Senior Gazette

Fall 2005
Carol Schmitkons, Amherst Township Senior Service Director

Medicare Changes for 2006
Enrollment procedures for the new "Prescription Drug Coverage" were discussed at the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) regional training. Here are some of the important information you need to know:
1. This summer, beneficiaries will begin getting letters from Medicare, the Social Security Administration (SSA), former employees and/or your Medicare supplemental insurance or HMO company about their prescription drug options. It is very important that all of this information be read carefully and then kept in a safe place until you have signed up for a drug card program and you have received your new card for prescriptions. If you discard a provider's information, and then decide that their program is best for you, there may be a considerable amount of time spent obtaining the information applicable to your individual situation.
2. The open enrollment period runs from November 15th through May 15th. Seniors who do not join a plan by May 15, 2006 will have to wait until November 15, 2006 to join. When you do join, your premium cost will go up at least 1% per month for every month that you wait to join. Like other insurance, you will have to pay this penalty as long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage. If you join after May 15, 2006, the next open enrollment period is Nov. 15, 2006 to Dec. 31, 2006. However, coverage for peoplewho enroll during this period will not take effect until January 1, 2007. You may be healthy now and not using any expensive medication, but if you need coverage later on when health problems come, you may be in for a major monthly out-of-pocket expense.
3. If your medications are presently covered under a Medicare Senior Advantage HMO plan, those plans will have drug card options.
4. If you are covered by health insurance provided by your former employer, the government is subsidizing


those plans to continue drug coverage. Many employers will be wrapping their coverage around one of the plans that a Medicare drug card provider offers. What this means is that your former employer may cover your monthly "Part D" premium and/or have their coverage kick in to cover the out-of-pocket costs for deductable or co-pays. Some employers, however, may choose to drop their drug coverage. In this case, their retirees will be notified that the drug coverage under their health plan is being dropped and they will have 60 days to enroll in the Medicare Prescription Drug program.
5. Please take time to learn all the facts about Medicare's prescription drug coverage so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not to join. If you think you may qualify for the extra help in paying for Medicare's prescription drug coverage premiums, deductibles, and co-pays, you can get help filling out the SSA application from the Amherst Township Senior Service Office, OSHIIP, or the local SSA office.
Please BEWARE!! Even though Medicare and their authorized service providers have tried very hard to make their materials easily identifiable, scams may still be out there. Do not give out your personal information over the phone in exchange for FREE health services or FREE medical supplies OR cash offers! Your personal information includes but is not limited to your birth date, social security number, Medicare number, mother's maiden name, and driver's license number.

Ask the caller to send you literature and an application in the mail. Then, read it carefully. Have another family member check out the offer. If you question whether a card provider or an offer is legitimate, don't hesitate to call the OSHIIP hotline at 1-800-686-1578 or you can contact them by e-mail at: www.ohioinsurance.gov.

Exercise Class

Judy Szefczk, a retired nursing home activity director, is willing to lead an exercise class for seniors in the community if there is enough interest.

If you are interested in attending, please call the office at 988-5822 and leave your name, phone number and the best time of day for you to attend the class.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR:

  • TRANSPORTING SENIORS TO THE DOCTOR
  • SUBBING FOR MEAL PROGRAM DRIVERS

CAN YOU HELP US?
CALL 988-5822

Golden Acres Fall Meals

Perhaps you have trouble making ends meet, you don't like to cook, or your doctor says you need a more nutritious diet. We have the perfect solution for you. Golden Acres prepares a hot lunch for any adult over 60 enrolled in our home-delivered meal program. They will even take into consideration your personal likes & dislikes and your special dietary needs.

Right now some of the meals they are serving during the month are chicken paprikash, ham loaf, city chicken, stuffed peppers, BLT's, Reuben sandwiches & BBQ ribs. We guarantee that you will get these delicious meals delivered to your door for less than you could get the same meal in a local restaurant. Why not call the office at 988-5822 to find out just how much our healthy meals would cost you?

National Family Caregiver Support Program

The National Family Caregiver Support Program was included in the last reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (2000). It is a direct result of a recommendation from the 1995 White House Conference on Aging. The legislation requires all Area Agencies to provide 3 specific services to Family Caregivers regardless of age, income, or other criteria.

  • These services include:
  • Information
  • Assistance in accessing services
  • Counseling, Support Groups, Education & Training

In addition, the legislation authorizes temporary or emergency respite (care in a "Care Facility") with elligibility:

  • Care Recipient must be 60 years old or older and must have limitations in 2 activities of Daily Living (bathing, grooming, toileting, dressing, eating & mobility [getting in & out of bed, transferring to wheel chair or walker & moving from place to place]).

or

  • Family Caregiver is 60 or over & is a grandparent raising grandchildren

Since July 2001, Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging, our service provider, provided service to over 9,700 Family Caregivers.

50% were daughters
11% were sons
24% were spouses or parnters
13% were other relatives
3% were friends, neighbors, or non-relatives

Of the caregivers, 45% said that the services they received gave them the support they needed to continue caregiving, while 23% said the most important thing was the temporary respite, the time out for themselves.

  • Upcoming White House Conference on Aging

    The following information is being compiled by the Lorain County Office on Aging and will be sent on to the Ohio Department of Aging for use in creating the state's final report to the national conference, which will be held in December. The needs that will be discussed there are also used to assist the public and private sectors in taking actions that will promote dignityl, health, independence, & economic security for senior citizens.

    Mailing this form to:

    Amherst Township Senior Services
    7530 Oberlin Road
    Elyria, OH 44035

    I am a Senior citizen (check age bracket)

    ____55-65 ____66-75 ____76-85 ____86+

    ___a Caregiver

    ___a Senior Advocate

    ___a Professional in the aging field

    ___Other _______________________

    My concerns are: (Rank your most pressing concerns 1 through 6):

    ___Social Security & economic retirement issues

    ___Senior citizens in the workplace

    ___Provision of services to help seniors remain independent & stay in their own homes

    ___Age discrimination

    ___Housing affordability & design

    ___Enhanced transportation

    ___Care giving support

    ___Disease Prevention & management

    ___Intergenerational issues

    ___Access to proper nutrition

    ___Other _______________________________________

    Comments: _____________________________________
    ________________________________________________

    OFFICE HOURS:

    8:00 A.M. – NOON  (M-F)

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