Mountain Views News          Saturday, May 21, 2016

THE GOOD LIFE

9

Mountain Views-News Saturday, May 21, 2016 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

HOW TO PICK A MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN


Dear Savvy Senior,

I’m approaching 65 and am interested in a 
Medicare Advantage plan to cover my health care 
and medications. What tips can you provide to 
help me pick a plan?

Medicare Shopper

 Dear Shopper,

Medicare Advantage plans have become 
increasingly popular among retirees over the past 
10 years, as more than 30 percent of Medicare 
participants are now enrolled in an Advantage 
plan. Here are some tips and tools to help you 
pick a plan that fits your needs.

 First, let’s start with a quick review. Medicare 
Advantage plans (also known as Medicare Part 
C) are government approved health plans sold 
by private insurance companies that you can 
choose in place of original Medicare. The vast 
majority of Advantage plans are managed-care 
policies such as HMOs or PPOs that require you 
to get your care within a network of doctors.

 If you join an Advantage plan, the plan will 
provide all of your Part A (hospital insurance) 
and Part B (medical insurance) coverage. Some 
plans even offer extra benefits like vision, dental 
and hearing, and most plans include Part D 
prescription drug coverage too. 

 You also need to know that the monthly premiums 
for many Advantage plans are cheaper than if you 
got original Medicare, plus a separate Part D drug 
plan and a Medigap policy, but their deductibles and 
co-pays are usually higher. That makes these plans 
better suited for healthier retirees. 

How to Pick

 To help you pick a plan, a good first step is to 
call the office managers of the doctors you use 
and find out which Advantage plans they accept, 
and which ones they recommend. Then go to 
the Medicare Plan Finder tool at Medicare.gov/
find-a-plan and type in your ZIP code or your 
personal information to compare health plans 
with drug coverage in your area.

 This tool also provides a five-star rating system 
that evaluates each plan based on past customer 
satisfaction and quality of care the plan delivers. 
When comparing, here are some key points to 
consider:

 Total costs: Look at the plan’s entire pricing 
package, not just the premiums and deductibles. 
Compare the maximum out-of-pocket costs plus 
the copays and coinsurance charged for doctor 
office visits, hospital stays, visits to specialists, 
prescription drugs and other medical services. 
This is important because if you choose an 
Advantage plan, you’re not allowed to purchase 
a Medigap policy, which means you’ll be 
responsible for paying these expenses out of 
your own pocket.

 Drug coverage: Check the plan’s formulary – 
the list of prescription drugs covered – to be sure 
all the medications you take are covered without 
excessive co-pays or requirements that you try 
less expensive drugs first.

 Dental, vision and hearing: Some Advantage 
plans come with dental, vision and hearing 
benefits, but are often limited. Get the details on 
what exactly is covered.

 Coverage while traveling: Most Advantage 
plans limit you to using in-network doctors only 
within a service area or geographic region, so 
find out what’s covered if you need medical care 
when you’re away from home.

 Out-of-network coverage: Check to see what’s 
covered if you want to see a specialist in a 
hospital that is not in a plan’s network. You can 
get a list of doctors and hospitals that take part 
in a plan on the plan’s website.

 Retiree benefits: If you have employer-based 
retiree health coverage, be sure you speak with 
the benefits manager, because signing up for 
Medicare Advantage may void your coverage.

How to Enroll

Once you’ve selected a plan you can enroll either 
on the Medicare.gov website, over the phone at 
1-800-MEDICARE, directly with your chosen 
plan or through an insurance broker.

 If you need some help choosing a plan 
contact your State Health Insurance Assistance 
Program (SHIP) at Shiptacenter.org. Also see 
the HealthMetrix Research Cost Share Report 
at MedicareNewsWatch.com that lists the best 
Advantage plans based on health status.

 Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, 
P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit 
SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to 
the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy 
Senior” book.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …May Birthdays

Joann Serrato-Chi, Harriett Lyle, Jean Coleman, Birgitta Gerlinger, Donna 
Mathieson, Dorothy Murphy, Linda Wochnik, Marian Woodford, Debbie Sheridan, 
Joanne Anthony, Carole Axline, Kika Downey, Shirley Hall, Annie Scalzo, Janet Ten 
Eyck, Jane Thomas, Ray Burley. 

* To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth 
not required but you must be over 60.

...................................................................

ACTIVITIES: Unless listed differently, all activities are at the 
Hart Park House (Senior Center) 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre

 

 

 YWCA San Gabriel Valley - Intervale Senior Cafe 

Seniors 60 years of age and up can participate in the YWCA Intervale daily lunch program held 
at the Hart Park House Senior Center. Meals are served Monday through Friday at 12:00 pm 
and participants are encouraged to arrive by 11:45 am. Meals are a suggested donation of $3.00 
for seniors 60 and over or $5.00 for non-senior guests. Daily reservations are necessary, space is 
limited. Please reserve your lunch by calling 626-355-0256.

Tech Talk: Held on Monday, January 25th from 1:30-2:30pm. Learn how to use your new 
technology devises. Please reserve your space with the Hart Park House by calling 626-355-7394. 

 

Hawaiian and Polynesian Dance Class: Every Tuesday morning from 10am to 11am. Join 
instructor Barbara Dempsey as she instructs you in the art of hula. 

 

Bingo: Every Tuesday beginning at 1:00pm. Cards are only $0.25 each! Everyone is welcome to 
join. May be canceled if less than 5 people. 

 

Free Blood Pressure Testing: 2nd Tuesday of the month from 11am to 12pm. No appt. is 
necessary. 

 

Brain Games: Thursday, January 21st, 10:30am - 11:30am, improve your memory and strengthen 
your brain. Activities facilitated by Hugo, Community Liaison for New Wave Home care of 
Pasadena. 

 

Free Legal Consultation: Wednesday, January 27th from 10:30am to Noon. Attorney Lem 
Makupson is available for legal consultation. He specializes in Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Estates, 
and Injury. Appointment are required by calling 626-355-7394. 

Balance Class: No Balance Class due to Martin Luther King Holiday. 

 

Chair Yoga: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 to 11:45 am. A suggested donation of $5 at one 
of the classes is requested, but is not required. 

 

Case Management: Meets the 2nd Thursday of the month. Case Management services are 
provided by the YWCA and provide assistance in a variety of areas. Appointments are required 
and can be scheduled by calling the HPH Office at 626-355-7394. 

 

Birthday Celebrations: Every second Thursday of the month at the Hart Park House. The free 
birthday cake is provided by the Sierra Madre Civic Club. 

 

Game Day: Every Thursday starting at 12:00pm. (Please note the time change.) A regular group of 
seniors play poker. Other games available for use. 

 

Free Strength Training Class: Every Friday from 12:45pm to 1:30pm with Lisa Brandley. The 
class utilizes light weights for low impact resistance training. All materials for the class are 
provided. 

 

Senior Club: Every Saturday at the Hart Park House Senior Center. Brown bag lunch at 11:30am. 
Club meeting at noon. Bingo 12:30-3:30pm. Annual Membership is only $10.00. 


KATIE Tse.....................This and That

COUNT DOWN!


“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” That 
song is typically played at Christmas, but if you 
have school-age children or know people who 
work at elementary schools, you’ve probably 
heard them humming it lately. I have several 
friends and relatives in education, but I draw most 
of my information from my mom’s 30 plus years 
of teaching third grade in a public school. 

 Some years, the count down to the last day 
began the first week of school! My mom’s 
district printed the calendar of the entire school 
year on a single sheet of paper, with each week 
represented by a small box containing five dots. 
Holidays or “student free days” (a.k.a. professional 
development) were represented by a minus or 
pound sign. My mom highlighted all the non-dot 
days, and every Friday she’d shear another week 
off the page. My grandma used to tell her that she 
was clipping her life away. But, as my mom put 
it, “The time’s going to pass either way. Why not 
celebrate it?”

 That’s how a lot of people in education see 
the countdown to summer. I’ve heard of many 
creative ways teachers make the arrival of the 
last day more exciting. Nearly every school has a 
white board in the lounge, and the office staff start 
numbering the remaining days starting from 20 if 
it’s been a decent year, and maybe 30 if the year’s 
been rough. Some people write the numbers on 
squares of toilet paper and rip one off each day.

 Other imaginative methods include attaching 
small balloons, each with the number of remaining 
days, to a corkboard and popping them with darts. 
I like that idea, but with the heightened security at 
schools, I somehow doubt that darts are allowed 
on campus.

 With all the excitement surrounding summer, 
we can forget those people who start counting 
the days until school starts again --parents! One 
of my favorite television ads was for Staples and 
first aired in the 90’s. The ad came out around 
September, and featured an exuberant father 
sailing down the aisle at Staples on a shopping 
cart with two sullen school-aged children in 
tow. They scowled at him as he flung notebooks, 
pencils, and other school supplies into the 
cart. People in education can identify with the 
children, facing the year ahead of them. But for 
the parents, it is “The Most Wonderful Time of 
the Year!” 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com