A cruise can be a wonderful, relaxing vacation. Seeing the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean or the spectacular landscape of Alaska’s coast can be exhilarating. However, if you are a wheelchair traveler, there are some things you should know.

First, you must inquire about documentation you need to provide to ensure you get a wheelchair accessible room. If you simply ask for one, you are not guaranteed to get one. Next, realize that quarters are tight on a ship. The elevators and hallways can provide challenges‹not that you won¹t fit. But sometimes people have to make accommodations for you and that may make you uncomfortable.

The biggest obstacle for those in wheelchairs is often the port excursions.
Depending on where you cruise, there aren¹t necessarily accessibility laws.
It can even be a challenge to find wheelchair transportation. If you can, take a folding chair to be as flexible as possible.

By Mobility Alliance Group Staff

This is just a friendly reminder to all our customers out there that Medicare Open Enrollment ends on March 31st. Open enrollment gives individuals currently on Medicare the opportunity to change their Medicare coverage to either Original Medicare or to a private Medicare Advantage health plan.

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to make any changes that could be important during the coming year.

If you choose a Medicare Advantage plan, make sure you realize that because these plans are administered by a private health insurance company, you will be required to follow their guidelines and you can incur high out-of-pocket costs if you do not. But you can also get special benefits that are not covered by Original Medicare, such as dental and vision benefits.

In the end, as always, the key is to learn all you can about your options. Then you can make the best choice. You can talk to your doctor also (or more likely your doctor’s nurses) for advice.

Some of you probably use the Meals on Wheels service like I do. It’s such a great service for those of us who are unable to get out on our own. But as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported, an insurance company is suing an 81-year-old woman because a delivery person slipped and fell on ice in her driveway.

She was home-bound and could not have shoveled her own driveway in the winter. Yet she went to the effort to have someone plow her driveway. Then the young girl delivering the food fell and was hurt pretty bad (which was a terrible accident).

But she’s not the one suing. It’s the insurance company who had to pay for her injuries. They’re suing the old woman! It’s outrageous. And it’s yet another service for seniors that will go away because no one wants the risk.