Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, May 27, 2017

WHAT TO DO WITH CREMATED ASHES? 
Mountain Views-News Saturday, May 27, 2017 10 THE GOOD LIFE 
SENIOR HAPPENINGSTHE GOOD LIFE 
SENIOR HAPPENINGS
HEALTH COVERAGE OPTIONS FOR 
PRE-MEDICARE-AGE SPOUSES 

Dear Savvy Senior,
My wife, who is 62, is on my health insurance plan throughmy employer. When I retire in a few months at 65, and goon Medicare, what are my wifeÕs options? Is there somekind of Medicare coverage for dependent spouses, or do wehave to purchase Obamacare?
Approaching Retirement 

Dear Approaching,
Medicare, unfortunately, does not offer family coverage toyounger spouses or dependent children when you qualifyfor Medicare. Nobody can obtain Medicare benefitsbefore age 65, unless eligible at a younger age because ofdisability. With that said, here are some coverage options,
including Obamacare, to consider for your wife.

Keep working: If possible, consider working past age

65. This would allow your wife to continue coverageunder your employer health insurance until she becomeseligible for Medicare.
Employer options: If your employer provides retireehealth benefits, check with your benefits administrator tofind out if they offer any options that would allow yourwife to continue coverage under their plan. Or, if yourwife works, see if she can she switch to health insurance 
provided by her own employer.

COBRA: If you work for a company that has 20 or moreemployees, once you make the switch to Medicare, yourwife could stay with your company insurance plan for atleast 18 months (but could last up to 36 months) undera federal law called COBRA. YouÕll need to sign her upwithin 60 days after her last day of coverage. But be awarethat COBRA isnÕt cheap. YouÕll pay the full monthlypremium yourself, plus a 2 percent administrativefee. To learn more, see DOL.gov/ebsa/publications/
cobraemployee.html or call 866-444-3272.

If, however, the company you work for has fewer than20 employees, you may still be able to get continuedcoverage through your company if your state has Òmini-
COBRA.Ó Contact your state insurance department tosee if this is available where you live.

Individual insurance: Buy your wife an individualhealth insurance policy through the Health InsuranceMarketplace (aka Obamacare) until she turns 65. TheMarketplace, as it stands now, offers comprehensivehealth coverage and they canÕt deny her coverage orcharge extra for preexisting health conditions. 


SPECTATORS ENCOURAGED TO CHEER ON 
ATHLETES AT PASADENA SENIOR GAMES 

And, if your income falls below the 400 percentpoverty level . anything below $47,520 for an individualor $64,080 for a couple in 2017 . you may be eligible fora tax credit that will reduce the amount youÕll have topay for a policy. To see how much you can save, see thesubsidy calculator on the Kaiser Family Foundationwebsite at KFF.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator.

To shop for marketplace plans in your state, visitHealthcare.gov or call their toll-free helpline at 
800-318-2596. 

If, however, your wife isnÕt eligible for the governmentsubsidy, or you want additional policy options to whatthe Marketplace offers, you can also buy health coverageoutside the government marketplaces directly through aprivate insurance company, an online insurance seller, oran agent or broker. This option is not available if you livein Washington D.C. or Vermont.

These policies do not offer the federal tax credits, butthey are required to offer the same menu of essentialbenefits as Marketplace policies do, and they canÕt 
deny coverage or charge extra for preexisting healthconditions. You might even find slightly lower premiumson outside policies, assuming that you donÕt qualify forthe tax credits. 

To find a local broker or agent that sells insurance plans,
check the National Association of Health Underwriters 
website (NAHU.org) which has an online directory. Butkeep in mind that agents wonÕt necessarily show you allavailable policies, just the ones from insurers they workwith. 

You can also look for these plans at insurance shoppingsites like eHealthInsurance.com or GoHealth.com, 
which lists plans and providers that may not be listed onHealthcare.gov.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. JimMiller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and authorof ÒThe Savvy SeniorÓ book. 

JUNE 3 TO 25 

About 1,500 athletes ages 50 to 90 and older will compete in thePasadena Senior Games from June 3 to 25. 

Of the 20 competitive categories from archery to volleyball, themost popular every year for spectators of all ages are track and fieldcompetitions and swim meets. Non-athletes ages 50+ also throng toparticipate in the annual 5K Fun Walk.

“The Pasadena Senior Games promote healthy, active lifestylesthat keep older adults young in body, mind and spirit,” said Akila 
Gibbs, executive director of the Pasadena Senior Center. “I encourageeveryone to come to these events and cheer on these remarkableathletes.” 

Track and field competitions will take place Saturday, June 3,
beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Caltech, 1200 E. California Blvd. Theathletic track/field is just south of the baseball diamond behind theCahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics across the streetfrom the main campus. Access to parking lots and undergroundparking is available via South Wilson Avenue as well as a roadway offCalifornia Boulevard adjacent to the east side of the Cahill Center.

. Track events include 400-, 800-, 1,500- and 5,000-meter run, 50-, 
100- and 200-meter dash, 1,500- and 5,000-meter walk, 1,500-meter 
power walk and grandparent/grandchild relay.
. Field events include softball throw, javelin, pole vault, long jump,
discus, shot put, triple jump and high jump. 
Swim meets in advanced and novice categories are scheduledSunday, June 4, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center,
360 S. Arroyo Blvd. Free parking is available in RBAC and BrooksidePark lots. 

. Advanced swimming competitions include 100-, 200- and400-meter freestyle, 50- 100- and 200-meter breaststroke, 50-, 100and 
200-meter backstroke, 50- and 100-meter butterfly, 50-, 100and 
200-meter freestyle and 200-meter individual medley.
. Novice meets include 25- and 50-yard freestyle, 25- and 50-yardbreaststroke, 25- and 50-yard backstroke, 25- and 50-yard butterflyand 100-yard individual medley.
For more information about these popular spectator events,
as well as all Pasadena Senior Games competitions, visit www.
pasadenaseniorcenter.org, email AnnieL@pasadenaseniorcenter.
org or call 626-685-6702. The non-competitive 5K Fun Walkbeginning at 9 a.m. on Father’s Day – Sunday, June 18 – is $15 andopen to everyone ages 50 and older. Many walkers bring their fatherson this special day. Park for free in Lot B near the Rose Bowl Stadiumand meet at Area H, the large, grassy area just south of the stadium.
The walk will proceed around the 3.3-mile Rose Bowl RecreationLoop that encircles the Rose Bowl Stadium and the fairways ofBrookside Golf Course. The registration deadline is June 12. Awardswill be presented to all walkers. 
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 
................................................................... 


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

Hawaiian & Polynesian Dance Class: Every Tuesday morning from 10a.m.
to 11a.m. Join instructor Barbara Dempsey as she leads you in the art of Hula. 

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


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

Brain Games: Thursdays, 10:30a.m. to 11:30a.m., improve your memory and strengthen your 
brain. Activities facilitated by Senior Volunteers. 

Free Legal Consultation: Wednesdays from 10:30a.m. to Noon. Attorney Lem Makupson isavailable for legal consultation. He specializes in Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Estates, and Injury.
Appointments are required by calling 626-355-7394. 

Senior Club: Meets every Saturday at the Hart Park House Senior Center. Brown Bag Lunch at 
11:30a.m. 

Tax Assistance: Every Wednesday beginning on February 1st through April 12th from 1:00p.m.
to 2:00p.m. - Don Brunner is available for income tax consultation. Appointments are required by 
calling 626-355-7394. 

Chair Yoga: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 to 11:45a.m. with Paul Hagen. 3rd Monday of eachmonth, a variety of balance exercises are practiced. All ability levels are encouraged and welcomed! 

*A suggested donation of $5 at one of the classes is requested, but is not required. 

Case Management: 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 Hart Park HouseOffice at 626-355-7394. 

Birthday Celebrations: Every 2nd Thursday of the month at the Hart Park House, share some freebirthday cake provided by the Sierra Madre Civic Club. 

Game Day: Every Thursday starting at 12:00p.m. Come join this group of Seniors in a poker game. 
Other games are offered to all. Please note time change. 

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

Stress, Resilience, Positivity: Finding Balance - by The Kensington Sierra Madre Four Tuesdays,
March 7 - 28th from 2:00 - 4:00p.m. Register by calling 213-821-6919 or 213-821-6908. 

SEASONAL FUN AT THE SENIOR CENTER 

Thursday, May 25th from 10:30a.m. – 11:30a.m. at the Hart Park House! 

Just in time for spring! Join us in making a silk flowers planter. All supplies will be provided. Let’s getcreative... Please call the Hart Park House, 626-355-7394, to make your reservations. 
Invite your friends and family for some arts and crafts fun and take home your planters for the season 


SENIOR EXCURSIONS 
MAY EXCURSION 


BOWERS MUSEUM - SANTA ANA 


Date: Tuesday, May 30th 
Time: 9:15a.m. to 3:00p.m. 

Meeting Location: Hart Park House 
Cost: $15.00 (Not including Lunch) 


The Bowers Museum is an art museum located in beautiful Orange County. The museum’s permanent
collection includes more than 100,000 objects featuring notable strengths in areas of pre-Columbian
Mesoamerica, Native American art, the art of Asia, Africa, and Oceania, and California plein-air 
painting.


 Participants will have time to explore the museum and have lunch on their own. Restaurant is open in
the museum and fast food places are a short walk away. There will be a docent-guided tour in the afternoon
which will feature highlights of galleries throughout , providing a great overview of the museum’s unique
collections. Level of walking: Medium – High; please call us at the Hart Park House for reservations at 
626-355-7394! 


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