Happy New Year, I’m excited to share with you what an outstanding year Seniors Helping Seniors and Managed Senior Care just finished. We provided more hours of care to the seniors in the west Michigan community than we ever have in our 10 year history. We continue to be regarded as one of the best and highest quality agencies in the community and that is simply because of you - What you do and how you do it. You are incredibly caring and professional caregivers and are a lifeline for so many families. As we look forward in 2020, we are focusing on the Seniors Helping Seniors brand and re-positioning the Managed Senior Care brand as a consulting service to other senior care companies. So you might see a little bit more SHS logo this year than in the past, but it’s all still us. And as the request above said, if you feel inclined, we would love to have you share what you think we’re doing right on the review sites. Getting your story out is how we will be able to help even more people this year. God Bless you and Thank You for all you do.
—Nora Ruder
AFLAC Benefits Open Enrollment
Exciting Opportunity to Add Disability Coverage
Attend one of two information meetings to learn about the protections that AFLAC is making available to employees of Managed Senior Care. We have selected affordable options that will give you peace of mind and an income if something happens to you. Accident, Disability and Life Insurance polices are available for very reasonable amounts.
November 19
Session 1 - 9am to 11am
Session 2 - 5pm to 7pm
2020 Medicare Enrollment is now Open
2020 Open Enrollment is here - and ends Dec 7
There are a variety of ways you can get personalized help as you wend your way through the open-enrollment process. You can use the Medicare.gov online chat feature throughout open enrollment. The Medicare hotline, 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227), is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You may also call your local State Health Insurance and Assistance Program (SHIP) to speak with a Medicare counselor.
New for 2020
CMS has redesigned the Medicare Plan Finder website. The redesign has larger type, more white space, requires fewer clicks between pages and will allow you to compare prescription drug plans side by side, including information about preferred pharmacies and what they cost compared, for example, with ordering a drug by mail.
Also in 2020, Medicare Advantage plans will be able to offer an expanded set of supplemental benefits. People with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, will be eligible for nutrition counseling. Heart disease patients could get access to healthier produce or other food. Asthma sufferers could get home-cleaning services that could forestall attacks. The new services also include more in-home meals, transportation to medical appointments and improvements to a patient's home, including such things as wheelchair ramps and shower grips.
Be aware that not all MA plans will offer any or all of these supplemental services. CMS officials say enrollees can check out which plans have these extra benefits on the new Plan Finder site.
Beneficiaries who take many medications, especially expensive ones, could be in for some out-of-pocket sticker shock in 2020. After satisfying any deductible that their plan has (a maximum one of $415 in 2019 and $435 in 2020), beneficiaries are responsible for 25 percent of the cost of their drugs until they reach an out-of-pocket spending threshold and enter catastrophic coverage, where they have to pay just 5 percent of drug costs for the rest of the year. This year that threshold is $5,100, but in 2020, it will increase to $6,350. Based on how the benefit works, this means that people who take only brand-name drugs could have to pay about $400 more out of pocket before they qualify for catastrophic coverage.
DEA National Take Back Day - Oct 26
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.9 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
The DEA’s Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.
Unused medications can be dropped off at these Kent County Sheriff Office locations:
Kent County Sheriff Department
701 Ball Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
(616) 632-6200
Kent County Sheriff South Sub Station
8557 Kalamazoo
Caledonia, MI 49316
Call for hours
(616) 632-6490
Kent County Sheriff North Sub Station
790 Seventeen Mile Rd NW
Kent City, MI 49330
Hours: *Thursday & Friday,
8:30am - 4:30pm
*Location may be closed unexpectedly for staffing reasons.
(616) 632-6020
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