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From Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, I encourage you to review and, if needed, change your Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) under Medicare’s Part D coverage. Changes you elect will become effective on Jan. 1. Certified Medicare counselors across Alaska can help you as part of the Medicare Information Office’s network of program Ambassadors, including through your local Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC). Give us a call, we would be glad to answer your questions, guide you through the process, and e...
The Anchorage Pioneer Home is located in downtown Anchorage. It's one of a number of assisted living homes operated by the State of Alaska. Brian Studstill, the communications director for the Alaska Department of Family and Community Services, said in an email that of the 164 residents in Anchorage Pioneer Home, 49 of them are eligible for Medicaid. Medicaid helps pay for services not covered by Medicare, including long-term care. According to the Alaska Department of Health, the state paid...
This October, the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Convention will once again shine a light on the wisdom and contributions of Alaska Native Elders. Two free special events-the Elizabeth Peratrovich Legal Clinic on Oct.16, and the Elder Appreciation & Wills Clinic on Oct. 17-will take place at the AFN Convention at the Dena'ina Convention Center, Second Floor, Room 5 in Anchorage, offering a blend of celebration of Elders and legal help for Alaskans. All are welcome at these free events and...
Oct. 1-31 National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Oct. 1-31 National ADHD Awareness Month Oct. 1-31 National Domestic Violence Awareness Month Oct. 1-31 National Filipino American History Month. Alaska officially recognizes October as Filipino American History Month following the passage of legislation signed into law in 2023. To learn more about the contributions of Filipino Americans to the state, check out Mana Alaska, a digital storytelling project dedicated to this community. https://www.manaalaska.com/ Oct. 4 National Golf Lover’s Day O...
Established in 1968, OPAG is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to improving services, developing programs, educating, promoting and implementing changes to help Alaska seniors live healthy, productive lives. Current programs: - publish the monthly Senior Voice newspaper - publish and distribute the Directory for Older Alaskans senior resource directory - provide information and referral services for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Affordable Health Care Act and other senior issues - organize monthly Providers' Breakfast...
Have you ever settled the affairs for a relative or friend who has passed? Are you the future estate executor for a relative? While my articles generally focus on fraud topics, I’m offering the following tips based on my ongoing experience to date to help future executors. I had a rude awakening when my mother passed away in March of this year. I thought I had a handle on her affairs as the executor; I was listed on her banking accounts and had been paying her bills for several years. It’s been months, and I am still spending hours each wee...
Q. Where can I learn more about tech-related topics? I’m not interested in news as much as how-to guides and general knowledge. A. There are so many options available online that finding gems can seem overwhelming. So I’m going to focus on a couple of sites that are well suited for helping my readers refresh their skills. The first is TechBoomers, which has focused on tech for the last 10 years but recently changed their name to Tech Life Unity (techlifeunity.com). Senior Planet is a site from AARP that hosts hundreds of video classes on top...
For those of us enrolled into Original Medicare (Parts A & B), most of us have also enrolled into one of Medicare’s Part D Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs). Each year, we may make changes to this prescription coverage during Medicare’s Open Enrollment period, which runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, for changes which will then go into effect from Jan. 1 onward. Leading up to this open enrollment, you will start to receive notices with information relating to any changes in your plan for the com...
Dear Savvy Senior, A few months ago, I took an ambulance to the hospital emergency room because I had a nasty fall at home, but just received a hefty $1,050 bill from the ambulance company. Doesn’t Medicare cover ambulance rides? - Frustrated Beneficiary Dear Beneficiary, Yes, Medicare does cover emergency ambulance services and, in limited cases, nonemergency ambulance services too, but only when they’re deemed medically necessary and reasonable. So, what does that mean? First, it means that your medical condition must be serious enough tha...
AARP Alaska Medicare scams spike each year during the open enrollment period from October through December. Scammers may pressure you to agree to a new plan or offer a new Medicare card, free medical equipment, or genetic testing. Scammers spoof the phone number to make it look like the call is coming from Medicare. They may know personal details like your date of birth or address, but don't let that fool you into thinking the caller is legitimate! Scammers can easily purchase or find that information. Remember, Medicare will not call you unexp...
As you may know, original Medicare covers approximately 80% of the cost of most out-patient services. But what about the remaining 20%, or even the other out-of-pocket costs like deductibles or the costs of in-patient care? You may want to consider purchasing a Medicare Supplement Insurance (also known as a Medigap) policy as a companion to your Medicare coverage. But how to know which one? My first recommendation is to obtain a copy of the “Consumer Guide to Medicare Supplement Insurance (...
When you have Medicare and another source of health care insurance coverage, you may at some point wonder, “Who pays first?” If you are like me, my first thought goes to the classic Abbott and Costello comedy routine, “Who’s on first?” and that is a much funnier topic. But with Medicare and other coverage, such as that offered by your employer, knowing which coverage is considered primary (and which then is secondary) can help to fully understand your covered insurance claims. Point 1: The di...
Jim Irsay died recently, age 65. If you don’t know who Jim Irsay was, he was the owner of the Indianapolis Colts football team. His father bought the team and moved it from Baltimore. Jim inherited the franchise and ran it for most of his life. Irsay had an estate which has been estimated at $4.8 billion, the Colts being the bulk of that at an estimated $4.4 billion. He was divorced and left his entire estate to his three daughters. This is going to be a problem for them. Under current law, e...
Amid the "No Kings" signs at the June 14 protests across the country were many seniors marching and holding signs about Social Security and Medicare. Bill Hall was one of them. "I worry they are going to reduce or destroy it," Hall said about Social Security. He lives in senior housing in Anchorage. "Everyone there is worried because everyone depends on Social Security." Others held up signs defending Medicaid, a program that supports adults with low incomes, older adults, people with...
Preventive health care is care you receive to prevent illness, detect medical conditions, and keep you healthy. Medicare covers many preventive health care services, including routine vaccines. Today I will discuss how the different parts of Medicare cover vaccines, along with some important notes about a few common vaccines. Point 1: Understand that most vaccines are covered by Medicare Part D If your provider recommends that you get a vaccine, in most cases this service will be covered by your...
I am a Certified Medicare Counselor working under SHIP. My office is in the Soldotna Senior Center, and I serve the state via phone. If you are local, I can help you as a walk-in. I am here Mondays through Thursday, 8 am to 3:30 pm. Call with your Medicare questions, 907-262-2322....
Hospice is not a place. And hospice care is not just about those who are dying. Hospice is a comprehensive, compassionate kind of care that focuses on living-hospice is about living as fully as possible, surrounded by family and friends, up until the end of life. Palliative care brings this special philosophy of care to people earlier in the course of a serious illness. Did you know that Hospice of Anchorage is a volunteer hospice? Did you know there are three Medicare hospice providers serving...
In this month's article, I will discuss Medicare's coverage of durable medical equipment, which is called DME for short. It is equipment that helps you complete daily activities. This category is also sometimes labeled more inclusively as DMEPOS for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies. Medical equipment to help you daily Durable medical equipment (DME) are items that help you complete your daily activities including a variety of items, such as walkers, wheelchairs,...
I am a Certified Medicare Counselor working under SHIP. My office is in the Soldotna Senior Center, and I serve the state via phone. If you are local, I can help you as a walk-in. I am here Mondays through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call with your Medicare questions, 907-262-2322....
Older adults are expressing their discontent with medication barriers. A large majority of older Americans feel that health insurance, including Medicare, should cover anti-obesity medications, according to a new University of Michigan study. More than half of older adults who meet criteria for obesity said they were interested in trying one of these drugs to manage their weight. Current law prevents Medicare from covering medications to treat obesity, and most private plans don’t cover the m...
Personally, I'm one for three in the mix. I am 78 so I have been on Medicare for years, but so far (knock on plywood-I'm in my home office) I have not had to sign up for SNAP or Medicaid. I have been very lucky in that my personal resources have been enough. But who knows what the future holds for us as individuals or for the programs as a whole? Suffice it to say that at this point on the program side it is not looking too rosy. Here's the big picture, and I'll just editorialize that we...
Dear Savvy Senior: My local Social Security office was recently shut down because of staff layoffs and large-scale downsizing by the Department of Government Efficiency. All this disruption makes me very nervous, as I’ll be applying for my Social Security retirement benefits later this year. My question is, how are we supposed to get help with our Social Security questions or problems now that our office is permanently closed? What can you tell me? –Anxious Aaron Dear Aaron: I’ve been getting a lot of questions on this very topic. The Socia...
There is a funny scene in a British sitcom called “The IT Crowd,” in which woman is trying to explain to her nerdy, clueless co-workers — both men — that she is having her monthly menstrual cycle, by using the euphemism “Aunt Irma has come to visit.” They, of course, don’t get it, so she tries others, my favorite being “I’ve fallen to the Communists” (to which one co-worker grudgingly admits that “they do have some strong arguments”). As a biological male I have never had to experience that part...
The Social Security Administration has updated recently announced measures to verify the identities of recipients and applicants. In-person identity proofing for people unable to use their personal my Social Security account for certain services will be effective April 14. “We have listened to our customers, Congress, advocates, and others, and we are updating our policy to provide better customer service to the country’s most vulnerable populations,” said Lee Dudek, the agency’s acting commissioner in a media statement. “In addition to extend...
Dear Savvy Senior: What can you tell me about service dogs for seniors with disabilities? My 67-year-old father has chronic arthritis and Parkinson's disease, and I'm wondering if an assistance dog could help make his life a little easier. -Dog Loving Leah Dear Leah: For people with disabilities and even medical conditions, service dogs can be fantastic help, not to mention they provide great companionship and an invaluable sense of security. But be aware that service dogs can be very expensive...
