Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, July 6, 2019

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Mountain View News Saturday, July 6, 2019 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …July Birthdays*

Nina Bartolai, Mary Lou Caldwell, Louise Neiby, Betty Hansen, Christine Durfort, 
Shahrzad Azrani, Jeanne Borgedahl, Janet Cox, Dorothy Montgomery, Bess 
Pancoska, Janet Swanson, Linda Thunes, Barbara Watson, Pat Alcorn, Karma Bell, 
Alice Clark, Dorothy Jerneycic, and Betty Dos Remedios

 * 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. Will Resume in September 2019

Free Legal Consultation: Wednesday, July 25th 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.

JULY EXCURSION

AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC (Long Beach) July 17, 2019

Level of Walking: HIGH

Lunch will be on your own and spending money optional. 

 Registration Now Open through Thursday, July 11, 2019

 *Maximum - 35 participants


SENIOR CINEMA - 2nd & 4th Wednesday 1:00 pm

 
July 10TH THE UPSIDE PG-13; 2hr. 6 min

Phillip is a wealthy quadriplegic who needs a caretaker to help him 
with his day-to-day routine in his New York penthouse. He decides to 
hire Dell, a struggling parolee who's trying to reconnect with his ex and 
his young son. Despite coming from two different worlds, an unlikely 
friendship starts to blossom as Dell and Phillip rediscover the joy of living 
life to the fullest.

July 24th “A Dog’s Way Home” PG; 1 hr. 50 36 min.

As a puppy, Bella finds her way into the arms of Lucas, a young man 
who gives her a good home. When Bella becomes separated from Lucas, 
she soon finds herself on an epic 400-mile journey to reunite with her 
beloved owner. Along the way, the lost but spirited dog touches the lives 
of an orphaned mountain lion, a down-on-his-luck veteran and some 
friendly strangers who happen to cross her path.


WHERE TO GET HELP PAYING 
YOUR MEDICARE COSTS

Dear Savvy Senior:

Are there any sources you know of that can help 
me save on my Medicare coverage? I’m 65, and live 
primarily on my Social Security, and am having a 
hard time paying my Medicare out-of-pocket costs. Need Some Help

Dear Need:

There are several financial assistance programs that can help lower-income Medicare beneficiaries 
who are having a difficult time paying their out-of-pocket health care costs. Here’s what’s available, 
along with the eligibility requirements and how to apply. 

Medicare Savings Programs

Let’s start with a program that helps pay premiums and out-of-pocket costs for Medicare Parts A 
and B. It’s called the Medicare Savings Program (MSP), and it has several different benefit levels for 
people based on their income and asset level. At its most generous the program will pay your Part 
A and B premiums and pretty much all your Medicare deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. 
At its least generous the program will pay just your Part B premium.

To qualify for a MSP, the minimum standard set by Medicare, is an income under 135 percent of 
the federal poverty level, which at the moment works out to around $1,426 a month for individuals 
(or $1,923 for married couples). Everything counts towards income, including payouts from 
401(k) plans, pensions, Social Security, and help from family members.

Medicare also allows states to impose an asset test, which can be as little as $7,730 per individual 
($11,600 for married couples), not counting your house or car but counting retirement savings 
and bank accounts.

But some states have made their MSP programs a lot more generous, with much higher income 
limits and in some cases no asset tests at all. And the program may be called something else in your 
state. To find out if you qualify or to apply, contact your state Medicaid program. Visit Medicare.
gov/contacts or call all 800-633-4227 for contact information.

Medication Extra Help

For help with Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plan costs, there is another completely separate 
program called Extra Help. To get it, you’ll need to apply through your local Social Security office.

Depending on how low your income is, this program will pay part or all of your Part D prescription 
drug plan’s monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. In 2019, 
individuals with a yearly income below $18,735 ($25,365 for a married couple), and assets under 
$14,390 ($28,720 for a married couple) can qualify for Extra Help.

If you’re eligible to be in a Medicare Savings Program, you will automatically qualify for Extra 
Help. But because the requirements are slightly different, even if you don’t qualify for a Medicare 
Savings Program for Part B you might be able to get Extra Help for Part D. For more information 
or to apply, visit SSA.gov/extrahelp or call Social Security at 800-772-1213.

Other Assistance Programs

Depending on your income level, needs and location there are many other financial assistance programs 
that can help like Medicaid, SSI (Supplemental Security Income), PACE (Program of All-
inclusive Care for the Elderly), SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), (LIHEAP) 
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and many others.

To help you find out what types of assistance programs you may be eligible for, and learn how 
to apply for them, go to BenefitsCheckUp.org. This is a free, confidential Web tool designed for 
people age 55 and older that contains more than 2,500 programs.

It’s also possible to get help in person at one of the 87 Benefits Enrollment Centers scattered across 
the U.S. Call 888-268-6706 or visit NCOA.org/centerforbenefits/becs to locate a center in your 
area. Some centers also offer assistance over the phone.

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. 


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