The Link
Melissa Armstrong CEO/AAA Director
In This Issue
Message from the CEO
As the weather begins to cool, Legacy Link continues to be active in the community. Many of the senior centers in our region will be attending fall festivals and other seasonal local activities. I encourage you to find them if you attend any of these events. The two senior centers that we directly operate will be at the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival in Towns County and the Sorghum Festival in Union County. We look forward to seeing many of you there.
Fall brings our busiest time of the year for the Georgia State Health Insurance Program, or GeorgiaSHIP, as our trained staff and volunteers provide free, factual, and unbiased Medicare information during Open Enrollment, which runs October 15 through December 7. During Open Enrollment, anyone with Medicare can change their health plan for the upcoming year. Medicare plans can change their cost, coverage options, and networks each year. GeorgiaSHIP allows our clients to ensure that their plan is the best option for their needs by comparing plans. We look forward to helping you navigate this important decision.
As we move into this new season, I look forward to working alongside the Legacy Link team and our community partners to be your link for a better life.
$79,670
Cost Savings for Clients during Open Enrollment
181,773
435,636 Labor Hours through SCSEP
421,103
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Georgia SHIP
State Health Insurance Assistance Program
Medicare has changes every year, and 2025 is no exception. In recent months, our SHIP counselors have heard seniors ask about what they’ve heard is changing, so here are a few of the more impactful ones.
What is the $2,000 cap?
According to Medicare.gov, “Your yearly Part D outof-pocket costs will be capped at $2,000, starting in 2025. You’ll also have the option to pay out-of-pocket costs in monthly amounts over the plan year, instead of when they happen.” This means that, after you have paid $2,000 for your covered drugs (counting your deductible, but not premiums,) you do not pay any more for them for the rest of the year. For most beneficiaries, this will not make a difference, but this can be extremely consequential for those with expensive name-brand drugs. If that includes you, then we strongly encourage you to talk to a SHIP counselor this Open Enrollment season. Importantly, this spending cap doesn’t just apply to Part D drug plans, but also Medicare Advantage plans.
Payments for Prescriptions
For people with expensive drugs, who are likely to hit this $2,000 cap, the current way of paying for drugs would have them spend a lot at the start of the year, then pay nothing later. In order to smooth out this rate, Medicare will let you make monthly payments towards your prescriptions. This is essential for seniors who live on a fixed income.
Before 2025, plans had four coverage phases: your deductible, your initial coverage phase, the coverage gap, and catastrophic coverage. You might think that one would pay less for your drugs as you get farther along this trend. Unfortunately, seniors could actually end up pay more out-of-pocket costs during the coverage gap than in the initial coverage phase. Starting next year, the coverage gap will be eliminated, so that can’t happen anymore.
Midyear Notice from Medicare Advantage Plans
If you’ve seen a Medicare Advantage ad on TV or in the mail, then you’ve certainly noticed the benefits that they offer, some of which can include dental, vision, hearing, groceries, over-the-counter drugs, etc. Well, each year, plans are required to send out a midyear statement to their enrollees to remind them that they can use those benefits if they have them left. This way, what you get should better reflect what you see in those ads.
In 2024, the maximum deductible was $545. In 2025, this is being raised to $590. Note that this does not mean that any particular plan will have a higher deductible, as many choose to have a lower one, or even none, balanced by the premiums and costs of the drugs themselves. If you’re unsure which one is cheapest for you, then our counselors can help you compare plans.
Of course, there are other changes to Medicare as well, such as a push for more mental health providers, an expanded dementia care program. As always, if you have any questions, then please speak to one of our trained counselors by calling 770-538-2650.
In The Community
From June – September Legacy Link held 18 Farmers Markets throughout our 13-county region.
The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provides those age 60 and older and having low-income with $50 dollars worth of eligible foods (fresh fruits, vegetables, and fresh cut herbs) locally grown in Georgia.
This year Legacy Link served 890 clients.
Towns County Senior Center took home second place during the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds Parade in August. The float theme was “Come for the Mountain, Stay for the Fun”.
Senior Community Service Employment Program
SCSEP Success Story
Sandra worked as a Home Health Aide for two years. After leaving that role, she wanted to transition into a Customer Service or Administrative Assistant position. Despite her efforts, she struggled to find the right job due to her need for more advanced computer skills.
Through the local Department of Labor, Sandra discovered Legacy Link and its SCSEP online job training program. She enrolled in the 12-week course and focused on enhancing her computer literacy and typing skills. Upon completion, she was placed at the Statesboro Food Bank as a Pantry Assistant trainee. After three weeks of training, Sandra was hired as the Administrative Coordinator and has since been promoted to Program Manager. In her current role, she oversees human resources, hiring, payroll, and shipping and receiving.
Sandra is deeply grateful for the SCSEP online job training program, which helped her update her skills and secure meaningful employment at the Statesboro Food Bank.
Do you need training to return to work?
Get paid while learning new skills through the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP).
If you are a senior, aged 55 or older, and want to receive paid job training, contact us at 770-538-2657 to learn more about program eligibility. The Legacy Link SCSEP program serves over 100 counties in Georgia.
If you are a limited income senior wanting to refresh your job skills through a paid training assignment, call Legacy Link’s SCSEP Program at 770-538-2657 to learn more.
Fall Recipe: White Chicken Chili
Ingredients
• 1 Tbsp. neutral oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 1 jalapeño, seeded, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into thirds
• 5 c. low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 (4.5-oz.) cans green chiles
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 (15-oz.) cans white beans, drained, rinsed
• 1 1/2 c. frozen corn
• 1/2 c. sour cream
• 1 avocado, thinly sliced, for serving
• 1/4 c. chopped fresh cilantro, for serving
• 1/4 c. crushed tortilla chips, for serving
• 1/4 c. shredded Monterey Jack, for serving
Instructions
Step 1
In a large pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and jalapeño and cook, stirring, until softened, about 8 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, and cumin and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chicken, broth, and chiles; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until chicken is tender and cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and shred with 2 forks.
Step 2
Add beans to pot and bring to a simmer. Cook, smashing about one-quarter of beans with a wooden spoon, until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Add corn and shredded chicken and cook, stirring, until heated through, about 1 minute more. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream.
Step 3
Ladle chili into bowls. Top with avocado, cilantro, chips, and cheese.
Get Involved
Georgia Mountains RSVP Volunteer View
Volunteer Recognition - Medicare SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program)
In June, RSVP hosted a lunch at Panera Bread for the hardworking, federally certified Medicare SHIP volunteers. These volunteers work all year helping Medicare beneficiaries resolve increasingly complicated questions and coverage issues. Whether working on the phone, in the office, researching new coverage rules each year, or spreading Medicare information across north Georgia, these committed volunteers offer their time to assist those receiving Medicare.
For their dedicated efforts, volunteers received RSVP logoed volunteer gifts, gift cards, and Certificates of Appreciation. Thanks to all of them for their constant research and study efforts to keep up with Medicare changes so they can help beneficiaries across our region! Pictured (l to r) Moira Todd, Bobbie Cox, Nancie Daugherty, George Jacobs, SHIP Coordinator Jay Stephens, and Judy Walsh. Not pictured are Cornelia Martin, Bobbylea Pennington, and RSVP Director Dottie Suchke.
Volunteer Recognition - White County Senior Center
White County Senior Center celebrated their RSVP volunteers in June for their service all year long. They donate their time to deliver meals, assist and support the respite program, and help at the Senior Center in many other ways. RSVP assisted with funding for goodies and gift cards to local businesses along with RSVP logoed volunteer gifts. Senior Center Director Barbara Overton said “The Senior Center is grateful for the help these volunteers provide!!!” Many thanks to all their volunteers for donating their time to help provide services for their local residents.
Pictured - Janelle and James Castleberry (l, c) who manage the White County Senior Center Boutique/Thrift Store, where items are donated, sorted, priced, and displayed for visitors to purchase. Proceeds benefit the seniors’ activities. Marge Unger (r) assists staff with lunch for congregate members of the Center.
Do you have questions about Medicare? Our SHIP volunteers can help.
Starting October 15th, our Medicare SHIP volunteers will busy helping beneficiaries with their supplement choices for healthcare and prescription drugs. If you have questions about your options for coverage, our federally certified counselors can provide free and unbiased information about all options available in your local area. Call early as they become increasingly busy as the December 7th deadline for changes approaches. You can reach the Medicare SHIP program for north Georgia through the main Legacy Link number 770-535-2650.
Remember to thank these dedicated counselors as most are unpaid volunteers who do this solely to help beneficiaries better understand the complicated Medicare system. Each year they are required to study new plan information and recertify by passing an exam. (SHIP = State Health Insurance Assistance Program)
Fall Prevention: Balance and Strength Exercises
Falls can have very serious consequences as we age. Each year, more than 25 percent of adults 65 or older have a fall, and 3 million are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While it’s not possible to completely prevent a fall, exercises that focus on balance and strength training can reduce the risk of falling.
Sit-to-Stand Exercise
• Repeatedly standing from a seated position without using hands.
Single-Leg Balance
• Stand on one foot and hold the position for 30 seconds.
Heel-to-Toe Walk
• Walk in a straight line, placing one foot directly in front of the other.
Leg Raises
• Lift each leg to the side while holding onto a chair for balance.
Additional Steps to Prevent Falls
Remember, it’s important to talk to your doctor or physical therapist about fall prevention.
• Discuss medications and changes in your exercise routine.
• Tell your doctor if you fall.
• Ask a friend or family member to help check your home for trip hazards.