If you retire early or are self-employed and looking for health insurance, you might find it difficult to save money. A lot of people who retire before 65, when they become eligible for Medicare coverage, may find themselves spending an arm and a leg for insurance. If you feel like you’re paying way too much for your pre-Medicare health insurance, you’re not alone. Many people have felt the squeeze of rising inflation rates with insurance lately. Here are some ways you can save and reduce the cost of your health insurance.<h3>Reduce the Cost of Pre-Medicare Health Insurance</h3><h4>The Problem</h4>Many people who are retirement-age or who work for themselves find it difficult to get affordable health insurance. These people who need pre-Medicare health insurance find that it is incredibly difficult to get coverage with a decent deductible that doesn’t cost an exorbitant amount. While the ACA has helped some people in this boat, there are others who don’t qualify for the subsidies on ACA plans.Instead, these people have been experiencing ballooning costs for premiums and watching as deductibles are slashed as health insurance companies try to squeeze more and more money out of them. The future hardly looks bright for the ACA marketplace: the current administration has vowed to stop protections for those with preexisting conditions. Next year, the penalties for having no insurance will fall away. This means that many healthy people may ignore the marketplace altogether, making premiums that much higher for those who use ACA plans.<h4>Who This Affects</h4>This situation disproportionately affects people in their 50’s and 60’s who have yet to reach Medicare eligibility. These pre-Medicare health insurance plans are increasingly failing people in their 50’s and 60’s as they develop more serious medical conditions and have to pay more and more every year to keep getting the medicine and treatment they need to survive.For many of these people, even those who don’t currently have any serious health issues, the ballooning premiums and absurd cost of healthcare make them nervous. They can’t opt for coverage with bare-bones provisions as they may develop serious medical conditions sooner rather than later. However, they also can’t afford the existing plans. So what do they do?<h4>Check the Marketplace</h4>While you might think there’s no good coverage on the Marketplace, you’d be wrong. For some people, there are great pre-Medicare health insurance plans available through the marketplace. According to some industry analysts, people over 50 who use the Marketplace to find health coverage are actually saving more money now than in the past three years. Since 2015, premiums for people over 50 have dropped nearly 40%, down to an average of about $60 per month!As for those dramatic increases in premiums, you need not worry about them if you get subsidies through the ACA. For people who receive subsidies, these increases won’t actually hit you. For a single-person household, if the income is below around $48,000, you’ll receive these subsidies. For two-person households, this threshold is roughly $66,000.Even if you’re only just above this threshold, speak to a tax advisor. There are some ways you can qualify for the subsidies even if you make a bit more than these thresholds if you do something like making an IRA account contribution or some similar method.<h4>Consider Direct Payment</h4>This isn’t suggesting you simply pay for your treatments outright. Instead, some people are sidestepping insurance altogether and opting instead to engage in “direct primary care.” This method sees the patient paying their doctor a flat fee, usually around $70 per month, that tends to cover some portion of typical doctor’s visits, check-ups, and preventative care.Doctors who engage in direct primary care often take steps to make sure their patients pay less overall for most basic medical services. This may include buying medications from pharmaceutical companies at wholesale prices and then selling them at cost. Another common cost-saving method is through direct contracts with labs, allowing for less expensive lab results and radiology, passing those savings to customers.Those who choose to use direct primary care are often advised to get insurance with high deductibles so that they have an option in case they become seriously ill or otherwise take on some large hospital bill. Generally, this method is advised for people who have found relatively affordable high-deductible pre-Medicare health insurance. While this might not work for everyone, for many patients it results in them saving more money in the long run compared to getting a high-premium, low-deductible plan.<div id="ad-div"></div>

Reduce the Cost of Pre-Medicare Health Insurance

Hanging a well-crafted canvas print on your wall is a great way to showcase original artwork. It lends a sort of “grand experience” mood to it like you’re viewing an original masterpiece. But without the famous artwork prices. The people doing the printing must have a particular skill for adjusting the saturation, sharpness, and contrast of an image in order to preserve the captivating appeal of the image without distorting it. The canvases should be made of fine art paper and wooden frames handmade.When looking for a canvas printing service to blow up and display your photography, you’ll want to avoid companies that use factory assembled canvases and low-level printing technology to simply duplicate an image onto the canvas surface.These companies won’t offer anything special. No designer editing, no enhancements, no ensuring the image is striking and natural-looking. What you send is what you get – and maybe not in a properly fitted arrangement.CanvaspopWhen you run down the list of things that are important for getting a high-quality product, Canvaspop came out on top in every category. Not only do they use the highest quality materials available, they are passionate about art which means they strive to create stunning art prints with each image.With Canvaspop, it’s more than just about printing an image on canvas but creating captivating art!<ul><li>When you place an order with them, you are assigned a personal designer who works with you during the process.</li><li>They’re great at making recommendations that will ensure that the image is bold, vibrant, and well-orientated on the canvas for the most appealing composition.</li><li>They make adjustments to the contrast, brightness, and saturation, and will even remove red eyes in order to perfect the image.</li><li>Even better, your designer and the world-class customer support team will be available to you by email, chat, or phone so you can work collaboratively with them to get the perfect final design.</li></ul>ElephantStockThough their name alludes to the site’s massive stock image archive, ElephantStock does an excellent job when it comes to creating one-of-a-kind canvases. With a large business sector clientele, ranging from hotel rooms to office spaces, they always provide consistent, professional-looking results.Despite their corporate appeal, the real people behind the scenes are more than willing to help individual customers through every step of their orders, ensuring an end product they can feel good about. In our own personal experience, a representative actually went out of her way to reach out and lend a hand with a potentially problematic file.ElephantStock utilizes high-res Giclee printing processes on poly-cotton blend canvas material. They then stretch the photographs across carefully crafted North American pine frames. UV scratch-resistant and waterproof laminates work together to further protect images from harm. In short, when you purchase an ElephantStock product, you can count on it to look beautiful for years to come.Both color and black and white products feature bold, rich tones that don’t overpower. The craftsmanship is consistently neat and sturdy. Sizes range from 9×6″ to 110″x36″ for three-panel panoramic. So really, it’s possible to get the perfect piece for just about any space in your house.Best of all, for the quality offered, ElephantStock goes the extra mile to keep fees down. Frequent sales mark down canvas prices significantly. But don’t let the price tag fool you – if your original piece was priced at $500, you’ll be sure to receive a piece that’s worth just that.CanvasDiscount“Discount” doesn’t need to mean “downgrade,” as CanvasDiscount has proved through our past experiences. The service boasts the “lowest prices on the web” and offers a 110% discount guarantee to all of its customers. That means if you find the product cheaper anywhere else, CanvasDiscount will not only match the price but provide an additional 10% off. But with canvases dipping as low as $5 per piece, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better bargain anywhere else.Despite their impossibly low prices, CanvasDiscount doesn’t “cheap out.” Prints are consistently superb, and the canvas itself has a strong texture that further strengthens the overall presentation of each piece. The site generates sizing options based on the size of the JPEG file uploaded, reducing the chances of an unpleasant pixelated end product.It’s clear in the presentation that the people behind CanvasDiscount care deeply about the quality of their products. They stretch each canvas out by hand and prepare and deliver everything neatly. And, best of all, the latex inks are solvent-free, making this product a safe choice for those with children or sensitive allergies.CanvasHQA family-owned and operated business, the folks working behind the scenes take special care to evaluate each image that’s sent their way. Along with their proof, they’ll often provide insight on how to optimize your order for the best print display possible. Their thoughtful, friendly customer service blows other canvas printers out of the water.The actual canvas pieces are beautiful and built to last. Every photograph is made using commercial-grade inks designed to resist moisture and reduce fading. Their archival-certified canvas is sourced from the US and specifically designed for high-end fine art and photography. And their kiln-dried pine frames are built to resist warping over time. In short, they go the extra mile whenever possible to ensure an image you’ll love.<div id="ad-div"></div>

Great Canvas Print Services

The “Sandwich Generation”, comprised of mostly middle aged adults in their 40s and 50s, are caught between caring for their aging family members while raising their own children and attempting to build a nest-egg for their future.&nbsp;These days the Sandwich Generation is quickly having to learn about senior care and how to navigate the growing industry as they are faced with tough decisions of how to best provide for the elderly in their lives.&nbsp;This guide helps serve as a starting point on how to navigate the matrix of senior health care.&nbsp;&nbsp;Making the decision to move a family member into a long-term care facility or nursing home can be a&nbsp;challenging call and a heavy burden on the entire family both emotionally and financially. First the family must determine the best course of action considering the medical condition of the elderly, the potential need for short and long-term care and finally the financial situation of everyone involved.&nbsp;If time is of the essence, consider the following first:&nbsp;Often, family members are thrust into a decision after a hospitalization from a minor or major medical issue, forcing family members to quickly determine which nursing home is right as opposed to “if” a nursing home is the right option.&nbsp;For those who need to make an immediate decision, the most important thing to consider is the financial situation.&nbsp;The cost is generally comparable from home to home. However, it is important to determine if the homes you are considering accept medicare or medicaid payments.&nbsp;For those who have time to evaluate and plan, you need to consider the following three critical factors:&nbsp;<ol><li>Short-term and long-term health prognosis.&nbsp;Start by first consulting with the family member’s medical doctor or care team to help determine the short-term and long-term potential needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Evaluate the financial situation of your family member.&nbsp;</li><li>Then begin considering which type of care is best -&nbsp;home health care or nursing home care.&nbsp;</li></ol> Home Health Care:&nbsp;At its core, home health care is just as it sounds – medical&nbsp;and non-medical care provided in the home. Home health care can include many services provided by skilled medical professionals such as&nbsp;physical therapy and nursing care.&nbsp;Additional support can also include skilled non-medical and companion care to assist with basic needs such as help around the home, help with grooming, cooking and ensuring medication is administered properly.&nbsp;Many families choose this option to prolong the family members time at home in their known environment.&nbsp;Typically speaking, the cost is less than that of a nursing or long term care facility. However, home care support often requires oversight by a family member or friend and might need to be modified as the health condition of the family member evolves. While creature comforts are a major advantage of home health care, it is important to note that social engagements and community support are of critical importance for elderly and often need to be augmented by family members.&nbsp;COSTING NOTE:&nbsp;Home care tends to be less expensive than nursing care but costs will increase as health deteriorates and additional care is needed.&nbsp;A general guideline on costing is $4,500 - $5,500 per month. IMPORTANT - this is based on U.S. average and can vary greatly per state and need. This should be used as a guideline only.&nbsp;Nursing Home CareA nursing home is a facility for the&nbsp;<a style="color: var(--theme-color-text_link);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Residential_care" target="_blank">residential care</a>&nbsp;of elderly varying in needs of medical support.&nbsp;Nursing homes can also be known as skilled nursing facilities, long-term care facilities, retirement homes, convalescent homes or group homes.&nbsp;Each may offer slightly different types of support and care. Generally speaking, a nursing home is used by elderly who do not need to be in a hospital, but need additional support from professional nurses and skilled care givers.&nbsp;Nursing homes provide around the clock care and have access to medical professionals in the event a resident needs support.&nbsp;Like home-health care, nursing homes can provide basic support, like administering medication to dementia care and day-to-day grooming support.&nbsp;An additional advantage to a nursing home is the built-in community and social engagement opportunities.&nbsp;COSTING NOTE:&nbsp;Home care tends to be less expensive than nursing care but cost will increase as health deteriorates and additional care is needed.&nbsp;A general guideline on costing is $6,000 - $7,500 per month. IMPORTANT - this is based on U.S. average and can vary greatly per state and need. This should be used as a guideline only.&nbsp;How to Select a Nursing HomeCONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:First, consider what you want and what your family member needs. What is critical and what is nice to have —nursing care, meals, physical therapy, a religious connection,&nbsp;<a style="color: var(--theme-color-text_link);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-are-palliative-care-and-hospice-care" target="_blank">hospice care</a>, or special care units for&nbsp;<a style="color: var(--theme-color-text_link);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers" target="_blank">dementia</a>&nbsp;support, social activities. A few additional questions to consider:&nbsp;<ul><li>Does my relative get to choose a roommate?&nbsp;</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Can he/she still have her favorite foods?</li><li class="ql-indent-1">What religious services are provided?&nbsp;</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Who is responsible for laundry and should clothes be labeled?</li><li class="ql-indent-1">What is the distance from your home?</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Do they accept local or federal financial payments, like Medicare or Medicaid?</li></ul>ASK FOR RECOMMENDATIONS:&nbsp;Talk to friends, family and religious leaders who know your loved one well. Their healthcare providers will also likely have some wonderful suggestions.&nbsp;Talk with friends, relatives, social workers, and religious groups to find out what places they suggest. Check with healthcare providers about which nursing homes they feel provide good care.ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:&nbsp;Medicare offers a great resource on their&nbsp;<a style="color: var(--theme-color-text_link);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/search.html" target="_blank">Nursing Home Compare</a>&nbsp;website. Their site allows consumers to compare information based on yearly surveys conducted in person by the Department of Public Health according to strict criteria. It contains quality of care information on every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the country, including over 15,000 nationwide.NARROW YOUR FOCUS:&nbsp;Call every facility on your recommendation list and ask the critical questions from above along with key details like:&nbsp;<ul><li>Average cost per month</li><li>Resident to care provider ratio&nbsp;</li><li>Advanced support (e.g., hospice - should it be necessary)&nbsp;</li></ul>NOTE:&nbsp;Facilities can range from small independent homes to large corporate backed homes, each offering pros and cons. Don’t rule one out based solely on size.&nbsp;Once you have selected a few facilities that&nbsp;fit your needs, prepare to visit each home. It is important to meet the facility director as well as the nursing director.&nbsp;Medicare has provided the following home checklist:&nbsp;<a style="color: var(--theme-color-text_link);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.medicare.gov/NursingHomeCompare/checklist.pdf" target="_blank">Medicare Nursing Home Checklist</a>&nbsp;(PDF, 178K) for additional ideas like:&nbsp;<ul><li>Medicare and Medicaid certification</li><li>Handicap access</li><li>Residents who look well cared for</li><li>Warm interaction between staff and residents</li></ul>During your visit, be sure to ask lots of questions such as schedules, approach to senior care, tenure, turn-over rate, etc. Once you have your top 2, plan for a follow-up visit on a different time or day of the week to see different activities, meal services and procedures.&nbsp;Paying for Nursing Home CareIf independent funds are unavailable, limited federal or state support might be available. Unfortunately, the supplemental support varies greatly per state and will require additional research.&nbsp;IMPORTANT NOTE:&nbsp;Definitions and terminology can also change - for example Nursing home vs. Assisted living home can have different meaningsThe&nbsp;&nbsp;<a style="color: var(--theme-color-text_link);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://classroom.google.com/u/1/w/MTQ5MTA1NzcyMzAy/t/all" target="_blank">2019 State Medicaid Assisted Living Benefits</a>&nbsp;guide has a wonderful recap with more links and information.&nbsp;<div id="ad-div"></div>

Learn About Senior Living: Our Complete How-to-Guide

Fresh blooms are a&nbsp;go-to gift for a reason: Totally foolproof and absolutely gorgeous, a bouquet of flowers is the easiest way to let your loved one know just how much you appreciate them. But trying to find the perfect flower arrangement isn’t as simple as picking from roses or hydrangeas. With a slew of online flower delivery services, it’s important to make sure you find one that is not only reliable but also offers options that are affordable and up to your standards (especially when it comes to&nbsp;Mother’s Day gifting).Oh, and for all of you&nbsp;last-minute shoppers, same-day delivery is crucial. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best flower delivery services, depending on what you’re looking to send. We’ve not only tapped our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute for their recommendations, but we’ve also gone off of customer reviews to make sure whoever receives your bouquet will be 100% satisfied.Best Overall: 1-800-FlowersAfter comparing the service to other popular brands, The Good Housekeeping Institute&nbsp;found that the arrangements from 1-800-Flowers were the only ones that lasted longer than a week.Best Selection: FTDThe company’s name stands for Florists’ Transworld Delivery, and its business model has been around for over 100 years. When you order, FTD taps a network of local florists, so your blooms are sourced from the one closest to your recipient.Best for Convenience: AmazonHere’s another perk for Amazon Prime members: With your subscription, you can get fresh blooms delivered from dozens of brands with free two-day shipping.Best for Succulents: Lula’s GardenWith succulent gardens ranging from petite to deluxe, you’ll be able to find something no matter what your budget. Plus, each garden comes in a pretty planter gift box. Oh, and these beauties will last way after the holiday.Best for Same-Day Delivery: ProFlowersKnown for its “fresh-from-the-field” flowers, ProFlowers also offers plants and gourmet goods. Plus, there’s an entire section dedicated to same-day deliveries.<div id="ad-div"></div>

Best Flower Delivery for Every Occasion

You don't need to know anything about the sport of rowing to get a good workout with a rowing machine. While they aren't as mainstream as treadmills, ellipticals or the Peloton Bike, these machines have been gaining popularity in recent years and deserve a spot in your home gym. A rowing machine can give you a whole-body workout that engages your arms, legs, core and back -- and it can help improve your posture as you build strength. Rowing is also a low-impact exercise that's easy on your joints. While there are a lot of rowing machines that can get the job done, the best rowing machine for you depends on your budget, goals, and fitness level.There are a lot of different rowing machine options out there, each with its own features and resistance type. You can go for a rower with hydraulic resistance, one with magnetic resistance, or one with an adjustable resistance mechanism. You can get a smart rower; you could even get a foldable rowing machine if you don't have a lot of space. It all depends on your exercise equipment preference.Hydrow RowerOprah recently named the Hydrow Rower one of her favorite things for 2021, and for good reason. Hydrow rowing machine wowed me right from the start. Aside from the fact that it has an upscale, beautiful design, everything about it just worked. The strokes were smooth, the adjustable footbeds were comfortable, and the seat rail was long enough to allow for full range of motion without any bumping against the stoppers. The only gripe I had with the design of this home rowing machine is that the handle is set a little far back and I could barely reach it without a decent stretch, but it's hard to take points off for that since we all have different arm lengths.Rather than having an exposed flywheel like some of the other models on this list, it works on an electromagnetic resistance drag mechanism that you can adjust from 1 to 300. At default, it's set to 104, which mimics the feel of rowing on the water -- and this is suitable for most workouts and most fitness levels. I rowed at this drag setting most of the time, and I left each workout feeling spent in all of the right ways.The Hydrow App experience was just as enjoyable. The trainers are set up in boats in the water in different destinations, so you could really immerse yourself in the water rower experience if you wanted to. I would have preferred a different point of view -- rather than looking at the trainers, it would have been nice to see things from their eyes as if you were outdoor rowing on the river yourself -- but this is just a minor complaint. Synchronization with Strava App track and measure your progress, heart rate, and more.With a list price of $1,795, the Hydrow Rower home rowing machine is the most expensive rowing machine on this list, but it looks and performs the part.NordicTrack RW900If you're looking for a truly immersive experience rather than just a simple workout, the NordicTrack RW900 brings all of the smart features you need. It has a 22-inch touchscreen (one of the best you'll find on a home rower) and live resistance control that gives iFit trainers the power to change your fitness reality experience during a rowing workout. This magnetic rowing machine combines air and magnetic resistance that really upped the ante on workout intensity. I felt like I got the most intense workout with the NordicTrack RW900 rower, since you can set the rowing machine workout resistance levels yourself.I also found this indoor rowing machine to be the most comfortable. In addition to having an ultrasmooth glide, it allows for full range of motion and has pivoting pedals and a soft-touch handle that was easy to grip and hold on to as I went through the motions. The recommended user height for this machine is 78 inches and the weight capacity is 250 Lbs.Of course, like all NordicTrack and ProForm machines, it comes with the option to connect an iFit membership, and your first year is free with purchase. That's where the real magic happens. iFit gives you access to hundreds of trainers that take you through workouts for every fitness level to help you meet your fitness goals. You can also opt for studio classes, which involve exercises both on and off the rower. For these exercises, you can turn the touchscreen, just like with the Peloton Bike, so you can follow along with the trainer.The LIT Strength MachineIt's almost a disservice to call the LIT Strength Machine a rowing machine since it does so much more. It's designed to be a rower, reformer and resistance trainer in one -- and it delivers. Using it as a basic rowing machine was straightforward and simple. Not only does the seat glide smoothly, I was also able to achieve full range of motion on the seat rail without hitting the stopper, even at higher speeds. The adjustable foot pedals are comfortable, and the pull is smooth. All of my movements on this machine felt really natural.It's the only machine on this list that uses actual water resistance, which most closely mimics the outdoor rowing feel you would get as an actual rower out on the open water. If you want a little more oomph, you can customize the resistance level with a turn knob, but I enjoyed relying on the water to work against me most of the time. Filling it up was a pretty lengthy process -- the machine comes with a siphon that you can use to transfer water from a bucket into the water reservoir, but I ended up carefully pouring water in with my blender pitcher, which moved the process along a lot more quickly.ProForm 750R RowerRowing machines aren't especially bulky, but they do take up a fair amount of horizontal space, which can make them inconvenient to have around if you don't have a dedicated gym area. The ProForm 750R Rower solves this home gym problem with its Space Saver design. With the literal pull of a handle, it folds up and its footprint goes from 7 feet to about 3 -- probably one of the easiest stow-away processes I've ever experienced in a cardio machine.Using this exercise equipment is just as straightforward. The pull wasn't as smooth as some of the other options on this list, but I was able to achieve full range of motion and the inertia-enhanced flywheel allowed for a smooth rotation without any wobbling or jerkiness, even at higher speeds.This machine is on the less-expensive side as far as midrange rowing machines go, but it doesn't feel like a budget option aside from the fact that it doesn't have a video display on the console. You can view your calories, time and distance, but if you want to immerse yourself into an interactive rowing experience you'll have to hook up your tablet in the included holder. It does have the ability to connect to iFit, it's just not as seamless as the NordicTrack RW900, since you'll need to bring your own viewing screen.Stamina ATS Air RowerIf you want all of the bells and whistles, you're definitely not going to get it with the Stamina ATS rower, but this is a good option if you properly manage your expectations. It has a very basic digital interface that shows speed, distance, time and calories -- and that's it. There's no way to digitally control resistance, but one of the perks of a machine with air resistance is that it automatically adjusts to match your speed without the need for too much technology.On that note, there's no immersive iFit-like experience here, but for around $320 you get a fairly smooth rowing stroke and seat glide, although there were several times I hit the stopper at the end of the seat rail, which prevented me from achieving a full range of motion like with some of the larger, more expensive models. This was my biggest gripe, but it likely wouldn't be a deal-breaker for casual rowers or anyone who's just starting out with a rowing machine workout.Concept2 RowErgIt's impossible to pull together a list of the best rowing machines without at least mentioning Concept2, probably the most well-known rowing machine out there (at least by CrossFitters). I haven't had a chance to properly test a Concept2 rower yet, but the Concept2 model indoor rower consistently gets high marks across the board. While the RowErg doesn't have any advanced technology -- its digital display just highlights the basics -- it's smooth and can take heavy day-to-day use, which is ideal for serious rowers. And at $900 for the standard model (the "tall legs" model is $1,050), you really can't beat this fitness equipment value.<div id="ad-div"></div>

Maybe it's time to try something new!

Great Canvas Print Services

Have You Considered Taking A Cruise?

Best Dog Food Brands for Discerning Owners

Biggest Mistakes People Make When Buying Laptops

Best Home Appliance Buying Guide