Today's guest speaker was Grace Horan-Luce, representing Senior Health Plan Specialists, Inc.
Grace talked about health care- primarily Medicare- but also Medicaid, and insurances that cover life, disability, and long term care needs. Grace stressed that such things should be planned for now. She furnished us with a chart that explains 2017 Medicare Parts A & B, and reviewed what is covered under each plan. Medicare Part A, which is free, is Hospital Insurance, covering the costs of confinement in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. Depending on how many days you are confined in a medical facility, Part A will cover a varying amount of the cost, and you will pay a deductible (ie., For 1-60 days, all is paid except for $1,316, the deductible; while a confinement of 61-90 days will require a co-payment of $329 per day- up to a total of $9,870). Medicare Part B covers physician services, outpatient care, tests, and supplies. A percentage of the cost of care (after the annual deductible is paid) varies depending on the type of service /treatment that is provided- often 80% (ie., for physical or speech therapy) to 100% (ie., blood tests). The Annual Open Enrollment Period (AEP) is October 15- December 7th. Seniors can make changes to their plans at this time. Initial enrollment to Medicare should take place between 3 months before your 65th birthday and 3 months after it. Grace briefly spoke of the Advantage Plan and the Managed Care Plan and the difference between HMO and PPO advantage plans, as well as supplemental or medi-gap plans available and suggested that you carefully research which plan best fits your specific medical and prescription needs, because there are many choices to be made and the costs can differ greatly. She said that all Medicare recipients need a drug plan or risk being fined for not signing up for one, and mentioned EPIC, an income-based drug plan for people earning under $100,000 as a couple or $75,000 as a single. She advised going to medicare.gov to pick a suitable option to cover all of your medications and said that NY State has the best options for medical and pharmaceutical care. Medicare offerings can be mind-boggling. Licensed health representatives can, at no cost to you, guide you through the many choices available - and save you time and money while obtaining for you the best of medical care possibilities.
We also welcomed guests Michael Burghardt and Saranto Calamas- both perspective club members- as Paul did a great job running the meeting in Michael's absence.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS: There's now $832 in the pot waiting to be won- with only 7 cards left to draw from! The Ace of Spades is still among them. (A Joker also lurks in the pile, though). It could be YOU who wins the pot! ***Next Tues., Oct. 24th, we will we will be having our evening meeting at The Branch Funeral Home in Miller Place (551 Rte. 25A), 5:30-7 PM, where Paul will be our host, and where refreshments will be served. Guests, friends, & family are welcome to join us. ***The next Golf Committee Meeting (planning the Port Jeff Rotary Winter Golf Classic- our new, upcoming fund raiser)will take place ALSO on 10/24 - at 4:30 PM at the Branch Funeral Home- just preceding the above-mentioned evening club meeting. [YOU are welcome to join this committee if you're not yet a member.] It is with great sadness that we announce the recent passing ofGary Nagle, Moriches Rotarian, Past DG (2003-04), and Past President of the Board of Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck -as well as Past Camp Director. Donations may be made in his memory to the camp (P.O.B. 677, Center Moriches, NY 11934) and condolences may be sent to Mrs. Jane Nagle at 303 N. Titmus Dr., Mastic, NY 11950. While District #7255 is working on plans to best deliver needed goods and funds to Puerto Rico to help with its recovery from Hurricane Maria's destruction, PDG Connie Gavinskiis accepting donations (P.O.Box 7, South Jamesport, NY 11970), which will be sent to Rotary District 7000, which covers all of Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra. Plans for future fund raising events,such as one to provide food for Puerto Rico, are being considered. It is expected that the disaster recovery efforts on that island could take as many as 10 years.Dennis has been planning for our Fall Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck Cleanup, which will take place on Sunday, 11/12 . Save that date and stay tuned for more info to be shared soon...The Rotary Leadership Institute will take place on Sat., October 28th, at the Melville Marriott from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM. The $105 Registration Fee, which includes breakfast, lunch, and all materials, will be reimbursed upon completion of the course. Registration will run through TOMORROW, 10/18. Please register now if you are interested in participating in this RLI.Kevin has planned the Annual New Hampshire Ski Trip (Indian Head Resort) from 1/10 thru 1/13/18. You need not ski to be a part of this activity. Friends & family are welcome. The costs are $370 for a single room, $220 for a double, $208 for a triple, and $198 for a quad. The payment participation deadline is Oct. 31st, with checks made payable to Port Jeff Rotary. Contact Kevin or Michael if you have an interest or questions. Dennis noted that our Open Cupboard food donations are diminishing at a time when they're needed more than ever. Please remember that our Open Cupboard Collections take place on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. If you are unable to attend our meeting on a Donation Day, kindly contact a club member who can deliver the goods for you. Meanwhile, a new list of items needed by The Open Cupboard will be drawn up and distributed to our membership shortly. The date for our next Stuff-A-Van Event is Saturday, 11/4, at which time volunteers are needed between 10 AM and 1 PM to welcome donations at Mt. Sinai's King Kullen. Jim noted that Debbie led an impressive Dedication Ceremony at Comsewogue Public Library this past Saturday, when the Library's Community Room was officially named for former Library Director and Rotary Alumnus Dick Lusak. If you missed the ceremony, you can catch it on the library's web site. John Perkins will captain a team representing St. Charles Hospital in the Catholic Hospitals' October 29th full & half marathons and a 5K run in Patchogue that will benefit the veterans. Contact John for more info and if you'd like to join the St. Charles team. Sharon pointed out that Mather Hospital has just honored Al Kopcienski as part of its Humans of Mather Hospital series. Sharon is still seeking two additional $200 donors to help pay for our annual Backpack Project. They will join St. Charles Hospital, Dick Nolan, and Kathleen Coen, who have been faithfully supporting this important annual club project in recent years. Do you know of a business, group, or individual who can also help out financially?
Jim has a supply of PJ Rotary golf shirts and will part with them for $10 each. Do you own one? If not, why not?
Bob is still seeking evening meeting places, 1 per month. Contact him if you can provide a meeting site.
***Please check out our page on Face Book- and Like Us.
If you missed today's meeting, kindly inform Yvette about make-ups in a timely fashion.
***The following is a list of donation "assignments" for members' once-a-month donations via the Club to the Open Cupboard: (*If you don't see your name on this list, select an item from it for your donation.)
Betts, Judi: Toilet Paper
Bossert, Ken: Shampoo/Conditioner
Brennan, Dennis: Canned Fruit
Brennan, Sharon: Spaghetti Sauce
Berner, Cynthia: Rice
Curry, Bill: Apple Juice
Dinunzio, Ed: Diapers
Engelhardt, Debbie: Juice Boxes
Gautam, Archana: Baby Wipes
Hanson, Susan: Baby Formula
Hohler, Yvette: Beans
Jaeger, Bill: Canned Vegetables
Janhsen, Karl: Milk (Dry or Boxed)
Jurasits, Erika: Cereal (Hot or Cold)
Kopcienski, Al Cereal (Hot or Cold)
Lund, Amy: Canned Chicken
Murray, Kevin: Tuna
Rhatigan, Jim: Diapers
Sabo, Pat: Beans
Sceiford, Michael: Grape Juice Boxes
Vigliante, Paul: Milk (Dry or Boxed)
***Check the list for your name and assigned item. (If you are not listed, you may donate any listed item. Corporate members are encouraged to donate individually. If you would like to be listed with a specific item, contact Debbie and specify your item of choice.)
***Bring contributions to the Heritage Diner on the 2nd Tuesday of the month or give to another Club member who will be attending.
*** If you would like to be reimbursed, bring receipt(s) to the meeting.
...ARCHANA GAUTAM, whose birthday was October 1st; NANCY UZO, who celebrated her birthday on October 3rd; SUSAN HANSON, who enjoyed her birthday on October 9th; JUDI BETTS, whose birthday was October 10th; JOHN PERKINS, who had a birthday on October 13th; JOAN ELLIOTT, whose birthday is October 21st; AL KOPCIENSKI, who will celebrate his birthday on October 23rd; while on October 8th, ED DiNUNZIO observed his anniversary; and BOB DOOLEY, on October 18th, has an anniversary to celebrate.
