Give blood…raise puppies! Quite honestly, I look like I have run through a brier patch. Sharp, little teeth and delicate, ‘old’ (whom are you calling old?!?) skin are a bloody nasty combination…literally. One of the things that bothers me about getting older is tissue paper-thin skin and always bleeding somewhere on my body. Need to wrap me in bubble wrap!
And while we are on the topic of ‘old’, I wanted to mention I went to the aging office for ‘the talk’. That was the Medicare talk.
It was not as horrible or confusing as I thought it was going to be. The adviser suggested I apply for Medicare Part A and Part B in April, four months before I turn 65. Since I am in the retirement system for school employees in the state, she suggested I forego the rest of the plans and go with the ones the retirement system offers. Since I qualify, I can get an extra $100 per month by buying the plans from them. Let’s just say she did not have to suggest it twice.
Before buying a supplemental or advantage plan from another provider, it might be wise to check with your employer or union. They might have something you are not now aware of. Obviously compare the plans offered to two or three of the other plans available. The one we looked at for me offered the same benefits the one we had for Daddy did. Both my father and I were very pleased with that one. It was only that $100 a month savings that convinced me not to go with that company. (So, apparently I really can be bought!) [Lin/Linda here: I thought that Medicare had a page to search but I can’t find it. Here’s a page where you can enter your zip code and you will get the supplemental or advantage plans that you would qualify for. It’s a non-government website & sponsored be eHealth. Click here for that.]
Remember: just because you have become an old man now, there are still some things you don’t understand now…you’d better “shop, shop around!” (With apologies to Smokey Robinson).
And if you are really not sure what you are doing – like yours ever lovin’ truly – call the aging office in your area and say “Help! I need somebody! Not just anybody” but someone who knows the Medicare system. They should be able to help. (Apologies Paul and John wherever you may be.)
Enough of that! Can you tell it is Friday after a full week and I am more than a little out of it? Yep. I get a little slap happy, but somebody’s gotta do it. Let all of you refined people feel superior! ?{curse it! I wanted to put a goofy smiley face there but my emoticons aren’t emoting. Lin, if you please!}
The nice lady at the aging office gave me a couple of publications. I got “Your Medicare Benefits” and “Your Guide to Medicare’s Preventive Services”. Am I going to read them? Do you want me to lie to you? I have a good idea what I have to do, but if I forget something, they can be good resources. [You can get those documents and more on the Medicare website here.]
So there you have it. My first foray into services for the ‘elderly’. We will ignore the fact I don’t feel a day over 40.
And, does this page have a thing to do with Age-Related macular Degeneration? Ah, nope.
“Catch ya on the flip-flop! 10/4 good buddy!” [Sue says that comes from the song Convoy! ::smile::]
Written January 26th, 2018