The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reminded taxpayers that September is National Preparedness Month. With Hurricane Lee in the Atlantic intensifying to Category Four at the time of publication, the storm season is now approaching. While Hurricane Lee is projected to turn north and miss the U.S., there are likely to be other storms that impact the Gulf Coast and other regions.

The fall season may involve hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires, earthquakes and other natural disasters. September is a good month to focus on safeguarding your essential documents. You should create a list for preparedness and secure your important documents.

If you are in a natural disaster, having a file of important documents will be important. Relief by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other disaster agencies may depend on your ability to recover records and submit an application.

Each individual should gather important documents and place them in water and fireproof containers or a bank safe deposit box. There are several categories of important documents to collect.

1. Personal Identification — Personal items include birth certificates, passports, Social Security cards, Medicare cards, driver's licenses and marriage certificates.
2. Financial Documents — You should collect all of your bank and investment statements. These may include the statements for your IRA, 401(k), 403(b) or other retirement plans. It is helpful to retain at least three years of your income tax returns (some individuals keep six years) and titles and registrations for your cars, trucks, RVs, boats and other vehicles. You should have a copy of your home, auto, life, health and other insurance policies as well.
3. Real Estate Records — If you are a homeowner, you will want to retain a deed to the property and mortgage agreements. If you own other real estate, you may also have lease or rental agreements. It is important to keep records of your home improvements such as the addition of solar panels or battery backup system.
4. Estate Documents — Each individual should have a will. For some individuals a living trust may be advisable. You may also have an advance healthcare directive or a durable power of attorney for finances. It is good to retain copies of the beneficiary designations for your retirement plans, insurance and financial pay–on–death (POD) accounts. In some states, you also may have real estate pay–on–death accounts. You can avoid probate on most estate property through your beneficiary designations. You should retain copies of all these documents in your disaster preparedness file.
5. Medical Records — Your medical information could include your health insurance, immunization records, a list of your prescription medications and any other important medical history.
6. Education and Employment — It is helpful to retain copies of diplomas and education transcripts. If you have any work-related licenses or professional certificates, those records should be included in your file.
7. Personal Records — Many individuals keep digital copies of family photos. If you served in the military, you should safely store your service and honorable discharge records. If you have become a United States citizen, you should keep a record of the naturalization papers.
8. Emergency Contacts — It is helpful to have a list of emergency contacts. These will frequently be family members. You also may wish to list the names and contact information for your doctors, financial planner, attorney or other advisor.

Many individuals scan these documents and create digital copies. The digital copies can be stored on an encrypted USB drive or through a secure filing system in the cloud. It may also be desirable to have a reasonable amount of cash on hand and know where your valuable items are retained in case you must evacuate.

As individuals discovered during the Lahaina fire in Maui, you may not have a great deal of warning time before an evacuation. Many Lahaina residents had five minutes or less notice they would need to flee. If you know the location of your cash and valuables, you will be able to gather them quickly and then evacuate.

Editor's Note: It is good to review your natural disaster preparedness plan each September and update these files. Many individuals also have a senior parent or other relative in assisted living or a nursing home. You can provide a great service to them with an annual checkup on their important documents.

Prices keep increasing for my prescription medications, even with my Medicare prescription drug insurance. Can you recommend any tips that can help cut my costs?

The high cost of prescription drugs is an ongoing problem affecting everyone, most notably seniors. Seniors tend to feel the impact more due to their greater need for medications and because not all of their drug costs are covered by Medicare.

While the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 will help seniors save on their medications by negotiating lower drug prices and capping out-of-pocket spending at $2,000, it will be a few years before the law is fully phased in. In the meantime, here are some different strategies that may help reduce your prescription costs.

Talk to your doctor: First review your medications at least once a year with your primary care doctor to determine if any can be stopped or reduced. If you are taking any brand-name drugs, check to see if they are available in a generic alternative. For long-term prescription drugs, you may want to ask your doctor what the price might be for a three or six-month prescription instead of a monthly supply for potential cost savings. While the cost per pill is reduced, your total price will increase since you will be purchasing at a higher volume. Additionally, consult with your doctor to see whether your prescription allows you to partake in pill-splitting. Pill-splitting is the practice of dividing a medicine tablet into two pieces. This practice can get you twice as many pills for the same price. If you do this, your doctor will need to write the prescription for twice the dosage you need.

Review your insurance: Carefully review your drug coverage during the open enrollment period, which runs October 15 through December 7 for Medicare beneficiaries. Make sure all your regular medications are covered in the plan's formulary, that your current pharmacy is in the plan's network and that your plan covers additional medication coverage in the gap. To shop and compare Medicare prescription drug plans go to Medicare.gov/plan-compare.

Pay cash: Not using insurance for prescriptions seems counterintuitive, but in some cases, it may save you money. For example, many chain pharmacies and big-box retail stores have their own prescription savings programs that may be lower than your insurance copayment. Another option is to check out a price comparison platform for prescription drugs. These websites often provide coupons to help you save up to 80% off the list price of generic and some brand-name drugs in certain pharmacies.

Shop online: You can also save on regularly used medications by having them delivered to your home from a mail-order pharmacy. Check with your health insurance provider or usual pharmacy to see if this is an option and whether it is more cost effective. If this is not an option, check online pharmacies and compare prices. With these, you may spend less in some cases than you might with insurance.

Get more help: If your income is limited, you may also be able to get financial help through Medicare's Extra Help program (Medicare.gov/basics/costs/help/drug-costs), your state pharmaceutical assistance program (Medicare.gov/plan-compare/#/pharmaceutical-assistance-program/states) or patient assistance programs (Medicare.gov/pharmaceutical-assistance-program). Visit each website to see if you are eligible and learn how to apply.

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.

The IRS has been slowly moving forward with a direct e-file system. Several members of Congress have promoted the concept. The Inflation Reduction Act included funding to allow for the IRS to conduct a study on building an e-file system.

To explore the interest in a federal e-file system, the IRS has conducted two taxpayer surveys. There is significant taxpayer support for a direct e-file system, particularly among younger taxpayers. The survey responses emphasized that privacy is a major concern and taxpayers prefer to combine filing a federal return with their state tax return.

The IRS estimates that a direct e-file system would cost between $64 million to $249 million each year. The majority of the costs would be for customer support. The IRS also faces major challenges due to the complexity of the U.S. tax code. A direct e-file system must be updated regularly for tax law changes and to ensure that taxpayer information is secure.

The IRS points to many other nations that offer a direct file system including the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Spain and France. One step in taxpayer convenience is a prepopulated filing system. Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, France, Finland and Norway all offer these systems.

Many nations, including Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, offer extensive online services. The IRS recently has moved forward with enhanced systems. U.S. taxpayers now have a " Your Online Account " page. The IRS also launched new chat bots that provide taxpayer support.

Editor's Note: Several members of Congress who support direct e-file have observed that commercial tax software companies are not protecting taxpayer information. One of the primary reasons for creating a federal system is that many of the commercial companies have been using Google analytics. Some of the tax software websites included a Google Pixel that collected income, refund amounts, filing status and scholarship information from taxpayers who used those websites. The taxpayers did not consent to the use by Google of that information for marketing purposes. While Google claims that it has safeguards to protect personal identity, artificial intelligence capabilities now allow identification of individuals through their data. The advocates for an IRS direct file system emphasize a federal system that would protect the information of taxpayers.

What retirement planning tips can you recommend? I am worried that I may not have enough saved for retirement.

Most individuals, especially those nearing retirement, require some type of financial planning prior to retirement. Inflationary pressures increase the price of goods and services and may significantly affect the value of your retirement savings over time.

While Social Security payments can be a valuable resource that assists many individuals throughout their retirement, they are not meant to be the only source of retirement income. The Social Security Administration reports that the average monthly retirement benefit for recipients as of February 2023 is about $1,781.63, which may fall short of sustaining a comfortable retirement lifestyle.

A recent survey found that Americans holding retirement accounts believe they will need approximately $1.8 million for retirement. For instance, a 65-year-old who retires with $1.8 million saved could expect to receive a retirement income of $72,000 per year. The average U.S. retirement account, however, held $113,000 last year while accounts of those 65 and older held an average of $233,000.

Given these factors, it is crucial for individuals to familiarize themselves with financial matters and learn how to save more effectively for retirement. Here are some tips and resources that may help.

Start Saving Aggressively

If your employer offers a retirement plan, such as a 401K, it is advisable to contribute enough to at least capitalize on a company match, if available. If your finances allow you to, you may want to consider contributing even more. In 2023, you can save as much as $22,500 in a 401(k), or $30,000 including the catch-up contributions for those who are 50 or older.

If you do not have a workplace plan, think about opening a Traditional or Roth IRA. Both are powerful tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts that let you contribute up to $6,500 annually, or $7,500 when you are 50 or older. If you are self-employed, consider a SEP-IRA, SIMPLE-IRA or an individual 401(k), all of which can help reduce your taxable income while putting money away for retirement.

Additionally, if you have a high deductible health insurance policy with an annual deductible of at least $1,500 for self-only coverage or $3,000 for family coverage, you should consider opening a health savings account (HSA). This is a tool that can be used to set aside funds pre-tax, which will lower your taxable income. The money in the account will grow tax-free and if the money is used for eligible medical expenses, the withdrawals are tax-free too. After age 65, withdrawals for nonmedical purposes are treated as though they are from a traditional retirement account.

Pay Off Debts

If you have debt, it is best to reduce it as much as possible. Consider working with a non-profit credit counseling agency that provides free or low-cost advice and solutions. The counseling agency could also help you set up a debt management plan. To find a credit counseling program or agency, check with your financial institution or credit union. You may also request a referral from your local consumer protection agency.

However, it is important to exercise caution when choosing a credit counseling organization. Reputable credit counseling organizations should send you information about their services at no cost. Prior to choosing a credit counseling organization, it is advisable to research the organization with your state's attorney general office and local consumer protection agency. This will allow you to review any complaints and confirm licenses the companies may be required to have depending on your state.

Find Help

To help you educate yourself on financial matters like retirement planning, saving, investing, health care, annuities and more, a great resource is the Retirement Savings Education Campaign – Saving Matters, provided by the United States Department of Labor. You can access the educational material at savingmatters.dol.gov.

For information on Social Security, visit SSA.gov/retirement. The Social Security website provides links to benefit calculators and access to your personal Social Security account to help you figure out your future earnings at different retirement ages.

You may also consider hiring a financial advisor to conduct a financial assessment. Costs for these services will vary between $150 to $300 per hour, but this can be very beneficial to help you set up a retirement plan you can follow. You can search online for financial advisor directories and websites dedicated to finding fee-only advisors in your area. Alternatively, you may seek recommendations from friends and family who have previously used financial advisors.

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 parent has fallen twice during the past year but does not like wearing a medical pendant. Are there any monitored medical alert devices that do not require wearing a help button?

There are many monitored medical alert systems on the market. These devices offer voice-activated capabilities to enable a person to call for help using voice commands without pushing a wearable help button. These new technologies are very helpful for seniors that live alone and who forget or prefer not to wear a help button. These devices are also helpful for persons with certain physical disabilities.

Simply speaking the "wake words" activates these devices and connects a person to a trained dispatcher at a 24/7 monitoring center. The dispatcher can assess their condition and request the appropriate help, such as calling local emergency services or contacting a family member, friend or neighbor for assistance. These devices are often accompanied by a smartphone app that allows remote monitoring and will notify family or a caregiver if a problem occurs.

Hands-Free Medical Alerts

There are many voice-activated medical alert systems with various features and price ranges. Costs may include fees for the equipment, activation and monthly monitoring. Some systems may use a landline while others work with a cellular connection. Depending on the system purchased, the initial equipment may come with base consoles, wireless speakers, voice-activated and push wall buttons, personal help buttons and fall detection sensors. Optional medical alert watches and pendants with fall detection capabilities are typically sold separately.

Most of the options available offer two-way communication through a base station. For example, a person could simply say "Call 911" twice and be connected to a dispatcher at a monitoring center. Some devices can also make voice command nonemergency calls to preassigned contacts, answer health questions and provide reminders for medications and doctor appointments.

Smart Home Solution

Instead of a traditional medical alert system, another hands-free way to call for help is with a voice-controlled personal assistant speaker that responds to commands. The devices are sold by companies to create "smart homes" but also offer optional monthly plans for remote caregiving and medical alert services. The speakers are compatible with some third-party fall detection devices. If a fall is detected, it asks if help is needed and, if so, the person is connected to their designated contact.

These devices also provide additional features that can be useful. For example, some will make hands-free calls, receive reminders, set timers and alarms, control smart home devices, check the weather, play music and much more.

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

Does Medicare cover preventive health screenings? I am scheduled for a physical and colonoscopy this year and want to determine the anticipated costs before my appointment.

Medicare covers a wide array of preventive and screening services to help individuals stay healthy, but not all services are completely covered. Here is what you should know.

Free Preventive Benefits

Medicare's preventive services are available to beneficiaries through Part B completely free without copays or deductibles, as long basic eligibility standards are met. Some of Medicare's covered services include: mammograms, colonoscopies, certain vaccines and screenings for diabetes, depression, osteoporosis, various cancers and cardiovascular disease. Medicare also covers counseling to combat obesity, alcohol abuse and smoking. To obtain these services for free, however, see a doctor who accepts Medicare "on assignment," which means he or she has agreed to accept the Medicare approved rate as full payment.

Additionally, the tests are free only if they are used at specified intervals. For example, cardiovascular screening blood tests are covered once every five years and colonoscopies, once every ten years. If you are at high risk for colorectal cancer, more frequent intervals may be covered, such as screenings every two years.

Medicare also offers a free "Welcome to Medicare" exam with your doctor in your first year, along with annual "Wellness" visits thereafter. These visits should not be confused with full physical examinations as they are prevention-focused visits that provide only an overview of your health and medical risk factors to establish a baseline for future care.

Cost Sharing Services

There are a few Medicare preventive services that require some out-of-pocket cost sharing. With these tests, you will pay 20% of the cost of the service after you have met your $226 Part B yearly deductible. The services include glaucoma tests, diabetes self-management training and prostate cancer detection. For a complete list of services along with their eligibility requirements, visit Medicare.gov/coverage/preventive-screening-services.

If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, your plan is required to cover the same preventive services as original Medicare, but each plan's rules can vary and the availability of some services and supplies will depend on where you live.

Hidden Costs

While most of the previously listed Medicare services are free, you can be charged for certain diagnostic services or additional tests or procedures related to the preventive service. For example, if your doctor finds and removes a polyp during your preventive care colonoscopy screening, you will pay 15% of the doctor's service fee. You may also be charged if during your annual wellness visit, your doctor needs to investigate or treat a new or existing problem.

In some cases, you will be charged for a doctor's visit if you meet with them before or after receiving services. Moreover, the location where you obtain these services could also entail a facility fee. Certain hospitals, for example, will often charge separate facilities fees for preventive services. To eliminate any unforeseen billing fees, talk to your provider before any preventive service procedure to find out if you are subject to a charge and what it would be.

If you receive an unexpected medical bill, you can always call the billing department and see if there is a way to negotiate a payment plan that fits your budget. In some cases, providers and facilities may be willing to provide credits or reductions based on your income.

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 can you tell me about green burial options? I would like to preplan my funeral and make it as natural and eco-friendly as possible.

Green funeral options are becoming increasingly popular in the United States as more and more people are looking for environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional funerals. Here is what you should know about "green burial" and "green cremation" options, along with some tips to help you locate services in your area.

Green Burial

If you wish to be buried, you can minimize the environmental impact by forgoing the embalming chemicals (as it is not typically required by law). You can opt to be buried in a biodegradable container or shroud without the use of a vault, instead of a traditional casket or concrete vault. This approach allows the body to decompose more naturally.

If you want to temporarily preserve the body for viewing or a memorial service without the use of traditional embalming chemicals, you can request the use of dry ice, a refrigeration unit or a nontoxic embalming agent.

You will also be happy to know that green burials may be more affordable than traditional funerals, which average around $8,000 in 2023. By foregoing the coffin, vault and embalming, you may significantly cut down on funeral costs.

A good first step is to find a certified green funeral home in your area and contact them. If there is no certified green funeral home nearby, you should contact traditional funeral homes to see if they offer green funeral service options. Many funeral homes offer a range of services from traditional burials to green burials to meet the needs of all their customers.

You will also need to find a green cemetery. There are nearly 100 green cemeteries throughout the United States and more than 300 traditional (hybrid) cemeteries that offer green burials as well. Search online for environmentally friendly cemeteries. If you own rural property, you may be able to have a home burial if your state and county allow it.

Green Cremation

Eco-friendly options exist for cremation as well. While cremation has always been promoted as being more eco-friendly than a typical burial, traditional cremation uses high heat to incinerate the body and emits greenhouse gases into the air.

A green cremation, however, uses water and potassium hydroxide to reduce a deceased body to its basic element within a few hours. This green technique, which is known as aquamation, may be more expensive than traditional cremation and can be an option in some states. Contact your local funeral providers to find out if this is available in your area or do an online search for "aquamation" followed by your city and state.

Another green consideration is deciding what to do with the remains. Instead of scattering, which can be harmful to the environment, there are a wide variety of biodegradable urns that dissolve into the earth or water over time. There are also memorial urns that will grow a plant or tree in combination with ashes.

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 regular heartburn or acid reflux anything to worry about? I take antacids throughout the day to help manage my symptoms, but the reflux has gotten worse and keeps me awake at night. Should I be concerned?

Almost everyone experiences heartburn or acid reflux from time to time, but frequent episodes can signal a more serious problem. It is estimated that more than 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month and around 15 million Americans suffer from it daily.

Heartburn symptoms show up in a variety of ways such as a burning pain behind the breastbone, indigestion or a sour or burning taste in the back of the throat. Other symptoms may include chest pain, difficulty swallowing, a chronic cough, a sore throat or hoarseness.

If you are plagued by heartburn more than twice a week and find little relief from over-the-counter antacids, you should make an appointment to see your health care provider. If your provider suspects you have a chronic condition, he or she may refer you to a gastroenterologist. Frequent bouts may mean you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD can severely irritate and potentially damage the lining of your esophagus and may also increase your risk of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer if it is not treated properly.

Lifestyle Adjustments

Depending on the severity of your heartburn, various lifestyle adjustments that can provide relief and prevent more serious problems down the road, such as:

• Avoid trigger foods: Avoid foods that trigger heartburn symptoms like citrus fruits, tomatoes, fatty foods, chocolate, garlic, onions, spicy foods, mints, alcohol, coffee and sodas. Keep a food diary to track which foods cause you the most problems and avoid those foods.
• Eat smaller, slower and earlier: Eating smaller portions at mealtimes and eating more slowly can help reduce heartburn symptoms. You should also wait at least three hours after eating before lying down or going to bed.
• Manage weight: Excess weight around the midsection puts pressure on the abdomen, pushing up the stomach and causing acid to back up into the esophagus.
• Quit smoking: Smoking can increase stomach acid and weaken the valve that prevents acid from entering the esophagus.
• Sleep elevated: To help keep the acid down while sleeping, you may want to adjust your sleeping position. Get a wedge-shaped pillow to prop yourself up a few inches. You may also elevate the head of your bed six to eight inches by placing blocks under the bedposts or insert a wedge between your mattress and box spring. Wedges are available at drugstores and medical supply stores. Studies have also shown that sleeping on your left side may also keep the acid down.

Treatment Options

If lifestyle adjustments do not resolve the symptoms and over-the-counter antacids are not helping, there are a variety of other medications that can help.

Histamine-2 Blockers: Available in both over-the-counter and prescription strength, these drugs reduce how much acid your stomach makes but may not be strong enough for serious symptoms.

Proton-Pump Inhibitors (PPI): If you have frequent and severe heartburn symptoms, PPIs are long-acting prescription medications that block acid production and allow time for damaged esophageal tissue to heal. Some PPIs are also available over-the-counter. Keep in mind that long-term use of PPIs may increase your risk for osteoporosis and chronic kidney disease.

If the medications do not resolve your symptoms, your provider may recommend a surgical procedure that can tighten or strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter and help prevent reflux.

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.