Dear ,
Check out this month's articles:
Ontario pharmacists are now able to prescribe and fill medications for 13 common ailments. This would have been very helpful for me in the past when I've had UTIs and eye infections and had to make an appointment to see my family doctor.
With Canadian inflation running at 6.9% for 2022, you may be feeling the budget crunch. There are numerous aids to help you track your income and expenses. Many of the apps even categorize them, so that you know exactly where your money is going. Check the ones listed below - it is not an exhaustive list, so you may want to check to see what your family and / or friends are using.
Finally, if you're one of the lucky people who have Travel in their future - don't forget your travel insurance.
If you have any questions, please contact me directly, by phone – 416-806-5478, by e-mail – heather@freed.ca or you can schedule a video conference by ZOOM or phone call yourself, click here.
Heather
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Ontario Pharmacists can prescribe and fill medications for 13 common ailments
As of Jan. 1, Ontario pharmacists are able to fill prescriptions on the spot, without a doctor’s appointment, for 13 of “the most common ailments.”
The 13 ailments include hay fever, oral thrush, dermatitis, pink eye, menstrual cramps, acid reflux, hemorrhoids, cold sores, impetigo, insect bites and hives, tick bites, sprains and strains, and UTIs, according to the Ministry of Health. The service will be free for Ontario health card holders.
Minister of Health Sylvia Jones made the announcement on December 27, 2022, saying the move will make it easier for Ontarians to receive "the care they need." “You won’t need a doctor’s appointment, [...] there’s no charge for the visit and you can easily get prescriptions filled on the spot," Jones said.
"Empowering pharmacists to use their expertise to assess and treat minor ailments helps patients get the care they need sooner and closer to home – but the benefits go much further,” Justin Bates, Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Pharmacists Association, said in a statement.
As of Dec. 12, Ontario pharmacists have been permitted to prescribe Paxlovid, an antiviral COVID-19 treatment, without a prescription issued by a physician.
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Aids to Help you Budget
If you’re like most people, every January 1st, we make New Years Resolutions. One of the most popular is to track your income and expenses.
Nowadays, there are many apps that simplify the task. (Note – many are available for your computer or tablet as well as your phone.) These tools make the task relatively simple. They access your bank account(s) and credit card(s) and download and classify the transactions so that you only have to review them. Your credit card company and / or bank may do the same – but using these services puts all your accounts in one place. Note: these apps use Bank-level security and encryption.
Here are some of the top apps in 2022:
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Mint is one of the most popular budgeting apps available, with 25 million users. The app is free and easy to use for budgeters of all levels. You can also set up bill payment reminders, track investments, and access your TransUnion credit score. Note – I use this one, and have found Simplii does not integrate with Mint, but my other accounts all do.
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You Need a Budget (YNAB) says new budgeters typically save $600 in their first two months and more than $6,000 in their first year through tracking and the educational components built into the app. Although YNAB costs $98.99 / year, the company offers a 34-day free trial.
NOTE: Mint and YNAB are the 2 most popular budgeting apps.
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Lunch Money is from a Canadian entrepreneur. It is $84 / year (or $12 / month) with a 14 day free trial. If you like the support of a community, you also get access to a Slack channel. Lunch Money is not available for your cell phone.
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Excel Spreadsheets work for many people. You need to manually download transactions and paste them into your spreadsheet and you do need to manually enter categories for each transaction, but you can customize it any way you want.
What’s best for you? You may have to try out a couple or check the comparison reviews online to see what is best for you.
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Is Travel in your future?
Are you dreaming of spending some time this winter anywhere but in Ontario?
One of the critical items to pack is Travel Insurance. You may already have some as part of your group benefits, but you should check before you leave to make sure.
If you don't have coverage, there are many suppliers out there. You want to ensure, that the coverage will be in effect for the entire time that you are out of Ontario and that any medical condition you have, has been stable (with no change in medications or dosage) for 30 to 180 days (depending on your age and the length of the trip).
Give me a call and we can discuss what you need. I can recommend a supplier. Or, you may be able to get an online quote from Securiglobe Use my code BFZ003 if you call them at 1-888-333-0994.
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Heather Freed, CFP®, CLU, CHS
Group Benefits, Insurance, Estate & Financial Planning
Insure Your Freedom
416-806-5478
Disclaimer:
The material provided in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does NOT constitute legal, tax, accounting, financial, real estate, medical or other advice, and should not be relied on as such. If you require such advice, you should retain a qualified professional to advise you.
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