Coping with grief on Mother's Day

Make health insurance work for you [View this email online]( [NPR Health]( May 8, 2022 by [Carmel Wroth]( This week, we look at ways to [avoid high health care costs]( and what to know about the [latest omicron variant]( (yes, another one!). Plus, how to deal with [mixed feelings on Mother's Day.]( [How to get the most out of your health insurance]( Subin Yang for NPR Health insurance plans come with reams of fine print and that can get pretty overwhelming. But knowing how your insurance works can help you set yourself up for better health and lower out-of-pocket costs. For instance, timing a planned medical procedure toward the end of the year, after you've met your deductible could save you big. Here are [6 tips to help you maximize the value]( of the insurance you're already paying for. [PLUS: Why some Medicare recipients are seeing higher drug costs than they were expecting.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- [The newest variants are spreading fast](. Could you get infected if you already had omicron once? Denis Farrell/AP New versions of omicron are coming for us -- and experts say they're likely to drive a new surge. That's because of certain mutations which let them spread even faster than the previous versions of omicron. So you may be wondering: If I had omicron once, can I get it again? Two studies, published online this week, [start to answer that question.]( [PLUS: Should you go to that party? And what do you do if it turns out someone there was sick]( [Mother's Day can be painful. Here's how to navigate a tough day]( Jeenah Moon/Getty Images A day to celebrate motherhood can feel bittersweet if you're grieving a parent, or if you're estranged from family members or struggling with fertility. Rebecca Soffer, author of the forthcoming Modern Loss Handbook, lost both of her parents when she was in her 30s, and she recognizes the day can be triggering. She [shares insights and coping strategies]( to help you get through -- and make self-care priority. Before you go - Mother's Day [book recommendations]( - Protecting earth from [microbes from Mars]( - 7 persistent abortion claims, [fact-checked]( - How are thousands of Midwestern kids [still getting lead poisoning?]( We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of [NPR's health journalism]( on Shots and follow us on Twitter at [@NPRHealth](. All best, Carmel Wroth and NPR's health editors --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Listen Live]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [shots@npr.org](mailto:shots@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! [They can sign up here.]( Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Goats & Soda, Daily News, Best of NPR and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Health emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]