We face inflation every morning. Growing up, I often woke up to the smell of bacon. Fresh eggs and bacon were breakfast nearly every morning. When I moved out, my mother always made sure I had bacon and eggs in my refrigerator. She still does.
My grandfather used to love to go camping. Even as he got older and couldn’t sleep on the ground. He would bring his van out into the woods and sleep inside it. Every morning I would climb out of my tent, following the smell of coffee and bacon, to watch my Grandmother cook bacon and eggs over a fire. With the price of eggs now, traditions like this could be coming to an end.
Deciding between eating healthy or fast food is being taken from us. It is not something you can just choose to do anymore. You cannot choose to be able to afford a good meal. Unfortunately, you can only eat what you can afford. This is quickly becoming a fast food nation. The price of eggs at market are more than two breakfasts at your local burger joint.
The conversation has switched from “are eggs good for your cholesterol” to “who can afford eggs anymore.” Eating healthy isn’t even an option for some people anymore.
Turning 65 gets harder every year
The unfortunate truth about retirement is that you no longer have time to increase your lifetime earnings. If you are like most people, you are about to enter an extended period of fixed income living. The price of eggs, like other household staples is ever increasing. With inflation, you are facing increased costs year after year, with minimal increases to your overall budget.
The Inflation Reduction Act is here to help. Medicare beneficiaries are finally seeing lowering premiums and increased benefits in a form that is useful to everyone. Flexible spending allowances are one of the greatest additions to Medicare that I have witnessed. Medicare certainly has its bloat and spending issues, but giving seniors additional funds to explore more healthy options should never be pointed to as wasted spending.
People who live healthier (i.e. can afford the price of eggs) live longer. They also cost the healthcare system less money overtime. This allows for better spending options for the less fortunate. Diet is estimated by some experts as accounting for nearly 70 percent of your overall health. You are what you eat, and if you do not have the option to eat healthy, then you will not be healthy. As a society we must continue to find ways to give more retired people the opportunity for longer, more fulfilling lifestyles.
What’s next?
How can we help? Newnan Medicare would like to partner with local charity and community centers focusing on feeding our seniors and less fortunate. If you know of anything or would like to suggest a partnership, please contact us.
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