Anyone on Medicare knows that last week was the end of the Annual Enrollment Period, that time of year when Medicare beneficiaries can opt to change their Medicare Advantage and/or prescription drug plans.
As an independent insurance agent, this is my favorite time of year as it gives me the opportunity to get together with clients to review their needs and find out if there is another plan to better serve them. Typically, we do this over a cup of coffee while swapping stories of our grandchildren!
Medicare beneficiaries are typically 65 or older and/or disabled. Most of them are retired and on a fixed income, and sometimes that income is solely from Social Security. Hearing their stories of making ends meet when so many of their expenses are going up, frightens me. Any cuts to Medicare or Social Security will devastate them and their ability live above poverty.
I hope that as we engage in charity during this holiday season, we don’t forget our elders. These people built our communities — our schools, roads, libraries, public parks and buildings. They taught us, coached us, and supported the generation coming behind them. If you have an older neighbor, you can make their holiday brighter by sharing a meal — and your time — with them.
Believe me, you will feel like the gift is for you!
⇒ Care about our senior citizens? Have some expertise, personal experience or interesting perspective? Submit your post for consideration to robidouxnews@gmail.com, subject line: Senior Moments.
Rosemarie Rung is an independent insurance agent specializing in Medicare-related plans and policies. She is AHIP (American Health Insurance Plan) certified for Medicare and is licensed in the State of New Hampshire. She can be reached at rung@comcast.net or at 603-440-5379.
