After a loss, it’s normal to experience deep and painful feelings of grief. During this challenging Covid-19 pandemic, many individuals can really benefit from grief counseling and other mental health services. Medicare provides coverage for many different types of mental health care, including grief counseling.

Here’s why grief counseling is so important and how to make sure you’re covered.

What Is Grief?

Grief is a very complex range of emotions that can occur after a loss. Grief is often associated with the death of a loved one but can also occur after the end of a relationship or the loss of a job. There are many emotions that are associated with grief, including sadness, anger, and guilt.

How Can Grief Counseling Help?

During your grief counseling sessions, you’ll work with a professional to process the feelings associated with your loss and develop new routines. Depending on your individual situation, your counselor will have you do things such as identify and share your feelings, come to terms with the reality of the situation, and identify traumatic experiences.

They can also help you adjust to a new routine after loss and find new sources of emotional support. Techniques like journaling and role-playing can be very helpful during this process.

It’s important to note that grief counseling cannot completely eliminate feelings of grief. What it can do is give you the tools you need to move forward in a healthy way after a loss. When selecting a mental health professional, it’s important to choose someone you trust and feel comfortable with.

What Are the Different Types of Grief?

Grief can be caused by so many different triggers that it’s difficult to give it a singular definition. There are various types of grief that take in account certain emotions and situations.

Normal Grief

Also known as uncomplicated grief, this variety may last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years following the loss of someone extremely close to you (either in death or a severed relationship).

Anticipatory Mourning

Anticipatory mourning occurs when you expect the death of a friend or family member. It’s actually quite normal to begin to anticipate how you will react and cope when that person eventually dies.

Sudden Loss

Sudden Loss is grief experienced after a sudden, unexpected death. This may result in feelings of being overwhelmed and/or unable to function, and the sudden loss may take longer to comprehend.

Complicated Grief

Traumatic or prolonged grief is a diagnosis you can receive from a medical doctor. Widely known as complicated grief, it also goes by these terms:

• Abnormal grief
• Chronic grief
• Complicated grief disorder
• Exaggerated grief
• Pathological grief
• Persistent complex bereavement disorder

Does Medicare Cover Grief Counseling?

Medicare Part B covers outpatient medical services, including grief counseling and other mental health care. Medicare covers individual grief counseling and other forms of therapy with a mental health professional, as long as it is deemed medically necessary. It also covers group therapy sessions.

You will only pay your deductible for this counseling if your provider accepts Medicare assignment. Medicare Part B also covers a yearly depression screening, which can identify signs of grief and other mental health problems.

If you see a psychiatrist and they prescribe medication for conditions like depression or anxiety, this will not be covered under Original Medicare. Instead, you will need a Medicare Part D plan, which covers prescription drugs.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you may receive additional mental health coverage beyond what Original Medicare provides. Medicare Advantage plans are supplemental plans offered by private insurers to provide coverage beyond what Original Medicare can offer.

If you’re struggling with grief, don’t wait to seek help. Grief counseling offers essential support and tools to help you cope during this difficult time.

Have you recently experienced loss of any kind? How long has it taken you to come to terms with your new situation, sans your job, pet, friend, or loved one? Have you used Medicare for grief counseling? What advice or tips can you offer the community? Please share below.

Lil Nas X dropped his latest music video for “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” Thursday night and phew, is there a lot to talk about. The rapper strums his guitar in a reimagined Garden of Eden with voiceovers to tell fans he’s not hiding anymore, himself or his sexuality. At one point, Lil Nas X’s video features him in multiple makeup  looks, while two denim-clad Lil Nas Xs drag a pink fur-wearing Lil Nas X to get chained up.

“Montero” is unapologetically queer, from the lyrics to the sweet note Lil Nas X wrote to his younger self, which he posted on Instagram. He doesn’t hold back with wardrobe, either. Makeup artist and KVD Beauty Global Veritas Artistry Ambassador Anthony Nguyen was responsible for the makeup. Two looks stand out: pink and blue makeup.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

YouTube.

For both looks, Nguyen used the TikTok viral Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Foundation Balm ($38 at Ulta). For the blue look, he mixed Super Pomade Vegan Eyeliner, Shadow & Brow Pigment ($20 at Ulta) shades White Out and Satellite to match the denim. He used the shade Graphite for Lil Nas X’s brows.

Source: Instagram

Dying over the pink eyeshadow? Us, too. Nguyen used Dazzle Vegan Eyeshadow Stick in Force Field ($22 at Ulta).

Source: Instagram

Of course, these aren’t the only swoon-worthy looks in the video. Wait until you see the red braids he rocks while on the stripper pole and giving Satan a lap dance. (Yes. It’s everything.)

Lil Nas X is a national treasure. When was the last time we got a video this artistic filled with symbolism, while the artist is also serving makeup looks and has a powerful message? Beyoncé is one of the only other artists to truly do the same. It’s worth watching the entire video, above.

French skincare brand Biologique Recherche has been making its line of the ever-elusive (yet highly praised) P50 lotions for more than 40 years now. This line of “balancing exfoliators” is just as well known for its skin-transforming benefits and unrivaled cult following as it is for its pungent stench. However, countless beauty editors and skincare aficionados are definitely more than willing to dismiss the potions’ signature scent—the result of a proprietary blend of vinegar and horseradish with a dash of onion—because fans swear it actually works.

According to the brand, these toners enhance the skin because they “speed up the epidermis’s natural exfoliating process and the reconstruction of the epidermal shield.” In other words, it sloughs off dead skin from the surface much like chemical exfoliants and retinoid products, thanks to its blend of trusted anti-aging ingredients including sulfur and lactic acid. But the P50 solution is different than its fellow exfoliators because it’s chock-full of unusual ingredients that you’re used to seeing in your kitchen cabinet, not your skincare: onion extract, horseradish, thyme. Despite the formula’s strong acid blend, the additional ingredients are said to help restore your skin’s PH levels and limit the amount of irritation associated with stronger exfoliating products.

There are currently seven versions of the lotion, with a range of strengths available depending on your exfoliation tolerance and personal skin concerns. The original—and undeniably most coveted—is the original P50 1970 solution. It contains a controversial ingredient called phenol, an antiseptic acid compound often used as a paint thinner but also found in some oral sore throat medicines (hence the numbing sensation upon application that many users have reported).

Biologique Recherche.

Fans of the lotion (aptly nicknamed “facial in a bottle”) praise the cultish elixir for its fast delivery of visible anti-aging benefits. Some even likened the results to Botox treatments. While it’s doubtful that P50 is a Botox alternative, it’s fairly evident that most people who have tried this stinky toner are pretty loyal to it, if not utterly obsessed. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to find if you’re not a beauty editor, nor is it easy on the wallet. Because it’s technically only sold by licensed aestheticians and at professional spas (no, you can’t order it on Amazon, beware of counterfeits!), it’s pretty tough to get your hands on this stuff.

While die-hard fans insist P50 an irreplaceable skin-care hero in their beauty cabinets, we’ve found a few phenol-free dupes that will do a similar job without requiring an endless black market hunt or an invasive stench.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Mario Badescu.

As the name implies, this mild resurfacing toner primarily relies on glycolic acid to promote skin-cell turnover. The lack of alcohol and addition of soothing aloe vera makes this an especially great choice for those with sensitive skin.

Buy: Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner $15.30

Ren Clean Skincare.

This resurfacing toner promises to be gentle enough for daily use, and is powered by lactic acid for exfoliation, willow bark extract to minimize the appearance of pores and azelaic acid to boost radiance. In keeping with Ren’s clean-beauty ethos, this vegan and cruelty-free tonic uses only naturally derived ingredients and comes packaged in a 100 percent recycled plastic bottle.

Buy: REN Clean Skincare Glow Tonic $38

Courtesy of Cosrx.

While it’s primarily marketed as a blackhead removing toner, this K-beauty staple has attained its own cult-level status for its powerful pore-unclogging properties. Like the P50 toner, this formula also contains niacinamide and BHA (salicylic acid) to decongest clogged pores and slough off dead skin cells. It’s also infused with willow bark extract to help soothe skin and minimize irritation.

Buy: Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid $17.58

Courtesy of Pixi.

If you perform a quick Google search for Lotion P50 dupes, you’ll find the majority of results include this affordable toner. This acid toner does have a few main differences from the P50, however. First of all, its acid base is glycolic acid, not lactic like P50’s. It’s also formulated with ginseng, which can help boost circulation in the skin, giving you a rosy glow while reducing puffiness. It also contains aloe vera to combat the irritation from the acid and other harsher actives to help keep pH in balance and reduce redness as well.

Courtesy of Moon Juice.

Brought to you by adaptogenic wellness brand Moon Juice, this skincare solution has quickly become a beauty-editor-approved dupe for Lotion P50. In fact, Moon Juice founder Amanda Chantal Bacon actually designed the formula after falling love with Biologique Recherche’s lotion only to be dismayed by the elixir’s concoction of questionable ingredients. Inspired by the undeniable efficacy of P50, Bacon formulated Beauty Shroom with a blend of similar actives including lactic acid and niacinamide but swapped out the phenol and horseradish with anti-inflammatory reishi mushroom, offering a “cleaner” version.

Buy: Moon Juice Acid Potion $42

Glossier.

This buzzy “skin perfector” features a trifecta of powerhouse acid actives (BHAs, AHAs and PHAs) to exfoliate, minimize pores, and even skin’s tone and texture. It’s also lauded for working on all skin types, but is particularly effective for those who struggle with acne.

SkinCeuticals.

While not a budget dupe, the SkinCeuticals Equalizing Toner’s main active ingredient is, like the P50, lactic acid. Known as an effective yet hydrating acid, lactic acid is great for mature, dry and sensitive skin types because it effectively exfoliates with less redness, dryness, and peeling associated with the other AHAs. It’s also touted for its “equalizing” or balancing properties, like P50, thanks to soothing ingredients like aloe vera and circulation-inducing chamomile extract.

A version of this story was originally published in October 2019.

Lil Nas X dropped his latest music video for “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” Thursday night and phew, is there a lot to talk about. The rapper strums his guitar in a reimagined Garden of Eden with voiceovers to tell fans he’s not hiding anymore, himself or his sexuality. At one point, Lil Nas X’s video features him in multiple makeup  looks, while two denim-clad Lil Nas Xs drag a pink fur-wearing Lil Nas X to get chained up.

“Montero” is unapologetically queer, from the lyrics to the sweet note Lil Nas X wrote to his younger self, which he posted on Instagram. He doesn’t hold back with wardrobe, either. Makeup artist and KVD Beauty Global Veritas Artistry Ambassador Anthony Nguyen was responsible for the makeup. Two looks stand out: pink and blue makeup.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

YouTube.

For both looks, Nguyen used the TikTok viral Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Foundation Balm ($38 at Ulta). For the blue look, he mixed Super Pomade Vegan Eyeliner, Shadow & Brow Pigment ($20 at Ulta) shades White Out and Satellite to match the denim. He used the shade Graphite for Lil Nas X’s brows.

Source: Instagram

Dying over the pink eyeshadow? Us, too. Nguyen used Dazzle Vegan Eyeshadow Stick in Force Field ($22 at Ulta).

Source: Instagram

Of course, these aren’t the only swoon-worthy looks in the video. Wait until you see the red braids he rocks while on the stripper pole and giving Satan a lap dance. (Yes. It’s everything.)

Lil Nas X is a national treasure. When was the last time we got a video this artistic filled with symbolism, while the artist is also serving makeup looks and has a powerful message? Beyoncé is one of the only other artists to truly do the same. It’s worth watching the entire video, above.

I’m part of a fast-growing demographic group – women baby boomers who enter a new phase of life after the death of our husbands. It’s true that the average age a wife becomes a widow in the United States is 59.4 and 70% of all married baby boomer wives will experience widowhood.

Many years ago, when a woman’s husband died, she went into mourning – sometimes wearing black “widow’s weeds” for a year or more. Generally, she remained alone after that year or perhaps moved into an adult child’s home.

That was the case with my great grandmother. She lived with her adult daughter and son-in-law after her husband died. And then when my grandmother became a widow, both she and my great grandmother (her mother) moved in with my parents, me and two young brothers – four generations living together for many years in a little house with only one bathroom!

New Choices for a New Generation of Widows

Widows today certainly have more choices – where we will live, what we want to experience in life, and whether we want to share this new life with another partner. Indeed, in a recent international study of nearly 4,000 widowed persons, only 46% of the women who became a widow at age 60 or older said they don’t plan to date in the future. The other 54% want to date or are already dating, have entered a committed long-term relationship, or have remarried.

In this multi-faceted study, more than 500 widows who remarried or repartnered gave valuable advice for other women thinking about a similar step in the future. While each widow’s situation is unique, here are some words of advice from many women in the study:

Discuss Finances with Your New Partner

“Communication is the key to a successful relationship! Talk about all expectations and hide nothing. Make sure you’re both on the same page with financial issues.”

“Discuss all financial matters openly and honestly.”

“Before beginning to live together, you should have candid discussions about who pays for what, will you merge finances, etc. Hoping things will ‘work out’ on their own is not a sound basis to begin a life together.”

“Talk about financial issues ahead of time to make sure you have the same views and goals financially.”

“Speak openly, determine your soon-to-be spouse’s attitude towards saving and investing.”

“I didn’t bring up the money stuff because I thought it would hurt our relationship before we married. Boy, was I wrong. We had big disagreements later.”

“Ask about your partner’s credit score, debt and finances.”

“Talk, talk, and talk some more about life goals, financial plans, etc.”

Take Time to Understand the Implications of Your New Relationship

“Educate yourself so you feel confident about making your own financial decisions.”

“Always be involved in your finances. Know everything going out and coming in. Don’t get complacent. Stay informed.”

“Be careful with you finances. Do not allow anyone to take advantage of you because you are lonely or sad. Put yourself first always.”

“Take your time in a new relationship; it takes a few years to see where the other person is and how they handle money and how they will stand beside you if you have a financial crisis.”

“Understand each other’s financial stability and responsibility where money is concerned. Who pays for what?”

“In regards to marriage; be very aware of what benefits you can lose. Educate yourself. Don’t put what your deceased spouse worked so hard for at risk.”

“Check out the other person’s major medical problems. You may not want to take care of another person again.”

“I didn’t know he was going to retire soon after we got married. That changed our financial picture a lot.”

“Make sure your spouse has a source of income for himself. Also, make sure you have similar financial goals.”

“Best for me is keeping my finances separate. Think this is important for all women to have money in their own name.”

Get Trusted Guidance from Qualified Professionals

“Get financial counseling together with your new partner before getting married.”

“Keep it to ‘yours-mine-ours.’ Protect your children’s interest. Do a pre-nup.”

“Consult a lawyer and draw up very clear documents, and absolutely insist on a prenuptial agreement if considering remarriage. Let your family know.”

“Talk with a financial planner and tax professional if you can.”

“Have a will prepared with specifics for where you want the money to go and what your desires are with children. I specifically am having problems related to his step children and ex-wife.”

“Always protect yourself and your family first, in case you need to be on your own again.”

If you’ve experienced widowhood, or know a relative or friend who is a widow, what advice would you share with other women contemplating remarriage or entering a long-term relationship? What would you add to the suggestions above? What other financial advice for widows do you have? Please join the conversation.