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Senior Advocacy Services

One agency with three programs that advocate for seniors in long term care facilities and Medicare beneficiaries who want unbiased individual help and advocacy.

Blog Posts

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Emergency Preparedness 2019. A Look Back to Look Ahead.

Image of a Senior's hands

The call came in to the Ombudsman of the Day about a week after the 2017 Sonoma County Fires.

“They left my mother in her apartment during the fire!”

Where was your mom living?

“In an assisted living facility. She called me from her apartment during the fire. My mom could see the flames and smell the smoke. She didn’t have any electricity. She is 90 and was scared and she didn’t understand what was going on.”

She wasn’t evacuated?

“No, they left her in her apartment! No one came to help her get out. When she called me, I couldn’t understand and asked her Where are You? She said in her apartment. I couldn’t believe it, so I jumped in my car and drove up there. At first the emergency services refused to let me in and said that the facility had evacuated everyone. I had to convince them that my mom was STILL IN HER APARTMENT!”

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Technology for Aging in Place – Apps for Managing Medications

Screenshot of app screens on phone

The goal of many of us as we age is to stay as independent as possible. One of the challenges we confront as we move into ‘older adult’ status is to manage our medications – remember when and which medication to take, remember to refill medications before they run out, and get support from others if we forget. Technology can help! It can help older adults to stay independent as long as possible and make family members feel secure in knowing we are still safe in our home.

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Elder Abuse Awareness Month Covered by KTVU Channel 2

KTVU news logo

On Monday June 24th, KTVU Channel 2 news reached out to Senior Advocacy Services about a story highlighting Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Awareness Month.

Coincidentally, not long before the TV request, the SAS Elder Justice Coordinator, Donata Mikulik, met a community member Ezra Gardener Rust who had fallen victim to a phone scam that cost him approximately $32,000. Read More

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Beware of DNA Scam

Be advised that California Senior Medicare Patrol has seen an alarming increase in fraudulent billing where older adults are deceived into submitting to a cheek swab procedure (aka genetic testing). The scammer claims the procedure tests for cancer and/or other health-related benefits and that is fully covered by Medicare or Medi-Cal.

The scammers offer their fraudulent services to administrators at senior centers, senior residential facilities and other locations including setting up stands at supermarkets and other public locations.

We have additional reports that insurance agents and other service-oriented professionals are unknowingly recruited to serve as lead generators.

Please help us prevent the victimization of our older adults by alerting your networks to this most recent fraud scam. Please, also let us know others who would benefit from this alert.

Click to read moreMicki Nozaki, Director

California Senior Medicare Patrol

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Go paperless for your Medicare and You book

 

Missed going paperless with Medicare on Earth Day 2019? It’s not too late! Visit Medicare.gov/GoPaperless to sign up for your “Medicare & You” eHandbook.

Sign up for your eHandbook

Instead of mailing you a paper handbook every year, Medicare will send you an email each fall when the new eHandbook is available. They will also email you about any major updates to the handbook throughout the year, including cost changes.

Sign up by May 31. It’s an easy way to go green — and save Medicare paper and money!

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Smartphone Medicare App

Not sure if Medicare will cover your medical test or service? Medicare’s free “What’s covered” app delivers accurate cost and coverage information right on your smartphone.

Search or browse in the app to learn if Medicare will cover your medical test or service.  Medicare’s free “What’s covered” app delivers accurate cost and coverage information right on your smartphone.   Use the app at the doctor’s office, in the hospital, or anywhere you use your smartphone or tablet.

Get the app directly from the App Store or Google Play.

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Medicare’s General Enrollment Period is January 1–March 31

Missed your Initial Enrollment Period last year? If you’re eligible for Medicare, you may still be able to sign up for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) during the General Enrollment Period.

The General Enrollment Period runs from January 1 to March 31, for coverage starting July 1.  You can apply for Medicare Part A and/or Part B now if both of these apply:

  1. You didn’t sign up when you were first eligible.
  2. You aren’t eligible for a Special Enrollment Period.

Visit Medicare.gov to learn more about sign up periods.

Note: In most cases, if you don’t sign up for Medicare Part B when you’re first eligible, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty.

For individual help with Medicare details call for a HICAP appointment with a registered counselor in your community.

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Changes for Dual Eligibles and Low-Income Subsidy Recipients in California

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new rules that limit enrollment and
disenrollment from Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans. The new rules went into effect on January 1, 2019.

Prior to 2019, dual eligibles receiving both MediCal and Medicare, as well as Low Income Subsidy (LIS)  beneficiaries, had a continuous Special Enrollment Period (SEP)–known as the LIS SEP–that allowed them to enroll or disenroll from a Medicare Advantage plan or Part D prescription drug plan monthly.

Under the new rule, dual eligibles and LIS recipients will only be able to enroll or disenroll… Click to read more

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