Help with Medicare available from Dutchess Office for Aging

Ulster Office for Aging offers assistance with Medicare

The annual open enrollment period for people to change their Medicare health or prescription drug coverage for 2018 begins Sunday, Oct. 15.

The enrollment period ends Dec. 7.

During the annual enrollment period, people can change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan, or join, switch or drop a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. Call the Ulster County Office for the Aging at (845) 340-3456 for a free Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program appointment if you would like to make a change in your Medicare coverage. Dutchess County residents with Medicare can choose from available Medicare Prescription Drug plans and Medicare Health Plans.

Whether you are interested in staying with Original/Traditional/Feefor-Service Medicare and finding the best available drug plan, or are considering the Medicare Advantage Plan options, you can start looking now. The 2018 plan information has been posted on the Medicare website at www.medicare.gov since Oct. 1.

All Medicare beneficiaries are encouraged to review their plan’s options for 2018. Keep in mind that what was good for you last year may not necessarily be your best choice in 2018. Many things can change, including covered prescriptions, premiums, deductibles, etc. Some current plans available in 2017 may be discontinued, while some new plans will be available for 2018. Just as you get your own personal health “checkup,” you should “check up” on your health insurance benefits as well.

There are four ways to review and compare plans:

• Visit www.medicare. gov/ Compare costs, coverage and more while getting an estimate of your out-ofpocket costs for the year.

• Talk with the Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s certified Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program staff and volunteers. Call (845) 486-2566 or(800) 701-0501. Phone counseling and in-person individual appointments are available.

• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048). Help is available from trained Medicare representatives 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• You can consider the listing of plans in your “Medicare & You” Handbook. You will not, however, be making as personal a choice as you can on the Medicare website, where you can enter your prescription information and have your needs matched with appropriate plans.

Breakfast Seminar takes place Oct. 18

The Wellness and Healthy Life Style Senior Breakfast Seminar, formerly known as the Benecare Club, will meet Wednesday, Oct. 18, in the Food Court of the Hudson Valley Mall, 1300 Ulster Ave.

Breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m. That will be followed at 9 a.m. by guest speaker Ellen Marshall, the director of oncology support at HealthAlliance. She will talk about ways lifestyle changes can re-

Four area students — Meghan L. Gavis of Kingston, and Madison L. Guskie, Ethan D. Husted and George C. Oldum, all of Red Hook High School — were named semifinalists in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program.

They were among 16,000 students who qualified as semifinalists.

About 1.6million juniors in more than 22,000high schools en- CONSIGNMENT SERVICES • ON-SITE JEWELRY DESIGN & REPAIR

duce people’s cancer risk.

Call Gerry Harrington at (845) 334-4760 for more information.

AARP driver-safety classes scheduled

The following AARP driversafety classes have been scheduled:

• Saturday, Oct. 28, Olive Free Library, 4033 Route 28A, West Shokan. Call (845) 657-2482 to register or for more information.

• Tuesday, Nov. 14, Russell Brott Senior Center, 1 Town Hall Drive, Lake Katrine. Sign in at 8:30 a.m. The class starts at 9 a.m. Register by calling (845) 339-7885 Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Classes are scheduled to run six hours. Seating is very limited, and preregistration is required. The cost of the class is $25 per person, $20 for AARP members. Successful completion of the class can result in auto insurance discounts and points reduction on driver’s license.

The classes are open to all. There are no membership or age requirements. New volunteer instructors are needed in every county.

For more information on other classes, call (888) 227-7669 or visit aarp.org/ findacourse/

Senior groups list meeting schedules

The Town of Ulster Senior Club will meet Thursday, Oct. 12, at the Town of Ulster Senior Center, 1 Town Hall Drive.

Refreshments will be served at 12:30 p.m. The meeting will start at 1 p.m.

The group’s meetings are a time for friendship, socialization and the sharing of ideas. New members are always welcome.

After the meetings, those who wish may stay to play bingo. The Sawkill Seniors will meet Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m. at the Kingston Town Hall.

The speaker will be Bob Donaldson, author of the book “Chronicles of Ulster.” Monthly meetings take place on the second Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m. The meetings begin with a guest speaker and formal format, followed by a raffle, socializing and refreshments. There will also be a bingo or card game for those who wish to participate.

New members are welcome.

The Town of Rosendale Seniors will have a social meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m. at the Rosendale Recreation Center, Route 32.

Halloween will be the theme, so all are welcome to come in costume.

The executive board meeting will take place Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 10:30 a.m. at the center. That will be followed by a business meeting at 1 p.m.

Reservations are being taken for the trip in 2018 to New Orleans. The trip will be from Aug. 25 to Sept. 2. Some great attractions will be the National World War II Museum, Harrah’s Casino, Mardi Gras World, and a boat cruise. The cost is $829 per person, double occupancy.

For more information on the trip, contract Chickie at (845) 658-2414 or Hal at (845) 658-9020.

All are welcome on trips.

The Rhinebeck/Red Hook AARP chapter will meet Wednesday, Oct. 11, at the Red Hook Community Center, 59 Fisk St., Red Hook.

The social hour begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by the meeting at 11:30 a.m. and the speaker at 12:15 p.m.

The speaker this month will be Michael Courtney, the Energy coach for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s “Energize NY” program. He will talk about how people can save energy — and money — in their homes.

The Women’s Club of Rosendale will have its monthly meeting on Thursday, Oct. 12, at the Rosendale Community Center, Route 32.

Attendees will have a chance to meet local candidates running for election in Novembers.

The club’s mission is to create an educational stepping stone for youngsters and to promote a civicminded atmosphere. Christine Verheyleweghen Thomas have recently established