By Bridget Small | Care of The Federal Trade Commission In 2019, the FTC reached a settlement with Elite IT and its owner, who tricked people into buying expensive computer repair services. The company shut down, and its owner is permanently banned from selling tech support services to consumers. But recently, scammers posing as Elite IT agents have been making calls. They say they’re giving refunds related to the case (not true), and urging people to hand over control of their computers (not safe). If you get a call from Elite IT - or anyone else who wants to connect to your computer - hang up and report it. It’s a scam.
People have reported calls from “Elite IT Solutions” and “Elite IT Group.” The callers offered refunds because of a “settlement,” or a “cancelled subscription,” and pressured people to let them take over their computers. Here’s a fantastic piece by MICHAEL BYERS for The Wall Street Journal that all you Zoomers need to pay attention to. The article is called in the Life & Arts Section is called: “Seven Rules of Zoom Meeting Etiquette From the Pros: No more dogs, chips or ‘lurkers’—as video-conferencing becomes a fixture in working life, it’s time to shed the rookie moves.”
Here are the rules from the pros:
By Chris Clow | Care of Reverse Mortgage Daily
Consumers need to fully understand all of the associated costs, terms and conditions prior to applying for a reverse mortgage transaction, and that the ultimate decision made by an older homeowner at or over the age of 62 should be in consultation with a prospective borrower’s family or other trusted advisors. This is the perspective shared by Chris Thetford, VP of communications and marketing with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of St. Louis, Missouri in a story broadcast by a local FOX TV affiliate. “[A prospective applicant] should look at [the key requirements of a reverse mortgage] and see if they can qualify,” he says. “But another good tip is to have a big conversation with your whole family so that they understand the process that you’re thinking about taking in by having a reverse mortgage. By Mark Olshaker | Care of the National Aging In Place Council
Medicare is what many people think the Affordable Care Act – AKA Obamacare – should have been: a single-payer system in which the government takes responsibility for a wide range of medical, hospital and drug costs. Since its inception in 1966, Medicare has been a boon to many millions of American seniors. But like most government programs, it is full of complex rules and regulations, and not intuitive or easy to understand. A practicing pediatrician in Maryland, who also has a law degree, recently was approaching Medicare age. As she began the process of converting her own health coverage, she admitted to being overwhelmed, commenting, “I’m a doctor and a lawyer. If I need help understanding and getting through all this, I can’t imagine what the average person goes through.” Indeed, Medicare is a machine with a seemingly countless number of moving parts. It generally kicks in at age 65, but if you are working for a company with 50 employees or more that offers health insurance, you can stay on that plan as long as you work and Medicare will act as a secondary insurer. This is only one of the many “if then” conditions of coverage, and terms like “generally” will be liberally sprinkled throughout this brief overview, so please don’t take it as definitive. The best place to start, although prepare to spend a fair amount of time there, is medicare.gov. For home healthcare, Medicare covers: skilled nursing, generally up to 28 hours a week; skilled therapy services, including physical, speech and occupational therapy; medical social services ordered by your physician; medical supplies; and durable medical equipment. Now for the “fine print.” Medicare does not cover all healthcare services. Healthcare services not covered by Medicare include, but are not limited to:
• alternative medicine, including experimental procedures and treatments, acupuncture, and chiropractic services (except when manipulation of the spine is medically necessary to fix a subluxation of the spine. A subluxation is when one or more of the bones of the spine move out of position); • most care received outside of the United States; • cosmetic surgery (unless it is needed to improve the function of a malformed part of the body); • most dental care; If you qualify for the home health benefit, Medicare covers the following types of care:
• Skilled nursing services and home health services provided up to seven days a week for no more than eight hours per day and 28 hours per week (Medicare can cover up to 35 hours in unusual cases). • Medicare pays in full for skilled nursing care, which includes services and care that can only be performed safely and effectively by a licensed nurse. Injections (and teaching patients to self-inject), tube feedings, catheter changes, observation and assessment of a patient’s condition, management and evaluation of a patient’s care plan, and wound care are examples of skilled nursing care that Medicare may cover. • Medicare pays in full for a home health aide if you require skilled services. A home health aide provides personal care services including help with bathing, using the toilet, and dressing. If you ONLY require personal care, you do NOT qualify for the Medicare home care benefit. |
Marc has 36 years in financial services and 6 years in teaching.
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