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Senior News

We Need To Continue To Be Vigilant To Prevent COVID-19

Wow! It’s already July and we have been dealing with COVID-19 for 4 months now. I wish I could tell seniors that this will all be over soon and we can go back to normal but unfortunately I can’t. Until there is a vaccine everyone, but especially older adults, need to continue to be vigilant to prevent from becoming infected. Many younger people who become infected will either show no symptoms or talk about the virus as the worst flu they have ever had. My nephew in LA had it recently and experienced a loss of taste and smell but had no fever or cough. Even though his symptoms were ...

Tips On Identifying Contact Tracers Vs. Scam Artists

Have you been receiving all those annoying phone calls from scam artists stating they are contact tracers? Are they asking you for your personal identifying information? Have you received emails or text messages about contact tracing that want you to click on links for more information? More than likely these messages are from scam artists. As the number of COVID-19 cases have gone down in New York State, we know there will be a slight increase of the number of cases as the snowbirds return home for the summer. People who have tested positive for the coronavirus work with ...

Need To Enroll Into Medicare Part B?

If you are 65 years old or older and recently lost your employer health insurance coverage and now need to “opt in” to Medicare Part B, you are facing a dilemma about how to enroll into Medicare Part B since the Social Security offices are closed to the public due to COVID 19. There are two ways to apply for Medicare online: You can use the online application found here: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/ If you are enrolling back into Medicare Part B because you originally “opted out” of Part B because you had other coverage through you or your spouse’s ACTIVE employer ...

Briefs

EDITOR’S NOTE: Groups sending their news releases to The Post-Journal for print must include a publishable contact number, time, date and location of the group’s past and future meetings. ¯ The American Association of Retired People meets at 1:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month, March through December, at Brookdale Lakewood. For more information about the group, call 664-2883. Anyone over the age of 50 is welcome to attend. ¯ CCAFMA (Chautauqua County Amateur FM Association) meets the fourth Monday of every month with the exception of June and December, at the UPMC ...

COBRA, Medicare Rarely Useful Together

Question: I will turn 65, so can I keep COBRA insurance, which also covers my wife, and not start Medicare? Answer: The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) is insurance that allows individuals to keep the insurance product they had while working. COBRA is available to purchase for 18 months and sometimes up to 36 months. The insurance policy is the same policy as you had while working, you are paying the total premium which is usually expensive. Medicare Part A & B is insurance that is available to those 65 or older and those younger than 65 on Social ...

Check Your Medicare Plan To See What Is Covered

Question: Does my Medicare Insurance cover hearing aids, dental procedures, and eye wear? Answer: There are many insurance companies running ads talking about those extra benefits they are offering. This type of coverage depends on the Medicare coverage you have. In most situations, Original Medicare does not cover the cost of hearing aids, glasses and dental work. Original Medicare is a health insurance product, which means that all of your coverage must be based on a medical problem or diagnoses. Medicare covers the cost of an audiological evaluation, including tests of ...