Fwd: If I had Extra Help this year, will I still have it next year?

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From: " Dear Marci / Medicare Rights Center "

Topic of the Month:

New in 2009!

This week, in Marci . . .

Volume 7, Issue 48: Week of December 1, 2008

Dear Marci: If I had Extra Help this year,

will I still have it next year? Get Resources: Resources for

understanding your Medicare options. Health Tip: Tips for having a healthy sex

life. Survey Says: Caregivers sacrifice health

and income for loved ones.

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Dear Marci,

I received

Extra Help this year for the first time and it made my health care

costs more manageable. Will I still have it in 2009?

—Vera (White Plains, NYY)

Click on the blue, underlined hyperlinks for related

information available through Medicare Interactive!

Dear Vera,

It depends on how you got Extra Help this year and whether your

situation has changed.

For instance, if you received Extra Help

automatically because you were already enrolled in

Medicaid, a

Medicare Savings Program (MSP), or were receiving Supplemental

Security Income (SSI), and you are still enrolled in Medicaid or

an MSP, or are receiving SSI at the end of the year, you do not have

to do anything.

If you are no longer enrolled in Medicaid or an MSP, or receiving

SSI at the end of the year, you should re-apply for Extra Help.

Otherwise, your Extra Help will end on December 31.

If your Extra Help ends, you can always reapply.

Remember that for Extra Help to fully cover your

Medicare private drug plan’s (Part D) premium, you must choose a

plan that offers basic coverage and has a premium at or below the

Extra Help premium amount for your state.

To find out more about how to keep your Extra Help in the new

year, visit

Medicare Interactive.

— Marci

Looking for past Dear Marci Answers? Have other Medicare

questions? Find your answers with Medicare Interactive (MI), an

independent, public resource of the Medicare Rights Center. MI offers

expert information and advice on Medicare.

Visit Medicare Interactive today!

Do you need individual counseling? Call the Medicare Rights

Center's consumer hotline at , between 9 a.m. and 5

p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. A Medicare counselor will be

happy to answer your question.

You can also call your

State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for personal

counseling on Medicare benefits, rights and options. Call

Social Security () for questions about enrolling

in Medicare or applying for Extra Help!

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Health Tip of the Week

Despite the stereotypes surrounding sexuality and older adults, sex is

not just for the young. Recent

studies suggest that a healthy sex life is not only fulfilling for

older adults, but also good for promoting physical health and

self-esteem. Here are some tips to maintain a healthy sex life later in

life:

Talk to your partner: Develop emotional and physical intimacy

by communicating your needs, desires and concerns with your partner.

Be safe: If you’re dating, make sure you know your

partner’s sexual history. Practice safe sex with a condom and consider

getting tested together for

sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and

HIV.

Break the routine: Avoid being predictable. Take time to set a

romantic mood and explore new ways to connect emotionally and physically

with your partner.

Be healthy: Eating right and staying active will contribute to

your stamina.

Talk to your doctor: Don’t be shy about asking your doctor

for advice about protecting yourself from STDs or treatments for

common sexual problems.

For more tips on maintaining a safe and healthy sex life, visit

MayoClinic.com and the

American Geriatric Society. To find out which preventive services are

covered by Medicare, visit

Medicare Interactive.

Survey Says . . .

According to a new

report by AARP’s Public Policy Institute, 34 million caregivers in

the United States provided unpaid help to family and friends last year,

valued at an estimated $375 billion. This shows an increase from $350

billion in 2006.

The estimate, derived from five nationally representative surveys, was

based on an assessment of caregivers who provided an average of 21 hours

per week of care, worth $10.10 per hour, to adults with limitations on

daily activities. AARP noted that 34 million is the estimated number of

caregivers in the U.S. at any given time, but that about 52 million

adults provided unpaid care at some point during 2007. The report found

that 7 percent of caregivers end up having to reduce their working

hours—or quit their jjob—to provide care. In addition, caregivers to

people age 50 or older spent an average of $5,531 out-of-pocket on care.

The researchers warned that caregivers are at risk of becoming ill

themselves because of chronic stress.

Researchers found that the typical caregiver is a 46-year-old woman who

works outside the home and provides more than 20 hours weekly of unpaid

care to her mother, including daily chores and health-related tasks, such

as administering medications.

To find out about what resources exist for caregivers, visit

Medicare Interactive.

Spotlight on Resources

Find answers to your questions about Medicare health plan options on

Medicare Interactive. For information about services and resources

for older adults and persons with disabilities, visit the

National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. For free one-on-one

counseling and assistance on Medicare and related issues, contact your

State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). For help getting

screened for benefit programs available to older adults with limited

incomes, visit

Benefits Check Up.

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MRC's Hotline for Professionals

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Center to support people serving the Medicare population. Dial

from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time for accurate, up-to-date

information and ongoing technical support.

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Want to learn about upcoming Medicare changes?

Check out MRC’s next FREE educational web seminar, " New

for 2009 " to learn about important upcoming changes to Medicare

in the new year.

Check back to register for this online presentation.

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Newly Updated Medicare Drug Coverage 101

MRC’s Medicare Drug Coverage 101 is an advocate's guide that

tells you everything you need to know about Part D.

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FREE

copy of this great resource.

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Newly Updated Medicare Part D Appeals Help for Advocates

MRC’s

Medicare Part D Appeals: An advocate's manual to navigating the

Medicare private drug plan appeals process offers an

easy-to-understand, comprehensive overview of the entire appeals process,

including real-life case examples.

Get a

FREE

copy of this great resource.

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