(BPT) - How well do you know your health coverage? Now is the perfect time to review your Medicare Advantage (MA) plan and make sure you're getting the most from your benefits.

(BPT) - Have you ever bought something, tried it out and realized it just wasn’t “the one”? Well, how about choosing a Medicare plan and then after using it for about a month, you realize you chose the wrong plan. Enter the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.

(BPT) - Reading opens the door to a lifelong love of learning, imagination and adventure. When parents instill a love of reading in their children from an early age, it increases their oral language skills and vocabulary knowledge, which helps to build a solid foundation for later reading ability.

(BPT) - If you’re going meatless on Fridays or you just want fun, convenient ways to add flavorful seafood to your meal plans, you’re in luck. You can create effortless, affordable dinners and snacks featuring these delicious SeaPak selections: Popcorn Shrimp, Butterfly Shrimp and Shrimp Sca…

(BPT) - Spring isn’t just the start to a new season. It signals sunshine, longer days and the chance to renew your plates with fresh flavors — like the juicy goodness of seasonal citrus.

(BPT) - Building savings for retirement isn't easy, and it's only become more difficult with rising inflation and public market volatility. According to a report by Vanguard,1 retirement account balances decreased by 20% in 2022 alone due to economic challenges. This news may sound grim, but…

(BPT) - Nineteen-year-old Meredith Cowden was nearly through her first year of art school when she started feeling sick. She visited her school’s clinic and received a diagnosis of mono, along with antibiotics, and looked forward to feeling better soon. Instead, her symptoms worsened, leadin…

(BPT) - It's the sweet sounds of your favorite music and your loved one’s voice. It's the morning alarm nudging you awake or the car alerting you that it's low on gas. It's the oven buzzing that your food is done or the fire alarm blaring that dinner is overdone.

(BPT) - If you're a caregiver for a spouse or other family member at home, you already know how emotionally and physically challenging it can be. When you need to lift, turn or transfer a loved one to or from a wheelchair or bed, it can put added strain on your bones and joints.

(BPT) - Do you want to adopt healthier habits this year? Improving your holistic wellness goes beyond improving your exercise and diet. There are many ways to invest in your health in 2023. Not sure where to start? Check out these five ways to set yourself up for a healthier you this year.

(BPT) - According to a recent Forbes Health poll, improving mental health was cited as one of the top New Year’s resolutions for 2023. For those seeking a mental healthcare provider, finding the right one can feel much like dating — overwhelming to find someone who shares the same values, me…

(BPT) - Potatoes are America’s favorite vegetable, and it’s easy to see why. They’re delicious, nutritious and affordable. But with so many options, deciding how to eat them can be tough. So why don’t you let your astrological sign guide you to the spuds you’ll love the most?

(BPT) - Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, affects more than 6 million adults in the United States according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. It is a condition that develops when the heart isn’t pumping enough blood to meet the body’s needs — which can ha…

(BPT) - Holiday gatherings may make the season jolly and bright, but they can also leave your house in need of a deep clean and de-cluttering. The new year is a great time to bring back order and cleanliness to your home and tick off some home maintenance chores you may have neglected last year.

(BPT) - Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana has been vocal about the importance of getting vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia — a potentially serious bacterial lung disease that can disrupt your life for weeks and, in severe cases, put you in the hospital and even be life-threatening.

(BPT) - As you age, it’s perfectly normal to notice changes in your body. You may not be able to move as fast or hear as well. Age also increases your risk of developing wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in seniors.

(BPT) - Nine out of 10 Americans agree: the nation’s Veterans deserve nothing less than the highest-quality health care. Yet a proposal by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) risks lowering their standard of care by replacing highly trained physician anesthesiologists with nurses in…

(BPT) - Taking care of ourselves and each other is critical at any age. A 2022 survey of members by AARP Services confirmed that adults 50-plus share that sentiment. Seventy-one percent agreed with the statement, "My health is my biggest concern," while 89% agreed with the statement, "Taking…

(StatePoint) You’ve selected your insurance plan for the year. Now, it’s time to start using your benefits, beginning with an annual wellness exam.

(BPT) - A urinary tract infection (also called a UTI) is one of the most common infections worldwide and can impact anyone of any age. For some people, infections are easily identified and cleared with treatment from a health care provider. However, for some people, UTIs are an ongoing probl…

(BPT) - By Bryan Baeumler, HGTV Personality & Professional Contractor

(BPT) - Big economic changes can, and should, prompt big changes in individuals’ personal financial habits. That can look different from household to household but changing economic conditions doesn’t mean depriving yourself of what makes life enjoyable — much less healthy — especially at th…

(BPT) - If you love exploring ingredients and new ways to cook old favorites, 2023’s cooking trends will delight and inspire you. GoodCook Culinary Chef Anthony Serrano shares trends he’s seeing in kitchens everywhere, along with helpful tools to help make your culinary adventures more successful.

(BPT) - While preparing to ring in the new year, many Americans make resolutions about their finances. Unfortunately, some are feeling less optimistic about the year ahead, according to Fidelity Investments' 2023 New Year’s Financial Resolutions Study. Over one-third say they're in worse fin…

(BPT) - Ready to kick off 2023 with new resolutions that will help improve and simplify your routine?

(BPT) - Especially in the winter months, most people spend the bulk of each day — up to 90%* — indoors, according to the U.S. EPA. Unfortunately, whether at home, in the car or at work, indoor air has been shown to be three times more polluted than outdoor air, posing a significant threat to…

(BPT) - Approaching retirement is an exciting prospect: transitioning into this phase of life gives everyone the chance to spend more time with their family and enjoy favorite hobbies. However, wider economic conditions, particularly those we have seen over the last year, can sometimes preve…

(BPT) - If you’re interested in getting started with investing but you’re not sure what your first steps should be, you’re not alone. A recent survey by Magnifi found that one-third of Americans are planning to invest by themselves in 2023, but even though they want to invest on their own, n…

(BPT) - While homeowners invest time and money to make their homes comfortable and energy efficient, one common denominator of comfort and energy efficiency is often overlooked — the air inside a home. The old saying “what’s out of sight is out of mind” applies not only to a home’s air, but …

(BPT) - Sal Ciresi (left) and his wife Carol at Arches National Park in Utah*

(BPT) - From the paint on your front door to the pillows on your porch swing, your home’s exterior provides a canvas for colorfully expressing your style. But a big opportunity to leverage the power of color is often overlooked. Representing as much as 40% or even more of a home’s exterior, …

(BPT) - Approaching retirement is an exciting prospect for many adults 50+ who can look forward to spending more time with family and friends and enjoying the benefits of their hard-earned savings. In many cases, this important stage of life can include large expenses, such as supporting col…

(BPT) - Gifts for the avid home repair enthusiasts, hobbyists or professionals in your life can be challenging to find. Innovative and imaginative, these types are likely up to date on the latest projects and trends and it can seem like they already have everything they want for their home w…

(BPT) - Before winter sets in, you should prepare your home for winter to avoid expensive repairs down the road. Frozen pipes and ice dams are the most common problems that can lead to costly repairs. According to State Farm, this year alone, burst pipes and ice dams cost $181 million in cla…

(BPT) - The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) has begun: That’s according to the latest Hankook Tire Gauge Index, a survey of Americans’ driving habits and attitudes, which found that nearly half (46%) expect to acquire an EV within the next 5 years. Whether they’re driven by environment…

(BPT) - When you think of all the things that happen in the busy month of December, breakups are probably the last thing that come to mind. However, research shows the holidays are a prime time for ending relationships.

(BPT) - With the start of a new year just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to have a refreshed perspective on our health and well-being so we can continue to improve ourselves day by day. The new year brings new possibilities when it comes to our wellness routines, but sometimes it’s…

(BPT) - Stop for a moment and think about your top 5 New Year’s resolutions. If you said them out loud right now, how many would be about your health?

(BPT) - The kitchen is a space that fosters creativity — from the design choices to the art of cooking, it is the heart of the home; a place for people to come together to celebrate and share in abundance. To create a meaningful kitchen, incorporate characteristics of maximalism, such as per…

(BPT) - For any individual 50+ years old, the prospect of retirement represents a major shift in how you approach spending and saving. Learning how to budget on a fixed income is a significant lifestyle change; but AARP member benefits can help you save where you can and embark on this well-…

(BPT) - As 2022 comes to a close and the new year approaches, it’s the perfect time to reflect on your health goals from the past year. It’s also a great time to set up new ones to reach for. This is especially important for people aged 19-64 with certain underlying medical conditions like a…

(BPT) - How well do you know your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, or HVAC, system? Like any product, you want to keep it in working order, and being HVAC savvy will help you keep this vital equipment working more efficiently regardless of the temperatures outside.

(BPT) - Your sense of smell is a powerful part of the human experience. Smell strongly influences how something tastes. Emotion can be influenced by certain smells. And if your sense of smell is minimized or you've lost it completely, it could be an early indicator of brain disease.

(BPT) - It’s challenging to live with a rare disease. When faced with uncertainty about symptoms, support and treatment options, it’s critical to seek out information and resources that can help you take control of your health.

(BPT) - Amazon recently introduced Amazon Access, a new hub for customers to explore programs, discounts, and features that make shopping on Amazon even easier and more affordable. With the tough economic climate, and many facing rising costs on essential needs, Amazon is introducing even mo…