Can you give me a brief rundown of Medicare's enrollment choices along with when and how to sign-up?

The rules and timetables for Medicare enrollment can be confusing to many new retirees, so it is wise to plan ahead. Here is a simplified rundown of what to know.

First, a quick review. Remember that original Medicare has two parts: Part A provides hospital coverage and is free for most people. Part B covers doctor's visits and other medical services, and costs $170.10 per month for most enrollees in 2021.

When to Enroll

Everyone is eligible for Medicare at age 65, even if your full Social Security retirement age is 66 or later.

You can enroll any time during the "initial enrollment period," which is a seven-month period that includes the three months before, the month of, and the three months after your 65th birthday. It is best to enroll three months before your birth month to ensure your coverage starts when you turn 65.

If you happen to miss the seven-month sign-up window for Medicare Part B, you will have to wait until the next "general enrollment period" which runs from January 1 to March 31 with benefits beginning the following July 1. You will also incur a 10 % penalty for each year you wait beyond your initial enrollment period, which will be tacked on to your monthly Part B premium. You can sign up for premium-free Part A, at any time with no penalty.

Working Exceptions

Special rules apply if you are eligible for Medicare and still working. If you have health insurance coverage through your employer or your spouse's employer, and the company has 20 or more employees, you have a "special enrollment period" during which you may sign up. This means that you can delay enrolling in Medicare Part B and will not be subject to the 10 % late-enrollment penalty, so long as you sign up within eight months of losing that coverage.

Drug Coverage

Be aware that original Medicare does not cover prescription medications. If you do not have creditable drug coverage from an employer or union, you will need to buy a Part D drug plan from a private insurance company (see Medicare.gov/plan-compare) during your initial enrollment if you want coverage. If you enroll later, you will incur a premium penalty – 1% of the average national premium ($33 in 2022) for every month you do not have coverage.

Supplemental Coverage

If you choose original Medicare, it is also a good idea to get a Medigap (Medicare supplemental) policy within six months after enrolling in Part B in order to help pay for items that are not covered by Medicare such as copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. See Medicare.gov/medigap-supplemental-insurance-plans to shop and compare policies.

All-In-One Plans

Instead of getting original Medicare, plus a Part D drug plan and a Medigap policy, you could sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan that covers everything in one plan (see Medicare.gov/plan-compare). Nearly half of all new Medicare enrollees are signing up for Advantage plans.

These plans, which are also sold by insurance companies, are generally available through HMOs and PPOs and often have cheaper premiums. However, the deductibles and co-pays are usually higher. Many of these plans also provide coverage for extra services not offered by original Medicare such as dental, hearing and vision coverage along with gym/fitness memberships. Most plans also include prescription drug coverage.

How to Enroll

If you are already receiving your Social Security benefits before age 65, you will automatically be enrolled in Part A and Part B. You will receive your Medicare card about three months before your 65th birthday. It will also include instructions on how to return it if you have work coverage that qualifies you for late enrollment.

If you are not receiving Social Security, you will need to enroll either online at SSA.gov/medicare or over the phone at 800-772-1213.

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 spouse and I would like to make some affordable changes to our home so we can remain living there for as long as possible. Can you recommend some good resources that can help us determine what all we need to consider?

Many older adults want to stay living in their own home for as long as possible. But being able to do so will depend on how easy it is to maneuver your living space as you get older. Here are some helpful resources you can turn to, to get an idea of the different types of features and improvements that will make your house safer and more convenient as you grow older.

Home Evaluation

A good first step in making your home more age-friendly is to do an assessment. Go through your house, room-by-room, looking for problem areas like potential tripping or slipping hazards, as well as areas that are hard to access and difficult to maintain. To help with this, there are several organizations that have aging-in-place checklists that point out potential problems in each area of the home, along with modification and solutions.

You will want to get a copy of AARP's "HomeFit Guide." This excellent 36-page guide has more than 100 aging-in-place tips and suggestions that can be made to an existing house or apartment or incorporated into designs for a new residence.

It explains how a smartly designed or modified home can meet the varied and changing needs of its older residents. It also features easy-to-do, low-cost and no-cost fixes that lessen the risk of trip hazards and increase the safety of high-use areas like the bathroom, kitchen and stairway.

In addition, they also offer videos and a HomeFit AR app (available for iPhone and iPad) that can scan a room and suggest improvements to help turn your house into a "lifelong home," free from safety and mobility risks.

Visit AARP.org/HomeFit to order or download a free copy of this guide, or to watch their videos.

In-Home Assessments

If you want some personalized help, you can get a professional in-home assessment performed with an occupational therapist.

An occupational therapist, or OT, can evaluate the challenges and shortcomings of your home, recommend design and modification solutions and introduce you to products and services to help you make improvements.

To find an OT in your area, check with your physician, health insurance provider or local hospital, or seek recommendations from family and friends. Many health insurance providers, including Medicare, will pay for a home assessment by an OT if prescribed by your doctor. However, they will not cover the physical upgrades to the home.

Another option is to contact a builder who's a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS). CAPS are home remodelers and design-build professionals that are knowledgeable about aging in place home modifications and can suggest ways to modify or remodel your home that will fit your needs and budget. CAPS are generally paid by the hour or receive a flat fee per visit or project. To locate CAPS in your area, you can obtain their contact information by using your preferred search engine.

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-2022-25 the Internal Revenue Service explained the latest strategies that fraudsters use to steal identities. With the tax filing season in full swing, taxpayers need to be on guard for strategies that may involve a text message, email, phone call or potential unemployment fraud.

IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig stated, "With the filing season underway, this is a prime period for identity thieves to hit people with realistic-looking emails and texts about their tax returns and refunds. Watching out for these common scams can keep people from becoming victims of identity theft, and protect their sensitive personal information that can be used to file tax returns and steal refunds."

1. Text Message Scams -- There has been an uptick in text messages that claim to represent the IRS. The fraudulent messages frequently have links to bogus IRS websites. The IRS emphasizes that it does not use text messages other than the IRS Secure Access service. The IRS also will not send text messages through social media.

If you receive a text message that claims to be from the IRS, you should take a screen shot and send it to phishing@IRS.gov. State the date and time you received the text message and your phone number. You can take a screen shot on an iPhone 13 by simultaneously clicking and releasing the side button and volume button. On other smartphone models, you may click the side button and home button or the top button and home button at the same time. The screen shot may then be accessed through your photos to email to phishing@IRS.gov.

2. Unemployment Fraud -- There is a surge in the efforts by organized crime rings to steal identities and file fraudulent unemployment claims with state agencies. Your state office will then issue IRS Form 1099-G, Certain Government Payments to the recipient and the IRS. If you receive a fraudulent or inaccurate Form 1099-G, you should report it to the state agency and obtain a corrected Form 1099-G. For information on unemployment fraud, go to DOL.gov/fraud. If you receive any communication from a state agency about an unemployment claim that you did not file or a notice from your employer about an unemployment claim that is improper, you should also report it on that same fraud page.

3. Email Phishing Scams -- The IRS emphasizes that it does not contact taxpayers through email to request personal or financial information. If you receive an unsolicited email, do not click on any links within it. Send the email as an attachment to phishing@IRS.gov. The Report Phishing and Online Scams webpage at IRS.gov provides additional information.

4. Phone Scams -- The IRS notes that it does not leave urgent or threatening messages on your phone or voicemail. Scammers will frequently threaten victims with arrest. They may also claim that law enforcement will be sent to your door, you could be deported or your driver's license could be revoked. It is possible to fake or "spoof" caller ID numbers. The scammer may attempt to spoof the caller ID number of a sheriff's office, a department of motor vehicles or a federal agency. The IRS emphasizes it will never call and demand payment through a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. It will also not ask for a credit or debit card over the phone.

If you receive a threatening call and do not owe taxes, hang up the phone. You can report the caller ID and callback number on phishing@IRS.gov. You may also report the call on FTC.gov and note "IRS Telephone Scam."

If you owe taxes or think you might have a bill with the IRS, you should nevertheless hang up the phone. You can create an online account on IRS.gov and review your information. There may be a phone number on a billing notice from the IRS or the general IRS number is 800-829-1040.

If you are a victim of identity theft and someone has used your Social Security number to file and claim a fraudulent refund, you may be contacted by the IRS. You should immediately respond to any IRS notice and call the listed number. You may file IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you still must file and pay taxes. Many individuals use a paper form to pay their tax in this circumstance.

Editor's Note: IRS tax filing season always causes fraudsters to redouble their efforts. Taxpayers should be familiar with the principal ways scammers attempt to steal identities and file fraudulent returns.

How can a person know if they have had a minor stroke? My 72-year-old parent had a situation a few weeks ago where they suddenly felt dizzy and had trouble walking and speaking. However, the symptoms have now subsided and they appear to have returned to normal.

From your description, it is very possible that your parent suffered a "mini-stroke," also known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA). It is advisable to see a doctor as soon as possible if they have not already done so.

Each year, around 250,000 Americans experience a mini-stroke, but less than half of them realize what is happening. That is because the symptoms are usually fleeting – lasting only a few minutes, up to an hour or two – causing most people to ignore them or brush them off as no big deal. But anyone who has had a mini-stroke is much more likely to have a full-blown stroke, which can cause long-term paralysis, impaired memory, loss of speech or vision and potentially death.

A mini-stroke is caused by a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain and can be a warning sign that a major stroke may occur soon. For this reason, it is imperative that mini-strokes be treated as emergencies.

Who is Vulnerable?

A person is more likely to suffer a TIA or stroke if they are overweight or inactive, have high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol or diabetes. Other factors that boost the risks are age (over 60), smoking, heart disease, atrial fibrillation and having a family history of strokes. Men also have a greater risk for strokes than women, and African Americans and Hispanics are at higher risk than those of other races.

Warning Signs

The symptoms of a mini-stroke are the same as those of a full-blown stroke, but can be subtle and short-lived and do not leave any permanent damage. They include any one or combination of the following:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

The easiest way to identify a stroke is to use the F.A.S.T. test to identify the symptoms.

F (Face): Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A (Arm): Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S (Speech): Ask the person to say a simple sentence. Is their speech slurred?
T (Time): If you observe any of these signs of stroke, call 911.

Get Help

If these warning signs sound like what happened to your parent but went away, they should go to the emergency room or nearby stroke center for an evaluation.

If the doctor suspects a TIA, he or she will run a series of tests to determine what caused it and assess their risk of a future stroke. Once the cause has been determined, the goal of treatment is to correct the abnormality and prevent a full-blown stroke. Depending on the cause(s), the doctor may prescribe medication to reduce the tendency for blood to clot or may recommend surgery or a balloon procedure (angioplasty).

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.

A very popular option for a parent with children is called the "Give It Twice" trust. This is a trust funded when the surviving parent passes away. Part of the estate is transferred outright to children. The balance is placed in a special "Give It Twice" trust.

The trust pays income to children for a term of years—usually 20 years. The income can be divided equally among the children for that period of time. Following the selected term of years, the trust principal is then transferred to charity.

In effect, the property has been used twice—once to benefit children with income and the second time to help charity at the end of the trust.

Cindy is a surviving spouse. Her spouse, Michael, passed away four years ago. She is doing fine and combined both IRAs into one. Cindy's estate is now approximately $800,000. Her home, CDs and other property are valued at $400,000, and the combination of IRAs is also about $400,000.

She was reading online about the "Give It Twice" trust. Because Cindy is debt free and has Social Security plus pension income, she thinks that her estate, when she passes away, is likely to be fairly close to its current value. Cindy sat down with her attorney David, to discuss the possibility of creating a trust.

Cindy: "David, I was reading an article online about this special 'Give It Twice' trust. It sounds like you can give an asset once to children through the income stream and then transfer the trust property to charity."

Attorney: "Yes, Cindy, that can be done."

Cindy: "Before Michael passed away, we talked about this. We agreed to treat each of our four children equally and also provide a benefit to our favorite charity."

Attorney: "With your estate of $800,000, you have the ability to do something pretty significant for both your family and favorite charity."

Cindy: "Yes, but there is one big problem. Our three older children—Bill, Sue and Pete—do fine. They are quite financially responsible. But our youngest son Ted is very creative. He spends money like water. If we gave him one-fourth of the estate or $200,000, I am afraid he would spend that very quickly. We need to figure out a way to protect at least part of his inheritance."

Attorney: "That 'Give It Twice' plan could be very helpful. You can benefit all four children equally with an initial amount. For example, you could transfer the $400,000 to them when you pass away. That would be $100,000 per child. The other $400,000 could go to the trust. They would each receive one-fourth of that income for 20 years. That would give Ted a chance to learn to save and invest. In addition, if you transfer the IRA into that trust, you can save all that income tax because the special trust is tax exempt."

Cindy: "This sounds like a great plan. When I pass away, I could transfer my IRA into the "Give it Twice" trust and benefit my four children and my favorite charity. But how do I do that?"

Attorney: "I can write a trust that you sign. It is called an unfunded trust because there are no assets at present. Then we will contact your IRA custodian and select this charitable remainder trust as the designated beneficiary for your IRA. When you pass away, the IRA balance will be transferred to the trustee of your 'Give it Twice' trust."

Cindy: "This is very exciting. It is going to be great for my family and we will also be able to help our favorite charity after the term of years. I especially like the way that this will help Ted to learn to save and invest. Let's move forward as quickly as possible."

Are there any tax breaks that you know of for family caregivers? I help financially support my 82-year-old mother and would like to find out if I can write any of these expenses off on my taxes.

There are several tax credits and deductions available to adult children who help look after their aging parents or other relatives. Here are some options along with the IRS requirements to help you determine if you are eligible to receive them.

Tax Credit for Other Dependents

If your mother lives with you and you are paying more than 50% of her living expenses (housing, food, utilities, health care, repairs, clothing, travel and other necessities), and her 2021 gross income was under $4,300, you can claim your mother as a dependent and get a nonrefundable tax credit of up to $500.

If you split your mother's expenses with other siblings, only one of you can claim your mother as a dependent, and that person must pay at least 10% of her support costs. This is known as a "multiple support agreement."

The IRS has an interactive tool that will help you determine if your mother qualifies as a dependent. Go to IRS.gov/help/ita, scroll down to "Credits," and click on "Does My Child/Dependent Qualify for the Child Tax Credit or the Credit for Other Dependents?"

Medical Deductions

If you claim your mother as a dependent and you help pay her medical, dental and/or long-term care expenses, and were not reimbursed by insurance, you can deduct the expenses that are more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).

If, for example, your adjusted gross income is $80,000, anything beyond the first $6,000 of your mother's medical bills – or 7.5% of your AGI – could be deductible on your return. So, if you paid $8,000 in medical bills for her, $2,000 of it could be deductible. You can also include your own medical expenses in calculating the total.

Note that your state might have a lower AGI threshold, which means you might get a break on your state income taxes even if you cannot get one on your federal income taxes.

To see which medical expenses are deductible, see IRS Publication 502 at IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf.

Dependent Care Credit

If you are paying for in-home care or adult day care for your mother, you might qualify for the Dependent Care Tax Credit which can be worth as much as $4,000.

To be eligible, your mother must have been physically or mentally incapable of self-care and must have lived with you for more than six months. To claim this tax credit, fill out IRS Form 2441 (IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f2441.pdf) when you file your federal return.

Flexible Health Savings Accounts

If you have a health savings account (HSA) or your employer offers a flexible savings account (FSA), you can use them to pay for your mother's medical expenses if she qualifies as a dependent. Be aware that if you use an HSA or FSA to pay for your mother's medical costs, you cannot take a tax deduction on those expenses too.

For more information, see IRS Publication 969, "Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans" at IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p969.pdf.

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 provide tips on how to write an obituary? My father, who has terminal cancer, has asked me to write his obituary that will be published in the funeral program and run in our local newspaper.

Writing your father's obituary would be a nice way for you to honor him and sum up his life, not to mention avoiding any possible mistakes that may occur when obituaries are hastily written at the time of death. Here is what you should know, along with some tips and tools to help you write it.

Contact the Newspaper

Before you begin writing the obituary, your first step is to check with the newspaper you want it to run in. Some newspapers have specific style guidelines or restrictions on length, some only accept obituaries directly from funeral homes, and some only publish obituaries written by newspaper staff members.

If your newspaper accepts family-written obituaries, find out if they have a template to guide you, or check with your father's chosen funeral provider. Most funeral homes provide forms for basic information and will write the full obituary for you as part of the services they provide.

You also need to be aware that most newspapers charge by the word, line or column inch to publish an obituary. Your cost will vary depending on your newspaper's rate and the length of your obituary – ranging between 200 and 600 words.

Note that many newspapers offer free public service death listings too, which only include the name of the person who died, along with the date and location of death and brief details about the funeral or memorial service.

Obituary Contents

Depending on how detailed you want to be, the most basic information in an obituary will include your father's full name (and nickname if relevant), age, date of birth, date of death, where he was living when he died, significant other (alive or dead), and details of the funeral service (public or private). If public, include the date, time, and location of the service.

Other relevant information you may also want to include: cause of death (optional); place of birth and his parents' names; his other survivors including his children, other relatives, friends and pets and where they live; family members who preceded his death; high school and colleges he attended and degrees earned; his work history and military service; his hobbies, accomplishments and any awards he received; his church or religious affiliations; any clubs, civic and fraternal organizations he was members of; and any charities he feels strongly about that he would like people to donate to either in addition to or in lieu of flowers or other gifts. You will also need to include a photo of your father.

Need Help?

If you need some help writing your father's obituary, there are free online resources you can turn to that provide tips and articles to help you gather the details of your father's life so you can write an obituary that will reflect his personality and story. These resources can be located by searching for them using your preferred search engine.

Online Memorials

Many families today also choose to post their loved one's obituaries online and create digital memorials. These sites provide a central location where family and friends can visit to share stories, memories and photos to celebrate your father's life.

Additionally, if your father uses social media platforms such as Facebook, you could also turn his profile into a memorial (you will need to show proof of death) where family and friends can visit and share anytime.

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.