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News From The Social Security Administration

By |May 8th, 2018|

I’m pleased to report that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have started to mail new Medicare cards to beneficiaries.

Instead of a Social Security Number (SSN), the new cards will have a Medicare number that’s unique to each beneficiary. The new card will help protect identities and secure personal information. Medicare coverage and benefits will stay the same.

Medicare will automatically mail new cards at no cost to the address on file here at Social Security. So please make sure the address of anyone you’re helping is up-to-date. An address can be updated easily by linking to my Social Security.

As Medicare beneficiaries begin to receive their replacement cards, please share these three tips with them:

  1. Once you get your New Medicare card, destroy your old Medicare card and start using your new one right away. Don’t just throw the old card away—shred it or cut it into small pieces.
  2. Doctors, other health care providers, and plans approved by Medicare know that Medicare is replacing your old card. They’re ready to accept your new card when you need care.
  3. Beware of anyone contacting you about your new Medicare card and asking for your Medicare number, personal information, or to pay a fee for your new card. Treat your Medicare number like you treat your Social Security or credit card numbers. Remember, you don’t need to do anything to get your new card. Medicare will never contact you uninvited to ask for your personal information.

In addition, as of April 2018, Social Security removed the SSN from all notices and forms to prevent fraud, fight identity theft, and safeguard taxpayer dollars. These communications also include benefit-verification notices, Social Security post-entitlement notices, and certain documents sent to appointed representatives. The benefit-verification letter includes the recipient’s name and address. The SSN isn’t intended to serve as identification, nor should it be used as such by third parties.

Please share this information through your networks. For more information about the new Medicare card, click medicare.gov/newcard. You can also look up Medicare.gov for tips to prevent Medicare fraud.

As always, thank you for your interest in our programs and the people we serve!

Sincerely,

Bob Patterson
Acting Associate Commissioner, External Affairs
(T) 410-965-1804

 

Older Americans Month 2018

By |May 2nd, 2018|

Every May, the Administration on Aging, part of the Administration for Community Living, leads our nation’s observance of Older American’s Month. The #OA18 theme, “Engage at Every Age,” emphasizes that you are never too old (or young) to take part in activities that can enrich your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It also celebrates the many ways in which older adults make a difference in our communities.

Participating in activities that promote mental and physical wellness, offering your wisdom and experience to the next generation, seeking the mentorship of someone with more life experience than you are just a few examples of what being engaged can mean.

Becoming engaged may not only benefit your community, you may benefit greatly as well:

  • Decrease your risk of depression
  • Enjoy a sense of purpose
  • Stay physically and mentally active
  • Reduce stress levels
  • Experience “The Happiness Effect”
  • Discover new opportunities

No matter where you are in your life, there is no better time than now to start. We hope you will join in and Engage at Every Age!

10 Things To Know About New Medicare Cards

By |February 12th, 2018|

Medicare is mailing new Medicare cards starting in April 2018. Here are 10 things to know about your new Medicare card:  12018-10-Things-To-Know-About-New-Medicare-Card

Fight Fraud:  Guard Your Medicare Card

By |January 8th, 2018|

 If you have Medicare, you can protect your identity and help prevent health care fraud by guarding your Medicare card like you would a credit card.

 

Identity theft from stolen Medicare Numbers is becoming more common.  Medicare’s here to help by removing Social Security Numbers from Medicare cards and replacing them with a new, unique number for each person with Medicare.  Medicare will mail new Medicare cards with the new numbers between April 2018 and April 2019.

 

Here are some important steps you can take to protect yourself from the identity theft that can lead to health care fraud:

 

  • Don’t share your Medicare Number with anyone who contacts you by telephone, email or in person, unless you’ve given them permission in advance. Medicare will NEVER contact you (unless you ask us to) for your Medicare Number or other personal information.
  • Don’t ever let anyone borrow or pay to use your Medicare Number.
  • Review your Medicare Summary Notice to be sure you and Medicare are only being charged for actual items and services received.

 

If you’re looking to enroll in a Medicare plan:

 

  • Remember there are no “early bird discounts” or “limited time offers.”
  • Don’t let anyone rush you to enroll by claiming you need to “act now for the best deal.”
  • Be skeptical of free gifts, free medical services, discount packages or any offer that sounds “too good to be true.”

 

If someone calls you and asks for your Medicare Number or other personal information, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).  To learn more about protecting yourself from identity theft and health care fraud, visit www.Medicare.gov/fraud or contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol (www.smpresource.org).

 

This message is brought to you by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

 

Eldercare Q&A – January, 2018 Closing the Food Stamp “SNAP Gap”

By |December 14th, 2017|

Eldercare Q&A                       January, 2018  

Closing the Food Stamp “SNAP Gap”

Q: Are a lot of eligible elders not getting food stamps?


A.
Yes. More than 40% of low-income elders eligible for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as “food stamps,” are not on the program.  Q&A ElderCare January 2018 CLOSING THE SNAP GAP 11 30 17

Caregiver Tips For The Holidays

By |October 25th, 2017|

The holidays are often filled with opportunities for togetherness, sharing, laughter and memories. But they can also bring stress, disappointment and sadness. A person living with Alzheimer’s may feel a special sense of loss during the holidays because of the changes he or she has experienced. At the same time, caregivers may feel overwhelmed maintaining traditions while providing care.  Holiday Tip Sheet

Eldercare Q&A – All About Medicare Open Enrollment

By |October 24th, 2017|

All About Medicare Open Enrollment

Q: What happens during  Medicare Open Enrollment?

A: Medicare holds an Open Enrollment period every Fall. This year it began on October 15th, and ends on December 7th. This is when all people with Medicare can change their Medicare health plans and prescription drug coverage for the coming year to better meet their needs, like changing the cost of your plan, benefit coverages, and which providers or pharmacies are in your plan.

Original Medicare includes  coverage for hospital and doctor care (Parts A and B)  that is managed by the federal government. You generally have to pay a deductible before Medicare pays its share, and a portion of the cost for each service you use. You can also add a Medicare Drug Plan (Part D). Because of the out-of-pocket payments required by Original Medicare, you can choose a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C), which is offered by private companies. These companies contract with Medicare to provide Part A and Part B benefits.

Medicare Advantage Plans include Health Maintenance Organizations HMOs) that limit you to the doctors and other providers in their network;  Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), in which you pay less for providers that are in the Plan’s network;  Private Fee-for-Service Plans, which are similar to Original Medicare; Special Needs Plans, which provide specialized health are for specific groups of people, like those who have Medicare and Medicaid, or have certain chronic conditions; and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans, which combine a high deductible health plan with a bank account.  In most Medicare Advantage Plans, you get services from a plan’s network of providers, so make sure the doctor you want is in the network, and the drugs you need are covered by the plan. Most Medicare Advantage Plans offer prescription drug coverage.

During Open Enrollment, you can: change from Original Medicare  to a Medicare Advantage Plan; change from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare; switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another; switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage to one that does; switch to a Medicare Advantage Plan doesn’t offer drug coverage; switch from one Medicare drug plan to another, or drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.

All these options cause seniors great confusion about what to do during Open Enrollment.  You can start by reviewing the material that your Medicare health or prescription drug plan sent you in October. Look for the “Evidence of Coverage” and “Annual Notice of Change” messages. If you are satisfied that your current plans will meet your  needs for the coming year, and your plan is still being offered—they don’t need to do anything.

There is also a Medicare Advantage disenrollment period that runs from January 1st to February 14th.  During this period, you can leave your Medicare Advantage plan and switch to Original Medicare. If you switch to Original Medicare, you’ll have until February 14 to also add a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. During this period you can’t switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan, or switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another.

Fortunately, there are trained Medicare experts in your community that you can use for free. The SHINE program (Serving the Health Information Needs of Everyone) has counselors all across Massachusetts who can offer a private health insurance counseling session to help guide you to the right Medicare Plan for you. Call 1-800-AGE-INFO and push “3” to set up your SHINE counseling session and get on the right plan.

 

Open Enrollment is Here!

By |October 16th, 2017|

pen Enrollment is here! Now through Dec. 7th. The process can be overwhelming, but SHINE can help.

Hear from Tracey Stewart – she appreciated the impartial Medicare counseling offered in a place she felt safe going to. The SHINE program provides free, unbiased, and trusted Medicare counseling. Contact your local council on aging or call HESSCO at 781-784-4944 to speak with a SHINE counselor.

 

 

Eldercare Q&A – November, 2017 – Protection Against Utility, Phone Shut-Offs

By |October 3rd, 2017|

Q: Do the elderly or ill have protections against utility shut-offs?

A: Yes. Households in Massachusetts in which all adult members are age 65 or older—whether there is a financial hardship or not—are protected against utility and phone shut-offs. “Utility” means your gas or electric service to your home, or your landline telephone. Cell phones are not protected from shut off, and heating oil is not covered by utility law. Most oil companies require you pay at delivery. Be sure to ask all these fuel companies if they offer a “senior citizen discount”

Every year from November 15 to March 15, gas and electric companies cannot shut off your service because you are unable to pay. This moratorium does not apply if service was shut off for non-payment before November 15.

          When all adult members of the household are age 65 or older, your  utility company cannot terminate service without first applying for written authorization from the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) and giving written notice to the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, and to everyone in your household. Make sure that everyone 65 or older in your household has given your utility companies written information about their age. The law also protects grandparent-headed households: as long as the only people under age-65 living in the household are minors (under age-18).

The DPU is unlikely to approve a shut-off, especially if you are trying to make a good faith repayment effort.  But if you own your home, a utility might try to put a “lien” or “attachment” on your home,  to collect what is owed when you home is sold. Interest on the bills will be charged.

If all the members of your household are not 65 or older, you have another option: to submit that someone in the household has been diagnosed as having a “serious” or “chronic” condition. Your illness or condition has to be verified by the diagnosis of a medical doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant. The words “serious” and “chronic” are not defined in state law, so utility companies will usually go along with a doctor’s diagnosis. Attention Deficit Disorder, PTSD, asthma, anxiety or depression are examples of a serious illness or condition. All your doctor has to say is “you have a serious illness or chronic condition.” Your serious or chronic illness does not have to require uninterrupted utility service. If a shut-off  threat is on very short notice, your utility company has to accept a phone call from a doctor—but a follow up written letter will be needed within 7 days of the call. The utility has to keep service on for 3 months once learn that a customer is “seriously ill.” If your illness is “chronic,” you can get six months protection. Ask your doctor’s office to fax their letter directly to the utility company, and to give you a receipt, because you may need proof to show your utility months later.

For phone land lines, the same “over 65” protections apply, as well as the “serious” illness protections. For  phone  service, only a doctor or clinician in a doctor’s office  can certify illnesses. The same phone call from a doctor rule  applies if a shut-off is imminent, with a follow up written illness letter within 7 days. A doctor’s letter can be renewed two times, totaling 90-days protection.

The phone company won’t shut-off service if the customer asks for “personal emergency protection,” demonstrates that he or she cannot pay the bill,  and  that phone service is necessary to protect the health or safety of a member of the household. An elder with an emergency alert button around his or her neck, for example, could ask for personal emergency protection. If the phone company denies the protection, the customer can appeal to the Department of Telecommunications and Energy (DTE). Ask your gas, electric or phone company to send you an elderly household protection form, or a serious illness/chronic condition, or personal emergency protection form.

Even with these shut-off protections, you are still responsible for paying off your bill, and you will be charged interest for late payments.

If you are facing a utility shut-off, contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Hotline at (617) 727-8400. To read more on your shut off rights, go to: http://www.masslegalhelp.org/special-protections-against-shut-offs


 

 

Eldercare Q&A October, 2017 Learning About Lung Health

By |September 13th, 2017|

Eldercare Q&A – October, 2017 – Learning About Lung Health

Q:What are the major lung conditions elders should know about?


A:
Diseases of the lung are almost as common as breathing air. Lung problems that are common among older people include: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, lung cancer, and asthma.  Q&A column Oct 2017 Lung Health