Life

Senior news in the Mid-Hudson Valley

Published: Sunday, March 18, 2012

By FREEMAN STAFF

Olive program offers art class

SHOKAN, N.Y. — The Town of Olive Senior Recreation Program is sponsoring an art class that takes place Mondays from 10 a.m. to noon at the Community Room of Reservoir United Methodist Church, Route 28. The class is ongoing and runs through June 28.

The cost of the program is $40 and includes paint and brushes. The class is taught by Judith Boggess. Beginers are welcome.

Call (845) 657-5817 for more information

Lecture will offer advice on strokes

RHINEBECK, N.Y. — Northern Dutchess Hospital, 6511 Springbrook Ave., will offer a free lecture titled “Stroke Treatment and Prevention” on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the hospital’s lower-level conference room.

The session will be presented by Dr. Gerald Kufner of the hospital’s Stroke Center. Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the United States. Participants will learn how to decrease their risk and how to minimized the damage if one happens.

Registation to attend is required and can be done by calling (877) 729-2444.

Medicare Part B deadline March 31

ALBANY, N.Y. — Residents eligible to begin coverage under Part B of the Medicare program have a closing window to sign up for those benefits this year. There is an important deadline approaching for older New Yorkers who are eligible for Part B medical insurance provided through the Medicare Program. Continued...

Greg Olsen, acting director of the State Office for the Aging said, “If you didn’t sign up for Medicare Part B medical insurance when you first became eligible for Medicare, you now have an opportunity to apply — but time is running out. The deadline for applying during the general enrollment period is March 31.

“If people eligible to sign up miss this deadline,” he added, “they may have to wait until 2013 to apply and could face unnecessary out-of-pocket expenses for medical coverage that they are eligible for under Medicare.”

Medicare Part B covers some medical expenses not covered by Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), such as doctors’ fees, outpatient hospital visits, and other medical supplies and services. When a person first becomes eligible for hospital insurance (Part A), they have a seven-month period in which to sign up for medical insurance (Part B). After that, the person may have to pay a higher premium, unless they were covered through their current employer’s group health plan or a group health plan based on a spouse’s current employment.

Individuals are given another opportunity to enroll in Part B during the general enrollment period that runs from Jan. 1 to March 31 of each year. But each 12-month period that a person is eligible for Medicare Part B and does not sign up, the amount of their monthly premium increases by 10 percent.

There are special situations in which people can apply for Medicare Part B outside of the general enrollment period, but these provisions are not generally available to all. For example, people should contact Social Security about applying for Medicare if:

    • They are a disabled widow or widower between age 50 and age 65, but have not applied for disability benefits because they are already getting another kind of Social Security benefit.

    • They worked long enough in a government job where Medicare taxes were paid and they meet the requirements of the Social Security disability program and became disabled before age 65.

    • A person, their spouse or their dependent child has permanent kidney failure.

    • They had Medicare medical insurance (Part B) in the past but dropped the coverage.

    • They turned down Medicare medical insurance (Part B) when they became entitled to hospital insurance (Part A). Continued...

If people are unsure about their eligibility status and need additional information. they can find it at the Medicare website at www.medicare.gov. A toll-free number is also available to obtain information about the Medicare program: 1-800-MEDICARE (or (800) 633-4227).

Local area agencies on aging are another source of information. Area agencies on aging, present in every county in the state, administer the Health Insurance, Information, Counseling and Assistance Program. Trained volunteers are available to assist older persons and others get answers to their questions about the Medicare program. Counselors can be reached through a toll-free help line at (800) 701-0501.

Senior groups list meeting schedules

PORT EWEN. N.Y. — The American Association of Retired Persons, Kingston Chapter No. 2039, will meet Wednesday in the Community Room of the Esopus Town Hall, 284 Broadway.

The speaker will be Jean Walsh from St. Francis Hospital.

The following trips are planned: March 20, Irish Festival at Mount Haven in Milford, Pa., includes buffet breakfast, buffet lunch and Irish entertainment, with cost $60 per person. April 19, Musical show, “New York, New York,” at the Brownstone in Paterson, N.J., with cost $66 per person. May 8, ‘50s Day, featuring The Platters at Villa Roma in Calicoon, with cost $69 per person. June 5, Big Band Show at Hunt’s Landing in Matamoras, Pa., includes buffet breakfast, buffet dinner and open bar, with cost $65 per person.

Call Bill Paulus at (845) 339-3762 for reservations and more information. Non-members are welcome on all trips.

KINGSTON, N.Y. — The Town of Ulster Senior Club will meet Thursday at Christina’s Restaurant for a corned beef and cabbage dinner. Dinner, which will be served at 12:30 p.m., will include cup of soup, potatoes, carrots, coffee and dessert, along with corned beef and cabbage. The cost is $15 per person and is to be paid to the club before the dinner.

PORT EWEN, N.Y. — The Town of Esopus Seniors will meet Monday at 1 p.m. in the Community Room of Esopus Town Hall, 284 Broadway.

The guest speaker will be Kathleen Dittus, an elder law attorney. She will discuss wills, healthcare proxies, living wills, power of attorney and other legal issues and concerns. Continued...