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What's New? Q: Can elders get protection from utility shut offs? Also, the latest from SHINE 11/29/2007 - Eldercare Q&A Heating Season Protections A: Yes, but the protections vary by how you heat your home. If you heat with gas or electricity, there are shutoff protections for seniors---year round. Some other low-income households have limited protection during the period November 15 to March 15th. The utility companies call this a "winter moratorium" on shut-offs. But if everyone in your household is over 65, the company cannot terminate your service for failure to pay a past due bill without approval of the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy (DTE). If you can't pay your bill all at once, you can work out a payment plan with the company. In addition, you have a right to a hearing at the DTE before termination. Utility companies are also required to give written notice of a shut-off to the state's Executive Office of Elder Affairs. Elders may believe that their electric or gas heat cannot be shut off. This is technically not true. If the state approves the utility's request, you can be terminated even during a "winter moratorium". But in practice, it is not likely that the state will approve a heating-related shut-off during the winter months. There is also financial aid to help pay heating bills. Some seniors will be able to take advantage of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which can help pay for heating bills---whether you use gas, electricity, coal, oil, wood, or propane. LIHEAP assisted roughly 141,000 households last winter in Massachusetts. The program is managed by regional non-profit organizations. LIHEAP will provide fuel assistance payments for people with annual income of up to $20,420 for a single person, and $27,380 for a two person household. The maximum grant this winter is expected to be around $609. To sign up for the heating assistance program in your area, call the state "Heatline" at 1-800-632-8175 and enter your zip code. If you feel your gas or electric service has been improperly terminated, call the DTE at 1-800-392-6066. If you owe a company money, call the state Attorney General's office, at 1-888-514-6277. They will contact your utility or oil company and help you work out a repayment plan. Do it before the snow flies. NEWS FROM SHINE DECEMBER 2007 We are currently in the Medicare Annual Open Enrollment period, which lasts until December 31. During this time, all Medicare beneficiaries have the opportunity to change their Medicare health coverage as well as their Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D Plans). Every year Part D Plans may change their premiums, drug co-pays, and formularies. By now, you should have received a letter from you Part D Plan explaining these changes. Even if you were happy with your Part D coverage in 2007, you need to look at how your plan will be changing in 2008. The plan you are currently in may not be the best plan for you next year. Before enrolling in any Part D plan, review all your medications with your doctors, consider generic alternatives, and make sure your plan covers all your drugs (with the fewest restrictions possible). You can consult www.medicare.gov, a SHINE Counselor or MassMedLine (1-866-633-1617) for assistance. Medicare Advantage plans are also changing in 2008. Your current plan will probably be changing. Also, there are new Medicare Advantage plans being offered for next year. From now until December 31, you can change your Medicare Advantage Plan, or choose traditional Medicare with a private supplement (Medigap plan). If you have your coverage through a current or former employer, this timetable may not apply to you. How do you decide if you want to change your Medicare Advantage plan? You should have received a letter from your Medicare Advantage Plan detailing any changes there may be in 2008. Carefully read this material and review your options. Again, you can consult www.medicare.gov or a SHINE counselor for assistance. Although you have until December 31 to make any changes, we recommend making any changes as early as possible, so you will have paperwork from your new plan showing you are covered on January 1, 2008. The good news is that help is available for you at your local Senior Center (Council on Aging). Call your center and ask for a SHINE appointment. Specially trained SHINE volunteers offer free, confidential counseling to seniors and anyone on Medicare, covering all aspects of health insurance. You can also reach a SHINE counselor by telephone. Call 1-800-AGE-INFO. Once you get the SHINE answering machine, leave your name and number. A volunteer will call you back, as soon as possible. Please be patient. Due to the large volume of calls, you may not hear from us for a few days. SHINE (Serving the Health Information Needs of Elders) is sponsored by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs in partnership with the Friends of the Milford Senior Center, Massachusetts Councils on Aging and other local agencies. Back to What's New?
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