Page 20 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, ApRil 8, 2022 How to Choose a Medicare Advantage Plan Dear Savvy Senior, I will be 65 and eligible for Medicare in a few months and am interested in getting a Medicare Advantage plan to cover my health care and medications. What tips can you provide to help me pick a plan? Ready to Retire Dear Ready, Medicare Advantage plans have become very popular among retirees over the past 15 years, as nearly half of all new Medicare enrollees are signing up for Advantage plans, which accounts for about 42 percent of the entire Medicare market. Here are some tips and tools to help you pick a plan that fi ts your needs. First, let’s start with a quick review. Medicare Advantage plans (also known as Medicare Part C) are government approved health plans sold by private insurance companies that you can choose in place of original Medicare. The vast majority of AdvanSay nr Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller tage plans are managed-care policies such as HMOs or PPOs that require you to get your care within a network of doctors. If you join an Advantage plan, the plan will provide all of your Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) coverage like original Medicare does. But many plans also off er extra benefi ts like dental, hearing and vision coverage along with gym/ fi tness memberships, and most plans include prescription drug ~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ CITY OF EVERETT ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS 484 BROADWAY, ROOM 24 EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS 02149 617-394-2498 To Whom It May Concern: This notice is to inform you that a public hearing will be held on Tuesday April 19, 2022 at 6:00 PM, Everett City Hall, 3rd Floor George Keverian Hearing Room. All interested parties may attend and opinions will be heard regarding the following petition. Whereas a petition has been presented by: Property Address: 32 Everett Street Map/Lot: D0-04-000181 Person Requesting: Ms. Ava Kanta Tan Chatchai 32 Everett Street Everett, MA 02149 PROPOSAL: The applicant seeks to construct a two-story rear addition 20’ x 40’ and convert the existing 2 family residence into a 3-family residence. Reason for Denial: • The existing building is non-conforming in that the right-side yard is only 3.8 feet. • The FAR (floor area ratio) for the proposed use is 1.5. • One of the proposed egress’ for the new addition is shown to be built in the right-side yard. • The proposed plot plan indicates only 5 parking spaces where 6 are required. • The proposed parking is shown to be in the front yard set-back. Zoning: 1) Section 3 General Requirements paragraph C which states the following: C. Existing non-conforming structure or uses may be extended or altered, provided that such extension, alteration or change of use shall be permitted only upon the grant of a Special Permit by the zoning board of appeals after a public hearing and a finding by the board that such extension, alteration or change of use shall not be substantially more detrimental to the neighborhood than the existing non-conforming use or structure. (Ord. of 4-29-91) 2) Section 4 Dwelling Districts (b) Dimensional Requirements line C. All other uses--------------0.5 maximum floor area ratio (Ord. of 6-29-87; Ord. of 4-29-91 Ord. of 7/16/2002; Ord. of 11/13/2007) 3) Section 4 Dwelling District b) Dimensional Requirements line 6 which states: 6. Side Yard: a. Four (4) feet minimum with a total of sixteen (16) feet 4) Section 4 Dwelling Districts paragraph 17 Which states the following: 17. Conversion of Dwelling. No new dwelling unit created by the conversion of an existing dwelling shall be permitted unless the requirements of minimum lot area and off-street parking are satisfied for all dwelling units in existence and proposed in the dwelling after the conversion or enlargement. (Ord. 02-046 of Oct. 22, 2003) 5) Section 17 Off-Street Parking paragraph K which states the following: K. Parking facilities shall be designed so that no vehicles shall be parked nearer to any street lines than the minimum specified building setback for the Zoning District in which the parking facility is located. Mary Gerace - Chairman Roberta Suppa - Clerk Board of Appeals April 1 & April 8, 2022 coverage too. Medicare Advantage plans are also cheaper than if you got original Medicare, plus a separate Part D drug plan and a Medigap policy. Many Advantage plans have $0 or low monthly premiums and don’t always have a deductible, but they also typically have a high out-of-pocket maximum. In 2021, Advantage plan participants on average were responsible for a maximum of around $5,100 for in-network nior ior care, and about $9,200 when out-of-network care is included. How to Choose To help you pick a plan, a good fi rst step is to call the offi ce managers of the doctors you use and fi nd out which Advantage plans they accept, and which ones they recommend. Then go to the Medicare Plan Finder tool at Medicare.gov/plan-compare to compare Advantage plans in your area. This tool provides a fi ve-star rating system that evaluates each plan based on past customer satisfaction and quality of care the plan delivers. When comparing, here are some key points to consider: Total costs: Look at the plan’s entire pricing package, not just the premiums and deductibles. Compare the maximum out-ofpocket costs plus the copays and coinsurance charged for doctor office visits, hospital stays, visits to specialists, prescription drugs and other medical services. This is important because if you choose an Advantage plan, you’re not allowed to purchase a Medigap policy, which means you’ll be responsible for paying these expenses out of your own pocket. Drug coverage: Check the plan’s formulary – the list of prescription drugs covered – to be sure all the medications you take are covered without excessive co-pays or requirements that you try less expensive drugs fi rst. Dental, vision and hearing: Many Advantage plans come with dental, vision and hearing benefi ts, but are usually limited. Get the details on what exactly is covered. Coverage away from home: Most Advantage plans limit you to using in-network doctors only within a service area or geographic region, so fi nd out what’s covered if you need medical care when you’re away from home. Out-of-network coverage: Check to see what’s covered if you want to see a specialist in a hospital that is not in a plan’s network. You can get a list of doctors and hospitals that take part in a plan on the plan’s website. Need Help? If you need help choosing a plan, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program at ShipHelp.org or call 877-8392675. Also see the HealthMetrix Research 2022 Cost Comparisons Report at MedicareNewsWatch. com that lists the best Advantage plans based on health status. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
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