29 minute read
Medicare & You
MEDICARE & YOU Medicare & Marketplace Health Insurance
BY KATHY JONES, MEDICARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SUPERVISOR
If you have coverage through an individual Health Insurance Marketplace Plan (not through an employer) and are turning 65, you may have questions about what to expect when you become eligible for Medicare. Marketplace health insurance is designed to help people who don’t have any health coverage. In most cases, if you have a Marketplace plan when you become eligible for Medicare, you’ll want to end your Marketplace coverage when Medicare starts. Do not end your Marketplace plan until you know for sure when your new coverage will start. Once you cancel Marketplace coverage, you can’t re-enroll until the next annual Open Enrollment Period, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Can I get a Marketplace plan in addition to Medicare?
No, it’s against the law for someone who knows that you have Medicare to sell you a Marketplace plan, even if you only have Part A or Part B. Once you’re considered eligible for Part A, you won’t qualify for help paying your Marketplace plan premiums or other medical costs. If you continue to get help through tax credits and reduced costsharing, you might have to pay back the help you received when you file your taxes.
There are some situations where you can choose Marketplace coverage instead of Medicare: • You can choose Marketplace coverage if you’re eligible for
Medicare but haven’t enrolled because you would have to pay a premium for Part A or because you’re not collecting Social
Security benefits. • If you are paying a premium for
Part A, you can drop your Part
A and Part B coverage and get a
Marketplace plan.
How do I cancel my Marketplace coverage?
In most cases, the steps you take to cancel depend on whose coverage is being canceled.
Ending coverage for just the household contact:
• The household contact is usually the person who created the
Marketplace account and filled out the application. You must contact the Marketplace to change the household contact if others in your household are staying on the plan.
Ending coverage for everyone or just some people on your plan:
• You can end coverage for everyone on your Marketplace plan by going online or calling the Marketplace call center. Your termination can take effect in as few as 14 days from the day you cancel your health insurance or up to 14 days after you notify the
Marketplace plan that you are canceling your insurance. • You can also end coverage for just some of the people on your
Marketplace plan by going online or calling the Marketplace call center at (800) 318-2596 or
TTY: (855) 889-4325.
Sources: www.healthcare.gov, www.medicare.gov
Final Day to Enroll is December 7
The Medicare Assistance Program at LIFE Senior Services is offering more ways to help you determine if your Medicare Part D plan will still meet your needs in 2022. Both phone and face-to-face appointments are available to help you compare your options from the safety of your own home or at a location nearby. MAP on the MOVE will schedule in-person appointments at the Owasso Senior Center, Broken Arrow Senior Center, the Dream Center and LIFE’s Senior Center at Southminster. Services will still be provided by LIFE's trained Medicare counselors. LIFE can even offer transportation to the appointment this year if you need it.
To schedule your Part D comparison appointment, call (918) 664-9000, ext. 1189.
Please let LIFE's Medicare counselors know if you will need transportation to and from your appointment. 48-HOUR NOTICE REQUIRED
USPSOPERATION
Santa
BY LINDSAY MORRIS Since Santa has so much work delivering gifts around the world each December, the U.S. Post Office stepped up to help the big guy with his paperwork. Did you know you can take part in making someone’s holiday wishes come true?
Have you ever wondered what happens to all of those letters to Santa Claus?
USPS Operation Santa has been fulfilling wishes since 1912. The United States Postal Service – then the Post Office Department – began receiving letters to Santa more than 100 years ago. Postmaster Frank Hitchcock authorized local postmasters to let postal workers read and respond to the letters starting in 1912. The program became known as USPS Operation Santa. In the 1940s, USPS Operation Santa opened to the public. Letters poured in. Charitable organizations, businesses and individuals rose to the occasion to provide gifts for those who wrote their Christmas wishes to Santa. The letters went online in 2017, making it easier for even more people to get involved in granting the Christmas wishes of thousands of children and families.
HOW TO SEND A LETTER TO SANTA
Anyone, anywhere in the country can send a letter to USPS Operation Santa, according to Kim Frum, senior public relations representative for USPS. All letters sent to the program must include a full return address, correct postage and be mailed via the USPS to Santa’s official workshop address: Santa Claus 123 Elf Road North Pole, 88888 The address is more important than the name, according to Frum. The letter could be sent to Santa, St. Nick or Kris Kringle. As long as the address is correct, it will reach its destination. Any appropriately addressed, stamped letter received by the program may be published at www.uspsoperationsanta.com. Although the goal is to fulfill every wish, there is no guarantee that a letter will be adopted. Letters are not evaluated for worthiness in any way; they are published for the public to decide which ones they want to adopt, Frum says.
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A MEETING OF HOPE
TREATMENT WITH DR. JAMES WEBB
Why did you choose Dr. Webb?
It started with a car wreck when I was 25, and my back just kept getting worse and worse. I didn’t know how long I could keep working. I saw a lot of doctors, but the outlook was depressing. I was on a lot of pain medicine. Today if you’re depending on pills, you’re part of the opioid crisis. But I could still barely move, barely walk. I had to convince myself to get out of bed every morning. I was tired of living like that, tired of hurting. My primary back doctor was at his wit’s end trying to get my back better, and he sent me to Dr. Webb.
What procedure did you have done?
He’s done epidural steroid injections. You’d think they’d hurt, but they didn’t. He did ablations that helped. He found spinal fractures which no doctor had ever found. He’s performed kyphoplasty which basically glues bones together, and it’s worked great.
What was your experience like?
Dr. Webb’s office is a one-stop shop on anything and everything you need to help your back. Dr. Webb is awesome. I love the guy, but it’s not just him. His whole staff is wonderful – considerate, caring, thorough. You’re not just a number going in there. It’s very refreshing that way. He draws your blood, checks your hormones and vitamin levels. He helps the whole patient.
Would you refer him?
I’ve been going through this for 20 some years, and Dr. Webb is the first one who has gotten me out of 95% of my pain. He has changed my life; he gave me a life. I would recommend him to anybody that has given up hope, thinking “I will be like this for the rest of my life. This is just what I have to deal with.” If you give him a chance, he can help. I’ve never felt better in my whole life.
Dr. James Webb
(918) 260-9322
www.drjameswebb.com 6550 E. 71st St., Ste. 200 • Tulsa, OK 74133
Frum offered tips for making letters more appealing so they have a better chance of being chosen. Make sure the letter is legible and has a return address on either the envelope, letter or both. It's also good to have specific requests. If the writer wants clothes, they should include sizes, colors and styles. List the names of any toys and games desired. If a book is on the wish list, be sure to add the title and author.
Of course, some of the most touching letters don’t mention gifts. In 2020, many children asked Santa to find a cure for COVID-19. Trent, age 6, wanted to know more about Santa himself.
“My dad says you are hundreds of years old. How is that possible? What do you eat? When do you take a shower?” Trent’s only Christmas wish was to cuddle with the big guy. A child named TaJa asked if Santa could do something special for her grandparents: “They always help other people, but now they are both sick and can’t do much these days so I’m reaching out to you Santa. Just wish I could do something special for them this year.”
HOW TO PLAY SANTA
Companies, as well as individuals, can adopt Operation Santa letters. For security reasons, potential adopters must be vetted by going through a short registration and identity verification process before they are allowed to adopt any letter. The program is anonymous to protect the safety of the participants. USPS does not provide names of the letter writers, adopters or family members of anyone participating in the program. Potential adopters can register and become verified starting in midNovember, and adoptions begin around Thanksgiving, Frum said. The program officially ends on December 19 in order to get all gifts delivered before Christmas. In 2020, 23,860 letters were adopted.
If you are interested in adopting a child or family through USPS Operation Santa, go to www.uspsoperationsanta.com. After registering, you will shop for the present, wrap it and take it to a participating post office. They will make sure the gift or gifts get loaded up on Santa’s sleigh!
North Pole Postmark
Did you know that kids (and kids at heart!) can get a return stamp from the North Pole?
The North Pole postmark is for anyone who wants to add a special holiday touch to their holiday greeting cards, or for those parents who want to make sure their child gets an answer to their letter to Santa. The North Pole Postmark is not related to USPS Operation Santa.
HOW TO RECEIVE A NORTH POLE POSTMARK:
1. Have your child write a letter to Santa and place it in an envelope addressed to: Santa Claus, North Pole. 2. Once you’re alone, open the envelope and write a personalized response on the back of your child’s letter and sign it “from
Santa.” 3. Take the letter and place it into an envelope addressed to your child. Write Santa’s return address in the upper left corner:
Santa, North Pole, and place a first-class stamp in the upper right corner.
Place that entire envelope into a larger envelope with appropriate postage affixed to the outside and address it to:
NORTH POLE POSTMARK POSTMASTER 4141 POSTMARK DR. ANCHORAGE, AK 99530-9998
The recommended mail-by date in order to receive a response before December 25 is December 6.
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GET IT ON YOUR DOORSTEP
The Rise of Home Delivery
BY STEVE CLEM
Delivering goods to homes is not new. Delivery services, including the major players UPS, FedEx and the United States Postal Service, have been around for many years. However, the COVID-19 pandemic changed home delivery. It is now possible to place an order for almost anything – from tonight’s dinner to pharmaceuticals to a new car –and have it delivered to your doorstep.
Last holiday season, before vaccines were available, a record number of Americans stayed home and purchased online. U.S. online shopping over the holidays grew 32% from the previous year. Sales totaled $188.2 billion, according to Adobe Analytics.
In this current season of the Delta variant and vaccine boosters, although more people are expected to go out shopping, the trend of maximum convenience and minimum contact continues. WEST COAST GIANTS
Ironically, two giants in home delivery today got their starts in Seattle, Washington, separated by nearly a century.
In 1907, teenage entrepreneurs Claude Ryan and Jim Casey began a package delivery service in their Pacific Northwest basement with a $100 loan. When their American Messenger Company expanded into California in 1919, they changed its name to United Parcel Service (UPS). That same year, the company began painting company vehicles brown, a color that to them signified sophistication, class and professionalism.
By mid-20th century, UPS offered commercial and residential shipping services to major cities around the country. In 1985, it achieved the milestone of providing next-day service to every address in the contiguous 48 states. The better part of a century after UPS came into being, a Wall Street executive quit his job and moved to Seattle to concentrate on e-commerce – selling goods using the new technology of the internet. Jeff Bezos began looking for items that were inexpensive to sell online and economical to ship to customers. He chose books. Searching the dictionary for a company name that would show up first in alphabetical listings, Bezos selected a word with an exotic connotation: Amazon!
Randy Gleissner has delivered for UPS for 32 years.
PRIMED FOR DELIVERY
Bezos launched Amazon as an online bookseller in 1995. The company began expanding beyond books in 1998. In 2005, Amazon rolled out its gamechanging Amazon Prime free two-day shipping
Since 2019, the company has invested in mini-fulfillment centers across the country to offer one-day shipping. There are now at least a dozen U.S. cities, including Tulsa, where their customers can receive their shipments in as little as five hours. UPS, a major player in the delivery service industry, competes directly with FedEx and the United States Postal Service. A recent survey of online retailers named UPS as the preferred shipper for large packages.
A MAN IN BROWN
Randy Gleissner is in the driver’s seat – where he has been for the past 32 years – as a driver for UPS. Each morning, he picks up his truck, or “package car” as UPS calls them, and heads out for his customers in Claremore.
Since the pandemic, the contents of Gleissner’s truck have changed. “Everything you see in your home, we’re delivering. Also, the swing set and trampoline in your backyard. Anything and everything,” he said. He paused. “I have delivered 12 packs of Pepsi.”
UPS also is a courier for COVID vaccines. “For those shipments, we have tracking devices on each box, so we know where that package is every second,” Gleissner said. “Instead of being put on a conveyor belt, they are hand sorted. And on the trucks, they are delivered first.”
Gleissner recalled the challenges of delivering in the early days of the pandemic. “With businesses closed, people were giving me keys, or keypad codes, so I could get inside and drop off packages,” he said.
While more people are forecast to go back to stores this holiday season, Gleissner believes trends that started during the pandemic are here to stay.
“Used to be if a man wanted a new smoker, he would go to the store, pick one out and bring it home," he said.
"But now, he shops for it online and we deliver it to him.”
HELP FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Both UPS and FedEx offer services that can help keep items safe from what Gleissner calls “porch pirates.” Those services include diverting packages to another address, leaving them with a neighbor or having them delivered on a different day.
UPS Store services include boxing oddly-shaped items, packing breakables and handling returns. “We work with Amazon and other stores to make returns as easy as possible,” Gleissner said. “Recently, an older customer ordered a new dining room table. Well, the table was not what she wanted. I was notified that she had a return; I went by her house and picked it up,” he said. “That made it easy for her, to just pick up the phone or do it online and have me go by and get it.”
Gleissner thinks there may be a misconception with some people about holding packages on their trucks. “I can’t speak for other companies, but at UPS we deliver everything that is on the truck every day. This is why you see UPS drivers out, especially during Christmas, until 10 or 11 o’clock at night delivering packages.”
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Fabulous
HOLIDAY GIFTS UNDER $25
Other Considerations
For the Coffee Crew
DoubleShot Coffee Company
1633 S. Boulder Ave. www.doubleshotcoffee.com In addition to delicious brewed coffee, the DoubleShot Coffee Company at East 16th Street and South Boulder offers whole beans, coffee gear, baked goods and a variety of market items. Owner Brian Franklin travels the world, visiting farms and bringing back beans to roast on site. For $23.50, try a half-pound of La Minita beans from Costa Rica, a package of fresh-baked English muffins and a jar of homemade jam. Visit their website for online shopping, curbside pickup, local delivery and shipping.
Glacier Chocolates
1902 Utica Square www.glacierchocolate.com Shop online or in-person at three Tulsa locations for artisanal chocolates.
Cricket & Fig Chocolate
5800 S. Lewis Ave. www.cricketandfig.com Order handcrafted chocolates, fruit jellies and dessert sauces for under $25. Customized, hand-written gift notes available.
Rose Rock Microcreamery
502 E. 3rd St. www.roserockmicrocreamery.com Shop local for handcrafted ice cream in pints, sandwiches and pies. Online orders and delivery are available.
Other Considerations
Craft Beer & More
Marshall Brewing Company
1742 E. 6th St. www.marshallbrewing.com This local brewery ushered in Tulsa’s craft brewing industry. Order six-packs of bottles or cans online for pick up at the Tap Room. Pair them with a branded stein, or a pilsner or pint glass, and you’ve created the perfect gift for your brew buddy. Shop T-shirts and hats ($23) or mugs and tumblers ($18), too. For more Marshall merchandise, visit their website.
American Solera Brewery
1702 E. 6th St. www.americansolera.com
Dead Armadillo Craft Brewing
1004 E. 4th St. www.dabrewery.com
Heirloom Rustic Ales
2113 E. Admiral Blvd. www.heirloomrusticales.com
Cabin Boys Brewery
1717 E. 7th St. www.cabinboysbrewery.com
Fabulous Finds BY JULIE WENGER WATSON
HOLIDAY GIFTS UNDER $25
Quirky Curios
Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios
1347 E. 11th St www.buckatomson66.com
Located on Route 66, just east of Peoria on East 11th Street, it’s hard to miss Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios. Look for the 21-foot-tall Space Cowboy, and you’re there. This diminutive gift shop is packed with affordable Mother Road souvenirs and unique Oklahoma novelties. Find plenty of postcards, magnets, mugs and tees for $25 and under.
Other Considerations
Ida Red
208 N. Main St. 3336 S. Peoria Ave. 7890 E. 106th Pl. S. www.idaredgeneralstore.com Toys, socks, cards, candy and a variety of Oklahoma-themed gifts await at Ida Red’s three Tulsa locations. Online shopping and shipping are available.
Decopolis
1401 E. 11th St. www.decopolis.net This cool shop has gifts for all ages including Oklahoma and Tulsa souvenirs, spa products, books, toys and puzzles. Part store and part museum, you’ll see curiosities and wonders from the state’s early years. Online shopping and delivery are available.
For the Music Lover
Cain's Ballroom
423 N. Main St. www.cainsballroom.com
The historic Cain’s Ballroom in the heart of downtown Tulsa is the home of Western Swing. Check out the calendar for upcoming concerts or shop for a tank or T-shirt ($20 - $25) for your favorite music fan. Ball caps and beanies are $25. Koozies, key chains and stickers ($2-$12) make perfect stocking stuffers. Shipping and local pickup are available. Other Considerations
Horton Records
www.hortonrecords.org Shop Tulsa’s nonprofit record label for vinyl ($25) and CDs ($15) from Oklahoma artists or T-shirts ($15-$20). Shipping is available.
Guitar House of Tulsa
1216 S. Harvard Ave. www.facebook.com/ guitarhouseoftulsa In addition to new and vintage guitars, Guitar House of Tulsa has a wide selection of music-related accessories for under $25, including capos, strings, guitar picks and straps, T-shirts and coffee mugs.
The Best in Barbecue
Hasty Bake
1313 S. Lewis Ave. www.hastybake.com This company has been making award-winning charcoal grills since 1948 right here in Tulsa. Although the grills themselves are a significant investment, the company also sells BBQ sauce and rubs, T-shirts and hats and many grilling accessories – all for under $25. The All-Purpose Rub ($12.99), the Hasty Bake BBQ Sauce ($7.99) or the grill towel ($9.99) all make excellent gifts. Other Considerations
Head Country Bar-B-Q www.headcountry.com
Making barbecue sauce since 1947, Ponca City’s Head Country also makes marinades and rub. Choose from a variety of sauce flavors, including the Original (20 oz. for $3.68). Find their products at local supermarkets, or shop online at the website.
For Fitness Freaks
The Engine Room Boxing Gym
316 E. 11th St. www.engineroomboxing.com Located in Tulsa’s Gunboat Park Neighborhood, The Engine Room has boxing training for fitness and competition. The gym also offers a Parkinson’s-specific boxing program called Ready to Fight, which is now the official therapy-boxing program of USA Boxing. During December, you can purchase a specially priced introductory personal training session – $25 for a halfhour session. It’s an affordable way to check out the sport, and it makes a great gift for your fitness friends. Visit their website for more information about the gym.
Tom’s Bicycles
2648 E. 11th St. and 6861 S. Peoria www.tomsbicycles.com Find gloves, socks, water bottles and more for your cycling buddies.
Other Considerations
SHIPPING FOR EXTRA CASH BY JULIE WENGER WATSON SELLING AND
J J J J J
Enterprising seniors can earn a little – or a lot – by navigating the world of e-commerce. One Bixby woman tells how she found fun and renewed purpose equipped with a smartphone and postage scale.
GLENDA REITH
Glenda Reith, former realtor and teacher, has been selling on eBay since 1999.
Would you like some extra cash? Consider a venture into the world of e-commerce. With a little time and a small investment, a side hustle selling things on online platforms like eBay, Etsy or Facebook can generate a steady income.
Setting Your Own Hours
Packing and Shipping Packing & Shipping
A small postal scale will help sellers more accurately charge for shipping.
Finding a Niche
Many people first dip their toes into online sales to get rid of their “junk.” Selling the item, rather than giving or throwing it away, effectively turns trash into treasure. That’s how Bixby resident Glenda Reith started on eBay more than 20 years ago. An occasional hobby for years, it became more of a business about five years ago after she helped a family friend sort through her father’s estate. “He was an interesting man, and an avid photographer and collector,” Reith explained. “This was her inheritance.” Reith helped her friend list and sell the items, emptying the home and generating some money for the woman in the process. For Reith, it gave her hobby a bigger purpose. “I love helping people who are going through difficult times in their life, either downsizing or after the death of a mother or father – going through their things and deciding what to do with them,” she said.
Reith estimates she makes about $1,000 each month with under 40 hours of work. “I could easily upscale it with a little more effort into $5,000 a month,” she said. “That’s a living.” She enjoys the job flexibility, allowing her to set her own hours and take vacations. She also feels a sense of pride in adding to the household finances. “I feel like I have something that’s mine,” she said of the business. “It gives me a sense of self-worth to be contributing, and it makes me happy.” In determining what will sell, Reith keeps her eye on trends. She also relies on her gut. “I’ve always had the ability to find things and know they’re worth something,” she said. “Usually, it’s something that interests me. It’s something where I can see the quality. Sometimes it’s a tactile feel; sometimes it’s visual. Maybe you can appreciate the craftsmanship that went into it.” Her recent success stories include a felt Tiny Town (antique) doll named Honey, purchased for $1 at a garage sale and sold on eBay for $90, and a small, decorative ceramic pig bought for $3 at a thrift store and later sold for $55.
Reith suggests purchasing a small scale for your home (her scale weighs items up to 150 pounds). This allows you to more accurately estimate shipping fees, which ultimately affect your profit. Reith utilizes several shipping methods, including the U.S. Post Office and UPS, comparing prices to find the least expensive route. To ensure items arrive safely at their destination, packing is important. Reith will often double box delicate objects, adding padding between the layers. YouTube is full of videos showing practical ways to pack and ship all types of products. Choosing the right material and the right size container helps.
With some knowledge, patience and a few tools, selling online might be a fun way to create an extra income stream. Next time you’re cleaning or decluttering, take a closer look at that “trash” before you toss.
LIFE PACE
Connects Older Adults to the Help They Need
BY ADRIAN ROLLE, INTAKE MANAGER
Finding a Selling Platform
Reith utilizes eBay as her primary selling platform. With millions of users, eBay allows selling in both an “auction format,” where potential buyers bid on the item, or “Buy it Now!” with a set price. It’s a good place to sell collectibles or other niche market items. However, the fees, including a listing fee, can be a drawback. Amazon is a good platform for selling at a fixed price. It’s also easy to see what other merchants are selling and where they’re setting their prices. In general, the fees associated with Amazon are cheaper than eBay.
Craigslist is another easy avenue for e-commerce. It’s free to list, and there are no fees. It’s best suited for selling larger items locally, such as furniture and décor, which would be expensive to ship. The drawback, of course, is that you have to meet the buyer in person. It’s important to make those delivery arrangements with safety in mind. Choose a public place, such as a mall or a convenience store, to make the swap.
Reith has practical advice for those interested in selling online. “You need a smartphone,” Reith said. You can use your phone for photographing your products, researching pricing and monitoring your sales. Reith often uses her phone to identify items she finds at estate or garage sales, doing Google searches onsite to determine exactly what something is and how it might sell. “The most difficult part in listing, besides knowing what to buy and how to price it, is getting it to look good in pictures,” she said. “Your pictures are selling it. That’s what differentiates you from another seller.” Reith purchased a lightbox to use when taking photographs of products with her smartphone. The box creates professional-quality photography lighting, with no shadows. You’ll also need a way to manage your money. Reith chose PayPal to handle her transactions. She emphasizes the importance of knowing all the fees involved with both the online selling platform and the cash management app you use for transferring funds.
Getting Started With E-Commerce
Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly
People can feel pressured to enjoy themselves during the holidays. The season is supposed to be merry and bright, but some seniors feel increasingly isolated this time of year – even under more “normal” circumstances. With the end of the COVID-19 pandemic not yet in sight, it’s important to be supportive of our loved ones in ways that keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, older adults who are socially isolated are at higher risk for depression. There is growing evidence that social isolation also affects physical health including increased emergency room visits and higher medical costs. Involvement in LIFE PACE – a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly – may be the best gift an eligible senior can receive this holiday season. PACE is a comprehensive, coordinated senior healthcare program that uses a team approach to provide a variety of services: medical, skilled therapies (PT, OT and Speech), behavioral health, dietary, nursing, transportation, social workers, recreation, hospitalizations, in-home support, caregiver training, basic health supplies and durable medical equipment. One of the cornerstones of the PACE program is Adult Day Health. Attending Adult Day encourages your loved one to connect with others. Participants can also receive freshly prepared, nutritious meals and assistance with activities of daily living. Adult Day can serve as a safe and familiar place for your loved one to receive PACE services while giving caregivers a much-needed break to return to work, take care of personal business or simply relax. Best practices are implemented to keep participants safe. Temperature and symptom screenings, regular sanitation of high-contact surfaces, masks and social distancing work together to ensure participants can continue coming to Adult Day to socialize and stay engaged through the holidays and beyond.
PACE
If you or someone you care about could benefit from LIFE PACE, contact a LIFE PACE specialist at (918) 938-7653 or (918) 938-7660 (en Español).
www.LIFEPACE.org
By Allied
