916-684-7120 www.egbertbenefits.com
EGBERT Newsletter February 2017
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Updates & Reminders
Medicare Corner
Thank you to all who participated in our Fall Food and Clothing Drive! Your generosity made for another very successful donation event. Elk Grove Food Bank Services was beyond grateful.
New Medicare Rates for 2017
Private Pay Reimbursement Participants: Renewals were due by January 10th. If you didn’t receive your packet in December, or haven’t completed information for the new year please contact us immediately. (Please note: this is not for those on the Medical Waiver) USPS Postage Cost Change: As of January 22nd the cost of First Class stamps will be going up to $0.49. EGBERT Office will be closed: April 7th - 17th
Spring Workshop
The following is an excerpt from the AARP article "What Will You Pay for Medicare in 2017” by Patricia Barry. If you have questions about your Medicare premiums, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit Medicare.gov.
The 2017 premiums reflect how a variety of circumstances now determines what people pay for Part B, which covers doctors' visits, outpatient care and medical equipment. The following are the premiums you can expect to pay in 2017, according to your circumstances: • •
A, B, C’s of Medicare EGBERT Office
Monday, March 20th, 10am – 12pm Health plan representatives will be presenting information on Medicare as well as EGBERT Medicare plan options. Please RSVP to the EGBERT Office by March 16th. *Attendance is free but donations for our Spring Clean event are requested.
5th Annual Spring Clean Event & Raffle March 20th – March 24th, 2017
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EGBERT Office
Clean out your homes and closets and tell your friends and neighbors – it’s time for Spring Cleaning! Tickets will be earned for each item brought in and raffle baskets will be on hand. All items dropped off will be donated to the Discovery Shop and EG Food Bank’s Clothes Closet! Raffle winners will be selected on the following Monday and contacted that week. Item Drop-off hours will be Mon -Fri, 10am – 2pm See enclosed flyer for more information.
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If you paid $104.90 a month for Part B in 2016, you'll pay a little more (around $109) in 2017. If you paid $121.80 a month in 2016, and your Part B premiums were deducted from your Social Security check in December, you'll pay $4 or $5 more in 2017, depending on the size of your check. If you're enrolled in Part B but are not deducting the premiums from Social Security payments, or if you enroll in Part B for the first time in 2017, you will pay $134 a month. If your Part B premiums are paid by your state because of low income, you will continue to pay no premiums in 2017, as long as you remain eligible for this assistance. If your taxable income in 2015 was over a certain level ($85,000 for a single person or $170,000 for a married couple filing a joint tax return) you'll pay higher Part B premiums of between $187.50 and $428.60 a month, according to income level. If you pay higher-income premiums for Part B, you also pay more for Part D prescription drug coverage. Surcharges in 2017 range from $13.30 to $76.20 a month, according to income level.
Please Remember: Part B & D costs are separate from the Medicare Advantage plans and prescription coverage available through EGBERT. Part B & D bills must be paid directly to Medicare by the retiree.
In Focus Tips to Help the Post-Holiday Blues 1. Spend some time outside if you can! Sunshine provides Vitamin D which is thought to help elevate your mood. If the weather isn't cooperating, Vitamin D can also be attained through some of the foods we eat. 2. Exercising for just 5 minutes can give you a boost. Go for a walk, take the stairs, do a few stretches, or tackle a chore that requires movement, like vacuuming. 3. Make plans to stay in touch or spend time with people you've seen over the holidays. 4. Experience something new. Things like traveling, trying new foods, and learning new skills help to keep you looking forward rather than dwelling on the past. 5. Volunteer! Community service can provide a sense of purpose, which helps to offset the effects of stress, and the focus on helping and working with others can help with feelings of loneliness.
Meet-up Groups Meet-up groups are a way to find people in your local area that share an interest. Whether you like (or would like) to travel, cook, shop, lunch, walk, read, write, craft, learn new skills, play a sport, or play cards, you can find friends to share in just about any activity. Meet-up groups can be found in many community and senior centers, libraries, schools, parks, and places of worship. A good place to start looking is the website Meetup.com. There you can search for local groups by interest, find information on past and future meet-ups, and see reviews from groups members.
Local Activity Spotlight For those who are out of the area, try the list of cities near the bottom of the www.sacramento365.com webpage or check with your local Parks or Recreation District. 19th Annual Sacramento Museum Day Free admission to most participating musuems and historic sites (Sacramento Zoo and Fairytale Town are ½ price) When: February 4th 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (last guests admitted at 4:00 pm) Where: Find a complete list of participating venues here – sacmuseums.org/news-events/museum-day Senior Ball (hosted by Cosumnes CSD) "The night will include live music, tasty treats and beverages. Semi-formal attire, adults only. Registration is $12 in advance or $15 at the door. To register, call 916-405-5600 or 916-405-5300, or visit a CSD registration location." When: February 25th 6:30 – 9:30 pm Where: Laguna Town Hall JustServe Community Day of Service (hosted by Cosumnes CSD) "You can help protect natural resources and enhance the quality of life in the community by joining CSD and JustServe as they clean and beautify the landscape of our community parks. Projects may include park enhancements, beautification projects, creek and open space clean-up." When: April 22nd 8:00 am – 1:00 pm Where: For details call 916-405-5300 or go to www.yourcsd.com Genealogy at the Central Library "Trace your family tree at the library using online archives, free consultations with a genealogist, and our extensive collection of books and historical documents.” For more information call 916-264-2700 or visit www.saclibrary.org.