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THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, OCTObER 17, 2025 Page 25 BEACON | FROM PAGE 24 people and also has hospitals that treat an estimated 28,000 animals annually ranging from cats and dogs to pet rabbits, parrots, iguanas and fi sh. In her veto message, Gov. Healey said, “I am vetoing this item to an amount consistent with my House [budget] recommendation.” Some supporters of the veto questioned whether the state should be providing millions of dollars to a private university. (A “Yes” vote is for spending the $700,000. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL SUNSCREEN LOTION (H 600) – The House gave initial approval to legislation that would allow any person, including students, parents and school personnel, to possess and use a topical sunscreen product without a physician’s note or prescription while on school property or at a school-related event or activity, to avoid overexposure to the sun. “Exposure to sun during childhood and adolescence is a signifi cant risk factor for skin cancer later in life,” said sponsor Rep. Kate Hogan (D-Stow). “Regular use of sunscreen substantially reduces the risk associated with the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Outdated policies treat sunscreen as an over-the-counter medication requiring medical authorization. This antiquated policy creates barriers to a basic, preventative health practice.” Hogan continued, “[My bill] ensures that sunscreen is not to be treated as medication for the purposes of school policy and that sunscreen can be used, without imposing on school staff . The bill also gives school districts the opportunity to incorporate sun safety education into their wellness efforts, which will foster lifelong healthy habits. This legislation is particularly important as outdoor school activities such as recess, athletics, fi eld days and fi eld trips expose students to the sun. Enabling access to sunscreen is a common sense and evidence-based step that supports student health.” EMPLOYMENT PROTECTION FOR ABUSE VICTIMS (H 2143/S 1294) – The House gave initial approval to a proposal that would prohibit discrimination against an employee based on their status as a victim of abusive behavior. The measure requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure employees are able to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and address the situation, while remaining productive in the workplace. “I fi led this legislation because Massachusetts needs stronger employment protections for individuals in the commonwealth who are either experiencing abusive behavior or have a family member experiencing abuse,” said Senate Majority Leader Sen. Cindy Creem (D-Newton), the Senate sponsor of the bill. “The reforms included in this bill will help ensure victims of abuse and their family members are not unfairly penalized in the workplace for requesting reasonable accommodations to protect themselves or a loved one from a dangerous situation.” Rep. Jay Livingstone (D-Boston), the House sponsor of the bill, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll asking him why he filed the measure and how he feels about its approval. BAN MASK USE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT (HD 4886) – Rep. Jim Hawkins (D-Attleboro) has fi led a bill that would prohibit police and other law enforcement offi - cers from wearing masks or personal disguises while interacting with the public in the performance of their duties. The measure was referred to the Judiciary Committee and the date for a public hearing on the proposal has not yet been set. “Reports are on the rise and becoming increasingly alarming of masked, non-identifying individuals and groups approaching and disappearing people throughout the country,” said Hawkins. “This behavior erodes public trust, which ultimately puts everyone, including law enforcement offi cers, at risk. It’s unscrupulous, unethical and leads to further threats to democracy, deeply harming our communities. The traumatic experience of unwarranted and aggressive approaches by masked strangers, especially for women and girls, has proven terrifying. Often, they are in unmarked vehicles, stalking our neighborhoods and failing to produce a valid judicial warrant or explanation.” Hawkins continued , “Spokespersons for ICE and the current administration have tried to frame our bill as an attempt to grant sanctuary to dangerous criminals and intentionally put law enforcement personnel in harm’s way. The truth is contrary. This bill is a step toward mending the divide and fostering trust between law enforcement offi cers and the public. With transparency, identifi cation and reason, there should be no need for disguises while performing their duties to the communities they serve.” RENAME COLUMBUS DAY (S 2113) – A bill fi led by Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton) would designate the second Monday in October, now known as Columbus Day, as Indigenous Peoples Day and recommend appropriate exercises in schools to acknowledge the history of genocide and discrimination against Indigenous people. The State Administration Committee held a hearing on the proposal on June 4 but has not yet taken action on the measure. This year, Columbus Day is on October 13 so any name change, if approved, would have to wait until 2026 to take eff ect. “Christopher Columbus did not discover the Americas,” says Comerford. “That long-perpetuated myth — rooted in racism and violence — has allowed generations to credit a European man with discovering a land BEACON | SEE PAGE 26 Sa nr Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller Is Long-Term Care Insurance Worth It? Dear Savvy Senior, My husband and I have been thinking about getting a longterm care insurance policy, but we hate the idea of paying expensive monthly premiums for a policy we may never use. Is long-term care insurance worth it? Approaching Retirement Dear Approaching, There are two key factors you need to consider that can help you determine if purchasing a long-term care (LTC) insurance policy is a smart decision for you and your husband. One factor is your fi nancial situation and second is your health history. Currently, around 7.5 million Americans own a policy. Who Needs LTC Insurance? As the cost of LTC – which includes nursing home, assisted living and in-home care – continues to rise, it’s important to know that most people pay for LTC either from personal savings or Medicaid when their savings is depleted, or through a LTC insurance policy. National median average costs for nursing home care today is over $100,000 a year, according to the Genworth Cost of Care survey. Assisted living facilities and home care aides average more than $65,000/year. While national statistics show that about 70 percent of Americans 65 and older will need some kind of LTC, the fact is, many people don’t need to purchase LTC insurance. The reasons stem from a range of factors, including the fact that relatively few people have enough wealth to protect to make purchasing a policy worthwhile. Another important factor is that most seniors who need LTC only need it for a short period of time, for example, when they’re recovering from surgery. For those people, Medicare covers in-home health care and nursing home stays of 100 days or less following a hospital stay of more than 3 consecutive days. So, who should consider buying a policy? LTC insurance make the most sense for people who have investable assets of $500,000 to around $2 million that they want to protect. Anything less, and you will likely deplete your resources and go on Medicaid for LTC coverage. Anything more, and you can probably aff ord to pay for care yourself. Another factor to weigh is your personal health and family health history. The two most common reasons seniors need extended long-term care is because of dementia and/or disability. And, almost half of all people who live in nursing homes are 85 years or older. So, what’s your family history for Alzheimer’s, stroke or some other disabling health condition, and do you have a family history of longevity? You also need to factor in gender too. Because women tend to live longer than men, they are at greater risk of needing extended LTC. Choosing LTC Coverage After evaluating your situation, if you’re leaning towards buying a LTC policy, be aware that premiums can vary widely. According to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, premiums for a policy bought by a couple who are both age 65 for a benefi t pool of $165,000 each, with a 3 percent infl ation rider, ranged from $7,137 to $8,493 a year. You can buy LTC insurance from an insurance company or through an agent. Or you might also be able to buy a policy at work. Be sure to get quotes from several sources for the same coverage to compare prices. There are two main types of long-term care coverage you’ll want to consider. Traditional LTC insurance, which is “use it or lose it.” And hybrid policies that combine LTC coverage with life-insurance benefi ts. These policies promise that if you don’t end up needing long-term care, your benefi ciaries will receive a death benefi t. Both types of policies require medical underwriting to qualify. Another hybrid product to consider is an income annuity that includes a provision to increase your payout if you need LTC. However, the payout may not cover the full cost of care, and the added cost of this provision, known as a rider, can reduce the standard payout from the annuity. Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070. nior ior

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