The Communicator: September/October 2023 Newsletter

Steps You Can Take to Prepare for Medicare Open Enrollment

I’m sure you’ve met those annoyingly proactive people who have all their holiday shopping done by the Fourth of July. Most of us are not those type of people, but Medicare Open Enrollment is certainly one time when it’s necessary to be prepared well in advance.

Open Enrollment Starts October 15

Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7 each year, and when it comes to researching and comparing all available options, sooner is always better than later. Now is the perfect time to do some research and make a few preliminary calls to get an idea of what changes need to be made and avoid hurried decisions. Try to complete at least one of these six steps each week and you’ll be ready to tackle open enrollment in no time.

STEP ONE: Make sure you familiarize yourself with the different parts of Medicare and how they work together. If you come across any terminology you don’t understand, brush up at medicare.gov.

STEP TWO: Are you in a Medicare Advantage Plan? Is that still working well? Make a point of opening all mail from your private insurance provider that arrives in September and October so you can be on top of any changes to premiums, deductibles and copays.

STEP THREE: If you have a Medicare Supplemental Insurance policy (also known as a Medigap), make sure you pay attention to any premium increases. At some point, you may need to consider switching to a different policy, dropping this policy or switching to an Advantage Plan.

STEP FOUR: If you have been spending a lot of money out of pocket on hospital visits and doctor’s appointments (because you don’t have a Medigap or Medicare Advantage Plan), now is the time to add up those costs and decide whether a different mix of coverage is a more affordable solution. It’s also worth looking into public programs that can assist with covering costs, such as Medicaid, a state Medicare Savings Program or the “Extra Help” program.

STEP FIVE: Go to Medicare.gov and look up the location of your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). There are offices for every county. All of their services are offered free of charge.

STEP SIX: The part of the equation is making sure that you have up-to-date information about your health status. Make sure you have a current list of all medications and know exactly why you are taking each one. If any of your prescriptions are brand name, are there generic equivalents available?

Help yourself by making sure you are ahead of the curve. The holiday season ramps up quickly and even twenty minutes of preparation here and there can save you hours of frantic work in December.

We can help!

Area Agencies on Aging are designated as counseling sites and will be holding Medicare events during open enrollment. You may contact the Wyandotte/ Leavenworth Area Agency on Aging at 913-573-8531 and inquire about upcoming Medicare events.

Project Your Eyes from Sun Damage

Most us know that too much sun can cause sunburn and skin damage. But did you know that the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can also harm your eyes? UV light is invisible. It can’t be seen by the human eye. But it can still damage your vision.

Sunlight has a mixture of both visible and invisible rays, or waves. The long waves, like radio waves, are harmless to people. But shorter waves like UV light can cause problems. There are two types of UV rays. UVA which can cause wrinkles and aging of the skin. UVB is responsible for sunburns and most UV-related cancers. Several eye problems have been linked to UV light as well. These include cataracts, which are cloudy areas in the eye’s lens. Cataracts can make vision blurry, hazy or less colorful. Excess UV light has also been linked to cancers of the eyelid.

Wearing sunglasses and a wide brimmed hat is a safe and easy way to protect your eyes from UV light. To protect your eyes from sun damage, choose sunglasses that block at least 99% of both UVA and UVB rays. These might also be marked with UV400 rating. Check you local weather forecast for the UV index, which shows the intensity of UV rays. Even on cloudy days, the UV index can be high and potentially harm your eyes.

Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households.

Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

If you participate in any of the following programs, you automatically qualify for the ACP:

• SNAP
• Medicaid
• Federal Public Housing Assistance
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• WIC
• Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits
• Lifeline (through the State)

Fall Prevention Awareness

From The Mayo Clinic

Falls put you at risk of serious injury. Prevent falls with these simple fall-prevention measures, from reviewing your medications to hazard proofing your home.

Fall prevention may not seem like a lively topic, but it’s important. As you get older physical changes, health conditions and sometimes the medications used to treat those conditions make falls more likely. In fact, falls are a leading cause of injury among older adults. Still, fear of falling doesn’t need to rule your life. Instead, consider six simple fall prevention strategies:

Make an appointment with your doctor.

Make a list of your prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements, or bring them with you to the appointment. Your doctor can review your medications for side effects and interactions that may increase your risk of falling.

If you have fallen before, write down the details, including when, where and how you fell. Be prepared to discuss instances when you almost fell but were caught by someone or managed to grab hold of something just in time.

Certain eye and ear disorders may increase your risk of falls. Your doctor may evaluate your muscle strength, balance and walking style as well.

Keep moving.

Physical activity can go a long way toward fall prevention. With your doctor’s OK, consider activities such as walking, gentle exercises that involve slow and graceful dance-like movements. If you avoid physical activity because you’re afraid it will make a fall more likely, tell your doctor.

Wear sensible shoes.

Consider changing your footwear as part of your fallprevention plan. High heals, floppy slippers and shoes with slick soles can make you slip, stumble and fall. Wear properly fitting sturdy shoes with nonskid soles. 

Remove home hazards.

Remove boxes, newspapers, electrical and phone cords from walkways. Store clothing, dishes, food and other necessities within easy reach. Use nonslip mats in your bathtub and showers.

Light up your living space.

Place a lamp within reach of your bed for middle-of-the night needs. Turn on the lights before going up or down stairs. Store flashlights in easy-to-find places in case of power outages.

Use assistive devices.

Hand rails, nonslip treads for bare wood steps, a raised toilet seat and grab bars for the shower or tub can assist you with unsteadiness.

Life with Low Vision

Some vision problems can’t be fixed with glasses, contact lenses, or even surgery. This is known as low vision. It can make everyday tasks difficult. Your low vision may make it hard to read or drive. You might have trouble recognizing people’s faces or telling colors apart.

Low vision is more common in older adults. It can be caused by many different eye conditions. One of the most common causes is age-related macular degeneration. This eye disease can blur your central vision. Other diseases that can cause low vision include cataracts, where the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. Glaucoma, which damages the eye’s optic nerve, can also cause untreatable vision loss.

Eye doctors can check for low vision during an eye exam. They’ll give you drops to widen, or dilate, your pupil. This allows them to check for conditions that can cause low vision.

Unfortunately, low vision is often permanent. Treatment options depend on what’s causing your low vision. But there are things you can do to make the most of your remaining sight.

If your vision loss is minor, you may find that brighter lights help. Wearing anti-glare sunglasses may also help you see better. A vision specialist, or Ophthalmologist can show you how to use technologies and magnifying devices that aid with vision loss. They can also share resources to help you cope with vision loss. Contact an Ophthalmologist if you notice you are experiencing low vision.

Public Hearing / Town Hall Held

The Wyandotte/Leavenworth Area Agency on Aging in partnership with the local Silver Haired Legislature hosted a Public Hearing/Town Hall meeting at Victory Hills Baptist Church. Sherri Grogan, Leavenworth County delegate coordinated a very informative agenda that included presentations from several of our local Commissioners and Representatives who were in attendance. Commissioners Melissa Bynum, Tom Burroughs, Andrew Davis and Chuck Stites along with Representatives Valdenia Winn, Melissa Oropeza, Timothy Johnson and Lynn Melton all who spoke to the attendees regarding local and state issues. Those who attended heard updates on programs, budget and ballot measures, and services related to seniors. The meeting concluded with a Q&A session and a hot lunch.