Upcoming Library Programs

Would you like to learn how to do how to knit, find new friends at a Senior Games program, or learn how learn more about your Medicare options? These are just a few of the upcoming Pasco County library programs. The Friends of the Library sponsors our programs.  Here are some of the upcoming library programs for Older Adults in Pasco County:

Tues, July 7th at 12:00pm 
     Library Knitters 
     Hugh Embry Library
 People who enjoy working with yarn, here's your place to meet, share and enhance your knowledge! Bring a brown bag lunch, if you wish. This program is on the first and third Tuesdays of the month and runs for 90 minutes.
Hugh Embry Library
14215 Fourth Street, Dade City, FL 33523 
(352) 567-3576

Wed, July 8th at 6:00pm
   Hugh Embry Chess Club
   Hugh Embry Library
This chess club is for beginning and advanced players! We have chess sets, or bring your own.
Hugh Embry Library
14215 Fourth Street, Dade City, FL 33523 
(352) 567-3576 

Thursdays at 11:00am
    SHINE Medicare Help
     New River Library
A SHINE volunteer (Serving the Health Information Needs of Elders) will help people with their Medicare enrollment questions.
New River Library
34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, FL 33543
(813) 788-6375

Fridays at 11:00am      
Knitters for Charity       
Hudson Regional Library  
Join this fun group to knit and crochet for charity. They have donated over 14,000 items--hats, scarves, items for children, afghans, and more--to cancer patients, the needy, the homeless, and others. New faces are always welcome, and if you want to learn how to knit or crochet, they will teach you! 
Hudson Regional Library 
8012 Library Road, Hudson, FL 34667 
(727) 861-3040

Saturday, July 11th at 10:00am    
   Turning 65? Medicare Options   
    Land O'Lakes Library
This free program from the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas and SHINE (Serving the Health Information Needs of Elders) will provide information about Medicare Options.
Land O'Lakes Library
2818 Collier Parkway, Land O'Lakes, FL 34639
(813) 929-1214
  
Tues, July 14th at 10:00am
  AARP Driver Safety
  New River Library
To register for this AARP class, you will need to call (813)907-3908.
New River Library
34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, FL 33543
(813) 788-6375

 Thurs, July 16th at 10:00am
    Senior Games
    Land O'Lakes Library
Join us for fun and games at the library. Meet new people while playing cards, board games, or challenging video games.
Land O'Lakes Library
2818 Collier Parkway, Land O'Lakes, FL 34639
(813) 929-1214

Local Volunteer Wins State Award

At Florida Senior Day, Janet Mills was awarded the Champion of Service Award for her outstanding service for more than 10 years as a dedicated volunteer with the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) Program. During that time she helped more than 10,670 people with Medicare counseling. Congratulations, Janet, and thank you for your many years of service to Florida Seniors!

Medicare Help at New River Library - now on Thursdays

Do you have questions about how to sign up for Medicare or about which Medicare plan is right for you? A SHINE volunteer can help.  SHINE stands for "Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Elders", a program of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, where volunteers are committed to helping others make informed choices regarding Medicare insurance benefits. 

New River Library now has a SHINE volunteer available on Thursday mornings from 11:00 am to 1:00pm. However, we no longer have Medicare help on Fridays.

New River Library
34043 State Road 54
Zephyhrhills, FL 33543
813-788-6375

Learn How to Protect Your Medicare Information

Do you know how to protect your Medicare information during the Open Enrollment Period?
Find out how in this video from the Florida Senior Medicare Patrol:

New "Aging on the Suncoast" Episode

The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas produces and hosts a community access television program, "Aging on the Suncoast". This program  provides information of interest to elders, their families and caregivers.The October episode explains about the SHINE (Serving the Health Information Needs of Elders) volunteers, who can help you choose the best Medicare program for you during Medicare open enrollment (October 15- December 7th).
Here is the video:

Upcoming Medicare Programs

Want to learn the basics about Medicare and get your questions answered? There are two upcoming Medicare Basics Programs in Pasco County:

Tuesday, September 30th, at 4:00pm
Groves Golf and Country Club
7924 Melogold Circle
Land O'Lakes, FL 34637

Wednesday, October 1st at 2:00pm
New River Library
34043 State Road 54
Zephyrhills, Fl 34043

If you would would like individual Medicare enrollment advice from an unbiased source, you can trust SHINE (Serving the Health Information Needs of Elders) volunteers. SHINE is a free program offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and is operated locally through the Area Agency on Aging Of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc. The SHINE volunteers are trained to help people with Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance issues by providing one-on-one counseling and information. A SHINE volunteer will be at the New River Library on Sept 26th, Oct 3rd, and Oct. 10th from 11:00am - 1:00pm.

SHINE Volunteer Help
Fridays, Sept 26th, Oct 3rd, and Oct 10th at 11:00am
New River Library
34043 State Road 54
Zephyrhills, FL 34043 

"Physicians United Plan" Medicare Medical Insurance Plan is Ending Soon

The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will mutually terminate its contract with the Physicians United Plan (PUP) on July 1st, 2014. This means that Medicare beneficiaries that were using this insurance company will have to enroll in a new healthcare plan by August 31st.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have stated the new Medicare Advantage/Medicare Advantage with Prescription Drug Plans (MA/MAPD) will coordinate with Physicians United Plan to share information on the beneficiary out-of-pocket costs so that will not start over for beneficiaries. There are several options for beneficiaries during the SEP to include; keeping Original Medicare and the assigned Part D plan, purchase a Medicare Supplement policy (Medigap) to supplement Original Medicare, or select a new Medicare Advantage plan and/or change the Part D prescription drug plan assigned by CMS. The effective coverage date will be the first of the month following enrollment into the plan.

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the state’s eleven Area Agencies on Aging are providing plan comparison and enrollment assistance through the SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) Program. SHINE is a free and unbiased Medicare counseling program that can help beneficiaries whose coverage has changed to choose a new prescription drug plan or enroll in a state or federal Medicare cost-saving program.

SHINE can educate you about the choices that are available. Affected Floridians are encouraged to call the Elder Helpline toll-free at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) or visit the SHINE website,www.floridaSHINE.org. Information is available in Spanish and other languages, as well as for the hearing impaired (TDD: 850-414-2001).

SHINE volunteers needed!

The State of Florida has a program called SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) that provides free counseling to Seniors about Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care planning, and prescription assistance. The program is administered at the county level through our local "Area Agency on Aging" (other states also have this program - either in their Department of Aging or in their Department of Insurance).
 
SHINE is an unbiased information and counseling program that trains volunteers to help older adults to get the information that they need to make informed decisions on health insurance issues. They provide information to elders, their caregivers, and their families. To receive Medicare counseling in Pasco County, you can call 1-800-963-5337. 

The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc. and the Florida Department of Elder Affairs are seeking volunteers for this program. They are offering professional, comprehensive training on the basics of Medicare in a three-day program to individuals interested in volunteering with the SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) Program. The next training will begin on April 22, 2014. Volunteering with SHINE will not only help you gain an understanding of the complex world of Medicare for yourself or your loved ones, but it will also empower you to help others in your community.  

If you are interested in becoming a SHINE volunteer in Pasco County, please call the local Elder Helpline at 1-800-96ELDER or call Susan Samson SHINE Liaison, at 727-570-9696 ext. 23.

The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco - Pinellas also provides many other services for seniors and caregivers. You can click on the picture below to access their website:

 

Medicare is not part of the Health Insurance Marketplace!

Your Medicare insurance is separate from the federal Health Insurance Marketplace. The Marketplace was designed to help people who do not have any health coverage and it does not have any effect on your Medicare coverage. Susan Samson, from the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, has shared the following information to help you determine whether the Medicare open enrollment or Marketplace open enrollment is for you:

You are employed and already have Medicare but do not have coverage through your or your spouse’s current employment. You should not make any changes to how you currently get your insurance. This means you should not enroll in a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) for individual health coverage through the Marketplace, because you already have Medicare. Although you would be allowed to join a QHP, it would not make financial sense to do so. The premiums for QHP coverage will likely be higher than for Medicare (including what you pay for drug benefits and supplemental coverage). Also, people who qualify for Medicare cannot receive any financial help to pay QHP premiums.

You already have Medicare Part B and coverage from your or your spouse’s current employment. The way coverage from a current employer works with Medicare should be the same, whether or not the employer offers coverage through a Small Business Health Options (SHOP) plan in the Marketplace. A SHOP plan is an employer plan purchased through the Marketplace. Depending on the size of your employer, Medicare either pays first or second on health insurance claims. If Medicare pays first, it is especially important that you keep Medicare. If you drop your Medicare coverage when Medicare is paying first, your employer plan may give you little or no coverage at all.

While there is much more to know and understand about Medicare and the Annual Election Period, you can breathe easy knowing there is always someone available to help through the Florida Department of Elder Affairs’ SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) Program. To make an appointment with a SHINE counselor, just call Florida’s Elder Helpline toll-free at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337). There is also help to get more information and assistance with the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call the Health Insurance Marketplace call center at 1-800-318-2596. 

Note that the Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment period (October 1, 2013–March 31, 2014) overlaps the Medicare open enrollment period (October 15–December 7, 2013). However, Medicare’s open enrollment is not part of the Marketplace.

The Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP), also called open enrollment, is the time when Medicare beneficiaries are encouraged to review their current health and prescription drug coverage, including any changes in costs, coverage, and benefits that will take effect next year. If you’re satisfied that your current coverage will continue to meet your needs for next year, you don’t need to do anything. If you want to change your coverage for next year, this is the time to do it. But, make sure that you’re reviewing Medicare plans and not Marketplace options.

A volunteer SHINE counselor can help you to review your coverage, compare options, and enroll—in person, by phone, or at a public event in your community. To find out more about the enrollment process or to get free help, call Florida’s Elder Helpline toll-free at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337). For a list of SHINE community events in your area, please visit the SHINE website at www.FloridaSHINE.org.

Medicare, and its authorized agents like the SHINE Program, is a trusted source for information during this critical time. However, there are some organizations and individuals who should not be granted access to your personal information. The Medicare open enrollment period is a time when there is a higher risk for fraudulent activities. Adding to this risk is the overlap of the two different enrollment periods. It is important for Medicare beneficiaries to know that it is against the law for someone who knows that you have Medicare to sell you a Marketplace plan.

What is Long-Term Care?

There are a lot of misconceptions about long-term care. Long-term care includes both assistance with daily living (for example: bathing, dressing, eating, housework, shopping) and skilled medical care. According to the Administration for Community Living, 70% of people turning age 65 will need to use some form of long-term care during their lives. Poor diet and exercise habits can increase your chances of needing long-term care. 

Medicare only pays for short term (less than 100 days) medically necessary care and rehabilitation. Medicare does not pay for personal care- such as assistance with daily living or for supervision (often called custodial care). Twenty percent of today's 65 year-olds will need long-term care for longer than 5 years. 

Medicaid may pay for long term care, but it is only available for people with low income. Medicaid eligibility rules vary from state to state. For more information about Medicaid in Florida, click here. For more information on how to plan for long-term care, please visit the longtermcare.gov website.

New Retirement Toolkit

The Department of Labor, the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have partnered to publish a "Retirement Toolkit". This toolkit includes both links to publications and to interactive tools which can help you plan your retirement. It includes a timeline for retirement, information to help you decide what age you want to retire, and information about how to avoid paying a Medicare Part D late enrollment penalty. 
Some of the links from this toolkit include:

• Taking the Mystery Out Of Retirement Planning (for people who are within 10 years of retirement)
• Estimate your retirement benefits
• Medicare & You
• Extra Help with the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan

These resources are also available in Spanish.You can read the entire Retirement Toolkit here.

Medicare Open Enrollment Period Has Begun

 The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is October 15th through December 7, 2012. If you review your health care plan and prescription drug coverage, you can check to see if another plan could lower your costs. To find out if another plan would be better for you, you will need to gather some information. You will need a list of your medications and a list of your health care providers. If you would like one-on-one help with Medicare enrollment questions, you can get help from a SHINE volunteer.

 The SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) program provides free counseling to Seniors about Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care planning, and prescription assistance. The program is administered at the county level through the local "Area Agency on Aging" (other states also have this program - either in their Department of Aging or in their Department of Insurance).

This program trains volunteers to help older adults to get the information that they need to make informed decisions on health insurance issues. They provide information to elders, their caregivers, and their families.

To receive Medicare counseling in Pasco County, you can call 1-800-963-5337.  If you are interested in becoming a SHINE volunteer in Pasco County, please call the elder hotline at 1-800-963-5337.

The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco - Pinellas also provides many other services for seniors and caregivers. You can click on the picture below to access their website:

Upcoming Library Programs

Would you like to learn more about Medicare, learn how to use your tablet, exercise with tai chi, or enjoy a great film? These are just a few of the upcoming Pasco library programs. The Friends of the Library sponsors our programs.  Here is a list of the upcoming library programs for Older Adults in Pasco County:

Fridays, Sep 14th, Sep 21st, and Sep 28th
11:00am 
Beginning Tai Chi at Hudson Library
The Taoist Tai Chi Society returns to teach the basics of Tai Chi, a gentle and therapeutic practice. Please consult with your physician before starting any exercise program. 
Hudson Library.
8012 Library Road
Hudson, FL 34667
(727) 861-3040

Fridays, Sep 14th, Sep 21st, and Sep 28th
3:30pm- 4:30pm
Tablet Help for Seniors at New River Library
Do you need help learning to navigate your new Android tablet or Ipad? We can help. This program is for ages 50+.
New River Library
34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, Fl 33543
(813) 788-6375


Wednesday, Sep 19th at 2:00pm

Medicare and You at New River Library
SHINE will present a program on the Medicare and You handbook, and they will also answer general Medicare questions.
New River Library
34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, Fl 33543
(813) 788-6375

Thursday, Sep 27th at 1:00pm

Medicare and You at Land O'Lakes Library
SHINE will present a program on the Medicare and You handbook, and they will also answer general Medicare questions.
Land O'Lakes Library
2818 Collier Parkway
Land O'Lakes, FL 34639
(813) 929-1214


Friday, Sep 28th at 2:00pm
Senior Movie Feature at Hugh Embry Library

Seniors, enjoy the latest releases of great films, along with light refreshments, thanks to our generous Friends of Hugh Embry Library!

Hugh Embry Library
14215 Fourth Street, Dade City, FL 33523 
(352) 567-3576

Also, many branches offer book clubs, language classes, and gardening programs. You can contact your local branch to find out about these programs.

Medicare Website Redesigned

The Medicare website has been redesigned to be easier to navigate. There are now links on the home page to help you:

• replace a lost Medicare card
• find a Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plan
• get help with health care costs
• find out if a test, item, or service is covered
• see the official mail you get from Medicare
• read the "Medicare & You" handbook online

A Medicare press release states that users can also access this information using mobile devices, such as tablets and smart phones. Click here to see the new design.

How to Find Reliable Health Information Online

There are thousands of websites that provide health information online.  A lot of these sites are just trying to sell health products to you and they may not provide correct information.  You can start to evaluate a website by looking at who sponsors it. If the web site is a ".gov" (government website) or a ".edu" (college or university web site), the information will be more reliable and unbiased than a ".com" (commercial web site). You can find out more information to help you evaluate health websites on the National Institute on Aging website: "Online Health Information: Can You Trust It?".
               
     Here are some excellent health websites:

• NIH Senior Health - good basic information on many health topics; very user-friendly; also includes videos on topics such as Macular Degeneration.
• MedlinePlus Senior's Health (from the U.S. National Library of Medicine) - good directory of Senior health resources.
• MedlinePlus - search by health topic or search drugs and supplements- brings together information from many sources – such as the Mayo Clinic, the CDC, and the American Medical Association.
• NIDCD - information about dealing with deafness.
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute- Managing Heart Disease

Looking for a health provider? Here is a list of directories:

• Healthfinder - find a dentist, a doctor, hospital, hospice care, etc.
• Florida Health Finder - find and compare hospitals, prescription drug prices, nursing homes, etc.

Want to compare Medicare providers? Medicare.gov has the following tools:

• Physician Compare
• Hospital Compare
• Nursing Home Compare
• Home Health Compare
• Dialysis Facility Compare

Have you chosen the best Medicare plan for you?

Medicare's next annual open enrollment is from November 15th to December 31st, 2010.  Get information and advice on how to pick the best Medicare plan and prescription plan to meet your needs.  Jan Rauer, a SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) volunteer, will give a talk on "How to pick a Medicare plan and prescription plan" at New River Library.

              Friday, November 19th at 2:00pm

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

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.

Medicare's "Hospital Compare" Website

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Health and Human Services have partnered to provide the "Hospital Compare" website.  This tool can help you to choose the best hospital for your medical condition or surgical procedure.  In addition, this website provides information about a hospital's quality of care, as measured by patient surveys. You can search for hospitals by name, city, county, or distance from your zip code.  The website compares hospitals using several types of information.  

First, there are the "Hospital Process of Care Measures". These measures "show how often hospitals give recommended treatments known to get the best results for patients with certain medical conditions or surgical procedures". They have information about best practices for heart attack care, heart failure care, pneumonia care, asthma care, and surgical care.

The next section is "Hospital Outcome of Care Measures". This information includes death rates and hospital readmission rates for each hospital. The ratings are fair, since the "calculations take into account how sick patients were when they went in for their initial hospitalization". Other measures include "Structural Measures", such as whether the hospital uses electronic health records.

Another Medicare website, Nursing Home Compare, helps people to choose a good quality nursing home.

Help with Medicare Copayments and Prescription Drug Costs

If you have Medicare and want financial assistance with its costs and those of your prescription drugs, the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas may have some great news for you!  If you meet income and asset requirements, the Social Security Administration can provide help with your Medicare co-payments, prescription drug costs, and your deductible—up to $3900 a year. Additionally, if you are eligible, the Department of Children and Families may pay for the cost of your Medicare Part B premium--$96.40 a month!

Applications can be done over the phone, by mail, or in person.  Call the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco Pinellas Senior Helpline and ask for a Medicare Beneficiary Outreach and Assistance (MBOA) consultant.  It might take 20 minutes—and it can save you up to thousands a year.  The service is free and unbiased.
   
Call the Senior Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 for more information

Medicare Advantage Plan Help

Now is the time to review your current Medicare Advantage Health Plan. The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas has volunteers who can help you choose the best plan for you. The program is called "Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Elders" or SHINE.  You can talk to the counselors by phone at 1-800-963-5337 or schedule an in-person meeting. The SHINE volunteers provide information to elders, their caregivers, and their families.  This counseling is free and unbiased.

The Area Agency on Aging suggests that you "bring a list of medications the individual takes, a list of providers he or she wants to use (e.g., doctor or pharmacy), and any notices from an existing plan (i.e., Annual Notice of Change), Social Security, or Medicare about changes to costs and coverage for next year". This will enable the volunteer to find the best plan to match the needs of the individual. You can find more information about the SHINE program here.

If you would like to become a SHINE volunteer, please contact the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337.