RESOURCE CENTER

RESOURCES

Resource Center Director: Sue • Assistant Director: Rita • Caregiver Support Coordinator: Emily Mikele: Intake Specialist • Krystal: Community Specialist • Holly: Medicaid Specialist For more information, please call 406-259-5212

CHANGES IN MEDICARE B ENROLLMENT PERIODS

The Annual Enrollment Period to enroll in Medicare Part B, for those individuals who didn’t enroll in Part B when first eligible and didn’t have active employer insurance themselves or from a spouse, is January 1st to March 31st annually. In years past, when enrolled at this time, your Medicare B coverage didn’t begin until July 1st of the year. Starting 2023, your Medicare Part B coverage will begin the 1st of the month after you enroll during this special enrollment period. So, if you enroll in January it will begin in February. If you enroll in March it will begin in April. The period to enroll under these condition remains the same, January 1st to March 31st. Another change will be for folks who have delayed their enrollment during their initial enrollment period. In the past while you had 7 months to enroll, either the 3 months before turning 65, the month you turn 65, or the 3 months after turning 65. If you delayed your enrollment until the 3 months after you turned 65 your Medicare Part B start date could be as far off as 3 months after you enrolled. Starting January 1st, 2023 your Medicare B eligibility begins the 1st of the month following your enrollment after age 65. The 7-month initial enrollment period remain the same.

END OF LIFE REGISTRY

Make End of Life wishes accessible anywhere and anytime.

The State of Montana Office of Consumer Protection has an on-going service for its citizens—the End-of-Life Registry website. The goal is to provide a place for citizens to securely store their advance directives online and to give authorized health care providers immediate access to them. This service provides easy access to these important documents 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for authorized health care providers with internet access.

Best of all there is no cost for this service –IT’S FREE!!!

An advance directive is a document that expresses how you would want to be treated if you were seriously ill and unable to make decisions for yourself. It provides instructions about what you would want done or not done about life-sustaining treatment and other health care issues.

So, give your family and yourself the peace of mind knowing that in an emergency your personal health choices are an internet click away.

If you are interested in participating in the End-of-Life registry you can get more information at: https://dojmt.gov/consumer/end-of-liferegistry Or by calling 1-866-675-3314

The following programs can help you get a refund from the State of Montana for property taxes or reduce your property taxes before they are collected.

ELDERLY HOMEOWNER/RENTER CREDIT

If you were 62 or older as of 12/31/22, resided in the state 9 months or more, owned a home or rented 6 months or more, and your total gross income was less than $45,000 in 2022 you may be eligible for this credit. If your only income is Social Security, you may qualify for this tax credit without filing federal or state taxes.

LOW INCOME PROPERTY TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

• If you own or have Contract for Deed for a home or mobile home. • If you occupied the dwelling for at least 7 months as your primary residence. • If your Federal Adjust Gross income does not exceed $24,607 (single) or $32,810 (married) you may qualify for reduced property taxes. These limits are for 2023 tax year. If you were in the program as of 12/31/14 you do not have to reapply. New applicants are required

to apply the first year by April 15th.

Call 259-5212 after Jan. 15th to make an appointment to complete the Elderly Homeowner/Renter Credit and/or Low-Income Property Tax Assistance Program

TAX QUESTIONS & HELP

Do you know that at the Montana.gov TransAction Portal you can file your Montana state taxes and it is FREE. Go to https://tap.dor.mt.gov/ to file your Montana state taxes, check on your refund and to make a payment.

Do you know there is a tool called the Interactive Tax Assistant that you can use to get answers to your tax questions? The tool is on the Internal Revenue Service web site at www.irs.gov. The tool takes you through a series of questions to find an answer. For more information, visit www.irs.gov.

GIVE SOMEONE YOU LOVE THE BEST VALENTINE EVER

Give them the power and the knowledge of how you want your affairs and health handled if you are not able to make your own choices. Complete a Power of Attorney, POLST, Advance Directive and/or a Living Will today. It is the greatest gift of love during difficult times. For information on how to get the necessary forms call The Resource Center at 259-5212