Additional Medicare Benefits Programs

The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas has Medicare Benefits Consultants who can give local seniors and adult disabled residents one-on-one application assistance to apply for additional Medicare benefits.  A Medicare Benefits Consultant can explain more about these additional programs, including the Low-Income Subsidy (also known as the “Extra Help” program), and the Medicare Savings Programs.

The Low-Income Subsidy, also known as the “Extra Help” program, is a financial assistance program administered by the Social Security Administration that helps cover the costs of prescription drugs.  For those who qualify, it may lower your monthly Medicare prescription drug plan premiums, yearly deductibles and co-payments for each prescription.  Many seniors enrolled in the Low-Income Subsidy have saved as much as $3,900 a year in prescription costs.  

Medicare Savings Programs are a different set of benefits that pay for monthly Medicare premiums.  In some instances, they can also save beneficiaries money on other Medicare expenses, such as deductibles, and co-payments.  If a person qualifies for a Medicare Savings program, he or she automatically also qualify for the Low-Income Subsidy.  Eligible Medicare beneficiaries are able to save as much as almost $4,500 a year, not including any additional subsidy benefits.  

If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits available for you, call the Florida Elder Helpline toll-free at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) and ask to speak with a Medicare Benefits Consultant.  For more information about the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, visit the agency website at www.agingcarefl.org.

Social Security Disability Seminar

"Abilities of Florida" (part of the ServiceSource Network) will be giving a seminar about how you can work and how it will effect your Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security income.  The seminar will cover:

• the Ticket to Work Program
• how earning wages will effect your Social Security Disability income.
• how earning wages will impact other assistance (housing, food stamps, and medical). 

 Tuesday, Oct 26th

10:30am - 11:30am

Career Central West Pasco

4440 Grand Boulevard  

New Port Richey, FL 34652

For more information, please call Sharon Willman, Community Work Incentives Coordinator, at: (352)200-3038, (866)831-4559, or via the Florida Relay at 711.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of USF

 Looking for a fun way to learn - with no tests or grades?  The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of the University of South Florida is a member organization for older adults which provides low cost learning opportunities.   This organization provides academic courses, socials, and day trips.  These classes are taught in several locations in the Tampa area.  Membership includes:

• registration privileges for over 200 liberal arts and computer study groups each year.
• registration privileges for day trips and special programs
• space-available registration for select classes at a reduced cost
• borrowing privileges at the USF Tampa library
• member socials
• a newsletter

For more information, please click here.

Older Americans 2010: Key Indicators of Well-Being

The Federal Agency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics has published "Older Americans 2010: Key Indicators of Well-Being".   This extensive study lists 37 key indicators that measure aspects of the lives of older adults. 
Some highlights of  this study include:

•   The number of people age 65 and older has increased from 35 million in 2000 to 39 million in 2008. This population is expected to reach 72 million by 2030 (which is approximately 20% of the population of the U.S.
• life expectancies have increased for both men and women: People who survive to age 65 can expect to live an average of 18.5 more years, about 4 years longer than people age 65 in 1960. However, life expectancy is lower here than in many other industrialized countries.
• Women report higher levels of arthritis (55 percent versus 42 percent) than men. Men report higher levels of heart disease (38 percent versus 27 percent) and cancer (24 percent versus 21 percent).
•  77% of the older population are high school graduates and 21% had a bachelors degree (a large increase from 1965 - which had 24% high school graduates and 5% college graduates, respectively).
• After adjustment for inflation, health care costs increased significantly among older Americans from $9,224 in 1992 to $15,081 in 2006

The full study can be downloaded here.
[Note: some of the data in this report was collected in 2007 and 2008 and so it does not completely reflect the effects of the economic downturn.]

Senior Social at New River Library

Come join us for cards, Wii bowling,

and refreshments 

Friday, October 8th at 2:00 pm

New River Library
34043 State Road 54
Zephyrhills, FL 
813-788-6375