Question: When will my new insurance for 2021 begin? Answer: During open enrollment many people evaluate their insurance coverage and make a change to a better plan for their needs in the coming year. Once this has been done, the first thing that usually happens is you receive a welcome ...

Question: Why does the medicare.gov website show n/a for pricing of 2021 prescription drug plans No. 1 and No. 2? Answer: Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment is until Dec.7 and using the medicare.gov website is always an interesting time for us and all those with Medicare. This year ...

Question: How may insulin be less expensive in 2021? Answer: Insulin has been very expensive for a number of years. I have seen many Medicare eligible people spend thousands of dollars each year to pay for their insulin. This year the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has ...

Do you have a Medicare Advantage Plan? Are you a diabetic who takes insulin? If you answered YES to both questions, you may be able to apply for a Medicare Part D plan choice that offers insulin co-payments of no more that $35 for a 30-day supply. These choices apply to Medicare Part D ...

The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine. Everyone over 6 months of age should get a flu vaccine every year according to the New York state Health department. The campaign slogan says, “Stop the Flu It’s Up to You”. And it really is! Get your flu shot now in the ...

I have been fortunate to work side-by-side with someone I consider a mentor with a gentle strength. Don’t let her calm, soft-spoken demeanor fool you; she is a force and has been integral to the Chautauqua County Office for Aging Services Senior Nutrition Program for the past 31 years. We ...

2020 has been all about change for all of you as well as our office. Late last year before the pandemic hit, our advisory council voted to change our name to the Office for Aging Services. A small change that we hoped would better emphasize the services we provide rather than “aging” which ...

Question: What happens now that my prescription drug plan will not be offered in 2021? Answer: This year there are only three plans that will not be offered in 2021. The three monthly plans are Magellan Rx Medicare Basic, $35.80, Journey Rx Standard, $32.80, and Journey Rx Value, $26.10. ...

Question: Why is there a difference in price between a shingles vaccine and a flu shot? Answer: Immunizations are covered by different parts of your Medicare coverage. The flu shot, along with the pneumococcal vaccine are covered under Original Medicare Part B. Both of these vaccines have been ...

A Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) is not a bill. It is a notice mailed quarterly to Medicare Beneficiaries which includes a list of services provided during the past 3 months. It will also list any services that were denied or not covered by Medicare. An Explanation of Benefits (EOB), is a ...

Water makes up about 70% of the human body. From our bloodstream to inside each and every cell, it is required in every life-sustaining body process. Water is very important to our health, yet is often overlooked in our diets. In addition to providing cushion and temperature control, water ...

As COVID numbers start to surge in our county, it’s important to remember that older adults with and without underlying health conditions are the most at risk for severe consequences and death from this disease. We have already had 10 deaths in our county and all of these people were over the ...

Question: When do we find out what our insurance looks like in next year? Answer: Well school has started and that means we are fast approaching my favorite time of year, Annual Open Enrollment Period for the Medicare insurance products. Individuals with Medicare in the coming weeks will be ...

Question: I am still working but curious about collecting Social Security benefits, so when am I eligible to collect Social Security? Answer: I feel like Labor Day is the perfect day to address this question. To collect Social Security benefits you must “file a claim” with the Social ...

Question: How do I know that the call I received from a contact tracer stating that I may have been in contact with someone who tested positive to COVID is real and what is my next step? Answer: Contact tracing has been a tool utilized by organizations and governments for many years. ...

Question: How do I get rid of the medications I no longer take? Answer: Usually medications and how to obtain them and costs are discussed, but this is the other side of the medication discussion. Do not flush your unused medications down the toilet. Those medications are toxic to our water ...

There is so much going on in the world and it is difficult to know what is available and what is not. Ads on TV, FaceBook and word of mouth can sometimes mislead people when looking for help. Sometimes you need a trusted source to help you navigate to what you need right then and there! ...

So for most of you, Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment is still looking like it’s far away. Due to COVID-19, the Office for Aging’s Health Insurance, Information and Assistance program (HIICAP) is looking at Open Enrollment now and planning for how we should assist our clients from Oct. ...

We hope everyone is staying safe as we continue to take precautions to protect ourselves and our loved ones from COVID-19. As you know, until there is a vaccine available and it can be widely distributed, we need to limit our circles of contact to protect the most vulnerable, people over 65 ...

Diabetes is a serious condition that, if not controlled, can cause health problems such as heart disease, nerve damage, eye problems, kidney damage, and teeth and gum damage. Controlling diabetes is a lot of work – you have to work to maintain your weight, increase physical activity, make ...