AARP North Carolina

Do you have the health care coverage you need? Have you assessed your current health status and coverage? If you are a Medicare beneficiary, open enrollment, which begins on October 15, is your chance this year to reexamine your coverage and options. You can either select a new plan, or keep the one you have.

Volunteer service is a unique and valuable partnership that benefits the volunteer and society. AARP volunteers are necessary and vital force in achieving AARP’s mission and goals. Volunteering with AARP is one of the many paths people can take to become active, involved and engaged.

Last week, Governor Pat McCrory signed the state's long overdue budget bill that included more funds to help seniors and their family caregivers with services such as Meals on Wheels, in-home health aides, transportation to medical appointments and more. The budget also offsets rising health care costs with the reinstatement of the medical expense deduction that was eliminated in 2013.

RALEIGH -- The long delay in getting a state legislative budget passed has paid off for family caregivers and those with high out-of-pocket medical expenses. In the budget released overnight, lawmakers restored Home and Community Care Block Grant funds that were cut two years ago. These funds help seniors and their family caregivers with services such as Meals on Wheels, in-home health aides, transportation to medical appointments and more. These services save the state money because they help keep seniors independent as they age while freeing up time and resources for family caregivers to remain in the workforce.

NEW ORLEANS -- In North Carolina, the faith-based community is instrumental in educating and promoting the health and wellness of people in communities across the state. This week on Real Life, you’ll learn more about efforts by AARP and the faith-based community here and in other states.

With the kids returning to school, you’ve earned a sigh of relief. But don’t breathe too easy just yet.

By Margaret Toman -- as appeared in the July/August NC Medical Journal

This week on Real Life, you’ll learn about Mentor Up – a program where young people help older adults stay connected and adjust to the many challenges they face in today’s changing world.

AARP North Carolina applauds Congress and the President for their approval of the NOTICE Act, a federal law the President signed yesterday to take effect in August of 2016. Short for “Notice of Observation Treatment and Implication for Care Eligibility,” AARP pushed to require hospitals to provide written notification to patients 24 hours after receiving “observation care,” explaining that they have not been admitted to the hospital, the reasons why, and the potential financial implications of that decision.

Have you thought about how you can protect yourself from identity theft and fraud? Every two second someone’s identity is stolen. Last year, there were 13.1 million victims of identity theft in the United States. Identity theft, investment fraud and other scams cost Americans $18 billion last year alone. How can you outsmart con artists before the con you?