Page 19 - The Jewish Voice - March '24

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The Jewish Voice, Page 19

Lifestyles from page 18 you could have some flexibility in choosing when to take a permanent reduction, your spouse’s survivor benefit may
Social Security. In this case, you may want to weigh these also be reduced for their lifetime.
a serious condition in which the body responds improperly considerations: When to take Social Security is an important — and
to infection. The sepsis early warning and management irrevocable — decision. So, consider all the factors before
system saved more than 50 lives within the first six months Life Expectancy making your choice.
of use. “Health systems often suffer from patients having For all of us, it’s one of life’s great mysteries: How This article was written by Edward Jones for use by
episodes of ill-coordinated care. To mitigate that, we harness long will we live? Of course, we can’t see into the future, your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Edward Jones,
a combination of process, technology, and health care so the question can’t be answered with total confidence. Member SIPC.
professionals to help navigate patients through their health But to make an informed decision on when to take Social Edward Jones is a licensed insurance producer in all states
care journey, ensuring there is always someone there to help Security, you don’t need to know your exact lifespan — and Washington, D.C., through Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P.,
guide and support them,” said Scott Arnold, executive vice you just need to make a reasonably good estimate. So, and in California, New Mexico and Massachusetts through
president, CIO, and chief of innovation for TGH. for example, if you’re approaching 62, you’re enjoying Edward Jones Insurance Agency of California, L.L.C.;
CareComm is a testament to technology’s increasing excellent health, and you have a family history of longevity, Edward Jones Insurance Agency of New Mexico, L.L.C.; and
influence in how TGH delivers care. The program’s blend you might conclude it’s worth waiting a few years to collect Edward Jones Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, L.L.C.
of data sources and intelligence creates a treatment road map Social Security, so you can receive the bigger payments. Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors
that CareComm Command Center’s multidisciplinary team Conversely, if your health is questionable and your family cannot provide tax advice. You should consult your qualified
can easily understand. The next step, according to Arnold, is has not been fortunate in terms of longevity, you might want tax advisor regarding your situation.
to become predictive in nature — identifying potential risks to start taking your benefits earlier. Contact us at (561) 748-7600, Sally Sima Stahl, AAMS,
and taking the appropriate actions to prevent further illness 1851 W. Indiantown Road, Ste. 106, Jupiter, FL 33458.
before it happens. Employment
For more information about how TGH is leading health You can certainly continue working and still receive Advances in Colorectal
care innovation and improving patient care, visit TGH.org. Social Security benefits. However, if you’re under your full
retirement age for the entire year, Social Security will deduct Cancer Treatment
Financial Focus $1 from your benefits for every $2 you earn above the annual An estimated 150,000
limit of $22,320. In the year you reach your full retirement
When Should You Take Social Security? age, Social Security will deduct $1 in benefits for every $3 U.S. adults will be diagnosed
you earn above $59,520. So, you may want to keep these with colorectal cancer this
By Sally Sima Stahl reductions in mind when deciding when to begin accepting year. Excluding skin cancer,
One of your important benefits. Once you reach your full retirement age, you can it is the third most common
sources of retirement income earn any amount without losing benefits. (Also, at your full cancer diagnosed in both
will likely be Social Security retirement age, Social Security will recalculate your benefit men and women each year
— but when should you start amount to credit you for the months you received reduced in the United States.
taking it? benefits because of your excess earnings.) Now for the good news.
You can start collecting The five-year survival rate
Social Security benefits at Spouse for colorectal cancer has
62, but your checks will be Spouses can receive two types of Social Security more than doubled since
considerably bigger if you benefits: spousal and survivor. With a spousal benefit, your 1970, climbing to 65 percent,
wait until your full retirement spouse can receive up to 50 percent of your full retirement due to medical advances and
age, which is likely between benefits, regardless of when you start taking them. (Your early screening. For people Dr. Steven Wexner
66 and 67. You could even wait until you’re 70, at which point spouse’s benefit can be reduced by the amount of their own with localized colorectal
the payments will max out, except for yearly cost-of-living retirement benefit and whether they took Social Security cancer (stage 1), the survival rate is 91 percent.
adjustments. But if you need the money, you need the money, before their full retirement age.) But with a survivor “Colorectal cancer is both preventable and highly
even if you’re just 62 or any age before full retirement age. benefit, your decision about when to take Social Security treatable when we catch it early,” says Steven Wexner,
However, if you have adequate financial resources to can make a big difference. A surviving spouse can receive MD, PhD, director of the Ellen Leifer Shulman and Steven
meet your monthly needs, whether through earned income, the larger of their own benefit or 100 percent of a deceased
your investment portfolio, or a combination of the two, spouse’s benefit, so if you take benefits early and receive Lifestyles on page 20