss if you have good records. IRS Publication 584 includes disaster-loss workbooks that may help you compile lists of property.

3. Rebuild After a Disaster — If you do experience a disaster, you may need assistance from the government or your insurance company. If you have lost some or all of your tax records, the IRS has a webpage on " Reconstructing Records After a Natural Disaster or Casualty Loss" on www.irs.gov.

4. IRS Assistance — If the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issues a disaster declaration for your area, the IRS often will postpone tax-filing and tax-payment deadlines. You do not need to call the IRS. The IRS computers can identify taxpayers who are located in covered disaster areas. If you have tax-related questions on a disaster in your area, contact the IRS at (866) 562-5227 to speak with a specialist. The IRS has trained staff who can answer disaster-related questions.

While individuals all hope not to be involved in a natural disaster, it could happen to you without notice. There are additional natural disaster preparations that will help protect you on www.irs.gov. There is also a webpage on the FEMA website with a recommended set of emergency supplies for a natural disaster. Check out "Build a Kit" on FEMA.gov for more information.

What exactly does Medicare cover when it comes to Alzheimer's disease? My spouse was recently diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's and we would like to find out what is covered and what is not.

You will be happy to know that most medical costs to treat patients with Alzheimer's disease are covered by Medicare. Unfortunately, long-term custodial care costs that most patients eventually need are not. Here is a breakdown of what Medicare does and does not cover when it comes to Alzheimer's disease, along with some tips to help you plan ahead.

Medical care: For the most part, ongoing medical care to diagnose and treat Alzheimer's disease is covered by Medicare Part B. This typically includes visits to primary care doctors and specialists, lab tests, speech and occupational therapy, home health care and outpatient counseling services. Medicare pays 80% of these costs, and the patient will be responsible for the remaining 20% after the annual $233 Part B deductible is met.

Sixty days of inpatient hospital care is also covered under Medicare Part A after the $1,556 deductible is paid. If the care goes beyond 60 days, a daily coinsurance fee is added.

Medications: Most Alzheimer's medications are covered under Medicare's Part D prescription drug plans, however, the coverage varies so check your plan's formulary. The only exception is Aduhelm, the controversial new drug that is estimated to cost $28,200 per year. Medicare Part B will only cover this drug if the patient is enrolled in a clinical trial.

Long-term custodial care: It is important to understand that original Medicare does not cover long-term custodial care such as nursing home care, assisted living facilities and adult day care. Medicare does, however, pay for some shorter-term nursing home care, but only up to 100 days if it is following a three-day or more inpatient hospital stay.

Home help for bathing, toileting and dressing (known as custodial care) is not covered by Medicare typically. It may be covered if the patient is also receiving skilled-nursing care or physical or occupational therapy.

To help with these costs, you may want to look into getting a long-term care insurance policy or short-term care plan if possible. Additionally, if your income and assets are very limited, you may qualify for Medicaid.

Hospice: In the final stages of the disease, Medicare Part A covers nearly all aspects of hospice care, including doctor services, nursing care, drugs, medical equipment and supplies, physical and occupational therapy, homemaker services, counseling and respite care. To qualify, a doctor must certify that a patient has six months or less to live.

Other Insurance and Assistance

A supplemental insurance or Medigap plan will help pay for things that are not covered by original Medicare such as co-payments, co-insurance and deductibles. To search for plans in your area, go to Medicare.gov/plan-compare and click on “Medigap policy only.”

If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan (like an HMO or PPO), the plan must provide at least the same coverage as original Medicare does. Some advantage plans may also offer additional coverage for home care services.

If you cannot afford your Medicare out-of-pocket costs or need help with medication expenses, there are Medicare Savings Programs and the Extra Help program that provide financial assistance for medications. To learn more, see Medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/get-help-paying-costs.

You can also get help through your State Health Insurance Assistance Program, which provides free Medicare and long-term care counseling.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Can you recommend any businesses or services that specialize in helping seniors downsize and relocate? I need to find some help moving my mother from her four-bedroom home to an apartment near me.

The process of downsizing and moving to a new home is a big job for anyone, but it can be especially overwhelming for seniors who are moving from a long-time residence filled with decade's worth of belongings and a lifetime of memories. Fortunately, there is a specialized service available today that can help make your mom's move a lot easier.

Senior Move Manager

To help your mom with her move, you should consider hiring a "senior move manager." These are trained organizers who assist older people with the challenges of relocating and can minimize the stress of this major transition by doing most of the work for you.

A senior move manager can help your mom pare down her belongings, decide what to take and what to dispose of, recommend charities for donations and help sell her unwanted items. They can even create a customized floor plan of her new home so your mom can visualize where her belongings will fit.

Senior move managers can also obtain estimates from moving companies, oversee the movers, arrange the move date, supervise the packing and unpacking and help set up her new home, have the house cleaned and just about anything you need related to her move.

If you want to do some of the work yourself, you can choose the services you want. For example, you may only want a move manager's help with downsizing and selling excess furniture and unwanted belongings but plan on doing the actual packing and moving yourself.

The cost of working with a senior move manager will vary depending on where you live, the services you want and size of the move. You can expect to pay somewhere between $60 and $125 per hour or more, not including the cost of movers.

How to Find One

To locate a senior move manager in your area, visit the National Association of Senior Move Managers website at NASMM.org or call 877-606-2766. The NASMM is a trade association with an accreditation program that requires its members to abide by a strict code of ethics that ensures integrity. They currently have around 1,000 members across the U.S.

You can also search for a senior move manager using Caring Transitions which is the largest senior relocation and transition services franchised company in the U.S. They currently have nearly 200 franchises throughout the country.

Before you hire one, be sure to ask for references from previous clients and check with the Better Business Bureau. Additionally, find out how many moves they have managed, get a written list of services and fees and make sure they are insured and bonded.

If you cannot find a senior move manager in your area, another option is to hire a certified professional organizer who specializes in downsizing and relocating. To find one, check the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, which has a searchable database on its website at NAPO.net.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

My wife and I are planning to travel much more frequently in retirement and are very interested in educational trips and adventures. Can you recommend any organizations that specialize in this type of travel geared towards retirees?

Educational travel, which combines travel with in-depth learning opportunities has become a very popular way of travel among retirees. Here are a few good places to turn to find these types of trips in the U.S. and abroad.

Tour Organizations

One of the best places to start is with Road Scholar, which invented the idea of educational travel for older adults in the mid-1970s. The Boston-based organization offers 5,500 learning adventures in all 50 states and 150 countries.

You can search for learning adventures by location, interest, activity level and price. Road Scholar also offers "Choose Your Pace" senior travel tours that allow participants to adjust their level of challenge daily. They also offer tours designed specifically for grandparents traveling with their grandkids.

Another excellent option is Smithsonian Journeys, a nonprofit travel group affiliated with the Smithsonian Museum. They lead 350 educational trips a year on every continent that are led by experts from a variety of fields including academia, the diplomatic corps, scientists, curators and more.

If you are seeking more adventure, you may want to consider ElderTreks, which offers 50-plus travelers small-group adventures by both land and sea in more than 100 countries. Their trips center on adventure, culture and nature, letting you get up close and personal with the locals.

Academic Travel

Another good source for educational trips is colleges and universities. Popular choices include Cornell University's Adult University, which offers a half-dozen educational trips and courses in the U.S. and abroad, each lasting a few days to a week or more. There is also Stanford Travel/Study which offers educational travel journeys to more than 80 countries each year.

Most college and university trips are led by faculty who share their expertise, along with regional experts and local guides. You do not need to be an alumnus to participate.

You can also check out the Traveling Professor, a small-group touring company led by Steve Solosky, formerly a professor at the State University of New York. They offer dozens of tours abroad each year and take between 8 and 16 people.

Cruising Options

If you enjoy cruising, consider Grand Circle Travel, which offers educational travel aboard small ships. Naturalist Journeys is another option that specializes in nature and birding tours.

American Cruise Lines also offers more than 35 river and coastal itineraries in the Northeast, Southeast, Pacific Northwest and along the Mississippi River. It has themed cruises (Lewis and Clark, Mark Twain, Civil War, etc.) for people with specific historical, literary or other interests.

Viking River Cruises, which is geared to older travelers, focuses on European art, history and culture. Each cruise makes one to two port stops a day as the ship winds its way up or down Europe's most famous rivers like the Rhine, Seine, Danube and Douro. A free sightseeing tour is included at all stops, and special-interest excursions are available for additional fees. Viking offers tours in the United States as well.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

In a series of letters this week, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) gave advice to late filers, those who have extended until October and nonprofits. Taxpayers who missed the April 18 filing deadline should file promptly. Those who filed for an extension have until October 17 to file. The nonprofit filing date is May 16, 2022.

1. Automatic Filing Extension — There are several groups that qualify for an automatic extension. Military members serving in a combat zone have an extension of at least 180 days. Support personnel in the combat zone generally also qualify for this extension. Taxpayers who reside outside the United States usually qualify for a two-month extension. Finally, disaster victims in federal designated areas may qualify for an extension.
2. Refunds Issued Without Penalty — Taxpayers who missed the April deadline but qualify for a refund may file without penalty. They are encouraged to use IRS Free File on the IRS.gov website. These individuals may benefit from the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child and Dependent Care Credit or Child Tax Credit. Some may also receive a 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit. The late–filers who use an electronic method will usually receive a refund within 21 days. The "Where's My Refund?" tool on IRS.gov is helpful in understanding the status of your refund.
3. Reduced Penalties for Late Filers — If you have missed the filing deadline, you should still file your taxes and pay as soon as possible. The failure to file penalty is 5% of the tax owed for each late month, up to 5 months. If you file over 60 days after the April 18 due date, the minimum penalty is $435 or 100% of the unpaid tax, whichever is less. If you have filed and paid your taxes timely for the past three years and meet specific requirements, you may qualify for penalty relief. The penalty abatement page on IRS.gov offers additional information.
4. Payment of Your Taxes — If you owe taxes, you may pay with an IRS Online Account, IRS Direct Pay, a debit or credit card, a digital wallet or you may apply online for a payment plan. If you pay electronically, you should receive a prompt confirmation by email.
5. Extensions to October 17 — Taxpayers may file for a six-month extension until October 17, 2022. There are automatic extensions for military members in combat zones and taxpayers living outside the US. Many victims in specific areas of the nation with federally declared disasters may delay filing. Some individuals in Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee who were in zones with tornadoes and flooding may delay filing until May 16, 2022.
6. Nonprofit Organizations — The information and tax returns for tax–exempt organizations have a May 16, 2022 filing deadline. These organizations should file IRS Form 990, 990–EZ, 990–PF or 990–T by this date. The nonprofit forms must be filed electronically. Robert Malone, Director of Exempt Organizations and Government Entities stated, "To help exempt organizations comply with their filing requirements, the IRS provides a series of pre–recorded online workshops. These workshops are designed to assist officers, board members and volunteers with the steps they need to take to maintain their tax–exempt status, including filing annual information returns."

Editor's Note: If a nonprofit is not able to file by May 16, it should file IRS Form 8868, Application for Extension of Time. If tax is due for unrelated business taxable income, that payment is required by May 16. However, most organizations are permitted to obtain the six–month extension with no tax payments.

I am planning to retire and apply for my Social Security benefits in July. When can I expect my first check and what are my options for receiving my monthly payments?

Generally, Social Security retirement benefits, as well as disability and survivor benefits, are paid in the month after the month they are due. If you would like to start receiving your Social Security benefits in July, your July benefits will be distributed in August.

The day of the month you receive your benefit payment will depend on your birthdate. Here is the schedule of when you can expect to receive your monthly check:

If you were born on the:

• 1st through the 10th of the month: Expect your check to be deposited on the second Wednesday of each month.
• 11th through the 20th of the month: Expect your check to be deposited on the third Wednesday of each month.
• 21st through the 31st of the month: Expect your check to be deposited on the fourth Wednesday of each month.

There are, however, a few exceptions to this schedule. For example, if the day your Social Security check is supposed to be deposited happens to be a holiday, your check will be deposited on the previous day. Additionally, if you are receiving both Social Security benefits and SSI payments, your Social Security check will be deposited on the third day of the month.

You should also know that for Social Security beneficiaries who started receiving benefits before 1997, their Social Security checks are paid on the third day of the month.

To get a complete schedule of 2022 payment dates, visit SSA.gov/pubs/EN-05-10031-2022.pdf.

Receiving Options

There are two ways you can receive your Social Security benefits. Most beneficiaries choose direct deposit into their bank or credit union account because it is simple, safe and secure. But if you do not want this option or you do not have a bank account that your payments can be deposited into, you can get a Direct Express Debit MasterCard and have your benefits deposited into your card's account.

This card can be used to get cash from ATMs, banks or credit union tellers, pay bills online and over the phone, make purchases at stores that accept Debit MasterCard and get cash back when you make those purchases. You can also purchase money orders at the U.S. Post Office. The money you spend or withdraw is automatically deducted from your account. You can check your balance any time by phone, online or at ATMs.

There are no costs to sign up for the card, no monthly fees and no overdraft charges. There are, however, some small fees for optional services you need to be aware of, such as multiple ATM withdrawals. Currently, cardholders get one free ATM withdrawal per month, but additional monthly withdrawals cost 85 cents each not including a surcharge if you use a non-network ATM. To learn more, visit USDirectExpress.com or call 800-333-1795.

When and How to Apply

The Social Security Administration recommends that you apply for benefits three months before you want to start receiving checks. This will give you enough time to make sure you have all the information needed to complete the application. See SSA.gov/hlp/isba/10/isba-checklist.pdf for a checklist of what you will need.

You can apply for your Social Security benefits online at SSA.gov, by phone at 800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office – call first to make an appointment.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

In IR-2022-80, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) attempted to dispel seven common myths about tax refunds. These myths are shared widely on social media during tax season.

The IRS has made good progress processing 2021 tax returns and refunds. Most of the refunds have been issued within the 21 day target. As of April 1, over 63 million refunds with $204 billion in value have been issued. The typical taxpayer receives a refund this year of $3,226.

To review the status of a refund, taxpayers should use the "Where's My Refund?" tool on the IRS.gov website or the IRS2Go mobile app. The "Where's My Refund?" status is normally available within one day after you receive an acceptance notice for e-filing your tax return. The tool is generally updated every night.

Here are seven common myths about tax refunds:

1. Contact the IRS — Taxpayers are wrong when they think that contacting an IRS agent on the phone or making a visit to the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center will speed up a refund.

2. Wait for 2020 Return to be Processed — Some taxpayers still have not had their paper 2020 return processed by the IRS. They should still file their 2021 return and enter $0 (zero dollars) for the prior year adjusted gross income (AGI) on their tax return.

3. Order a Tax Transcript — Taxpayers may order a transcript of their past returns. This is often done to qualify for a mortgage, student loan or small business loan. However, this does not speed up your refund.

4. No Deposit Date on "Where's My Refund?" — The IRS processes electronic returns and issues most refunds within 21 days. However, there can be delays due to an incomplete return, transposed numbers on the return, identity theft or fraud. The "Where's My Refund?" tool still has the most current data.

5. Refund Amount Below Your Expectation — Taxpayers who benefited from the Recovery Rebate Credit or Child Tax Credit may have a decrease due to prior payments. There also could be adjustments for delinquent federal or state taxes or past-due child support. If the IRS makes an adjustment, you will receive a letter of explanation.

6. Call Your Tax Preparer — Your tax preparer cannot change your refund date. They have access to the same information that you have with the "Where's My Refund?" tool.

7. No Need to Adjust Tax Withholding for 2022 — Taxpayers who receive a refund this year may still need to change their withholding. The Tax Withholding Estimator tool will help you determine the right amount to withhold. You may have a life event such as marriage, divorce, childbirth, adoption, a home purchase or other major income change that requires an adjustment in your withholding.

What can you tell me about atrial fibrillation? Every so often, I have noticed my heart starts beating rapidly for no particular reason. Is this something I should be worried about?

Heart palpitations can be harmless if they are brief and infrequent. But if you are experiencing an erratic heart rhythm, you need to get examined by a doctor for atrial fibrillation, also known as AFib.

AFib – which is marked by rapid, fluttering beats – can lead to serious complications such as stroke and heart failure when the weakened heart is unable to pump enough blood to the rest of the body.

Normally, your heartbeat follows a steady rhythm as your heart contracts and relaxes. But when you have AFib, the upper chambers of your heart (atria) beat rapidly and irregularly, sending blood to the lower chambers (ventricles) less efficiently. These episodes can last for minutes to hours (or longer), and can cause palpitations, lightheadedness, fatigue and/or shortness of breath. Over time, AFib tends to become chronic.

Age is a common risk factor for AFib. It affects roughly 10% of people older than 75. Other factors include genetics, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and alcohol and tobacco use. The condition has also been linked to viral infections, including COVID-19.

Diagnosing AFib

If you are experiencing AFib-like symptoms, you should consult a doctor. The physician will listen to your heart and likely recommend an electrocardiogram (EKG) or a treadmill heart test. The doctor may also recommend you wear a portable monitor for several weeks to look for abnormal heart rhythms to confirm a diagnosis of AFib. Such tests can help distinguish AFib from less serious conditions that may cause the heart to flutter, like anxiety and stress.

AFib affects about three million adults in the United States, a number that is expected to quadruple in the coming decade as the population ages and risk factors like obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure become even more common. The lifetime risk of developing AFib is greater than 20%, yet many people are unaware they have it.

Treatment Options

A growing body of research underscores the importance of lifestyle steps such as exercise, a healthy diet and limiting alcohol for treating AFib.

Depending on your age and symptoms, your doctor may prescribe medication to help control your heart rate. Some of those include beta blockers such as metoprolol (Toprol XL) and/or rhythm, such as antiarrhythmics like flecainide (Tambocor).

Some individuals may need an electrical cardioversion, an outpatient procedure that delivers an electrical shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm. This procedure is brief and requires sedation.

Catheter ablation is another outpatient treatment for AFib that scars a small area of heart tissue, which causes irregular heartbeats. This procedure is becoming more common based on evidence of its safety and ability to normalize the heart rhythm and ease symptoms. Ablations can be effective in people 75 and older, but medication may still be required afterward.

If you are at higher risk for a stroke, you may be prescribed a blood thinner as well. In the past, Coumadin (warfarin) was the only blood thinning drug widely available, but it requires monitoring with regular blood tests. Newer anticoagulants, such as apixaban (Eliquis) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto), do not have that requirement and have been shown to be just as effective at preventing strokes.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

I will be 65 and eligible for Medicare in a few months. I am interested in getting a Medicare Advantage plan to cover my health care and medications. What tips can you provide to help me pick a plan?

Medicare Advantage plans have become very popular among retirees over the past 15 years. Nearly half of all new Medicare enrollees are signing up for Advantage plans, accounting for about 42% of the entire Medicare market. Here are some tips and tools to help you pick a plan that fits your needs.

Medicare Advantage plans (also known as Medicare Part C) are government approved health plans sold by private insurance companies that you can choose in place of original Medicare. The majority of Advantage plans are managed-care policies such as HMOs or PPOs that require you to get your care within a network of doctors.

If you join an Advantage plan, the plan will provide all of your Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) coverage like original Medicare does. However, many plans also offer extra benefits such as dental, hearing and vision coverage, gym/fitness memberships, and prescription drug coverage.

Medicare Advantage plans are also more affordable than if you were to purchase original Medicare, plus a separate Part D drug plan and a Medigap policy. Many Advantage plans have $0 or low monthly premiums and do not always have a deductible, but they typically have a high out-of-pocket maximum. In 2021, Advantage plan participants on average were responsible for an out-of-pocket maximum of around $5,100 for in-network care, and about $9,200 for out-of-network care.

How to Choose

To help you pick a plan, a good first step is to call the office managers of the doctors you use and find out which Advantage plans they accept and recommend. Then, go to the Medicare Plan Finder tool at Medicare.gov/plan-compare to compare Advantage plans in your area. This tool provides a five-star rating system that evaluates each plan based on past customer satisfaction and quality of care the plan delivers. When comparing, here are some key points to consider:

Total costs: Look at the plan's entire pricing package, not just the premiums and deductibles. Compare the maximum out-of-pocket costs plus the copays and coinsurance charged for doctor office visits, hospital stays, visits to specialists, prescription drugs and other medical services. This is important because if you choose an Advantage plan, you are not allowed to purchase a Medigap policy, which means you will be responsible for paying these expenses out of your own pocket.

Drug coverage: Check the plan's formulary – the list of prescription drugs covered – to be sure all the medications you take are covered without excessive co-pays or requirements.

Dental, vision and hearing: Many Advantage plans come with dental, vision and hearing benefits, but are usually limited. Get the details on what exactly is covered.

Coverage away from home: Most Advantage plans limit you to using in-network doctors only within a service area or geographic region, so find out what is covered if you need medical care when you are away from home.

Out-of-network coverage: Check to see what is covered if you want to see a specialist in a hospital that is not in a plan's network. You can get a list of doctors and hospitals that take part in a plan on the plan's website.

Need Help?

If you need help choosing a plan, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program at ShipHelp.org or call 877-839-2675. Also see the HealthMetrix Research 2022 Cost Comparisons Report at MedicareNewsWatch.com that lists the best Advantage plans based on health status.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.