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Insurance plans require very careful thought

Medicare Advantage plans have been a godsend to millions of Americans who have placed full trust in what they have to offer — at a price they feel they can afford. Some have very enticing offerings, such as vision and dental care and caps on copays and other out-of-pocket charges, that help the plans seem superior to traditional Medicare, although some seniors no longer would — or are healthy enough to — make use of some of the offerings available under their plans. Again, Medicare Advantage plans have proven to be a godsend, but a wrinkle has evolved — a wrinkle that is ...

What other newspapers are saying: Courts must settle question for all elections

Pennsylvania needs an answer — once and for all — on mail-in ballots. The ability to use the voting alternative without a reason like being out of town or having a medical condition was given blanket approval with the passage of Act 77 in 2019. It promptly got its first test with the 2020 primary during the pandemic. But since those first ballots were cast, it has been a problem. The issue isn’t the ballot itself. It is the envelope — two envelopes, actually. Was the ballot put in the secrecy envelope? Was that envelope put in the mailing envelope? And then we come to the ...

When religious beliefs got tied to 2024 election

Data analysts are already publishing available information about sex/gender, income, education and racial/ethnic breakdowns of Americans who voted for Kamala Harris versus those who voted for Donald Trump in the presidential election this year. Another set of data explores the important relationship between religious beliefs and support for presidential candidates and their policies. By way of background, according to a Gallup poll conducted last year, 68 percent of Americans identify as Christians; 33 percent say they are Protestants, 22 percent are Catholic and the remainder say ...

Give back to homeless community this holiday

During the holidays, the many financial burdens of the season highlight the homelessness issue in our local neighborhoods. More Mifflin and Juniata County residents than those might think struggle with housing and food insecurity. So, it is important to highlight some of the available resources for those who may be struggling this holiday season. One of the county’s resources for housing assistance includes Mifflin-Juniata Human Services which offers housing, utility, and heating assistance through various grant-funded programs. Those needing these services can call the ...

No place like home for the holidays

Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays, ‘Cause no matter how far away you roam, When you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze, For the holidays, you can’t beat home, sweet home. With the holiday season upon us, stores are brimming with festive decorations, and Christmas music fills the air. Yet, how often do we sing these familiar carols without pausing to reflect on the profound messages they carry? That was often the case for me — until it wasn’t. Thirty-four years ago, on Nov. 6, I welcomed two adorable little boys into the world: twins. One was healthy and ...

President Biden’s lust for war costs all

The war in Ukraine is an American war for which the United States government should be ashamed and blamed. It was initiated by President Joe Biden and then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, both of whom advised Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that if he rejected a peace treaty that his own government had freely negotiated and agreed to in 2022 with Russian negotiators, Ukraine could join NATO. The treaty was more than 100 pages in length, each page of which had been initialed by both sides, and its essence accepted by the Kremlin and by Kyiv — until Biden and Johnson ...