Previously, if Americans did not have health insurance, they would face a penalty, or tax, called the individual mandate penalty. Thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the penalty no longer exists. However, some states still have the ability to penalize people for not having health insurance.
Although the individual mandate is gone, some states will tax you for not having health insurance.
Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Washington D.C. will hit you with a penalty for not having health insurance. Other states (California, Rhode Island, and Vermont) are joining the bandwagon and creating a health insurance coverage mandate for 2020. So if residents do not have health insurance in 2020, then they will pay a penalty in 2021.
Exemptions
States will allow exemptions, thankfully, to help certain people avoid the penalty. The circumstances include low income that falls below the state tax filing threshold.
How Much Is The Penalty?
The penalty ranges in different states. They are:
If you live in one of the states that impose a health insurance tax, be prepared for the penalty if you do not have health insurance.
California- A flat amount of $695 per adult or $347.50 for each child. California can charge you 2.5% of gross income in excess of the state’s filing threshold, whichever is higher.
Massachusetts- The penalty is based on the household income, and can range from $264 per year to $1.524 per year. Individuals with income at or below $18,210 ($37,650 for a family of four) aren’t penalized
Washington D.C.- The penalty is $695 per adult, or $347.50 per child. Washington can also assess a penalty of 2.5% of household income, whichever is higher.
New Jersey- The penalty is based on household income as well. Individual taxpayers without coverage could be on the hook for at least $695, and up to a maximum of $3,012.
Vermont– Vermont is one of the states jumping on the bandwagon, so they have not determined the penalties yet.
Rhode Island- The penalty is a flat tax of $695 per adult and $347.50 per child, or 2.5% of income above state filing threshold, whichever is greater.
Getting Ready
When the time comes to file your tax paperwork, make sure you have all the appropriate forms handy that prove you had health insurance coverage. There should be a number of forms in the mail coming to taxpayers (Forms 1095-A, 1095-B and 1095-C) that detail whether you and your family members had coverage throughout the year.
Luckily only a few states are imposing the tax penalty for not having health insurance, but for those who do live in these states, be prepared. Know that there is a penalty so you are not blindsided, and if you opt out of insurance, then be prepared financially to pay the penalties.
If you want to increase longevity, research suggests optimism could be the cheat code. A new study finds that people who are optimistic and have a cheerful outlook on life are more likely to live about 10% longer–making it to the age of 85!
Genetics play a part in how long a person will live, but how you live your life and take care of it will play a bigger role. Even for people that find it hard to maintain a cheery outlook, with practice, you can enhance its role in your life.
Positivity training also reduces depression, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses. This might be one of the biggest reasons people are pushing for a happy cure-all!
Quick tip: smile at yourself in the mirror and think of something you’re grateful for.
The New Study
This new study we’re talking about started with researchers from Boston University School of Medicine; Lee (and colleagues) tracked optimism levels and overall health and health habits in 69,744 women and 1,429 men with questionnaires. They followed up with the women for 10 years, and the men for 30 years. Then the researchers looked to see whether higher optimism levels were linked to living longer. The analysis also took into consideration behaviors that would likely impact longevity such as smoking, diet, and exercise routines.
The outcome came out to be that the most optimistic men and women displayed an average of about 15% longer lifespan, and had 50-70% greater odds of reaching 85 years old and older.
The Reason?
People who are more optimistic are more likely to stick to a goal, such as their diet and exercise routines. These people are also inclined to recover from stress quicker, and seek healthier alternatives than those who are not optimistic. They are less likely to smoke or drink alcohol, which can hinder a person’s lifespan and longevity.
Most of the population studied were white and of higher socioeconomic class, and these two factors are tied to higher optimism levels in general. But the authors stick by the fact that the study’s purpose was to show a way to live longer. Lee adds, “Our study contributes to scientific knowledge on health assets that may protect against mortality risk and promote resilient aging. We hope that our findings will inspire further research on interventions to enhance positive health assets that may improve the public’s health with aging.”
How Can You Boost Positivity?
Clinical health psychologist Natalie Dattilo, with Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, says even if it doesn’t come naturally, optimism can be taught. Dattilo works mostly with adults who struggle with depression and anxiety — “a lot of folks who worry,” she says. Many are pessimistic and “tend to see things through a half-empty glass and typically expect negative outcomes.”
Even if this isn’t the secret, don’t you want a better quality of life?
There are some simple ways that you can boost optimism in your life. You can take on exercising, since working out releases feel-good endorphins to your brain, or you can meditate. There are numerous ways to become a more positive person. Writing exercises can help, and if you want more professional help, then look into cognitive behavioral therapy. Some other techniques to consider are:
Stop complaining, it gets you nowhere and just causes negativity
Remember there will always be ups and downs, even in a positive person’s life
Use positive affirmations
Surround yourself with positive people
Reminisce- thinking about happy times can boost your mood for the future.
Life is already hard enough to try and survive through. Do not let the half-full glass become half-empty. Instead, seek ways to become a more positive person, smile more, and do things that make you a better person and healthier. After all, studies suggest that becoming more optimistic is the key to a longer life!
Your doctor is one of the most important people in your life, so choosing the right primary care physician (PCP) is a big decision. The doctor, and by extension the clinic they work in, are both going to be heavily relied upon when you’re sick. The last place you want to go is somewhere you’re not comfortable with.
Remember, this is the person you rely on to stay as healthy as possible, and you should make your choice based on a few key steps.
Your PCP is an important partner for taking care of your health.
Locate the Clinic
The clinic where your doctor works is the easiest way to find and contact them. You can find a list of these online with a quick search and most come with reviews attached, as well as information like address and phone number.
Once you gather a list, you can start narrowing it down. Ask questions like:
Is the office close to where I live and work?
Are the doctors recommended by people I know?
How are the reviews on the website?
Do they accept Medicare Advantage transportation benefits?
Are they in-network?
To make matters easier, some health insurance companies have search engines that give you a list of in-network doctors near you. This can be a big time saver.
After you answer all these questions, you should have about 2-3 doctors that you’re ready to research a little deeper.
Gather Information
Another way to utilize your health insurance company is to see if they have a quality check for the PCPs they list. Alternatively, there are other online resources that list accredited doctors with their awards, acknowledgments, and organizations they are a part of.
You don’t want to wind up here after neglecting your health. Work with your doctor.
Once you’re reasonably sure of your decision, it’s time to place a call to the clinic. You don’t want to wait until you’re sick and stressed before you choose a new PCP. This should be done carefully, so you know your choice is accurate.
Make a cold call to the doctor’s office. Doing this is a great tactic that will answer several questions just based on the conversation you have with the staff:
Is the staff friendly and communicative?
Is the clinic taking new patients?
How do they handle prescription refills?
Will they follow-up on your services?
Just a quick conversation can help narrow down what atmospheres are better for you. Remember when you’re choosing a physician, you’re also choosing their staff, meaning the nurses that assist you, the technicians involved, and the receptionist.
Remember to choose a doctor you trust. The most important part is feeling comfortable talking with them.
Meet In-Person
The final step before choosing is to meet with the PCP in person. This is going to give you that final comprehensive view of what it’ll be like to interact with them on a regular basis.
One good way to do this is to ask for a physical. A general health look will get you familiar with their facilities and is sometimes covered by your insurance as well. During the exam, you can talk to the doctor and see what their specialties are, what their manner is, and how you feel about including them in your life.
Paying special attention to how they speak to you is important. Some people prefer a friendlier doctor who will chat for a moment and remember personal information while others prefer someone who is all business. Whatever your needs are, this last visit should settle in your mind which doctor is the right choice.
While you don’t have unlimited funds for this search, you should still take your time. Listen to your instincts before you choose a doctor because they’re usually right. Your PCP is someone you need to trust with personal information, and someone who will be knowledgeable about your medical history. Don’t be afraid to start over if you feel like you’ve made a mistake. As long as you’re in-network, you should find someone you’re happy with.
In your circulatory system, blood pressure is the force of blood moving through your veins. It carries oxygen-rich cells to all parts of your body.
When you get your blood pressure checked, they are measuring how hard the blood is pushing against the wall of the arteries when your heart is beating, and when it is resting in between beats. But did you know that one in three American adults has high blood pressure, which doctors call hypertension? This puts affected adults at risk for a stroke or heart disease, which are among the leading causes of U.S.deaths.
To make matters worse, hypertension has been linked to dementia. Recent research shows a cognitive decline with dementia is higher in people in their 30s and 40s paired with hypertension.
You don’t have meters installed to catch blood pressure spikes, so learn to be proactive.
Having high blood pressure this early in life continuously creates blood vessel damage in the brain. These are typically called white matter lesions. If enough nerve cells are damaged by high blood pressure, then memory cannot be restored.
Blood Flow in the Brain
The brain typically receives about 20% of the body’s blood supply, which carries oxygen, glucose, and other nutrients to give it energy. If this blood flow is blocked somehow or reduced, such as with high blood pressure, the brain is damaged.
One study found that even just slightly higher blood pressure (which is 120/80) could increase the risk of dementia. While another study found that women in their 40s with high blood pressure were 73% more likely to develop dementia than those who did not have hypertension. But now there is a risk of overall cognitive decline, including memory and processing speeds.
What Recent Studies Suggest
In a study published in The Lancet Neurology, a team checked the blood pressure of over 500 participants that ranged from the ages of 36 to 69 years old. None of the participants had dementia. The results showed that people between 36 and 43, and 43 to 53 had a greater than normal increase in blood pressure and a smaller brain volume later in life.
People who had higher blood pressure in their 30s and 40s had a 7-15% increase in white matter lesions in their brains.
“We found that higher and rising blood pressure between the ages of 36 and 53 had the strongest associations with smaller brain volume and increases in white matter brain lesions in later life,” he continues. “We speculate that these changes may, over time, result in a decline in brain function, for example, impairments in thinking and behavior, so making the case for targeting blood pressure in mid-life, if not earlier.”
Can You Lower Your Chances Of Cognitive Decline?
Well, as far as the clinical trials say, there is no medical proof showing that controlling high blood pressure through drugs or lifestyle changes can prevent the decline in cognition or dementia.
Stress plays a role in your blood pressure too. Don’t just hit the gym, meditate to lower blood pressure.
However, the landmark Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), which included 9,300 participants, ended in 2015 with a positive finding about blood pressure control and heart health: Lowering systolic blood pressure to less than 120 (which is below the hypertension threshold of 140) significantly reduced the number of deaths and cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, in nondiabetic adults age 50 and older. Similar results were found for about 2,600 participants aged 75 and older.
What You Can Do
Although there has been some skepticism on if you can do anything to lower your chances of dementia, it is important to get your blood pressure down. Hypertension is not good for your brain, heart, and body, in general. You can still lower your chances of a stroke, heart disease, and more by following these guidelines:
Diet– Your diet plays a major role. Make sure to eat things with lower salt and sodium. Sodium intake should not exceed 1,500 mg a day. Reduce, and cut out processed foods altogether, and instead eat as many vegetables, whole grains, fruits, and fish that you can.
Exercise– Exercise can lower your blood pressure. Try to walk at least 30 minutes a day, and other moderate exercises. Keeping your weight down can help drop points in your blood pressure.
Limit Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs- Using ibuprofen, and other NSAIDs can raise blood pressure, especially in older people.
Intermittent fasting is a hot trend. Going 16-18 hours a day without consuming any calories does not sound that easy, but it can be. Recent studies show that there are long-term benefits to intermittent fasting, such as lowering belly fat, boosting brain function, and helping you live longer by reducing your risk for conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. But is this a safe practice for seniors? Absolutely!
As long as you’re getting your daily calories and nutrients, you should be safe to fast.
1.Reduced Insulin Resistance
During the fasting period, lower insulin levels improve fat burning in the body. Not only will it improve fat burning, but the lowered insulin levels will help encourage muscle growth. Studies show that fasting reduces insulin by 20-31%.
2.Detox The Body
When you fast, your body removes toxins. One way this occurs is from shedding weight. When you intermittent fast, your body will burn fat, using it for the energy it’s not getting from food. The fat cells are the usual culprits for toxin storage, keeping it from what we eat and breathe.
When you cleanse your body from toxins, you will find that you have more energy, stamina, clear skin, better brain function, and restful sleep patterns.
3.Lose Weight
Because your body lowers it’s insulin levels, your body burns\ the fat for fuel, and it no longer receives the signal to store extra calories as fat. Intermittent fasting can increase norepinephrine, a hormone and neurotransmitter that can boost your metabolism! That way, your body will burn calories throughout the day.
4.Improved Gut Health & Mood
Not only does your body burn more, but your gut health improves. Your mood and mental health go hand in hand with your gut microbiome. So, when your gut reboots due to intermittent fasting, your stomach and your mood are overall happier.
5.Heart Function
At least one study indicates that people who follow a fasting diet may have better heart health than people who don’t. When you fast, your levels of hemoglobin, red blood cell count are affected, in a good way. This improves heart health.
Feel good about yourself no matter what your age! What you eat plays a huge part in your energy levels.
6.Autophagy
The process of cells eating themselves to get rid of damaged cells, and recycle into better, more youthful ones is called autophagy. Viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens are destroyed in this process. The simple way to activate this is by fasting. Damaged cells are removed, and cellular and tissue rejuvenation occur.
7.Brain Function
Your body will burn glucose reserved in your blood and liver when you are fasting. The liver will turn the fat into ketones and use them for fuel. Your brain prefers ketones over glucose, and in turn, will work better and increase your ability to learn and think.
As you’ve read, intermittent fasting has many great benefits, even for those who are over 50 years old. The important thing to note is that what you eat still matters.
When you are done fasting, remember to stick to nutritional foods that will fuel our body and mind. Stick to vegetables, fruits, and protein. If you feel weak, or light-headed, then stop fasting and seek advice from your doctor. If you have chronic conditions such as heart problems, or diabetes, contact your doctor before beginning intermittent fasting. If done right, there can be many benefits obtained from fasting, including living a longer healthier life.
Getting older means dealing with things like menopause, gray hairs, and wrinkles. As we age, our skin loses elasticity and collagen. The loss of these two proteins causes the skin to look saggy and leathery, leaving behind wrinkles and loose skin.
A new wrinkle here. Crow’s feet there. All you seem to notice are the new lines, and can begin to panic. Don’t. Wrinkles mean you laughed and they are earned from a life well-lived. Besides, there are easy ways to lessen their appearance.
Loose skin can occur from losing an extreme amount of weight, such as having a baby. Voila! You might have loose skin that never really goes away. Although surgery or expensive makeup are two options, there are easier natural ways to tighten your skin.
No need to hide it, you can fix lose skin with a little extra exercise!
Exercise More
Building lean mass is your best friend when it comes to keeping your skin healthy. Sagging skin has a tighter appearance when stretched over muscle. Some exercises to consider are:
Deadlifts– Deadlifts tone almost every part of your body. They strengthen your legs, arms, back, stomach, and pectoral muscles. Make sure to follow proper weight-lifting form. For deadlifts, keep your posture straight, your chest out, and focus on lifting only with your legs.
Side-bridges– This exercise strengthens your core and oblique muscles. Lie on your back and rest your weight in your forearm as you raise your midsection. Imagine a straight line running from the top of your head all the way to your feet. Hold the position as long as you can. Alternatively, you can dip yourself down and roll, switching sides. Be careful as you do so.
Air Bikes– Lay on your back and bring your knees toward your chest. Elevate your shoulders and bring your right elbow to your left knee and vice versa, This will strengthen your ab muscles and reduce sagging skin. You can keep your hands at the base of your skull to support your neck during air bikes. Remember, the focus should be on your abs, not straining your neck or shoulders.
Yoga– Doing yoga exercises regularly firms and tones the skin. There is such a thing as face yoga that you can do in the comfort of our own home. With all the forms, the important thing to remember is that it’s a practice. Your face won’t be toned overnight with these stretches, but keeping up with them can help.
Sweat Out the Toxins
Every day you are exposed to different toxins. Toxins enter your body through the air you breathe, the things you touch, and the food you eat and drink. These toxins accumulate under your skin.
Don’t worry though, when you exercise and sweat, you sweat out the toxins from your pores. This will battle the premature aging of your skin.
A Healthy Diet Can Do Wonders
Diet is key to staying healthy and beating diseases. Doctors and researchers can not stress this enough, and it is obvious why. Your diet has an impact on the look of your skin too. You’ll want to add foods with amino acids and proteins. Common food items rich in these are:
Add vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C and antioxidants to increase skin moisture and aid in forming more collagen.
A vegan lifestyle could up your skincare game!
Hydration is also super important. The more water you drink, the more hydrated your skin cells are. When they are full of water, then they firm up and keep their elasticity longer. Something as simple as drinking water can reduce your wrinkles and sagging skin.
So find the closest store and buy a pack of water or a filtration system for your home! A good rule to follow is to drink about 70% of your weight. For example, if you weigh about 150 lbs, you should be drinking four 16 ounce water bottles per day, more if you’re working out.
Supplements Can Help
Even though we all wish there was a magic pill to get rid of the loose skin and wrinkles, there isn’t. But there are supplements that can aid in it.
Collagen is sold in powder form that you can mix into your coffee every morning. If you’re not into additives, there are topical options like skin firming lotions. These contain CoQ10, an antioxidant that helps generate energy to your cells, and helps your body produce collagen and elastin.
On a daily basis, try to take vitamin C, gelatin, protein, and collagen hydrolysate. These supplements will help you keep a youthful appearance over time.
Massage The Area
Massages are great for relieving stress, loosening up your body, and firming your skin. It is a triple threat! When you massage an area, blood flow increases which is amazing to ward off skin aging.
Massages also hydrate your skin. When you get a massage or want to exfoliate to remove dead skin cells, there are many different age-defying aids you can use:
Aloe Vera heals damaged skin
Coffee scrubs can tighten the skin and exfoliate it as well
Cucumber juice can rehydrate your skin
Epsom salt promotes skin circulation and hydration
Olive oil is a great moisturizer
Be Careful Of…
Tanning! Everyone wants to get the sun-kissed look because it is all over magazine covers. But sitting out in the sun too long, or in a tanning bed, can trade skin elasticity in the future for a quick boost to sex appeal.
Tanning can give you a beautiful glow, but beware that you’re not trading long term health for short term benefits.
“Leather skin” is real, and it’s caused by moisture draining out of your body. Wear a high SPF sunscreen when out in the sun and apply every hour or when needed.
Smoking ages your skin. The chemicals in tobacco smoke damage collagen and elastin, causing your skin to sag and wrinkle faster. Studies show that people who smoke develop crows feet and other wrinkles much earlier than people that do not smoke.
While we can fight on many fronts, aging is inevitable. You will get older, and your skin will reflect it. But that does not mean you can’t slow down the process.
Exercise, eat a healthy diet, and take supplements that increase the collagen and elasticity in your skin. Don’t give up when simple health care can take years off your appearance!
