What tips can you offer for downsizing? My husband and I would like to relocate from our house into a retirement community condo near our daughter, but need to get rid of a lot of personal possessions before we can move.

The process of weeding through a house full of stuff and parting with old possessions is difficult and overwhelming for most people. A good place to start is to see if your kids, grandkids or other family members would like any of your unused possessions. Here are a few tips and services that may help you downsize.

Sell It

Selling unneeded items is one way to downsize and pad your pocketbook at the same time. Your options may include selling your items through consignment shops, garage sales, estate sales or online marketplaces.

Consignment shops are good for selling old clothing, household furnishings and decorative items. The shop will typically receive 30% to 40% of the purchase price. A good old-fashion garage sale is another option. For large-scale downsizing you may want to consider hiring an estate sale company to come in and sell your items. Some estate sale companies will even pick up your stuff and sell it at their own location – they typically take about 35% of the profits as a fee.

Selling online is also a great option and opens you up to a wider audience. Many online marketplaces and platforms offer great options for selling locally, which can eliminate the costs and hassle of packing and shipping. These websites and apps do not take a cut of your sales, but you are responsible for connecting with your buyer and making the exchange of money and goods.

Donate It

If you itemize on your tax returns, donating your belongings to charitable organizations is another way to downsize and receive a tax deduction. Some of these charitable organizations may offer services to pick up the items you wish to donate.

If your charitable deductions exceed $500, you will need to file Form 8283, "Noncash Charitable Contributions" (IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8283.pdf). You will also need a receipt from the organization for every batch of items you donate and will need to create an itemized list of the items donated. For more information about charitable contributions, check out IRS Publication 526.

Toss It

If you have a lot of junk you want to get rid of, contact your municipal trash service to see if they provide bulk curbside pickup services. Depending on where you live, you may be able to hire a private company to come in and haul it off for a moderate fee.

Get Help

If you want or need some help with the moving process, consider hiring a senior move manager. These are professional organizers who help older adults and their families with the daunting process of downsizing and moving to a new residence. To locate one in your area, visit the National Association of Senior and Specialty Move Managers at NASMM.org or call 877-606-2766.

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.

Do you know where I can find discounted high-speed internet services for my home? I am 70-years old and live strictly on my Social Security and would like to find something faster and less expensive.

There are two new resources available that can help you save money on your home internet services. The options available to you will depend on your income level and where you live. Here is where to begin.

Internet Discounts

Depending on your financial situation, you may qualify for the new Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program. This is a temporary federal benefit that provides a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on tribal lands.

Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer or tablet from participating providers if they contribute $10 to $50 toward the purchase price.

To qualify, your annual household income must be at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines, which is $17,388 for a single individual or $23,517 for a household of two. You may also qualify if you live on federally recognized tribal lands or are receiving certain types of government benefits such as Medicaid, food stamps (SNAP), SSI, public housing assistance, veterans' pension or survivors pension benefits.

Households that experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020 due to job loss or furlough may also qualify for the EBB program, as long as their household income for 2020 was at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers.

To apply, go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org, where you can apply online or print out an application and mail it in.

If you are already receiving assistance through the federal Lifeline benefit, which is a monthly subsidy for phone or internet costs, you automatically qualify for the EBB program and can receive both benefits at the same time. You can apply your EBB and your Lifeline benefit to the same or separate services.

If your broadband provider already has its own low-income or COVID-19 relief program, you may be able to qualify through this program as well. Talk to your broadband provider for more information.

Low-Cost Internet

If you are not eligible for the EBB program, another resource for locating discounted high-speed internet is Aging Connected, which has a higher income qualification for its program. Aging Connected is a nationwide campaign created to help lower-income adults find low-cost, in-home broadband options in their area.

Partnering with telecommunications companies, nonprofits and public entities, Aging Connected helps you search for services in your area that provide high-speed internet at a very low cost. Most participating companies charge around $10 to $15 per month, with no contract or equipment fee. Aging Connected also provides referrals to affordable desktop and laptop computers for under $160.

To qualify, your annual household income must be at or below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines, which is $23,800 for an individual or $32,200 for a household of two. As with the EBB program, you may also qualify if you are receiving certain types of government benefits.

You can reach Aging Connected online or call 877-745-1930.

Other Options

If you find that you are not eligible for the listed resources, you may still be able to save on your internet by shopping and comparing. The best way to do this is to search for websites that provide a list of low-cost internet providers in your area, along with pricing and download speeds.

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.

Parents have a number of reasons for making gifts to children. First, a parent should have sufficient resources for retirement and for long-term care needs before making substantial gifts. Once you have acquired a reasonable level of security, you might consider making gifts to children.

Your gifts to children will enable two types of education. First, your children will have the ability to learn to manage and hopefully invest the gifts to start building their estate. In addition, you will be able to understand better how a child will manage or use the gift property.

Finally, if you have a larger estate, the use of annual gift exclusions can be a very good strategy to save potential future estate taxes.

There are Seven Different Ways That Gifts Can be Made to Children.

1. Cash Gifts: You can simply write a check to children. Some parents give an amount up to the annual gift exclusion ($15,000 per child, per parent in 2021 and potentially larger amounts in future years). This is a very easy and convenient way to make a gift.

However, there are some concerns about cash gifts that you should understand. When gifts to children are in cash, they are quite frequently spent rather than being invested. If the regular gifts are made over a period of years, it may encourage your children to live at a higher than normal lifestyle. In many cases the child will benefit more from a gift of a property investment, rather than a gift of cash.

2. Stock Gifts: While it is possible for you to hold stock certificates, the overwhelming majority of stock is now held in a street account by a brokerage firm. The easiest method for transfer of stock is for the child to create an account with the same firm. The brokerage firm has the documentation necessary to make a transfer from your account to your child's account.

With a property gift, you will need to know the gift value. Because public stock is valued at the mean between the high and low prices on the date of the transfer, the value is quite easy to determine. Most parents will make stock gifts to children with value below the annual exclusion amount. Each parent will have one annual exclusion for each child, so the total allowable tax-free gift each year for a couple is double the exclusion. In addition, larger gifts can be made by filing an IRS Form 709 Gift Tax Return and using part of your lifetime gift exemption.

If stock or other appreciated property is transferred to children by gift, they take the same cost basis as the parents. Although the stock may be appreciated, there is no capital gains tax payable when the stock is transferred. However, the child has the same basis as the parent. If the stock is sold, the child will pay capital gains tax on the increase in value.

The dividends or income from the stock will be distributed to the child. If he or she is under age 19 or is a student under age 24, then in most cases the income will be taxed to the child at trust and estate tax rates. You may have heard this concept called the "kiddie" tax.

3. Mutual Funds: Many parents own mutual funds that are managed by a financial services firm. These may be a very good candidate for a gift to children. You can create a new mutual fund account and use the appropriate form from the financial services company to make a gift to the child. If the mutual fund is appreciated, then the potential capital gain and income tax rules are similar to those described for the gifts of stock.

4. Gifts of Land or Home: A gift of real property is accomplished through a deed. Depending upon your state's rules, a warranty or grant deed is normally used, but in some cases a quitclaim deed may be appropriate. You will identify the property being transferred on the deed. After you sign the gift deed, it will be notarized and recorded with the county registrar of deeds. This will produce clear evidence that the property has been given to your children.

In order to qualify for the gift exclusion limit, you may choose to transfer an undivided portion of the real estate. This is called an "undivided interest" in the property. For example, if a property is worth $100,000 a parent might deed 10% of that property each year for ten years to a child. The gifts will be less than the gift exclusion and after ten years the child owns the property. If the real property is substantial in value and gifts exceed the annual exclusion, then you will need an appraisal so that the property transferred can be correctly valued on IRS Form 709, Federal Gift Tax Return.

5. Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA): Under the UTMA, you may transfer property or assets to a custodian for the benefit of a child who is a minor. The custodian serves as the manager of the asset and can invest and spend funds as he or she considers advisable for the use and benefit of the minor. The custodian must maintain tax records and the income is taxed to the child.

When the child reaches legal age (18 in some states, although age 21 is required or permissible in most states), the child then has ownership of the assets.

The UTMA is convenient and relatively easy to manage. If assets are likely to be used for the child's education by age 21, the UTMA can be a good planning strategy. However, if there are fairly substantial assets you may be reluctant to permit a 21-year-old child to have access to large principal amounts.

6. Trust for Children: A child's trust can be quite flexible. Many parents have created trusts for the benefit of one child or even a "family pot" trust for multiple children. The trustee is frequently given permission to use the trust income for the education, living expenses and health needs of the child.

Trustees frequently have broad discretion over trust investments and the use of the funds. The goal of the parents is to provide for the needs of the child yet protect the funds until the child has reached the age of financial responsibility. As a parent, you have the ability to decide what the general guidelines on distributions will be for your trustee and at what age your children will receive their principal from the trust.

7. Tax-free Sale Trust for Children: An attractive option if you have appreciated property is to create a charitable remainder unitrust for a term of 20 years with income payable to children. For example, John and Mary Jones had three children and owned property with a value of $250,000. Because they had paid $50,000 for the property, they were reluctant to sell and pay a capital gains tax of over $45,000.

A much better plan for John and Mary was to transfer the property to a charitable remainder trust paying 6% to their three children for 20 years. They received an income tax deduction of approximately $75,000 and bypassed the capital gains tax. The children each received one-third of the 6% income for 20 years and their total income was approximately $330,000. After the 20 years, the trust had grown to $305,000 and it benefited the favorite charities of John and Mary.

John and Mary were able to enjoy very large tax savings now, transfer an income stream to children for 20 years and eventually benefit their favorite charities. Mary particularly appreciated the ability to give an income stream because one of the three children tended to "spend money like water" and had the opportunity over 20 years to acquire better financial management skills.

Do you know of any golfing equipment that can help older golfers? My dad, who is 76 and loves to play golf, but arthritis in his hands has made gripping the club challenging, and his fragile lower back makes stooping over to tee-up or retrieve the ball a problem too. Is there anything out there that can help?

There are a wide variety of adaptive golf equipment that can help older golfers who struggle with injuries, arthritis or loss of mobility. Here are several solutions that may help with different needs.

Gripping Solutions

Gripping a golf club is a very common problem for seniors with hand arthritis or those who have hand or elbow injuries. To help alleviate this problem there are specially designed golf gloves and grips that can make a big difference.

These specially designed gloves may have added features to improve grip, such as extra padding where the fingers attach to the palm, or a small strap attached to the glove that secures the golf club in hand. These often run between $20 and $30.

Another option is to get oversized grips installed on your dad's clubs. These can make gripping the club easier and more comfortable and are also very good at absorbing shock. Oversized grips are usually either 1/16" or 1/8" larger in diameter than a standard grip and cost around $10 per grip. You can find these grips and have them installed at your local golf store or pro shop.

Some products may combine both golf club grip and glove technology together. The club grip and the glove may come in a set to provide extra grip for the golfer.

Upright Tools

For golfers with back, hip or knee problems, there are a number of different tools that can eliminate the repetitive bending and stooping that comes with playing golf. For example, for teeing up the ball, consider products with an extended arm allowing the golfer to place the ball on the tee without bending over.

Golf companies also make products for picking up golf balls without bending over or attachments that can be affixed to your golf clubs to pick up balls, flagsticks, putters and green side chippers. There are many different brands that offer similar products at varying prices.

Reflective Golf Balls

If diminished vision makes locating the ball challenging, brightly colored and reflective golf balls can help. These golf balls are easier to locate by appearing larger and brighter.

Easy Carts

There are also ergonomically designed golf carts that can help older golfers tote their clubs around the course. If you like to walk, three and four-wheeled push/pull carts can help ease the burden of carrying clubs around the course. Costs typically range between $150 and $300. Many of these can be easily folded for storage.

There are specialized electric golf carts that provide the ability to play from a seated or standing-but-supported position. Public golf courses allow these carts for individuals with mobility challenges.

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 have had mild tinnitus – ringing in my ears – for years, but when I got COVID-19 in January it got worse. Are there any treatments that can help?

Unfortunately, new research indicates that tinnitus, a common hearing problem that affects around 50 million Americans, may be worsened or possibly triggered by COVID-19. Here is what you should know along with some tips and treatments that may help.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing a ringing, buzzing, roaring, hissing or whistling sound in one or both ears when no external sound is present.

The sounds, which can vary in pitch and volume, are usually worse when background noise is low. You may be more aware of it at night when you are trying to fall asleep in a quiet room. For most people, tinnitus is merely annoying, but for many others it can be extremely disturbing.

Tinnitus itself is not a disease, but rather a symptom of an underlying health condition. The best way to find out what is causing your tinnitus is to see an audiologist, or an otolaryngologist – a doctor who specializes in ear, nose and throat diseases (commonly called an ENT). The various causes of tinnitus are:

• Hearing loss, which is the most common cause.
• Middle ear obstructions usually caused by a buildup of earwax deep in the ear canal.
• Side effects from many different prescription and nonprescription medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen, certain blood pressure medicines, diuretics, some antidepressants, cancer medicines and antibiotics.
• Various medical conditions such as high blood pressure, vascular disease, diabetes, allergies, thyroid problems, ear or sinus infections, Meniere's disease, Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, otosclerosis, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, a tumor, an injury to the head or neck, traumatic brain injury, depression, stress and more.

Treatments

While there is no cure for tinnitus, there are many ways to treat it, depending on the cause. For example, if your tinnitus is caused by a wax build-up in your ears or a medical condition like high blood pressure or a thyroid problem, treating the underlying problem may reduce or eliminate the noise. If you think a medication you are taking may be causing the problem, talk to your doctor about your symptoms. Your doctor may switch you to a different drug or lower the dosage to provide some relief. If you have hearing loss, getting a hearing aid can help mask your tinnitus by improving your ability to hear actual sounds.

Another good treatment option for tinnitus that can help suppress or mask the sound is "sound therapy." This can be as simple as running a fan or a white noise machine, listening to music or podcasts or leaving the television on.

There are also apps created by hearing aid companies which allow you to stream custom sounds directly to your hearing aids. If you do not use hearing aids, these custom sounds can be played through Bluetooth audio devices like headphones or speakers to help you manage your symptoms.

Cognitive behavioral therapy and psychological counseling can also be helpful. Your audiologist or ENT can help you figure out the best treatment options.

There are also certain medications that may help. While there are no FDA approved drugs specifically designed to treat tinnitus, some antianxiety medications and antidepressants have been effective in relieving symptoms.

Other things you can do to help quiet the noise is to avoid things that can aggravate the problem like salt, artificial sweeteners, sugar, alcohol, tonic water, tobacco and caffeine. Protect yourself from loud noises by wearing earplugs.

For more information on tinnitus treatments, visit the American Tinnitus Association at ATA.org.

What can you tell me about lung cancer screenings? I quit smoking years ago, but I am wondering if I should be checked out.

Lung cancer screening is used to detect the presence of lung cancer in otherwise healthy people with a high risk of developing lung cancer. Whether you should be screened depends on your age and your smoking history. Here is what you should know.

Screening Recommendations

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force – an independent panel of medical experts that advises the government on health policies – recently expanded its recommendation for lung cancer screenings. It now recommends annual screenings for high-risk adults. Those considered high-risk are individuals between the ages of 50 and 80 who have a 20 pack-year history, who currently smoke or who have quit within the past 15 years. This is a change from the 2013 recommendation that referred to patients ages 55 to 80 with 30 pack-year histories.

A 20 pack-year history is the equivalent of smoking one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years.

In 2020, lung cancer killed more than 135,000 Americans making it the deadliest of all possible cancers. In fact, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined.

Lung cancer also occurs predominantly in older adults. About two out of every three people diagnosed with lung cancer are age 65 or older.

Fortunately, many health insurance plans cover lung cancer screenings for high-risk patients, as does Medicare for ages 55 to 77.

Screening Pros and Cons

Doctors use a low-dose computed tomography scan, also called a low-dose CT scan (LDCT) to look for lung cancer. If lung cancer is detected at an early stage, it is more likely to be responsive to treatment. However, a LDCT scan is not recommended for every high-risk patient.

LDCT scans have a high rate of false positives, which means that many will undergo additional screening or medical procedures. This may include additional scans three, six or even 12 months later to check for changes in the shape or size of the suspicious area, which is an indication of tumor growth. For some patients, the anxiety or worry that goes along with waiting can be a real issue.

Instead, you may need a biopsy, which requires a removal of a small amount of lung tissue. Biopsies have some risks, especially for those with underlying health conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema. For example, for people with emphysema, there is a chance of a lung collapsing during the procedure.

If you meet the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force criteria for high-risk of lung cancer, look to free online tools or quizzes to help you decide if you should get a LDCT scan. It is important to discuss the benefits and risks with your primary care doctor before making a decision.

Tips for Testing

If you and your doctor determine that you should be screened, look for an imaging facility whose staff follows American College of Radiology requirements when performing LDCT scans. You can find accredited facilities at ACRaccreditation.org.

This can help to ensure your scans are reviewed by a highly trained, board-certified or board-eligible radiologist.

You may need a referral from your primary care provider prior to undergoing a screening. Some insurance companies, including Medicare, require a referral before they will cover the cost of screening.

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.

Is there an easy way to figure out how much I will need to save for retirement? My spouse and I are both in our late fifties and want to figure out about how much we will need to retire comfortably.

How much money you need to retire comfortably is a great question all adults should ask themselves. Unfortunately, far too few are thinking about it.

Calculating an approximate amount to save for retirement is easy and does not take long to do. It is a simple, three-step process that includes estimating your future living expenses, tallying up your retirement income and calculating the difference.

Estimate Living Expenses

The first step is estimating your future retirement living expenses, which is often the most difficult step. If you want a quick ballpark estimate, figure around 75% to 85% of your current gross income. That is what most people find they need to maintain their current lifestyle in retirement.

If you want a more precise estimate, track your current living expenses on a worksheet and deduct any costs you expect to go away or decline when you retire, and add in new anticipated costs.

Costs you can scratch off your list include work-related expenses like commuting or lunches out, as well as the amount you are saving for retirement. You may also be able to deduct your mortgage if you expect to have it paid off by retirement, and any child’s college expenses. Your income taxes may be reduced.

On the other hand, some costs will probably increase when you retire, like health care. Depending on your interests you may spend more on travel, golf or other hobbies. If you are going to be retired for 20 or 30 years you should factor in some occasional big budget items like a new roof, heating/air conditioning system or vehicle.

Tally Retirement Income

Step two is to calculate your retirement income. If you or your spouse contribute to Social Security, go to SSA.gov/MyAccount/ to get your personalized statement. The statement estimates what your retirement benefits will be at age 62, full retirement age and when you turn 70.

In addition to Social Security, you or your spouse may have income from a traditional pension plan from an employer. Contact the plan administrator to find out how much you are likely to receive when you retire. Add in any other income from other sources you expect to have, such as rental properties, part-time work or investments.

Calculate the Difference

The final step is to do the calculations. Subtract your annual living expenses from your annual retirement income. If your income alone can cover your bills, you will be in a good position for retirement. If not, you may need to tap into your savings, including your 401(k) plans, IRAs or other investments to make up the difference, or adjust your budget.

For example, if you need around $60,000 a year to meet your living and retirement expenses and pay taxes, and you and your spouse expect to receive $35,000 a year from Social Security and other income. That leaves a $25,000 shortfall that you will need to pull from your nest egg each year ($60,000 – $35,000 = $25,000).

Depending on what age you want to retire, you need to multiply your shortfall by at least 25 if you want to retire at 60, 20 to retire at 65 and 17 to retire at 70 – that would equate to $625,000, $500,000 and $425,000, respectively.

Why 25, 20 and 17? Because that would allow you to pull 4% a year from your savings, which is a safe withdrawal strategy. In most cases, this allows your money to last for your lifetime.

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.

What are the best Medicare coverage options for COVID-vaccinated retirees who are eager to travel? My wife and I will both turn 65 over the next few months and would like to know which Medicare plans are best for extensive travelers.

The best Medicare plans for retirees who plan to travel will vary depending on your destinations. Before you book a trip, make sure you know the current CDC COVID-19 travel recommendations (see CDC.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers). Research your destinations so you know what restrictions apply wherever you are going.

Medicare Review

Before we dissect how Medicare works for travelers, let us start with a quick review of your different Medicare options.

One option is original Medicare, which covers hospital services under Part A and doctor's visits and other medical services under Part B.

If you choose original Medicare, you may also want to get a Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D) to cover your medications. A Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policy may help pay for things that are not covered by Medicare like copayments, coinsurance and deductibles.

You may want to consider a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan instead, which is sold through private insurance companies. Part C covers everything original Medicare covers, plus many plans also offer prescription drug coverage and extra services like vision, hearing and dental care.

To help evaluate your options, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (see ShiptaCenter.org), which provides free Medicare counseling.

You can also shop and compare Medicare health and drug plans and Medigap policies at Medicare.gov/find-a-plan.

If you find the Medicare plan you enroll in is not meeting your needs or your needs change, you can switch to a different plan during the open enrollment period from October 15 to December 7.

U.S. Travel

If you and your wife are planning to travel domestically, original Medicare may be the better option for you. Original Medicare provides coverage everywhere in the U.S. and its territories as long as the doctor or hospital you visit accepts Medicare.

Medicare Advantage plans, on the other hand, have become very popular among new enrollees and may restrict your coverage when traveling throughout the U.S. This is because most Medicare Advantage plans are HMOs or PPOs and require you to visit doctors, hospitals and pharmacies that are in the plan's network. These plans may have some restrictions within a service area or geographic region. If you are traveling outside that area, you may need to pay a higher fee or your services may not be covered at all.

If you do decide to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, be sure to check the benefit details carefully to see what costs and rules apply when traveling outside your service area.

Traveling Abroad

If you are planning to travel abroad on a regular basis, a Medicare Advantage plan may be a better option. Many Advantage plans today offer emergency care coverage outside the U.S. Be sure to check before you choose a plan because not all plans offer it.

Original Medicare, on the other hand, does not provide coverage outside the U.S. and its territories except in rare circumstances (see Medicare.gov/coverage/travel). Medicare drug plans will not cover prescription drugs purchased outside the U.S.

If you choose original Medicare, you can still get some coverage abroad through a Medigap policy. Plans D, G, M and N may pay for 80% of medically necessary emergency care outside the U.S. to new enrollees, but coverage is only for the first 60 days of the trip and you must first meet an annual $250 deductible. There is also a lifetime limit of $50,000, so you would need to cover any costs above that amount.

Some individuals, regardless of their Medicare coverage, purchase travel medical insurance for trips abroad, which you can shop for online. Check for exclusions prior to purchasing travel specific insurance.

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 some good technology classes or online learning resources for inexperienced adults? I have a computer and a smartphone, but my knowledge and skills are limited.

There are many technology teaching tools available to help older adults learn new tech skills and better utilize their devices. Here are some good options to consider.

Local Classes or Workshops: There may be community classes for older adults who are new to technology. These classes may be available online or in person. To find out what is available in your area, contact your local public library, senior center, college or university, or local stores that sell computers. Your Area Agency on Aging may also be able to help you. Visit the Eldercare Locator at Eldercare.acl.gov or call 800-677-1116 to get your local number.

Try an Online Learning Website: Some online learning websites partner with guides to provide training on tech devices for older adults. These services provide online classes taught in real time by retired educators and tech industry experts in a way that lets older adults learn-by-doing, versus just watching a video.

Classes may cover topics like learning how to use a smartphone and tablet, setting up and using video conferencing, utilizing email features, recognizing online scams, selling your personal items online and more.

Some of these services also offer discussion groups at various times throughout the year where you can ask questions as well as share your struggles and experiences. If you ever have a technology question that pops up, often you can call the service's hotline for tech help. Sometimes these classes are free, however others cost a fee.

While some of these services focus on helping older adults with classroom-style instruction, other services offer tech concierges who will work with individuals one-on-one. Some concierge services may include teaching you how to use your devices, fixing what is not working and installing software. They may also show you how to set up and use email, video chat, social media, online shopping, entertainment and ride-sharing services.

Try a Nonprofit: Some nonprofit organizations provide online computer, internet and mobile technology courses for beginners. Many will resume offering classes live as pandemic-related restrictions are lifted.

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.