 Age-Friendly Louisville invites you to attend their first workgroup meeting on December 11 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at the KIPDA.
RSVP and learn more here
What is a Workgroup?
The Age-Friendly Work workgroups are tasked with implementing the various projects outlined in the 2018 Age-Friendly Lousiville Strategic Plan. We have four workgroups, one for each of Age-Friendly Louisville's four domains: 1) Housing; 2) Mobility & Access; 3) Social Participation, Respect, & Inclusion; and 4) Community Supports and Health Services. Members of the groups are asked to contribute their passion, creativity, connections, and talents to help enact the 2-3 projects per domain.
About the Event:
At this event, Age-Friendly Louisville will introduce the interim facilitators and break into small groups to do initial brainstorming about launching the workgroups - including where and when workgroups should meet, how to build strategic partnerships, recruitment of members and more! Being part of our workgroups will be a great way to make a difference and to improve the livability of our community for individuals of all ages an abilities.
To join a workgroup and to learn more about the projects, visit:
https://www.agefriendlylou.com/action-projects.
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Must-Ask Questions
When Comparing Medicare Advantage Plans
 By: Ann Kayrish, NCOA’s Senior Program Manager for Medicare
This years open enrollment, people with Medicare will have more plans to sift through than in past years. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will now allow Medicare Advantage (MA/Part C) plans to offer an increased number and variety of plans in a service area. Medicare Advantage plans will also be able to provide benefits not previously covered by Medicare called “additional benefits.” These can include transportation vouchers, meals deliveries, alternative health treatments and opportunities to reduced enrollee cost-sharing.
The additional benefits and increased number of plans mean you may need to spend more time analyzing Medicare plans as you shop for coverage in 2019. Prior to enrolling in any plan, contact your health care providers to confirm their participation in the MA 2019 plan network. You’ll also want to ask each plan whether you are eligible for additional benefits or discounts on costs based on your health conditions or providers. Use the checklist of questions below to help you research and compare MA plans.
Questions to ask your providers- doctors, hospitals, labs, suppliers?
- Are you a participating provider in the “ABC Medicare Plus Plan [example plan]” network in 2019?
- Are you accepting any new “ABC Medicare Plus Plan” patients? If I join your plan as of January 1, when will I be able to schedule an appointment?
- Under the “ABC Medicare Plus Plan”, what would my copayment be for services at your office or facility?
- With “ABC Medicare Plus Plan” will I need a referral to be seen at your office or facility?
Tips: Be sure to use the entire name of the new plan you are considering enrolling into since some providers may participate with some, but not all plans offered by a Medicare Advantage organization. For example, a provider may participate in the “ABC Medicare Plus Plan” network, but not participate provider under the “ABC Medicare Standard Plan” network.
Doctors may close their practice to new enrollees or leave a plan during the year, so check with them before enrolling in a plan. Be sure to mention any health conditions or diagnosis, for it may impact the amount you pay when seeing a provider.
Questions to ask MA plans before enrolling:
- Are the providers I use in your plan network for 2019?
- Does your MA plan offer additional benefits? Please describe the supplemental benefits, their maximum dollar value and limitations.
- Can I further reduce my cost-sharing/copay by using designated in-network providers? Can my diagnosis or health status affect or reduce what I pay for services?
Tips: If you would like to keep your same providers, make a list of them to discuss with your MA plan. Medicare Advantage plans will now offer additional benefits such as meal delivery programs, but there may be special circumstances for enrollment like after a hospitalization and for a limited number of meals. A transportation voucher program may be limited to an annual or monthly cap or participating taxi service providers.
Some MA plans may offer reduced cost-sharing to targeted populations (individuals with diabetes or hypertension for example) or have specific providers that reduce your cost-sharing. You should ask the plan if it offers reduced costs sharing for targeted populations.
Questions to ask prescription drug plans before enrolling:
- Does the plan under consideration cover all the drugs I believe I’ll need in 2019?
- Am I able to get my medications at a preferred price at my pharmacy of choice?
- How and will I receive notice of prescription drug formulary changes? How will I receive notices when newly available generics are substituted for brand-name drugs currently on the formulary?
Tips: Have a list of drugs that you take, along with the prescribed strength, dosage, and route of administration prepared before contacting the plan. This will make it easier to determine if they are on the plan formulary and if any restrictions are imposed such as prior authorization, step therapy, or quantity limits.
Preferred pharmacies typically offer drugs at the lowest copay or co-insurance. Ask about the cost associated with local pharmacies and the mail orders. Keep in mind that the lower cost must always be weighed against convenience. A lower cost at a pharmacy across town or not on a bus route may not be worth the reduced accessibility.
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 Seniors lose an estimated $2.9 billion each year to fraud. The American Bankers Association Foundation launched the Safe Banking for Seniors (SBFS) campaign to combat elder financial abuse and to support seniors and their caregivers.
The core feature of the program involves connecting communities with their banks to offer free banker-led presentations on:
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Acting as a financial caregiver,
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Choosing a financial caregiver,
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Avoiding and identifying scams, and
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Preventing identity theft.
Organizations, coalitions, ministries and the like can request any or all of the four presentations using the ABA Foundation FinEdLink portal.
Visit www.aba.com/FinEdLink today to connect with a bank in your community and join the national effort to empower seniors in protecting their finances.
Questions?
Contact Sam Kunjukunju at the ABA Foundation.
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ACL Seeks Nominations for Advisory Councils on Family Care-giving and Grandparents Raising Children
 The Administration for Community Living is leading the Department of Health and Human Services’ efforts to establish two new advisory councils, one to address the needs of family caregivers and a second to focus on the needs grandparents raising grandchildren and older relatives caring for children.
The RAISE Family Caregivers Act directed the establishment of the Family Care-giving Advisory Council to provide recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on effective models of both family care-giving and support to family caregivers, as well as improving coordination across federal government programs.
The Advisory Council will include up to 15 voting members, with at least one from each of the following constituencies: family caregivers; older adults who need long-term services and supports; individuals with disabilities; health care and social service providers; providers of long-term services and supports; employers; paraprofessional workers; state and local officials; accreditation bodies; veterans; and as appropriate, other experts and advocacy organizations engaged in family care-giving.
The Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act requires the establishment of an Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. The Advisory Council will identify, promote, coordinate, and disseminate to the public information, resources, and the best practices available to help grandparents and other older relatives both meet the needs of the children in their care and maintain their own physical and mental health and emotional well-being.
In addition to the participation of federal agencies, the Advisory Council will include at least one grandparent who is raising a grandchild, and at least one older relative caring for children. ACL also welcomes nominations of other individuals who may be able to provide subject matter expertise or technical contributions to the Advisory Council.
More information can be found on ACL.gov.
Deadline: December 3, 2018
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 Winter Warmth and Safety:
Home Energy Tips for Older Adults
As temperatures around the country begin to drop, it's important to prepare properly for the colder weather. Some older adults may struggle to keep their home comfortably warm amidst rising energy costs. The Eldercare Locator has partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create a brochure highlighting economical ways to stay warm and safe at home in the winter. The brochure refers older adults to financial energy assistance programs, offers tips for reducing energy use, and highlights important safety information.
Click here to download brochure and read more about winter warmth and safety.
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