Good morning. The hummingbirds showed up at my feeder yesterday, right on schedule. Some things, at least, are still reliable.
In this issue:
The weight-loss pill that doesn't need a needle
Worth Knowing: drug recalls, your coffee habit, and Social Security office closures
From the Archives: the healthcare document your family needs
Slice of Life: the 91-year-old who took on Peloton — and won
The Weight-Loss Shot Everyone's Talking About? Now It's a Pill.
If you've been hearing about Ozempic and Wegovy but weren't thrilled about weekly injections — this one's for you. On April 1, the FDA approved Foundayo (orforglipron) — the first GLP-1 weight-loss pill you can take any time of day, with or without food. Made by Eli Lilly. No needles.
In clinical trials, people lost an average of 12% of their body weight over 72 weeks. That's significant — and it happened with a daily pill, not a weekly shot.
What it costs: Self-pay starts at $149/month for the starter dose. With commercial insurance and a savings card, it can go as low as $25/month. And starting July 1, Medicare Part D may cover it under the new BALANCE model for roughly $50/month — the first time Medicare has ever covered a weight-loss drug.
The fine print: That $50 copay doesn't count toward your $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap. Only the brand-name version qualifies. And not every Part D plan will participate right away.
What to do: If this is something you've been considering, talk to your doctor now. Foundayo started shipping through LillyDirect on April 6, with retail pharmacies coming soon.
💊 Check Your Medicine Cabinet — 3 Recalls in March
This one needs your attention. Teva recalled 112,000+ bottles of metoprolol (a common blood pressure med) because the pills may not dissolve properly. Separately, 175,000 bottles of prazosin were pulled for cancer-linked impurities. And nearly 2,000 OTC products — Advil, Tylenol, NyQuil, Tums — were recalled after the FDA found rodent droppings at a Minneapolis warehouse. Check your bottles at FDA.gov/safety/recalls or ask your pharmacist.
☕ Your Morning Coffee Might Be Protecting Your Brain
Good news for your morning routine. A Harvard study of 131,821 people published in JAMA found that 2-3 cups of caffeinated coffee a day was linked to an 18% lower risk of dementia. Tea helped too. Decaf didn't — it's the caffeine that matters. Translation: Your daily habit may be doing more for you than you knew. Next time someone suggests you cut back, you've got Harvard on your side.
🏛️ Your Social Security Office Might Be Closing
The SSA is cutting 7,000 employees and has listed 47 field offices for closure — staffing at a 50-year low. Half of callers hang up before reaching anyone. And a new rule: you can no longer change your direct deposit info by phone. You'll need two-factor authentication at ssa.gov/myaccount, or visit in person. What to do: Set up your online account now, before you need it.
Medical Power of Attorney and Advanced Healthcare Directives: Every State Resource
by Benjamin Wells
Tomorrow is National Healthcare Decisions Day — the one day a year set aside for the conversation most families keep putting off: what happens if you can't speak for yourself?
Benjamin's guide walks through every state's requirements for medical power of attorney and advance directives, with links to the actual forms you need. He covers the differences between a living will, a healthcare proxy, and a DNR — because they're not the same thing, and most people don't realize that until it matters.
I've bookmarked this one for my own family. If you've been meaning to get your paperwork in order, today's the day.
Dottie Dorion is 91 years old, lives in Massachusetts, and has logged over 2,900 rides on her Peloton. Last year, she launched a 14-month campaign — complete with lawyers and letters — to convince the company to add a 90-and-over age bracket. Her reason? She was tired of competing against "those young 80-year-olds." Peloton gave in. Dottie, who has completed roughly 250 marathons and three Ironman triathlons, now has her own leaderboard. Some people don't slow down. They just demand better competition.
Until next Tuesday,
Nino
P.S. Tomorrow is National Healthcare Decisions Day — if this issue reminded you to have that conversation with your family, forward it to someone who needs the nudge too. And as always, hit reply. I read every one.
