healthnotes

Gaming for Brain Power?

For those recovering from injuries that af- fect the brain, such as memory loss result- ing from a stroke, doctors recommend stimulating and new activities. However, prominent neuroscien- tists also warn consum- ers against cognitive training software “brain

games” that might ex- aggerate the connection between their products and brain health out- comes (http://stanford .io/1sNFTTF).

TRICAREUPDA+E

SOCIAL SECURITY’S FULL RETIREMENT AGE gradually is increasing from age 65 to 67, depending on your year of birth. Retirees don’t have to draw their Social Security benefits before enrolling in Medicare Part B — and beginning their TRICARE For Life benefits. However, while you may defer Social Security benefits to a later date, you still must enroll in Medicare

Part B to retain your TRICARE eligibility. Failure to enroll in Part B when first eligible results in a late-enroll- ment penalty of 10 percent of the cost of Part B for every year you delayed enrollment. This is a cumulative lifetime penalty. You may defer enrollment in Medicare Part B after age 65 without penalty only if you are covered by your

own or a spouse’s employer-sponsored health plan. You will be ineligible for TRICARE during this period of work after age 65, but your eligibility will be restored once you enroll in Medicare Part B.

26 MILITARY OFFICER SEPTEMBER 2015

IMAGES: ABOVE, SHUTTERSTOCK; LEFT, COLIN HAYES