ArcaMax

Toni:

Why did a hospital medical claims employee ask my husband Steven to sign a form stating that he is aware that he is now in his “lifetime reserve days”? He is waiting for a lung-heart transplant.

Steven went into the hospital in December of last year for congestive heart failure and discovered that his heart and lungs could no longer ...Read more

The latest Bankrate Financial Fraud Survey reveals that about 1 in 3 U.S. adults (34 percent) have experienced financial fraud or a scam in the past 12 months, since January 2024. Among them, nearly 2 in 5 (37 percent) lost money.

“Financial scams today come in all shapes and sizes, advancing far beyond the typo-ridden text messages that so ...Read more

FRANKFURT, Germany — Wega carefully places her hooves on the dark laminate floor. Step by step, the small-statured Haflinger mare ventures into the foyer of the nursing home in Bückeburg in Lower Saxony, Germany.

The clacking of the horseshoes draws the first curious glances. "Come closer, she's very careful," calls out Nele Plassmeier to ...Read more

The first call came just before Thanksgiving last year. She didn’t recognize the phone number, but she answered anyway.

“The person said he was an officer of the Department of Criminal Investigations looking into drug trafficking and money laundering,” the woman recalled. He seemed to know a lot about her: the states where she and her ...Read more

The first call came just before Thanksgiving last year. She didn’t recognize the phone number, but she answered anyway.

“The person said he was an officer of the Department of Criminal Investigations looking into drug trafficking and money laundering,” the woman recalled. He seemed to know a lot about her: the states where she and her ...Read more

Dear Toni:

I retired from my employer in July when I turned 67 and enrolled in COBRA, which began August 1, instead of enrolling in Medicare. I was told that COBRA protected me from the Medicare penalty for 18 months.

My sister showed me a topic about Medicare’s Special Enrollment Period in her 2026 Medicare & You Handbook ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA -- Deluxe Catering owner Daniel Israel wanted to cook up something special for the 86th birthday of his company’s baker, George Wright, but instead of giving him his flours in the form of a cake, Israel wanted someone to tell Wright’s story.

Enter this columnist, stage left.

While Wright hasn’t announced he’s leavening ...Read more

Dear Toni,

My husband, Jason, is a retired veteran and never enrolled in Medicare because he uses the VA for his medical care and does not have to pay the Medicare premium. He is having heart issues and wants to go to a local cardiologist. The doctor’s office advised that he enroll in Medicare since this office will not bill the VA facility ...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Maureen Spranza marked her retirement with a party in August 2024. By December of 2025, the 60-year-old was back at work, “un-retiring” as rising costs made retirement unaffordable. She now holds three jobs.

Moving from celebration to working six days a week was difficult and disappointing, she said, and meant putting ...Read more

BALTIMORE -- Maryland lawmakers are considering an unprecedented number of bills addressing the quality and nature of elder care as the state grapples with a growing senior population.

With the number of Marylanders 65 or older growing at more than 3% per year — more than four times the rate of the rest of the population — and costs for ...Read more

BALTIMORE -- Maryland lawmakers are considering an unprecedented number of bills addressing the quality and nature of elder care as the state grapples with a growing senior population.

With the number of Marylanders 65 or older growing at more than 3% per year — more than four times the rate of the rest of the population — and costs for ...Read more

Toni:

When I first enrolled in Medicare in 2019, I picked Medicare Supplement Plan F. In February of 2024 I was approached by a telemarketer on my cell phone who talked me into a Medicare Supplement Plan K because this plan had lower premiums than Plan F. I could change because I was in good health at that time.

March of 2025, I was ...Read more

She’s big, bold and beautiful, with elegant, contemporary lines; modern statement art bringing color, movement and a sense of joy to public rooms, stairwells and corridors; and a gastronome’s dream scenario of options, flavors and indulgences when it comes to food, from seafood and steak to teppanyaki and hot pot and more.

Star Princess. ...Read more

LONDON — As we move into midlife, issues such as joint pain, osteoporosis and stress fractures become increasingly common, making this a crucial time to take a more proactive approach to bone health.

Hormonal changes during menopause, along with a natural decline in activity levels, can all contribute – but the good news is that simple ...Read more