Medicare for you Volume 1, Issue 1

Spring 2009

Newsletter from HICAP of San Ma teo County

(A program of Self Help for the Elderly)

Welcome!
Allow us to introduce ourselves. We are the HICAP team of San Mateo County.
Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) is a non-profit
organization providing free, unbiased counseling and advocacy for Medicare
beneficiaries. The mission of our newsletter is to provide you with relevant up to
Inside this issue:
date Medicare information. We are very pleased to be here writing for you, and • Medicare Part B Costs for 2010
hope that you will find this Newsletter informative. We welcome you and appre- • Welcome to Medicare Exam
ciate your feedback. • Get Help paying for drug coverage
• Volunteer spotlight (Mary Pappas)
• Upcoming HICAP Events
Your San Mateo HICAP team,
Barbara Kammerlohr, Program Manager
1650-627-9350
BarbaraK@selfhelpelderly.org

Medicar e Par t B Costs for 2010

Medicare Part B costs for the basic
premium will rise to $119 in 2010
and $123 in 2011 according to an
estimate from the Congressional
Budget office. However, the Medi-
care Rights Center
(www.medicarerights.org) predicts
that 75% of people with Medicare
will be protected from these in-
creases by the “hold harmless” pro-
vision of the Social Security Act.
The “hold harmless” clause helps
mitigate the impact of rising Part B There will be increases in Medicare
costs by requiring that Part B pre-
miums not exceed the Cost of Liv-
ing Allowance (COLA) for a given
year for people with Medicare who
have the premium deducted from
their Social Security
checks. With the current
economic downturn, no
COLA is predicted for
2010. This effectively
freezes Part B premiums
for these people.
costs for the remaining 25%, how-
ever. The following groups will
probably see their costs rise: new
Medicare enrollees, currently en-
rolled people who pay a higher pre-
mium based on their in-
come, and others who do
not have Medicare deducted
from their Social Security
checks. Even low-income
individuals who are dropped
from a Medicare Savings
(Continued on page 2)
Page 2 Medicare for you

Par t B Costs

Plan during 2010 are not protected
and must pay the higher premium.
Additionally, there is no provision
that protects people from increased
Part D premiums.
Later this Fall, HICAP will have
more specific information about
these and other Medicare costs for
2010. For information about how
changes will affect you, call the
HICAP office for an appointment
this Fall.
Medicare beneficiaries are advised sure their medications are covered
to see a HICAP counselor for help for the following year.
analyzing their Part D insurance
plan every year between Novem-
ber 15 and December 31. It is dur-
ing this period of time that Medi-
Information for this article was
care allows beneficiaries to change
extracted from Medicare Watch,
their prescription drug plans for
an electronic newsletter published
their prescription drug insurance.
by the Medicare Rights Center
Since some Medicare Part D plans
(www.Medicarerights.org).
change the medications they will
cover, beneficiaries should make

Medicare update: Beginning 1/1/09, all new Medicare beneficiaries are eligible
to receive a “Welcome to Medicare” Physical within the first 12 months of
their enrollment into Medicare Part B (was previously 6 months).

Get extra help paying for drug covera ge

You or someone you know may qualify for extra help paying for Medicare drug
costs. Extra help maybe available for people with yearly income below $16,245
($21,855 for a married couple living together) AND resources less than $12,510
($25,010 for a married couple living together). People who don’t meet these
amounts may still qualify, the best way to find out is to apply. Call us at 650-627-
9350 and make an appointment with a HICAP Counselor if you need help apply-
ing Do it today!
Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3

The Volunteer Who Paved the Way

HICAP’s work is done primarily by
volunteers – self motivated, curi-
ous, problem solvers who provide
counseling and advocacy to Medi-
care beneficiaries in San Mateo
County. And the star of them all is
Mary Pappas.
Since 1973, Mary has worked in
various capacities for and with sen-
iors in San Mateo County and has
paved the way for many organiza-
tions that we have today. She
opened the first full-service infor-
mation and referral center in the
city of San Mateo, was the Senior
Social Coordinator of Catholic
School Services, and in 1985,
opened the Greenhill Retirement
Center in Millbrae. In 1988, Mary
started HICAP of San Mateo to ad-
dress the concerns of the seniors
with their health insurance.
Throughout the following years,
she assumed many roles within the
program: Program Manager, Coor-
dinator of Volunteers and Program
Specialist. After her retirement, she
was elected Chairman of HICAP’s
Advisory Committee.
Mary volunteers with HICAP coun-
seling at different senior centers,
making community education pres-
entations and representing HICAP
at community meetings. She is al-
ways available to help with the
most difficult cases, and contributes
fresh ideas. She is also involved
with the Ombudsman program,
serves on the Advisory Committee
of Senior Focus Volunteer Services
including RSVP, and the Commis-
sion on Aging. The work for HI-
CAP can be challenging, requiring
investigative skills, but like many
of the HICAP Counselors, she en-
joys the sense of accomplishment
she feels from having done her part
to help the senior community.

HICAP always needs volunteers and there is much to be gained by volun-

teering! You form strong relationships with the counselors and staff and
demonstrate your commitment to serving the community. If interested in
serving, call HICAP at 1650-627-9350.
HICAP of San Mateo County,
A program of Self Help for the elderly Medicare for You is a publication of the Health Insur-
Address ance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP), a
1710 S. Amphlett Blvd. #302 non profit organization providing counseling and advo-
San Mateo, CA 94402
cacy for Medicare beneficiaries of San Mateo County.
HICAP is a program of Self Help for the Elderly and
Phone: 650-627-9350
Fax: 650-628-9357 San Mateo County Area Agency on Aging, funded pri-
Program Manager marily by the State of California and Medicare.
Barbara Kammerlohr
BarbaraK@selfhelpelderly.org

Most counselors have undergone extensive training to

become registered counselors and volunteer their time
to be of service to Medicare beneficiaries in San Mateo
County. Those interested in becoming a volunteer
counselor should call the HICAP office at 650-627-
9350.

Mark Your Calendars:Upcoming HICAP Events

June 3, 2009, 11:45a-12:15p 700 Laurel Ave LIS IP : Low Income Subsidy Interactive Presentation
Lesley Towers San Mateo

June 9, 2009 10:30a-11:30a 1050 Bay Rd., Kinship Support Group: Provides a supportive environment where relatives, ex-
St. John's Baptist Church East Palo Alto tended family members, and family friends who are raising their relatives' children can
receive emotional support, share info, and learn about available resources.

May 22, 2009, 9:00am 125 Accacia St. Brown Bag Event
Lawson Hall Daly City Primary languages spoken: Chinese/English
May 28, 2009 10:00am 100 Terminal Ave. Brown Bag Event
Menlo Park Senior Center Menlo Park Primary languages spoken: Spanish/English

May 28, 2009, 12:00noon 139 Primose Rd Brown Bag Event

Primose Burlingame Primary languages spoken: English

May 29, 2009 10:30am 601 Grand Ave Brown Bag Event
Magnolia Senior Center South San Francisco Primary languages spoken: Spanish/Chinese

June 4, 2009, 11:30noon 477 Lincoln Circle Brown Bag Event

Millbrae Senior Center Millbrae Primary languages spoken: Chinese

June 18, 2009 10:00am 555 Bell Street Brown Bag Event
East Palo Alto Senior Center East Palo Alto Primary languages spoken: Chinese/Spanish/Tongan

To Subscribe to or Unsubscribe from this Newsletter, please write us at hicapsanmateo@selfhelpelderly.org or call 1650-627-9350