Dear NewWave Communications Subscribers,

A decision was made to drop some duplicate programming that will effect you in the new year.

Effective at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, December 31, 2017 NewWave Communications dropped KAIT from the Dexter, Kennett & Poplar Bluff broadcasting area.

Channel 3, KPOB will be your local ABC channel for Poplar Bluff and Dexter.  Channel 7, WSIL will be your local ABC channel for Kennett.

Also WPSD Channel 6 will be the NBC affiliate for Poplar Bluff, Dexter, and Kennett.

WMC was also dropped in the Kennett area; however you will still have channel 6 as your NBC affiliate.

New Wave Communications is a broadband company delivering high-speed Internet, TV, and telephone services to residential and business customers in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas.  They truly care about the communities they serve. 

They work hard every day to be the best choice for Internet, TV, and telephone services. 

Great things are coming

Happy New Year! So many changes come with the New Year that it is hard to keep everything organized. I wanted to take a little time to give you a quick update on Medicare.

The Medicare Part B premium: The standard premium amount for 2018 is $134 as it was in 2017. Many people will pay less than this depending on their Social Security; $130 is the average Part B Premium in 2018. Some people will pay more for their Part B in 2018 than they did in 2017; the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Social Security is going up by 2% which will allow Medicare to increase some Medicare premiums as long as it is not by more than 2%. You will get a notification from Social Security as to what your premium will be for 2018.

The Medicare Part A deductible (Part A is the Hospital or in-patient part of Medicare) will go from $1,316 per benefit period to $1,340 per benefit period.

The Medicare Part B deductible will remain the same at $183 per year.

The Medicare Part D (prescription) coverage gap also known as the do-nut hole is still closing with there scheduled to be no coverage gap starting in 2020. For 2018 those in the coverage gap will pay 35% of the cost of name brand prescriptions and 44% of generic drug costs.

If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) and you would like to disenroll from that plan and return to Original Medicare, you have until February 14.

Anyone on Extra Help can change their prescription or Advantage plan throughout the year, if you missed Open Enrollment we may still be able to help you.

There are programs that could help those who have limited income and resources pay for the different parts of Medicare, call our office for more information.

Finally new Medicare cards will be sent out starting in April. I know I keep saying this, but it is a huge undertaking for Medicare. The cards will be mailed to the address Social Security has on file for you.

As always for additional information or if you have questions, please call Aging Matters; 800-392-8771 or 573-335-3331.

So what exactly do you do?

What do you do? I get asked that question quite often when I tell people I help with Medicare issues. Navigating Medicare can be confusing and intimidating for some, one of my jobs is to make the entire Medicare process easier to understand and inform Medicare recipients of the choices they have and the time frames they have to make those choices.

So this Age Spots will attempt to shed a little light on the mystery that is Medicare. Medicare was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965. The first Medicare card was assigned to Harry S. Truman, who had been one of the first to encourage the idea of a national healthcare program for seniors.

Original Medicare consists of Part A and Part B. Part A covers inpatient care in hospitals, home health care, hospice care and some skilled nursing care. Most people do not pay a premium for Part A and there is a Part A deductible which can vary by year.

Part B of Medicare covers outpatient services, things like doctor visits, lab work, x-rays and durable medical equipment. Most people do pay a monthly premium for Part B and that is withheld out of a Social Security check or paid directly to Medicare if no Social Security benefit is being paid. Part B also has a deductible and then pays about 80% of the Medicare approved amount.

Medicare Part D began in 2006 and is the prescription part of Medicare. The Med D plans vary from state to state but have to meet minimum requirements set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Plans do have premiums that are paid monthly and there is usually a co-payment on medicines, some even have a yearly deductible. They can vary quite a bit and change from year to year.

If you are still reading this, I hope you are learning something or at least relearning something. So we have gone over Medicare Parts A, B and D. At this point many wonder, “What happened to Part C?” I am glad you asked. Medicare Part C also know as Medicare Advantage plans are Medicare health plans offered through a private company contracted with Medicare. These plans cover the Part A and Part B benefits and many also include prescription coverage. These plans vary by zip code and each plan’s premiums, co-pays and deductible vary by plan. Some include additional coverage for vision, dental and hearing.

So that’s a lot of information for one day and we are really just getting started. If you would like more information on anything Medicare related, please call Aging Matters 800-392-8771 or 573-335-3331. We can speak with you one-on-one or we could talk to your group. We also have Medicare Bootcamps where we cover all the ins and outs of Medicare, we schedule those in the spring and you can check with us to see when and where we will be having the Bootcamps.

A quick reminder as we close out 2017:

New Medicare cards will be sent out in 2018, starting in April. Make sure your address is up to date at Social Security. No one will call you to ask for your personal information. This rollout will take time, be patient. Your card might arrive at a different time than your spouse, neighbor or friend.

I want to offer a warning at the beginning that this is not my normal upbeat article. This is something I wanted to write last year, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. It was too hard and hurt too much.

I love the Holidays. I love the music, the family and friend gatherings, the decorations even the shopping! But last year was different for me. Last year my niece passed away and it was the first holidays without her. There were times then and still are, when I am doing routine daily things and a wave of grief and pain washes over me. It hurts so much and feels like a punch in the gut. I have at times even looked around to see if something this painful had knocked the breath out of those around me. I’m always surprised when they seem unaffected.

Most people want to comfort and offer support, but they don’t know how to and dealing with grief during the holidays is extra hard. The holidays are the time we spend with families and friends. When there is an empty seat at the table, we all feel it. It doesn’t go away even when we are having fun or doing those traditional things we do each year. That’s when we notice the absence the most. 

So what do you do if you are grieving during the holidays? It is ok to take a step back from all of the celebrating. Scheduling quiet time if you need it or stepping away if you feel overwhelmed by your surroundings is normal. If you get comfort from doing all the traditional celebrating, then do that. Everyone grieves in their own way and you are completely normal. You get to choose how much or how little you do. My boys all find comfort in talking about and sharing stories about those we have lost. Sharing funny stories and being able to laugh or cry or just remind ourselves that we are all missing her helps them work through some of their hardest times. Do whatever you are comfortable with. Try a new tradition if the old ones bring you more sadness than joy, only you know what you can handle. Listen to yourself.

Loss and grief are not the only things that steal the joy out of the season. Many people suffer from depression during the holidays. Sometimes it is a long term ongoing battle. Sometimes it is triggered by financial strains, loneliness or the cold dark days of winter. Whatever the reason, the holidays can be difficult for many. Just know, you are not alone, many people struggle. There are no magic words that will make things better, but experts do say there are things you can try. Volunteering at a senior center or other location will give you a chance to interact with others and have a purpose. Plan a manageable celebration if you enjoy being the host. If you need help ask for it. Talk to your doctor if this is something you just can’t “shake”. Trust me nothing you tell them will shock them, they have heard it all before. Put yourself first, plan time to do what you want to do in all the hustle and bustle of the season.

As we approach the holiday season people say it will be easier this year, it isn’t the first without her. I’m not sure if I truly believe that, but I do know that last year showed me I can make it through. I can even find some joy in the holidays, and that has to be good enough. So this holiday season, be extra kind. Smile at the cashier and be polite to the other shoppers. Be understanding of the mother or father struggling with the crying child. Take the time to check on a neighbor or friend who has suffered a loss or who may be alone. Kindness and love are welcome at any season.

Happy Holidays to you all.

Contact Jackie Dover at Aging Matters for more information, 1-800-392-8771 or jdover@agingmatters2u.com