County government offers help with Medicare open enrollment
With open enrollment for Medicare now open through Dec. 7, Delaware County, through COSA and the APPRISE Program, offers free counseling to assist residents in making informed decisions about their Medicare health insurance coverage. People with Medicare will see some significant changes to Medicare enrollment rules this fall. If they miss the opportunity to make adjustments to their plans now, they will have to wait another year.
There are important changes ahead for the Medicare Annual Enrollment period. During open enrollment, people can make changes in their Medicare coverage by enrolling in a different Part D plan, changing from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare, or vice versa.
Medicare’s Annual Disenrollment Period (ADP) takes place from Jan. 1-Feb. 14, 2018. During this time Medicare beneficiaries cannot use the disenrollment period to switch Medicare Advantage plans. People with Medicare Advantage (MA) plans will only be able to return to Original Medicare
and/or join a stand-alone prescription drug (Part D) plan during the Annual Disenrollment period.
Through Dec. 28, trained APPRISE health insurance counselors are available to senior citizens by appointment at the COSA office in Eddystone, and on select dates at locations throughout Delaware County. APPRISE counselors are available to provide free counseling by phone. Seniors can also make an
appointment to meet one-on-one with an APPRISE counselor. To reach the Delaware County APPRISE office, call 484-4943769. A high volume of callers is expected this year. APPRISE is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program administered locally by Senior Community Services.
Trained APPRISE counselors can help Medicare beneficiaries in the following areas:
• Review current coverage
• Check qualifications for low-income programs
• Compare plans with all available options
• Search for specific plans online that meet specific prescription and medical needs
• Give easy-to- understand answers to questions about Medicare
• Help enroll in a plan online
People with Medicare can make an appointment for free one-on- one APPRISE counseling at numerous locations throughout the county. To view a complete schedule, visit www. delcosa.org. APPRISE services are free. For an appointment at COSA, call Terry Levine at 610-4471767. Registration is required for one-on- one counseling. Appointments are available for free, individualized counseling at the COSA office, 206 Eddystone Ave., Eddystone from 9 a.m.noon on Oct. 31, Nov. 14 and Dec. 15.
Beneficiaries may also use online tools available at www.medicare.gov (the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder or Medicare Options Compare for health coverage) to review options for 2018. They can compare cost and coverage information on plans serving their area by entering their Medicare number, age, health status, local pharmacy, and their current prescriptions.
Due to recent changes in Medicare requirements and payments to private Medicare Advantage plans, both now and in the future, insurers may opt to change plan benefits, provider networks, and cost.
Plans might respond to the upcoming shifts in Medicare by: Raising beneficiaries’ premiums and/ or cost-sharing; reducing their network of providers; reducing extra benefits; making quality improvements to obtain bonuses; withdrawing from the marketplace entirely.
Others may not make dramatic changes. Beneficiaries should check their coverage carefully each year to ensure they are enrolled in a plan that will continue to meet their health needs and budget.
“Insurance companies that sponsor Medicare plans have the option to change what they offer each year. Co-pays, deductibles and covered medications might change,” said COSA Director Denise V. Stewart. “People should gather their insurance cards, a list of their prescriptions and information they’ve
received from Medicare and Social Security, and they should meet with a counselor to evaluate their coverage.”
For information and to view a schedule of Medicare presentations and individual counseling sessions, visit www.delcosa.org. People can also
contact the APPRISE office at 484-494-3769. Also utilize the tools available at www.medicare.gov
Get job search help Nov. 7
MEDIA » Joseph’s People Central Delco (JPCD) welcomes Nancy Brout to present “Losing Your Job & Finding Yourself” from 7-8:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at Media
Presbyterian Church’s Hassler Chapel, 30 E. Baltimore Ave. The chapel can be accessed from the Baltimore Avenue side, to the left of the main door, or
around back on East Franklin Street, enter the back door and go up the stairs. All are welcome, without regard to religious affiliation.
Whether attendees have lost their job by layoff or by choice, Nancy Brout’s story and job search guidance offer solace, insights, and actions to navigate a transition that can be traumatic, turbulent and triumphant. Discover how to use online job boards, social media and company career sites to generate interviews and offers or reinvent your career.
For information on Brout and her latest book, “Losing Your Job & Finding Yourself: Memoir, Myths, and Methods for Inventive Career Transitions,” visit www.wordsperfected.net/about
JPCD is a joint program of Media Presbyterian Church and St. Laurence Church in Upper Darby. The group has an active, free forum on LinkedIn, named “Joseph’s People of Central Delaware CountyFree Job Search Group” in the LinkedIn directory. For information, visit www.josephspeople.org or email contactus@josephspeople.org
Rose Valley Chorus opens season
NETHER PROVIDENCE » The Rose Valley Chorus & Orchestra opens its 111th season with the Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta “The Mikado” in November. Performances of this fully staged show, accompanied by a full orchestra, are set for 8 p.m. Nov. 4, 8 and 11 and 2 p.m. Nov. 5, 11 and 12. All performances are held in the theater of the Strath Haven Middle School, 200 S. Providence Road (PA Route 252), Wallingford.
Tickets are available at the door. Cost is $20 for adults, $17 for seniors (60 and over) and students, and $7 for children 12 and under. Advance tickets are discounted and group rates for 10 or more attending the same performance are $12. For information, call 610-565-5010 or visit www.rvc
Win designer bags, benefit after prom
MEDIA » Penncrest High School Class of 2018 holds a Designer Handbag Bingo event featuring the latest and most popular handbags and wallets (Kate Spade, Coach, Michael Kors) from 7-10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, at the Media Borough Community Center. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door.
The Designer Handbag Bingo benefits the Penncrest A.M. Prom that is held after the senior prom in keeping students safe while entertaining them at the high school. Now a yearly tradition, the A.M. Prom offers a safe alternative to seniors in lieu of going down the shore or a party after the senior prom.
Each ticket guarantees 10 games. Raffles and 50/50 are available for sale. The event is bring-you-own snacks and beverages. Advanced tickets are recommended; to purchase, visit www.penncrestamprom.org