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Live well, stay informed.

Secrets to enjoying a healthy retirement

Like many adult children, I worry sometimes about my retired parents. Then I pick up the phone and ask my 76-year-old mother and 81-year-old father what they did that day. Usually there’s some mention of a yoga class (my mom) and always a golf game (my dad), a concert or an incredible new novel. While many of their peers struggle with isolation, boredom and lack of purpose, they just have a knack for retirement. What’s their secret?

Read full article

What our members have to say

Meet Jim

Jim uses the Verizon Advantage plan to help him live his best life – hear his retirement story and discover how you can do the same.

Jim
Aetna Medicare advantage member

Watch Jim talks about the Medicare Advantage Plan video opens a dialog

My name is Jim, and I live in Windsor, Colorado.
I’ve lived here for three years after spending 25 years in South Lake, Texas.
I spent my entire 33 year career with Verizon
and was able to work in a variety of different departments.
Some in the technical side, some of the non-technical side.
And I was able to travel throughout the country
and really had a very fulfilling career with that company.
I moved out to Colorado to be close to my grandchildren,
my son and my daughter in law. And they are the love of my life.
We’re at approximately 5000 feet of elevation.
So the air is clean and it’s good town to do all sorts of outdoor activities.
In the morning I meet my friends for coffee
and do that every morning, seven days a week.
I’ve always found that wherever you live, you got to jump in and be a part of the community.
You’ve got to take advantage of anything that that area offers.
And I think if you’re a very active person, you tend to have a very active retirement.
Nobody likes to deal with change. My initial reaction when I found out that health care was changing
from my previous carrier to Aetna was
I was apprehensive, but it was really seamless.
And that’s the thing that impressed me the most.
If I have a challenge or a question about a claim, I’m able to get responses
either online or by talking to an individual at Aetna.
And so I’ve really found that whole transition to be seamless,
having moved a lot in my career and having a variety of doctors in a variety of states,
it was very important to me to be able to select my primary care physician
and to establish a relationship with that physician.
And Aetna has allowed me to select my physician
and to maintain that relationship that is important to me.
One of the things that I truly appreciate about Aetna
is the fact that they offer a healthy home visit by a nurse.
I saw the primary benefit of the healthy home care
visit being a chance to interact with a health
care professional over an hour period to ask questions
and be able to respond to questions the health care professional ask of you.
Since moving to Colorado, I found it’s very impractical to try to walk outside during the winter months.
However, with the Silver Sneakers program, I’m able to go to the Windsor recreation center
and take full advantage of all the programs they offer,
and it’s a substantial benefit for me.
It’s important to me to have an option of where you are able to exercise,
and it’s not necessarily always to go to a gym.
You can do this in your own living room.
And Aetna offers a healthy at home webcast series
to do an exercise program while you’re still at home,
whether it be the Silver Sneakers program, the wellness videos,
the healthy living videos of webcasts that they offer, the complete variety.
So it’s not just a visit to the doctor or a visit to a hospital they’re insuring.
They’re involved in your health care from start to finish.
I’m grateful for the health I have at age 74 and for the life I’ve lived.

Informative Videos

Watch Aetna Medicare Advantage plan members share their experiences video opens a dialog

0:01 ♪ ♪

0:17 CAROLINE: Before I had my knee replacement. I’ve had both knees done at separate times. But before I had any surgery, I had a nurse representing Aetna call me and ask me if I had any questions about my procedure, if there was anything that I was unfamiliar with
or concerned about.

00:33 ♪ ♪

00:37 If I had a question, just pick up the phone, gave me her name, number, and told me to give her a call. And I felt comfortable, and I felt protected.

00:44 ♪ ♪

00:48 ROBERT: The rep was very helpful. I mean, he went out of his way. So I said, “Well, it’s kind of confusing here as far as what this means. He explained this whole process of what units mean and as it relates to physical therapy visits.

01:01 ♪ ♪

01:05 GERRY: They taught me what carbohydrates were. How to read the labels on the cans and that type of thing. It was a real learning experience for me. I’m really happy I could talk to the Aetna nurse.

01:16 ♪ ♪

01:19 PHILLIP: I’m thankful that my doctor and my insurance company can work together. From what I understand, certain people, it just doesn’t work that way.

01:26 ♪ ♪

01:30 AMANDA: It’s one hour dedicated solely to them. What their needs are, what their challenges are. It’s a different approach to healthcare.

01:38 ♪ ♪

01:39 PHILLIP: They said “You know, we have a place that you’d be able to get your Dexilant. They told me where to get the form. They told me the people to contact. I think they even contacted them. They didn’t have to go that far to help me with that.

01:53 ♪ ♪

02:01 JOHN: They encouraged us to take advantage of a lot of the programs that they have and we’ve done that.

02:08 DOREEN: Aetna saved my mobility for sure.

02:11 ♪ ♪

The value of care management

Aetna Medicare Advantage plan members share their experiences with our care management program and nurses. (2 min. 27 sec.)

Watch Marshall's story about care managment video opens a dialog

Marshall: To walk up the stairs when I first got home, it seemed like it was walking up mount Everest. Would I ever make it up there? I have been living with diabetes for years. I had triple bypass surgery in 2014, and 2016 I was diagnosed with liver cancer. I lost a lot of my confidence at that time because I would look in the mirror and he just seemed like a half the man that I used to be. And I didn’t have anybody that I really felt comfortable talking to. I pretty much depend on myself a lot. Nicole is my nurse through Aetna.

Nicole and Marshall [simultaneously]: Hey!

Marshall: She changed my life because she helped me to find someone that I could open up to. Instead of being all by myself. She was like my little special guardian angel there for me. She helped me to explain things to me, my medication, my healthcare, my eating habits. She helped me to feel more confidence in myself. My goal is to get healthy one step at a time. I’m gonna get up and do something about my life. Instead of doing something negative I can do something positive for my body and my mind. You see that older guy walking down the street with his head up high walking straight not humped over and like he’s about ready to fall out. I felt my strength coming back. I’m gonna make it. I’m strong. I will survive.

Marshall’s story

Hear from Marshall about his quest to find the confidence to keep fighting despite a series of health setbacks. (2 min. 6 sec.)

John – Aetna Medicare Advantage member since August, 2016

“The company that I originally started with was Harrison Radiator, which was a division of General Motors. We took pride in what we did. We were making all the heating and air conditioning units for the General Motors cars, and in fact, I spotted several cars where my sticker was put on one of the heaters that was in the car, so I knew that was a job I did and I was very proud of that.”

[John loves a good joke]

“The plant at Harrison Radiator was a smaller plant and it was a lot like family. There were tricks that people played on one another. I would just say with grease and things like that and gloves and maybe in a sandwich.”

[But his real love is for cars]

“When I was a kid, I built model cars and I loved draw automobiles. I did want to be an auto designer and originally when I was thinking about going to college, I did want to go to General Motors Institute and study car design.”

[So Aetna ensured he’s always in the driver’s seat]

“When you join up with Aetna, first they have a doctor, which they hire to assign and come over and give you an initial physical to see what kind of help you might need with your medications or your overall health. He took my blood pressure. The blood pressure was abnormally high, so when he saw my medication that I was on he said I really think I should get ahold of your doctor, and if it wasn’t for the Aetna physician, I may not have the results that I have. I have to watch my diet specifically now because I am diabetic. Walking was the exercise that I always liked to do and that’s an important part of being healthy.”

[And we’re with him every step of the way]

“Aetna has been a big blessing in providing us with really excellent health care. They’ve encouraged us to take advantage of a lot of the programs that they have and we’ve done that. It’s been just a wonderful service to have. I would have to say a word that describes my relationship with Aetna would be excellence.”

[Drive on, John]

[Aetna logo]

Managing high blood pressure

Hear from John as he shares how Aetna doctors helped him manage his blood pressure to ensure a heathy and active retirement. (2 min. 17 sec.)

Welcome to your news page

Inspiration and insights for your best health

Your Verizon Aetna magazine

Current issue

Check out our past issues:

Live well, stay informed.

Secrets to enjoying a healthy retirement

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