Entries by Diahanna Vallentine

What You Need to Know About Medicare Changes in 2023

It’s that time of year again when the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) start announcing changes to Medicare for the next year.   Medicare open enrollment begins on October […]

Medical Bills Collections, and Your Credit Score and Upcoming Changes

Many people don’t realize that their credit report may contain medical bills in collection that can seriously affect their credit score. Even if you’ve been paying your credit cards, mortgage, […]

Self-Education Is The Basis of Better Health Outcomes, Physically, Mentally, and Financially

We have all heard the phrase, “Hindsight is 20/20”. Yes, it can be, if we know to look and be retrospective and heed the lessons learned. However, too many of […]

How Medical Financial Hardship Can Affect Your Health

How Does Your Finances Affect Your Health? In 2002, my husband was diagnosed with MGUS, a precursor to Multiple Myeloma. As many of you have also experienced, your life changes. […]

Is Inflation Adding to Your Financial Burden?

The stock market was doing well, until it wasn’t. For those of you who are invested in the market, things have been going splendidly for quite a while. Then comes […]

Medicare Doesn’t Cover Free At-Home Covid Tests, But You Still Have Other Options to Attain Free Ones

The Biden Administration’s new mandate that insurers cover the cost of at-home test did not include beneficiaries of Medicare. This is very unfortunate because Medicare recipients are the largest at-risk […]

Understanding the Oncology Care Model

Some of you may have received a letter from your oncologist notifying you that your oncologist is participating in a program called the Oncology Care Model. It was sent out […]

Financial Fitness Workouts

From PEN-Powered Activity Guide VIII: Supporting Your Support System It seems every day we’re being bombarded with ways to stay fit. there is always a new fitness program or a new […]

Committing to Eating Healthier Can Lead to Savings in Your Pocket Both Now and in the Future

Have you ever eaten something that you really love but for some reason it doesn’t seem to like you back? I have. For instance, ice cream used to be my […]

The Difference Between Wanting and Needing: Redirecting and Prioritizing Spending

Often when I am out shopping, I find myself picking up items that I think I really need. I justify it rather quickly and find myself with buyers’ regret shortly […]

Making the Hard Decision to Move Forward

It may not come as a surprise to many of you that making new changes in your life can be difficult. And it is the natural human tendency to procrastinate […]

To Retire or Not to Retire: Securing Your Financial Future and Avoiding Financial Toxicity

This is continuing to be an extraordinary time in our history. We don’t know what is coming down the line five, ten, or fifteen years from now. But what you […]

Claiming the Number One Spot

Assimilation can sometimes take years to complete. Or, it can be a slow imperceptible change. It can happen and you may not be aware until after some time has passed. […]

Financial Corner: Health Care Coverage Special Enrollment

One of the first things President Biden accomplished since taking office was by signing executive orders that will begin to restore and strengthen Americans’ access to affordable and quality health […]