Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, November 30, 2019

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Mountain View News Saturday, November 30, 2019 


SENIOR HAPPENINGS


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! ….December Birthdays*

Maria Decker, Nancy Dorn, Prudence Levine Pat Karamitros, Joan Hufnagel, Mary 
Alice Cervera, Carol Horejsi, Shirley Anhalt, Helen Reese, Levon Yapoujian, Toni 
Buckner, Lottie Bugl, Pat McGuire, Sheila Wohler, Nan Murphy, Eleanor Hensel, Sylvia 
Curl, Elizabeth Levie, Gayle Licher, Cindy Barran, and Melissa Stute.

 * To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. 
YEAR of birth not required

HART PARK HOUSE MONTHLY PROGRAMS: 

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 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 
Join the class with Instructor Barbara Dempsey as she leads you in the art of Hula!

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

Free Blood Pressure Testing: 2nd Tuesdays Monthly from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary.

Brain Games: Every third Thursday of the month at 12:45-1:45pm Join us for Scattergories, a creative thinking game by 
naming objects within a set of categories; or Jenga, a block-building challenge that keeps you stacking and bal-ancing your 
tower. Everyone is welcome, and no experience is needed. A great way to strengthen your mind and make new friends... 
Games are facilitated by Senior Volunteers. 

Free Legal Consultation: Wednesday, December 18th from 10:30 a.m. - Noon. Attorney Lem Makupson is available for 
legal consultation. Specializing in Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Estates and Injury. Please call the Hart Park House for an 
appointment, 626-355-5278 ext. 704.

Senior Club: Meets Saturdays, Weekly at Hart Park House Brown Bag Lunch, great company and bingo at 11:30 a.m.

Chair Yoga: Mondays & Wednesdays 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. with Paul Hagen. Classes include Yoga and balance exercises. All 
ability levels are encouraged and welcomed!

Birthday Celebration: Every 2nd Thursday Monthly at the Hart Park House. Share free birthday cake and ice cream 
kindly provided by the Senior Community Commission!

Game Day: Every Thursday Monthly 12:00 Noon come into the Hart Park House and join a lively poker game with 
friends!

Free Strength Training Class: Fridays 12:45 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. with Lisa Brandley Light weights, low impact resistance 
training and body conditioning. Class equipment provided.

Gentle Yoga for Active Seniors: Every Monday & Wednesday from 8:15 - 9:45 a.m. with Andrea Walsh at the Hart Park 
House. Classes include complete floor relaxation, standing and floor postures, balancing, and featuring extended 
meditations on the fourth Wednesdays of the month! Call (626)-355-5278 for more information.


MEALS - ON - WHEELS PROGRAM

The Home Delivered Meals Program provides healthy meals to homebound Seniors 60 and above. Seven 
frozen meals, milk, bread and fruit are included and delivered once a week. $3 Donation per meal is 
suggested but remains completely anonymous and voluntary. Clients must be eligible and we invite you 
to contact YWCA Intervale Senior Services at 626-214-9467. SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT 
NOTICE SUGGESTED DONATION $3.00 1% LOW FAT MILK INCLUDED

SENIOR CINEMA


WHAT TO DO WHEN MEDICARE TELLS YOU NO

Dear Savvy Senior:

How do I go about appealing Medicare when they won’t pay for something that they covered in the 
past? Rejected Rhonda

Dear Rhonda: 

If you disagree with a coverage or payment decision 
made by Medicare, you can appeal, and 
you’ll be happy to know that around half of all 
appeals are successful, so it’s definitely worth your 
time.

But before going that route, talk with the doctor, 
hospital and Medicare to see if you can spot the 
problem and resubmit the claim. Some denials are caused by simple billing code errors by the doctor’s 
office or hospital. If, however, that doesn’t fix the problem, here’s how you appeal.

Original Medicare Appeals

If you have original Medicare, start with your quarterly Medicare Summary Notice (MSN). This 
statement will list all the services, supplies and equipment billed to Medicare for your medical 
treatment and will tell you why a claim was denied. You can also check your Medicare claims early 
online at MyMedicare.gov, or by calling Medicare at 800-633-4227.

There are five levels of appeals for original Medicare, although you can initiate a fast-track consideration 
for ongoing care, such as rehabilitation. Most people have to go through several levels to 
get a denial overturned.

You have 120 days after receiving the MSN to request a “redetermination” by a Medicare contractor, 
who reviews the claim. Circle the items you’re disputing on the MSN, provide an explanation 
of why you believe the denial should be reversed, and include any supporting documents like a 
letter from the doctor or hospital explaining why the charge should be covered. Then send it to 
the address on the form.

You can also use the Medicare Redetermination Form. See CMS.gov/Medicare/CMS-Forms/
CMS-Forms/downloads/CMS20027.pdf to download it or call 800-633-4227 to request a copy 
by mail.

The contractor will usually decide within 60 days after receiving your request. If your request is 
denied, you can request for “reconsideration” from a different claims reviewer and submit additional 
evidence.

A denial at this level ends the matter, unless the charges in dispute are at least $160 in 2019. In that 
case, you can request a hearing with an administrative law judge. The hearing is usually held by 
videoconference or teleconference.

If you have to go to the next level, you can appeal to the Medicare Appeals Council. Then, for 
claims of at least $1,630 in 2019, the final level of appeals is judicial review in U.S. District Court.

Advantage and Part D Appeals

If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage health plan or Part D prescription drug plan the appeals 
process is slightly different. With these plans you have only 60 days to initiate an appeal. 
And in both cases, you must start by appealing directly to the private insurance plan, rather than 
to Medicare. 

If you think that your plan’s refusal is jeopardizing your health, you can ask for a “fast decision,” 
where a Part D insurer must respond within 24 hours, and Medicare Advantage health plan must 
provide an answer within 72 hours.

If you disagree with your plan’s decision, you can file an appeal, which like original Medicare, has 
five levels. If you disagree with a decision made at any level, you can appeal to the next level.

For more information, along with step-by-step procedures on how to make an appeal, visit Medicare.
gov and click on the “Claims & Appeals” tab at the top of the page.

Get Help

If you need some help contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which has 
counselors that can help you understand the billing process and even file your appeal for you for 
free. To locate your local SHIP, visit ShiptaCenter.org or call 877-839-2675. The Medicare Rights 
Center also offers free phone counseling at 800-333-4114.

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.

SCROOGED December 4th “Scrooged” PG-41; 1 hr. 41 min.

A selfish, cynical television executive is haunted by three spirits bearing lessons 
on Christmas Eve

 

 "THE MAN WHO INVENTED 
CHRISTMAS" 

December 18th "The Journey that led to Charles Dickens "A 
Christmas Carol", a timeless tale that would redefine Christmas


DECEMBER EXCURSION 

* As this is a rain-or-shine event, consider bringing an umbrella in case it rains.

* Lots of great food and drinks are available at the Zoo;

* Spending money is optional for your purchase of lunch & souvenirs;

* Level of Walking: High

Glowing animals welcome you on an unforgettable nighttime journey that includes the world’s largest 
illuminated pop-up storybook, a magical disco ball forest, giant glittering snowflakes, and a twinkling 
tunnel filled with dynamic swirls of color. L.A. Zoo Lights is a not-to-be-missed holiday light experience 
and has grown brighter every year since its debut in 2014. This year’s event features more light 
animals than ever before, spectacular new additions – both hand-crafted and high-tech – and returning 
favorites. 

Take a self-guided 60- to 90-minute stroll through a large area of the Zoo filled with wildlife-inspired 
displays, dynamic lights and projections, immersive interactive experiences, fabulous photo ops, and 
seasonal magic. Enter a fantastical realm to discover more light animals than ever before – with tigers, 
lions, macaws, monkeys, meerkats, and flamingos “decorating” the Zoo just for you! 

**Last Registration Date is Tuesday, December 10, 2019**

LA ZOO LIGHT SHOW (LOS ANGELES)

DECEMBER 17TH 5:00 P.M.- 9:30 P.M

$25 PER PERSON

OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

 


Now that Thanksgiving is over, I can 
sit back and recoup from the activity. 
I'm not sure about anybody else, but 
a holiday such as Thanksgiving takes a lot out of me. Of 
course, it puts a lot in me, but that's another story.

 The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly 
were catching our breath right after our Thanksgiving 
fiesta. I was enjoying the quiet moment when my wife 
said to me, "Do you know what time it is?"

 I glanced at my wristwatch and said, "It's 8:30 right on 
the dot."

 My wife threw one of those looks at me, I was tempted 
not to catch and said, "That's not what I mean, and you 
know it."

 This is the problem I have. My wife assumes I know 
exactly what she's talking about every time she speaks. 
To be quite honest, it is a rare day when Yours Truly 
knows exactly what the wife is talking about whenever 
she speaks. This might be the reason I get into a little bit 
of trouble with her every now and then.

 She then continued. "What I mean is, do you know 
what time it is now?"

 I was tempted to say, "It's 8:32," but I learned my lesson, 
so I casually asked, "No, what time is it?"

 She sighed very deeply and said, "It's time to get the 
Christmas decorations down out of the attic and decorate 
our house for Christmas."

 Upon hearing those words, I immediately froze in my 
chair. I was hoping this year there would be an appreciative 
pause between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I 
must say I'm quite a fan of both holidays and all they 
represent. However, I certainly would like to get over 
one before I get into the other.

 "You'll have to go up to the attic and bring down all of 
our Christmas decoration boxes."

 I do not relish this job. I go into the attic twice a year; 
once to bring the Christmas decorations down, and 
once to take them back when Christmas is over. If anybody 
were to seek my opinion about this whole matter, 
I would immediately opine that twice a year is two times 
too many for me.

 I don't like the attic. It is dark and spooky up there. I'm 
not quite sure who or what inhabits the attic, but I hear 
some awfully strange noises coming from there regularly, 
especially in the middle of the night. I'm not suggesting 
a ghost may be living in our attic, but it hasn't 
been proven otherwise.

 I do not believe in ghosts, but a person cannot be too 
careful these days.

 If I could have a wish for this time of the year, I think it 
would be that the next holiday should not begin before 
the last holiday has sufficiently worn off. I'm not sure if 
it is my age or what, but these holidays are coming fast 
and furious. No sooner do you get into the spirit of one 
holiday when the next holiday is knocking at your door.

 I do not think this is too unreasonable a wish. After 
all, there is a period of three weeks between Thanksgiving 
and Christmas, which I think should be used rather 
wisely.

 Even around our Thanksgiving Day table, everybody 
was chattering about what they were looking forward to 
for Christmas. Everybody seemed to be playing old St. 
Nick and checking his or her Christmas list twice.

 I remember as a child we would set up the Christmas 
tree and all of the decorations on Christmas Eve. Then, 
New Year's Day it would all be packed away for another 
year. That gave us approximately one week to enjoy the 
Christmas decorations.

 I'm almost at the point of saying, Happy Holiday, for 
the simple reason I'm not quite sure which holiday 
we are celebrating. Is it Thanksgiving? Or, maybe it's 
Christmas? Or, then again, it may be New Year's Day. 
Whoever designed these holidays so closely together 
needs to rethink the strategy here.

 Another wish I might have. Holidays should not be 
an excuse to go shopping. Somebody should pass some 
kind of congressional bill stating that on holidays people 
should stay at home. Holidays should be a family 
affair. It should not be a contest to see who can spend 
the most money on one day. I know I stand alone on 
this issue, but I don’t mind. It’s my opinion and I’ll keep 
it to myself, thank you.

 The day after Thanksgiving, I heard somebody on the 
radio singing, "We wish you a Merry Christmas." I 
don't mind being wished a Merry Christmas, but 
I sure do wish they would wait until Christmas to 
wish me such pleasantries.

 Even Jesus recognized the importance of resting. 
"And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart 
into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were 
many coming and going, and they had no leisure 
so much as to eat.” (Mark 6:31).

 Then I heard a certain store in our community 
was not permitting any of their employees to say 
to any customer, "Merry Christmas." To which I, 
seeing the challenge before me, promptly went to 
that store, not to buy anything, but to wish everybody 
I saw "Merry Christmas." After all, under 
such circumstances, you can’t start too soon to 
wish people Merry Christmas.

A POST THANKSGIVING WISHBONE


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