Maryna Sachs of the Area Agency on Aging
Demystify Medical enrollment: October 25 meeting
Stu Burge
Get ready! The 2018 Medicare Open Enrollment Period gets under way October 15 and continues through December 7. To help unscramble the mind-numbing world of Medicare, Kare Bears invites you to attend our next meeting at 11:00 a.m. October 25 in the Eagle’s Nest Ballroom. Our guest speaker will be Maryna Sachs from the nonprofit Area Agency on Aging. Maryna is a representative of SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program), which provides free counseling services to help the people make informed health insurance decisions.
Why is this meeting important? Because of the choices you will soon be making.
During this annual enrollment period (AEP) you will be asked if you want to make changes to various aspects of your coverage. Such as:
* Switching from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or vice versa.
* Switching from one Medicare Advantage plan to another or from one Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan to another.
* And if you didn’t enroll in a Medicare Part D plan when you were first eligible, you can do so during the open enrollment, although a late enrollment penalty may apply.
To make things even more confusing, the plans available in our area sometimes change from year to year. That means your 2017 plan may not be the best choice for you in 2018.
Many residents will be facing choices about their current Medicare Advantage Plan.
(In Arizona, there are 30 such companies competing for your business.) Medicare Advantage Plans are offered by private companies that contract with Medicare to provide you with all your Part A and Part B benefits.
Medicare Advantage Plans include Health Maintenance Organizations, Preferred Provider Organizations, Private Fee-for-Service Plans, Special Needs Plans and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, most Medicare services are covered through the plan and aren’t paid for under Original Medicare. Most Medicare Advantage Plans offer prescription drug coverage.
Then there are Medicare Supplement (“Medigap”) plans to consider, plus issues involved in switching from an employer’s insurance program to Medicare. Medigap doesn’t have to be as difficult as it can sometimes be made out to be. You can find all about Equitable National Medicare Supplement products at Senior Benefit Service’s website to understand the whole concept a bit more.
Bottom line: make it easy on yourself and join us at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 25 in the Eagle’s Nest Ballroom.
New Board elected
The members of PebbleCreek’s Kare Bears organization has elected and installed their Board of Directors for 2017-2018.
Pictured here, left to right (front row), are First Vice President Joyce Van Ornam, President Teri Sellers, Second Vice President Gladys Mabey and Secretary Roxie Forrest; left to right (back row) are Health & Wellness Director Hilary Coltman, Treasurer Debby Dennington, Communication Director Stu Burge and Programs Director Linda Jo Orinski.
Flu/Pneumonia clinics
Stu Burge
As part of Kare Bears year-round Health and Wellness programs, Walgreens will again be conducting inoculation clinics where Standard flu shots, High Dose 65 plus flu shots, Pneumonia shots and Shingles shots will be available.
Here are the dates: Thursday, October 12; Monday, October 16 and Thursday, October 19. All clinics will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Tuscany Falls Ballroom No. 3
Most health insurance policies (including Medicare) cover the cost of the Standard flu shots at 100%. If your insurance policy doesn’t provide coverage, the cash price is $25.99 for the Standard flu shot and $55 or less for the High Dose 65 plus shot.
The cash price for the Pneumonia shot is $90. Cost of the Shingles shot varies by insurance company. Be sure to find out if your insurance company provides coverage for any of these shots and bring your Medical Insurance Card to the clinic.
A signup sheet is in the Kare Bears folder at the Community Information Center across from the Eagle’s Nest Pro Shop.
Walk-ins will be accepted but you may have to wait, so don’t wait to register!
Questions? Please call the Kare Bears house at 623-536-1200 between 9:00 a.m. and noon Monday through Saturday.
Kare Bears Cares
Three members of the Kare Bears Board of Directors calculate results of the community-wide appeal to collect contributions for the American Red Cross to use in relief efforts in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Here, Joyce Van Ornam, Teri Sellers and Debby Dennington go over the total to date, which amounted to $5,000 at press time. The Kare Bears organization is happy to have played a small part in the enormous post-hurricane effort and express their thanks to the generous PebbleCreek residents who share the organization’s philosophy of “neighbors helping neighbors.”
An affair to remember: tickets on sale for Kare Bears Gala Awards Luncheon
Stu Burge
One of the most anticipated events of the fall season is slated for Wednesday, November 8 in the Tuscany Falls Ballroom. That’s the date and location for the Kare Bears annual Volunteer Awards Luncheon. Traditionally a sold-out occasion, residents are reminded that tickets will be available for purchase on a first-come basis only at the Eagle’s Nest information kiosk between 10:00 a.m. and noon on October 11, 12 and 13. There will be no pre-sales.
Kare Bears Programs Director Linda Jo Orinski points out, “This is the one occasion when we are able to come together and thank the hundreds of PebbleCreek volunteers who give generously of their time and talent throughout the year.”
Tickets are $30 each, payable by check or cash. For those who like to enjoy the event with a group of friends, one individual may purchase up to 10 seats (one table) for their group.
Please Note: if you plan to purchase tickets for several guests, please come to the kiosk with a written list of each individual’s name and each person’s choice of menu item. The entrée selections include: (1) Roasted pork loin, (2) Citrus-herb chicken or (3) Spinach-artichoke crêpes.
Beginning at 10:30 a.m. on the day of the luncheon there will be a cash bar and display of an amazing selection of raffle and silent auction items in the Chianti Room.
You won’t want to miss the jaw-dropping array of gourmet consumables, dazzling jewelry and fashion accessories, golf packages, free dinners at PebbleCreek restaurants, a computer, art work, hotel night, and restaurant gift cards.
The Ballroom doors open at 11:00 a.m. for seating, followed by lunch and the awards program.
2017 annual Support Campaign
Teri Sellers
The Kare Bears organization has not held an annual support campaign since 2013, thanks to the generous contributions we have received during that time. This year Kare Bears is once again reaching out to you to help support us. For those who are new to PebbleCreek, Kare Bears is a “neighbors helping neighbors” nonprofit 501 (C)(3) organization managed and run by PebbleCreek volunteers who care about the wellbeing of their neighbors.
Our community has more than 4,300 homes and, as in any nonprofit organization, we are always looking for more volunteers, whether it is drivers for medical appointments, unit coordinators, Kare Bears House volunteers, greeters for monthly meetings or healthcare events or help with fundraising events, etc. So if you are looking for a chance to give back to your community, we would love to have you. Whether you volunteer, provide financial support or both, you will provide us with the ability to continue all the services we are currently providing to our growing community and expand as needed.
Information regarding the campaign will be mailed in October to all homeowners. We want to thank all of you who have supported your Kare Bears organization in the past. PebbleCreek continues to grow, as will Kare Bears, with your support.