Medicare is a federal health insurance program for those aged 65 and above. Here, traditional Medicare (Parts A and B) are doled out based on a fee-for-service arrangement. Part A covers inpatient/hospital coverage, while Part B covers outpatient/medical coverage; however, a deductible and copay may be required for both. Before signing up for health insurance, one must consider their medical needs, as the following services are excluded from traditional Medicare coverage: 1. Custodial care Custodial or long-term care facilities are meant for those with a chronic illness or disability. While they may not require constant medical attention, they may need help with daily activities such as walking, getting in and out of bed, dressing up, eating, using the toilet, cooking their food, and more. However, Medicare, Medigap, and most other insurance plans do not cover these costs. So, those looking for long-term care coverage must explore suitable Medicare Advantage plans. Some people may also be eligible for custodial care under Medicaid. 2. Overseas healthcare Medicare plans also do not cover most healthcare services or products availed outside the country. Under this rule, the jurisdictions recognized for Part A and Part B services include all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and territorial waters touching U.S. land (for services onboard a ship). When traveling abroad, it is advisable to invest in a travel medical insurance plan to cover any emergency medical costs incurred on the trip. These insurance plans can cover reasonable and customary charges for ambulance services, doctor’s bills, hospital and operating room charges, X-rays, examinations, treatments, and lab tests. One should conduct thorough research before investing in a travel medical insurance plan. 3. Personal comfort items and services Medicare Parts A and B also do not cover the cost of personal comfort items and services such as radios, TVs, phones, air conditioners, and beauty and barber services.

Refrigerators are one of the most important appliances in the kitchen of any household. However, outside of sale periods, these appliances can be quite expensive. The good news is that during the upcoming Black Friday sale, buyers can expect to find great deals. Whether one’s in the market for a modern, feature-packed fridge or a budget-friendly compact or double-door option, we have compiled a list of last year’s deals. One can expect similar savings this Black Friday.  LG electronics 1. With a sophisticated style and design, the LG Electronics French Door Refrigerator with Ice Maker gives the user a 10-year warranty on the linear compressor. Top features include fingerprint resistance, and smart cooling. The price of this door refrigerator with ice maker on Black Friday was $1,398 last year with a discount of $601 at Home Depot and is expected to go on similar offers in 2023. 2. Another LG French door counter-depth smart refrigerator comes with an InstaView window, which is 23% larger and has a tinted design. The refrigerator has a ThinQ Care App, a dual ice maker, and a linear cooling system. This fridge was available at $2,399.99 last year on Best Buy and is expected to list again in a similar price bracket this Black Friday sale season.  Samsung 3. With a large capacity of 28 cu. Ft., the Samsung 3-door French door refrigerator in stainless steel comes in clean lines and a modern form-blending design. It includes features like a fingerprint-resistant finish, shelf-equal cooling system, and humidity-controller, among other reliable specifications. Last year, this refrigerator was available for $1,498 with a total discount of $701 at Home Depot. Buyers can expect such price drops this year. GE 4. The 25.3 cu. ft. side-by-side refrigerator in stainless steel comes with smudge-proof design and flush-mounted LED lighting.

Prepaid phone plans are a mobile service subscription type where users must pay for the communication services in advance and require no credit checks. Unlike postpaid plans, users here are not billed at the end of the billing cycle but before they begin to use the service. Prepaid plans are usually cheaper than their postpaid variants. Even though prepaid phone plans provide several benefits, some mistakes while choosing them might end up costing more. Mistakes to avoid with prepaid phone plans Underestimating usage patterns A common mistake users make, especially the ones who are newly switching from postpaid to prepaid phone plans, is inaccurately assessing one’s data, talk, and text needs. Underestimating these can end up with users having insufficient resources to last the month or additional costs. Not considering network coverage Another important factor while selecting any prepaid phone plan is to understand what areas the service provider covers. At times, prepaid plans look great on paper with their limited costs and multiple benefits, but upon buying, one may find out that the network quality is poor and the data speed does not match one’s needs. So, it’s always wise to research about the network coverage and read through some reviews to know if the plan meets one’s connectivity criteria. Not comparing plans Almost every service provider offers a multitude of prepaid plans, each catering to different people’s needs. Some have unlimited calling time but limited data, while some have high-speed and generous data allocations, but the plan may be valid for a lesser number of days. The quality of network coverage also varies from one plan to another. So, one should research and compare plans to find the one that aligns with both one’s budget and requirements. Ignoring the fine print Before committing to a prepaid plan by any service provider, it’s important to carefully read the terms and conditions of the plan.