Living Well in Retirement, is an e-newsletter providing retirees and their eligible dependents with benefits and wellness resources. Based on your plan enrollment, benefits and wellness resources may vary.
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Take the Retiree Health Plan Survey
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As part of Loudoun County’s ongoing review of our health benefits, we would like to know what you think about your retiree health plan. The retiree health plan includes medical, prescription drug, dental and vision benefits. Your feedback will help us continue to ensure our plans offer the best services possible and are sustainable for years to come.
We have partnered with Segal, an HR consulting firm, to conduct this survey. This helps ensure that your responses are completely anonymous. Segal will collect and report combined survey results to us later this year. Please note that any written comments will be provided to the County, but with no names or identifying information attached.
Let us know what’s on your mind! Look out for an email later this month from our office inviting you to participate in the survey. It is important we get your feedback.
For any questions related to the survey, please contact the Benefits Help Line at 703-777-0517 or email us at benefits@loudoun.gov.
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Fitness gives you all the feels Everyone knows that exercise is great for you physically – protecting your body against a host of diseases and ailments. It’s also great for you mentally. Regular exercise can help combat depression, anxiety and everyday stress.
When we exercise, we release endorphins, and a high-intensity activity, like running, is what gives people that euphoric feeling, or a “runner’s high.” But the key to a consistently better mood is actually low-intensity exercise that’s done routinely. Aim for 30 minutes three to five times each week. Click for more ideas to get moving!
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Age-Related Macular Degeneration
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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among older Americans. However, new treatments have dramatically changed the course of this disease over the last 10 years, making AMD more manageable than ever before. The key to saving your sight is early detection combined with treatments based on modern medicine.
AMD Basics It’s believed that more than 11 million people in the U.S. have some form of AMD, and that number is expected to be 22 million by 2050, doubling the number of patients affected.
Macular degeneration is caused by deterioration of the central portion of the retina, known as the macula. The macula, specifically, is designed to focus central vision, and is what makes being able to read, recognize faces and colors, drive a car, and see fine details possible. Read more about AMD.
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Important COVID-19 Testing Update
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Get Free at-home COVID-19 Tests Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 2 sets of 4 free at-home tests. If you already ordered your first set, order a second today.
Visit covidtests.gov for additional details and to place your free order.
Need help placing an order for your at-home tests? Call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
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Healthy Gums May Lead to Healthy Lungs
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On topic with Dr. Dill: a Healthy Smile may Help you Breathe EasierOral health can also play a role with lung problems. That’s because billions of mostly harmless microbes — bacteria, viruses and fungi — linger in your mouth and can travel to your lungs as you breathe. Some of these organisms can cause pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.
The problem often starts with poor dental habits that can cause your saliva to have significantly more bacteria. As bacteria, plaque and tartar build up along and below your gumline, your gums may become irritated, inflamed and infected — all signs of gum disease. Almost half of all adults 30 and older show signs of gum disease.
Research shows gum disease can increase the likelihood of developing respiratory issues such as bronchitis or pneumonia, especially for those who are elderly, live in a nursing home or have other health conditions. One study showed 1 in 10 deaths from pneumonia among nursing home residents could have been prevented with better dental hygiene.
Severe respiratory problems are a hallmark of COVID-19 with about 1 in 5 COVID-19 patients developing these complications. Researchers are studying whether people with gum disease may be at greater risk of a more severe respiratory outcome.
Good oral health care can help protect your overall health — and may also prevent or reduce the severity of lung problems. So, breathe easy and follow some simple steps for a healthy mouth. Learn more about the 6 steps for good oral health.
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Financial Wellness Spotlight
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Housing Debt in Retirement How should you manage housing debt as you transition into and through retirement when it's likely that income and flexibility will decline while health and long-term care expenses will increase? Any debt should be scrutinized, but mortgage debt may well be the largest. Read more in this article._______________________________________________________________________
Sign Up for a Financial Planning Webinar MissionSquare Retirement is hosting financial planning webinars that can help you in retirement.
Most of us imagine retirement as a happy time, a reward for a lifetime of hard work, full of possibility and potential. We have good reason to see retirement in a positive light. Americans are living longer, healthier lives than ever before. In fact, for some of us, retirement will make up a full third of our lives. Of course, this means that our retirement assets will have to do more for us over a longer period of time. This makes planning for our retirement essential.
Transitioning into and through retirement can be rewarding and challenging. So having a plan is important. We’ll focus on 10 key questions you should ask, from saving, to Social Security and Medicare, and managing your investments, withdrawals, and taxes.
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Loudoun County requires you and your Medicare eligible dependents to enroll in both Medicare Part A and Part B, if entitled, when you first become eligible to qualify for enrollment in the Cigna Medicare Surround Plan and CIGNA Rx Medicare. This means that Medicare will become your primary insurance while the Cigna Medicare Surround Plan becomes your secondary insurance. You must provide proof of Medicare enrollment to the Loudoun County Benefits Division 45 days prior to your Medicare coverage effective date; otherwise, you may become responsible for expenses Medicare doesn’t pay. Contact the Loudoun County Benefits Office for questions related to Medicare enrollment.
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Stay up to date with benefit updates and resources by visiting the retiree website – loudoun.gov/retirees. All notices and updates are posted on the site throughout the year! Benefits Resource List (PDF) MissionSquare Retirement Education CenterCheck out MissionSquare’s Retirement Education Center for more helpful tips for living well in retirement. Retirees can continue to connect with MissionSquare Retirement’s specialist, Habib Mbye. Contact Habib at hmbye@icmarc.org or click here to schedule an appointment. Virginia Retirement SystemDid you know that every VRS retiree has a myVRS account? If you’ve never claimed your account, or if you haven’t used myVRS since before you retired, you’re missing out on the convenient services available by logging into myVRS for Retirees at myVRS.varetire.org. Medicare ResourcesView resources that help cover the ins and outs of Medicare, as well as wellness information on healthy aging! Coronavirus Care Resources
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Contact Us!If you have benefit related questions, please contact the benefits team at benefits@loudoun.gov or 703-777-0517. Loudoun County Human Resources
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