NCRGEA is back on the road with seven in-person meetings and we are fortunate to have our good friends at the Humana Neighborhood Center advise on your open enrollment processes and our representatives from AMBA to offer information on supplemental dental and vision programs. These meetings will be a great opportunity to get your questions answered by subject matter experts.
Location:
Humana Neighborhood Center | Hanes Commons Shopping Center, 1045 Hanes Mall Blvd. | Winston-Salem NC 27103
Interested in attending? Click the Register Now button or call 919-834-4652 or 1-800-356-1190. For further information, please email info@rgea.info.
NCRGEA is back on the road with seven in-person meetings and we are fortunate to have our good friends at the Humana Neighborhood Center advise on your open enrollment processes and our representatives from AMBA to offer information on supplemental dental and vision programs. These meetings will be a great opportunity to get your questions answered by subject matter experts.
Location:
Humana Neighborhood Center | Hanes Commons Shopping Center, 1045 Hanes Mall Blvd. | Winston-Salem NC 27103
Interested in attending? Click the Register Now button or call 919-834-4652 or 1-800-356-1190. For further information, please email info@rgea.info.
NCRGEA is back on the road with seven in-person meetings and we are fortunate to have our good friends from the NC Department of Insurance’s Senior Health Information Insurance Program (SHIIP) to advise on your open enrollment processes and our representatives from AMBA to offer information on supplemental dental and vision programs. These meetings will be a great opportunity to get your questions answered by subject matter experts.
Location:
Herb Young Community Center | Cardinal Room | 101 Wilkinson Ave. | Cary NC 27513
Interested in attending? Click the Register Now button or call 919-834-4652 or 1-800-356-1190. For further information, please email info@rgea.info.
NCRGEA is back on the road with seven in-person meetings and we are fortunate to have our good friends from the NC Department of Insurance’s Senior Health Information Insurance Program (SHIIP) to advise on your open enrollment processes and our representatives from AMBA to offer information on supplemental dental and vision programs. These meetings will be a great opportunity to get your questions answered by subject matter experts.
Location:
St. John’s Baptist Church/ Broach Hall | 300 Hawthorne Lane | Charlotte NC 28204
Interested in attending? Click the Register Now button or call 919-834-4652 or 1-800-356-1190. For further information, please email info@rgea.info.
Hear directly from Lisa Wallace, a Social Security Public Affairs Specialist with the Social Security Administration. This webinar will discuss:
eligibility for benefits
how early retirement affects your benefits
disability and survivor benefits
the future of Social Security
filing for Medicare
Registration by Monday | September 4 is required for this FREE event. Click the Register Now button at the top. Space is limited so please register soon. INVITE A FRIEND! You will receive the Zoom link by email on Monday, September 4 and you don’t need a computer to participate! Join the session using either the Zoom link, or the Zoom long distance phone number provided. If you have any questions, please email info@NCRGEA.com or phone 919.834.4652 or 1 800 356 1190.
This session will not be recorded at the request of Social Security Administration.
Previous NCRGEA 2023 Lunch and Learn Series recordings can be found on our YouTube channel.
Summertime can be a time of great enjoyment. Many of us enjoy outdoor activities like bike rides, hiking, and trips to the beach. However, while getting the most out of the season can improve your state of mind and physical fitness, it can be bad for your dental health.
3 reasons why summertime can pose risks for your teeth:
1 – Dehydration Can Damage Your Teeth
Under normal conditions, salivation moisturizes and protects your teeth and gums. Saliva has antibacterial properties, which helps control the bacteria that attack your teeth and gums. But the summertime heat can leave your body – and mouth – dehydrated. Especially if you’re working out, playing sports, or just working in the garden, if your saliva levels decrease, it can leave your mouth vulnerable.
Even more concerning, when you get dehydrated, saliva can turn acidic and lead to increased risk of tooth damage. Saliva also contains minerals that help restore your teeth and helps maintain a neutral pH in your mouth.
Especially in the summertime, make sure you drink plenty of water every day. This will help ensure bacteria is washing away from your teeth enough throughout the day. If you enjoy sports drinks, be aware they contain a lot of sugars and are frequently very acidic. At the very least, consider getting the sugar-free options so you don’t coat your teeth in sugar.
2 – Sugary and Acidic Summer Drinks
Speaking of sugary and acidic drinks: while there’s nothing like enjoying a cool glass of iced tea or lemonade in the summertime, be aware these refreshments tend to have a lot of sugars and are highly acidic. Unfortunately, the same can be said for a cold beer, a glass of wine, or many other drinks. The sugar and acids in these options can leave a coating of bacteria that will cause cavities and gum disease as well as eat away at your teeth’s enamel. Limit the number of these drinks and rinse them down with lots of water. Adding an additional tooth brushing during the summer can also help.
3 – Swimming Pools and Teeth
Since water is so good for your teeth, then a dip in the swimming pool can only be good for them, right? Unfortunately, chlorine can damage your oral health. Most pools have a pH between 7.2 and 7.8, but often drop below these levels which means the water is acidic. When pool water gets in your mouth the acid from the chlorinated water can wear away your enamel and cause tooth discoloration.
Keep Your Teeth Healthy with a Dental Plan from NCRGEA and AMBA
You can enjoy great oral health for many summers to come by taking care of your mouth. With smart preventative oral care including getting checkups 2x a year with your dentist, you can significantly reduce the risks to your teeth and can help you keep your mouth healthy. Exams every six months give your dentist a chance to provide advice on caring for your teeth and allows them to detect oral health problems early, when they’re most treatable.
NCRGEA and AMBA offer excellent Dental Plans with low deductibles, high maximums, and no waiting period. This plan gives you coverage with over 400,000 in-network providers nationwide and includes savings on twice yearly checkups, fillings, and many procedures. Sign up now at www.ambadentalvision.com/ncrgeaor call 800-956-1228.
Maintaining good health is important throughout our lives. As we age, it’s more vital than ever to keep living a happy and active life. While genetics or family history contribute to our own health risks, there are things you can do to help prevent chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Here’s a quick checklist to help maintain good health as you age.
Eat a heart healthy diet
Taking care of your heart should be among everyone’s top priorities. Eating a heart healthy diet – such as lowering your saturated fats and sodium intake, reducing cholesterol, and getting the nutrients your body needs to continue working properly as you age – can help you stay healthy. Even if you’ve had a heart attack, it’s never too late to make healthy lifestyle changes and take steps to improve your overall health.
Exercise and stay active
As you get older, many people claim they just don’t have the energy to exercise. And while our exercise routines need to evolve as we age, people who start exercising again frequently soon report increased energy and an improved quality of life. Studies prove that exercise can not only help your body stay fit, but also improve your mood.
Make sure your hearing is loud and clear
Hearing loss is all too frequently part of aging. If you have a persistent ringing in your ears or sometimes have difficulty understanding what people are saying even though you can hear them, or others tell you that you have the TV volume up too high, you might have some hearing loss or a related condition called tinnitus.
Maintaining an active lifestyle starts at your feet
Because we rely on them so much and they literally carry the weight of our entire bodies, our feet and ankles are constantly at risk for inflammation, pain, and limited movement and flexibility. Wear appropriate and comfortable footwear that is right for your foot type. For example, if you are flat-footed, make sure you wear shoes with appropriate cushioning. Flexible shoes that bend too readily often cause people to twist their foot or ankle and fall. Hard, sturdy soles are more slip-resistant than lightweight, flexible shoes. Choose shoes that have a good tread and get rid of shoes that have worn out tread.
Keep your medications organized and safe
As we age, we frequently have more medications to manage different health conditions. It’s important to review your medications regularly with your pharmacist and your health care provider to make sure everything is necessary and to identify possible interactions. One of the best ways to make sure you take your daily medications is with a color-coded pill organizer.
Get your beauty rest
As we age, losing sleep at night can also lead to other health concerns, like an increased risk of falling and daytime fatigue. People over age 65 should get at least seven-to-eight hours of sleep every night. That’s because getting the rest you need can help you stay both physically and mentally well as you age.
Following the checklist above can help you to stay healthy and active throughout your entire life. Another list to check is making sure you have all the coverage you need. From Vision and Dental to other important insurance coverage, a FREE Benefits Review with an AMBA field agent can help make sure you and your family can enjoy peace of mind. Request a Review now at www.amba-review.com/NCRGEA or call 800-956-1228 Mon-Fri 10am-8pm EST. It’s nice to know that anytime you have questions about your insurance benefits, someone is ready to assist.
Free virtual webinar Lunch & Learn Series: “Getting Ready for Aetna in 2025.” Presenters will be our partners from Aetna and North Carolina’s State Health Plan. Learn more about Aetna’s role as North Carolina’s State Health Plan’s third-party administrator, starting on Jan 1, 2025.
You will learn about what this change in 2025 means for our members and also for state/ local employees and retirees. You can also find out what you need to do to ensure there is no disruption in your state health care benefits.
Registration by Monday | August 14 is required for this FREE event. Click the Register Now button at the top. Space is limited so please register soon. INVITE A FRIEND! You will receive the Zoom link by email on Monday, August 14. If you have any questions, please email info@NCRGEA.com or phone 919.834.4652 or 1 800 356 1190.
All NCRGEA 2023 Lunch and Learn Series recordings can be found on the YouTube channel.
Plans are underway for the upcoming NCRGEA Fall Conferences, and we are excited to be heading your way in September at three locations across the state. On Wednesday, Sep. 13, we will be at the Statesville Civic Center; On Tuesday, Sep. 19, you can find us at the Durham Convention Center; and on Tuesday, Sep. 26, the final NCRGEA Fall Conference will be held at the Greenville Convention Center.
Back by popular demand will be some improvements to the schedule and changes in events and sponsor participation, which were introduced last spring at our conference in Hendersonville and scored highly in survey results.
Get ready for plenty of local flair at each conference, including an outstanding lunch served by a local caterer focusing on regional, featured food from the area, and exciting door prizes from local merchants. Another local angle includes having a representative from the local NCSU Cooperative Extension office on hand to lead a presentation on a regional landscaping topic and answer attendees’ questions. “We are making a point to highlight the cultural aspects of each community,” said Tim O’Connell, NCRGEA Executive Director.
Each conference will have our partnering sponsors ready to discuss many aspects of retired life – from healthcare to social security to hobbies and activities. Sponsors will start the session with quick, two-minute introductions, which provides attendees with an overview, helping them decide how to engage throughout the day by to the information and assistance most important to them.
Stephanie Bias, a representative from the North Carolina Department of Insurance’s Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) said, “The approach of the two-minute greeting by the sponsors made a big difference to attendees. It put a face with a name, agency, or business, so attendees could target their visits to the exhibit booths.” The schedule will allow time for attendees to visit the information tables, visit with each other, and make new friends. “One of our goals is to bring retirees together,” said O’Connell. “This allows them to share ideas and make connections. This time together also allows staff to get new ideas for future programs and events.”
Look for invitations and additional information coming soon with details on registering for NCRGEA’s Fall Conferences in:
9.13.23 Statesville: Statesville Civic Center | 300 S Center St | Statesville, NC 28677
9.19.23 Durham: Durham Convention Center | (inside Marriott) | 301 W Morgan St | Durham, NC 27701
