Senior Living Guide 10-04-18

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FALL 2018

SENIOR LIVING GUIDE • Fall 2018

• Medicare Open Enrollment: Uncovering the real costs of Medicare • How to supplement retirement income: Jobs for seniors to earn extra money • How to manage retirement income: To enjoy life and maximize savings

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• How to supplement retirement income: Jobs for seniors to earn extra money . . . . . . . . Page 8 • How to manage retirement income: To enjoy life and maximize savings . . . . . . . . . .Page 10 Publisher - Mark Weidler

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• Medicare Open Enrollment: Uncovering the real costs of Medicare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4

SENIOR LIVING GUIDE • Fall 2018

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, October 4, 2018 Page 4

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Senior Living Guide

Now’s the time to sign up for Medicare

by Mark Lord Chronicle Contributor

People with Medicare, it’s time to mark your calendars! Open Enrollment Period runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7.

Open enrollment is but one of the terms you will encounter when trying to decipher the maze known as Medicare. Let’s not forget initial enrollment period; general enrollment period; original Medicare; Medicare Advantage; supplemental insurance; prescription drug coverage; and late enrollment penalties.

So, yes, if you think it’s a complicated issue, you’re right — and you’re not alone!

Even the experts agree that signing up can be a daunting experience.

“It is complicated and intimidating,” suggests Barry Klitsberg, president of Queens Interagency Council on Aging and a longtime employee of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “People don’t know where to start.”

A good place might be to get an understanding of what Medicare is and what it provides.

Medicare is a federal health insurance program run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. It provides healthcare insurance for Americans aged 65 and up who have worked and paid into the system through payroll tax and for certain younger people with disabilities.

Among the items Medicare does not cover are long-term (or custodial) care, most dental care, eye exams related to prescribing glasses, dentures, cosmetic surgery, acupuncture, hearing aids and routine foot care. Still, Medicare has much to offer.

Depending on the situation, some people may get Medicare automatically and others need to apply. Individuals collecting Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits before they turn 65 will be automatically enrolled into Medicare when they turn 65. Individuals who are eligible for Medicare but who are not yet collecting Social Security of Railroad Retirement benefits will have to actively enroll into Medicare by contacting the Social Security Administration.

It is important to note that, while Social Security works with the CMS by enrolling people in Medicare, they are not the same.

An individual is entitled to apply for Social Security benefits beginning at age 62. Eligibility for Medicare comes approximately three years later during the initial enrollment period, with eligibility beginning three months prior to one’s 65th birthday, extending through one’s birth month and continuing for the next three months, giving new enrollees a seven-month window.

There are two choices for how to obtain Medicare coverage, original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.

Original Medicare includes Part A (hospital

Barry Klitsberg, president of the Queens Interagency Council on Aging and a veteran employee of the Department of Health and Human Services, says signing up for Medicare is “complicated and intimidating.” The government’s “Medicare & You” PHOTO BY MARK LORD guide details the program — and Klitsberg says to be sure to read your mail. insurance), which covers hospital inpatient care, skilled nursing facility care, home health and hospice care; and Part B (medical insurance), which covers doctors’ services, outpatient care, durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs) and preventive services (like screenings, shots and yearly wellness visits). To this you may add Part D (prescription insurance) as well as supplemental insurance.

Medicare Advantage, also known as Part C, includes Part A, Part B and usually prescription drug coverage as well. Additional benefits may be included such as dental, eye care and hearing care.

According to the CMS, you usually don’t pay a monthly premium for Part A coverage if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes while working for a certain period of time. For Part B, most individuals pay a monthly premium; the amount can vary depending on income.

The premium is generally deducted directly from a person’s Social Security.

The CMS indicates that if you have original Medicare, you may see any doctor who is enrolled in Medicare and accepting new patients. Referrals are not needed. You generally pay a portion of the cost for each covered service. You can join Part D and you may buy supplemental insurance to pay costs that original Medicare doesn’t cover.

If you don’t have prescription drug coverage, or the coverage you have isn’t at least as good as Medicare, you should consider enrolling in Part D. If you need prescription drug coverage, you have to sign up for it.

Medicare.gov, the official federal government website, indicates two ways to get prescription drug coverage: Medicare Part D or a Medicare Advantage Plan (see below) that offers drug coverage. Costs will vary, depending on the drugs you use, the plan you choose and other factors.

Note that there are different types of Part D

plans, and each one may cover different prescriptions. Each drug plan has its own list of covered drugs (called a formulary). Many plans place drugs into different “tiers” on their formularies, with drugs in each tier having a different cost. It is important to find out which plans cover the drugs you need.

Something else to look out for is what is known as the coverage gap, or donut hole, a temporary limit on what a plan will cover. This gap begins after you have spent a certain amount for covered drugs. The amount may change each year.

Klitsberg indicated that the donut hole has been shrinking and, in 2019, the gap will be disappearing for brand-name drugs. He suggested that in 2020, it will do likewise for generic drugs.

According to the CMS, you have up to three months after your Medicare coverage starts to join a Part D plan. It warns that “if you don’t join a Medicare drug plan when you’re first eligible for Medicare, you may have to pay a monthly Part D late enrollment penalty if you join a plan later.” The penalty goes higher the longer you wait to enroll.

The CMS also warns that there are risks for not signing up for Part B: You may pay all of the costs for doctors’ services, outpatient care, medical supplies and preventive services; you will have to wait until the general enrollment period (Jan. 1 to March 31 each year) to sign up if you decide you want Part B later; and you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B. The penalty amount increases the longer you go without Part B coverage.

Whether it’s best for you to sign up for Part B depends on your individual situation, such as your employment status, among other considerations.

Do you need a supplemental insurance (or Medigap) policy? Original Medicare pays for

much, but not all, of the cost for healthcare services and supplies. Some people opt for additional coverage from a private company to fill in the gaps in Parts A and B. You need both Part A and Part B to buy a Medigap policy, which can cover costs like coinsurance, copayments and deductibles. According to Elder Law Review, a publication of Ronald Fatoullah & Associates, “Under Original Medicare, there is no limit on how much you pay out of pocket per year unless you have supplemental insurance.”

Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) are offered by private companies approved by Medicare. You must have both Medicare Part A and Part B to join. The CMS suggests that “it may be more cost effective for you to join a Medicare Advantage Plan because your cost sharing is lower or included.”

Signing up for Part C places an individual in a health maintenance organization. Members must generally get a referral from their primary care physician in order to see a specialist or other doctors. You may pay lower costs for covered services as long as you see doctors or go to hospitals that belong to the plan’s network.

You can join a Medicare Advantage plan when you first become eligible for Medicare (the seven-month window). These plans include Part A, Part B and usually Part D coverage. Some offer extra benefits like vision, hearing or dental.

You usually have to pay a monthly premium, in addition to your Part B premium, and a copayment or coinsurance amount for covered services.

Premium deductibles and copayments can vary significantly from plan to plan, so it is important to compare costs and coverage each year.

Medicare Advantage insurers negotiate with healthcare providers to find the lowest cost providers each year. In recent years, these provider networks have become smaller, with fewer specialists, according to reports. In addition, providers can join or leave a network at any time.

The right coverage can make all the difference. It is important, therefore, to be aware of any changes in coverage.

“In October, you should start comparing your current coverage with other options to see if you can save some money and to ascertain whether your provider(s) are still covered under your plan’s network,” Fatoullah’s publication advises. You can change your health or prescription drug coverage between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7 each year, the open enrollment period, or annual election period or annual coordinated enrollment period.

Klitsberg suggests it is vital for anyone enrolled in a Medicare plan to “read your mail.” Every year, you will be receiving information on any changes in costs and coverage.

And, he points out, during the open enrollment period “you have a lot of choices.”

There is a lot to consider when choosing Medicare coverage. For further information, visit Medicare.gov, where the government’s official guide to the program, “Medicare & You,” runs more than 100 pages, or call 311 and ask for “HIICAP,” the Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program. Q

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, October 4, 2018 Page 6

C M SLG page 6 Y K ARE YOU PREPARED FOR THE APPROACHING MEDICARE OPEN-ENROLLMENT PERIOD?

By Ronald Fatoullah, Esq., and Stacey Meshnick, Esq. The “Open Enrollment Period” for Medicare has fewer than 20 employees, you may still be period runs each year from October 15th to required to apply for Medicare.

There are two options for Medicare December 7th. It will soon be time again for this enrollment. You do not need to sign up for coverage: 1) original Medicare (which includes Medicare each year, but you can review your Part A hospital and Part B medical), to which health and prescription coverage and change you can add Part D prescription coverage and if you choose, because coverage and costs Medigap supplemental insurance; and 2) Medicare Advantage (Part C), which includes Part A, change yearly.

The Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is the first Part B and usually prescription drug coverage time you can sign up for Medicare. It is a seven- as well. Additional benefits may be included month period made up of the three months such as dental, eye care and hearing care.

There is a lot to consider before your 65th birthday, when choosing Medicare the month of your birthcoverage, and it pays to be day, and the three months informed about all of your after your 65th birthday. If options in preparation you miss this period, you for the Open Enrollment will have an opportunity to enroll later on, but you may have to pay more, Period, or your Initial Enrollment Period. It may be beneficial to discuss your individual situation or be without health coverage.

Individuals collecting Social Security or Rail- with a Medicare specialist and/or your benefits road Retirement benefits before they turn 65 will administrator. be automatically enrolled into Medicare when Ronald A. Fatoullah, Esq., is the founder of they turn 65. Individuals who are eligible for Ronald Fatoullah & Associates, a law firm that Medicare but who are not yet collecting Social concentrates in elder law, estate planning, Security or Railroad Retirement benefits will have Medicaid planning, guardianships, estate to actively enroll into Medicare by contacting administration, trusts, wills and real estate. the Social Security Administration. If you are a Stacey Meshnick, Esq., is the Supervisor of 65-year-old Medicare-eligible individual, you can the Medicaid Department of the firm. The delay enrollment in Medicare without adverse law firm can be reached at 718-261-1700, 516consequence if you are covered by a group 466-4422, or toll-free at 1-877-ELDER-LAW or health plan through your employer or your 1-877-ESTATES. Mr. Fatoullah is also a partner spouse’s employer, and if that employer has 20 with Advice Period, a wealth management or more employees. However, if the employer firm, and he can be reached at 424-256-7273.

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SENIOR LIVING GUIDE • Fall 2018

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Senior Living Guide

How to enjoy retirement and maximize income

by Lloyd Carroll Chronicle Contributor

Baby boomers are now becoming senior boomers. Even a love of classic rock, the music of eternal youth for a lot of us, can’t turn back the age clock. Whether we like it or not understanding the often confusing world of retirement economics, as well as knowing how to smartly stretch fixed income dollars, is a necessity.

Social Security Social Security rules can be quite byzantine, particularly if you decide to start collecting your benefits at an earlier age than the actuaries at the Social Security Administration would prefer.

The age to get “full benefits” has slowly increased from 65 to 67 for those born after 1956 in order to maintain the solvency of the Social Security fund.

Yes, you can still collect Social Security benefits starting at age 62, but you’ll only get 75 percent of what you would have received Rent or own? if you had waited until the Social Most of us have seen those ads Security Administration’s preferred retirement age — and those for AAG reverse mortgages with benefits stay reduced for the rest Tom Selleck as the spokesman. A reverse mortgage gives a homeof your life.

Up to 85 percent of your Social owner cash without the borrower Security can be subject to federal having to repay the loan as long income tax. The threshold for as he or she stays in the home. determining the calculation of the The longer someone does stay in the home, the t axabilit y of bigger the benefits hasn’t of the been adjusted ou can start collecting value loan becomes, for i nf lation and this could in the over 30 Social Security early, add a compliyears that the cat ion when but you’ll only get 75 IRS has been either selling taxing it. It’s percent of the benefits the home later not surprising passing it that a lot of you would have gotten. or onto heirs. taxpayers W h at you automatically list 85 percent of their annual don’t see much any more are gross Social Security on line t h o s e T V c o m m e r c i a l s fo r Champion Mor tgage, T he 20(b) of their Form 1040.

If reduced benefits and increas- Money Store or any other lending federal taxable income isn’t ing institution that specialized in bad enough for those who decide home equity loans. Back in the to collect Social Security early, good old days you could take out the SSA adds insult to injury for a second mortgage, aka a home those wanting to work part-time. equity loan, and use the proceeds The agency will reduce your ben- for anything that you wanted efits by $1 for every $2 that you while deducting the interest on earn once you surpass $17,040 of the loan on Form 1040, Schedule earned income. There is no penal- “A” as long as the principal on ty for collecting Social Security both the primary and secondary while working once you are past mortgage did not exceed $1.1 million. the “full benefits” age, however.

Under the new tax law that It should be noted that you are allowed to defer collecting Social went into effect on Jan. 1, 2018, Security benefits later than 67 you can still deduct the interest and get a higher benefit for the on a home equity loan as long as (a) the total principal of all of the rest of your life.

Y

SENIOR LIVING GUIDE • Fall 2018

IRA and 401(k) plans You can star t withdrawing funds from an IRA or 401(k) plan beginning at age 59 ½ without incurring a tax penalty. You have no choice but to start drawing down funds at age 70 ½. Since any pension distribution is subject to federal income taxation, there is an incentive for many not to touch those plans so that the principal can grow and the tax bite from them be delayed. If you can afford to postpone IRA or 401(k) plan distributions until 70 ½, you should ask for only the minimum allowed distribution from whoever is handling your pension funds.

New York St ate resident s should keep in mind that any nongovernment pension distribution under $20,000 per individual is tax-free.

It should be noted that you can withdraw from Roth IRAs without wor r yi ng about t ax consequences.

Seniors should do their homework and research their assets to live a more comfortable life. Understanding the oftenconfusing world of retirement economics and knowing how to stretch fixed income dollars are necessities today. indebtedness does not exceed $750,000 and (b) you use the proceeds solely for the purpose of making capital improvements to your home.

The new tax laws certainly don’t help New Yorkers who own their homes. In the past all state and local income taxes and real estate taxes that were paid in a calendar year were fully deductible. Now tax filers are limited in the deduction for the combination of real estate taxes and state and local income taxes paid to a paltry $10,000.

All of this may make renting more desirable, particularly if you are looking to downsize.

Leisure One of the nice things about retirement is that you now have more time to travel.

Few airlines give senior citizen discounts these days but being retired means having the flexibility to travel on Wednesdays and Saturdays, which are generally the slowest days in the commercial aviation industry — and that is reflected in airfares.

The fall and the spring are known as shoulder seasons in the travel industry because schools across the country are in session, which opens up more airline seats for leisure travelers.

Getting out of the biting winter

chill is an understandable goal of many New Yorkers especially reti rees who u nderst and ably don’t want to risk falling on icy sidewalks or catch pneumonia.

The most popular getaway spot for New Yorkers has long been South Florida. The weather is gener ally su n ny a nd wa r m, but because it is “high season” there don’t expect to find any lodging bargains.

Don’t fret because there are plenty of sunny places that have palm trees and yet the winter is considered off-season. Good examples are almost anywhere in Souther n Califor nia with the exception of Palm Springs (and you can still get deals there during January), Hawaii (believe it or not), the northern part of Florida (anywhere along the I-10 corridor from Jacksonville to Pensacola) and the Alabama and Mississippi Gulf Coast destinations.

What South Florida has been to New York snowbirds, the Phoenix area has been to those from the Midwest. Winter is high season in central Arizona, but if you have your heart set on going there think about staying in the modern suburban city of Glendale whose hotels are far less costly than say, Scottsdale.

While in a different city be sure to inquire into mass transit deals for seniors. In Los Angeles

you can ride the bus for 75 cents during rush hours and 35 cents any other time if you are over 62.

Joining the AARP should be a no-brainer because of the discounts you can enjoy in a variety of categories including rental cars and hotels which greatly out weig h its fai rly m i n i mal annual dues Leisu re time should be enjoyed at home as well. Many chain restaurants have special discounted senior menus. Olive Garden and Dallas BBQ have early-bird specials but those chains aren’t as plentiful here as they are in other parts of the country. One option is to simply enjoy a meal at a restaurant just before lunch is officially over, which is often at 4 p.m.

You can save on a movie ticket by going to a weekday matinee (when it’s a lot quieter and therefore more enjoyable, too) and most museums have reducedprice admissions for seniors.

A number of supermarkets in our area have senior citizen days (generally Wednesdays) where you can save 5 percent on your bill.

Q Every little bit helps.

Lloyd Carroll is a certif ied public accountant and professor of accounting at Borough of Manhattan Community College, in addition to being a longtime contributor to the Queens Chronicle.

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Senior Living Guide

Advice for seniors seeking employment

by David Russell Associate Editor

Senior citizens looking for full-time or par t-time employment don’t need to feel left out.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the number of workers in the labor force who are 55 years of age and older increased steadily from 29.9 percent in 1993 to 40.4 percent in 2009. Since then, the rate has remained steady.

Title V of the Older Americans Act, the Senior Community Service Employment Program, is a federal program providing subsidized community service and employment training to low-income, unemployed individuals aged 55 and older. Access to the program is means-tested.

“It’s technically a training program but they do get paid to train to get back into the workforce,” Barry Klitsberg, president of the Queens Interagency Council on Aging, said in an interview.

An applicant must be 55 years or older, a city resident, can be lawfully employable in the United States and currently unemployed.

Minimum wage is paid. The Department of Labor pays for training in professional skills and a certificate is issued which can help in obtaining a job. The government pays for secretarial and clerical training with a certificate issued.

The program also provides help with social services including food stamps, senior apartments, Supplemental Security Income and legal consultation among others.

It also provides opportunity to improve computer skills and conversational English skills.

“I think that’s a big part of the intent of this program,” Klitsberg said. “They might have been laid off from a job

There are city and federal programs designed to help seniors looking for full-time and part-time employment. that they had for 25 years and they didn’t have other skills, so this is a training program.”

Many seniors are receptive to the program.

“A lot of them are,” Klitsberg said. “People either want a little extra income or go back and ultimately find permanent employment.”

The Department for the Aging’s Senior Employment Services offers classroom training, job search techniques and part-time and full-time job placements.

For decades, SESU has placed older adults in jobs in data processing, administrative work, customer service, security services, airport services, home care and other fields.

Participants must be 55 or older, be unemployed, have a family income of no more than 125 percent of the federal poverty level and be willing to learn new skills.

SESU prepares for employment through classes on computers, customer service, job-search techniques, resumewriting and interviewing.

On-the-job training is also offered and the opportunity to earn at least minimum wage through placements at government agencies and nonprofits throughout the city.

Trainees meet regularly with career counselors to discuss their goals, progress and concerns.

For more information call (212) 602-6958 or call 311 and ask for senior employment services.

Heather Tinsely-Fix, an AARP Financial Resilience senior advisor, says her organization receives a lot of interest from retail employers, including tech retailers that have stores selling phones and other devices.

Transportation companies also work with seniors, especially in hiring bus drivers and shuttle drivers.

Other popular job options for seniors include work in home care services, call centers and healthcare in general, including hospitals and nursing facilities.

Tinsley-Fix added that AARP is looking to help all job seekers 50 and over, many of whom have something to contribute and are trying to find full-time work.

There is also an employer pledge program, with about 700 signers.

Those signers are pledging to keep an age-neutral hiring process, a level playing field that lets applicants know they will not be discriminated against based on age, according to AARP spokesman David Nathan.

Q For more information, visit aarp.org/jobs.

THE TRUTH ABOUT MEDICAID The Truth is: ANYONE can become Medicaid eligible

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Many seniors don’t know that Medicaid is there to help them too, or believe that the process to get benefits is inflexible and uncaring. With our guidance and support, there’s no reason why seniors can’t become eligible and receive the benefits they need and are entitled to.

We’re here to help!

C M SLG page 11 Y K What is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid?

Medicare is a privilege an individual is entitled to receive upon reaching the age of 65 or upon being certified disabled, providing they have worked for at least 10 years and contributed into the Social Security System.

Medicaid is for the poor or impoverished; therefore, eligibility is based upon income and resources levels. Meeting the eligibility requirements will secure Medicaid eligibility.

What is Medicaid medical assistance?

Established 1852

Medicaid is a joint federal and state funded program, run by the state and local counties, providing medical insurance, home-care services (assisting with all activities of daily living) and nursing home medical assistance to the poor, elderly or disabled.

However, individuals requiring homecare services or nursing home medical assistance, in addition to financial requirements, also will need have a medical need for these services.

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Who can apply for Medicaid?

Medicaid is for anyone who meets the income and resources restrictions.

What services does Medicaid provide?

• Doctors • Hospitals • Prescriptions • Nursing Homes (room & board)

• Home-care Services, such as home attendants, home health aides and nurses

Page 11 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, October 4, 2018

Understanding Medicaid: Frequently Asked Questions

What is an MLTC?

Elder Care Services, Inc. 108-18 Queens Boulevard, Suite 801, Forest Hills, NY 11375

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www.eldercareservicesny.com

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MLTC stands for Managed Long-Term Care. One example: When an applicant has been approved for Medicaid home-care services, the applicant has to choose one MLTC from several approved Medicaid plans. Upon joining an MLTC a coordinator will be assigned and this coordinator will be the point person between the applicant/recipient and the MLTC.

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, October 4, 2018 Page 12

C M SLG page 12 Y K

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