Page 20 avvya yavvy eniiooravvy S iorn or v y io iori by Jim Miller What to Do About Medicare and Social Security When You Move Dear Savvy Senior, Next month I am moving to a diff erent state so I can be near my daughter and grandkids. Do I need to notify Social Security and Medicare about the move? Relocating Grandma Dear Relocating, Yes, if you’re a Social Security and Medicare recipient you defi - nitely need to let these Federal agencies know when and where you move so there are no hiccups in your benefi ts or coverage. Here’s what you should know. How to Update Your Info. If you’re receiving Social Security retirement, survivors or disability benefi ts, it’s required that you notify the Social Security Administration when you move to ensure your deposits continue and you avoid disruptions. You’ll need to provide them your new mailing address so they can deliver important documents to you like your annual SSA1099 tax form. And if you’re switching banks or credit unions, you’ll need to update your direct deposit information by providing your new fi nancial institution’s routing number and account number. If you’re a Medicare benefi ciary, they too need your new mailing address so bills, correspondence, your Medicare Summary Notice and other statements can go to the right address. You can update both your Social Security and Medicare contact information online by simply using the “My Profi le” tab in your personal “my Social Security” account at SSA.gov/myaccount. If you don’t have an account, you can create one online for free in just a few minutes. Or, if you need some help or don’t have internet access, you can call Social Security at 800-772-1213, or visit your local Social Security offi ce and they will make the changes for you. Medicare Private Plans You also need to know that if you’re enrolled in original Medicare, you can move anywhere within the United States without losing coverage. But if you have Part D prescription drug coverage or a Medicare Advantage plan from a private health insurance company, and you move out of the plan’s service area, you’ll have to switch plans or you’ll face losing coverage. Part D service areas typically are statewide or can extend to parts of neighboring states, while Medicare Advantage plans’ service areas vary by county. Moving out of a plan’s service area qualifi es you for a special enrollment period (SEP) of at least two months to get a new plan. You may also qualify if you move within your plan’s service area and it off ers options diff erent from what you had. The enrollment timing depends on when you notify the plan. If you tell your plan before you move, your chance to switch plans begins the month before the month you move and continues for two full months after you move. If you tell your plan after you move, your chance to switch plans begins the month you tell your plan, plus two more full months. To shop for new Part D and Medicare Advantage plans in your new area, use the Medicare Plan Finder tool at Medicare.gov/ plan-compare. You can also switch Part D or Medicare Advantage plans during open enrollment, which runs each year from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 for coverage starting Jan. 1. Medigap Plans If you’re enrolled in original Medicare and have a Medigap supplemental policy you usually don’t have to switch plans if you move, but you do need to notify your provider. Some insurers let you keep the rate based on the state where you originally applied for Medigap. Others may change your premiums to coincide with their coverage in a diff erent zip code. 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. THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 26, 2024 MUSINGS | FROM PAGE 6 – public policy made over pints of Guinness and shots of Black Velvet! Could the decision to place “The Beast That Ate Pleasant Street” been made between those four walls over well-poured pints? Anything is possible. Insert smiley face. • MHS Class of 1971’s Charlie Farren released two albums in ’85 with his band, The Enemy: “America Rocks” and “Sally’s Got a Poker Face.” When he wasn’t headlining all the major rock clubs in the Greater Boston area his band was sharing the stage with the likes of The Kinks, Huey Lewis, Jethro Tull, Sammy Hagar, Eddie Money and Warren Zevon. • The team roster for Chisholm’s Sporting Goods in the Malden Men’s Recreational Basketball League – a team full of Malden paisans and goodfellas: Johnny Salmon, Rod “Puggy” Forbes, Billy Hanifan, John Furlong, Tommy Kelly, Dennis Cakert, Bobby Trodden, Anthony Jesi, Billy Greeley and Terry “6th Man” Matthews. • In 1985 Richie Correale (Seals) and Mike DiMauro (Colts) were MBRL Rookies of the Year. • In the kitchen at the Highland Café, Dave “Malden Musings Hall of Famer” Angelo was pumping out nearly 500 pizzas on any given Friday night. The bar was always full. The veal parm was to die for. On Friday nights Anna (Puleo) was on the phone taking pizza orders. Ernie Ardolino Sr. greeted you as if you were a long-lost member of the clan. Jukeboxes were still in each booth. And the world-famous pizza had already reached iconic status. • Shawn Brickman pitched the game of his life, winning the Inter-City League Championship as his “Miracle (Meff a) Mustangs” defeated the Melrose Rams, 3-1. Legendary Mustang player/manager Eddie (2010 ICL HOF) DiGiacomo, to this very day, calls Shawn one of the most clutch pitchers he has ever coached or witnessed in the ICL. • My pally, Malden’s pally, your pally – (historian, attorney, goodfella and much more) the late Frankie Russell – graduated from MHS in 1985. I miss Frankie but get to chat with his moms Denise at least once a year, which helps. Frankie loved Malden and put his heart and soul into everything he wrote and every adventure he went on. His last book – published in 2018 – “An Early History of Malden,” is still available on Amazon and is a must read if you dig Malden history. • The Clash released “Cut the Crap” in ’85 – an ignominious way for these punk rock icons to go out and be remembered. The release broke Sean Lucey’s heart (and mine). • Malden San Rock Festa was 56 years old. • Future professional baseball player (Aztecs) Carmine Cappuccio and future bocce star (Chiefs) Chris Bennett were named Sportsman of the Year in the BRL. • Addiction Recovery Resource Specialist Paul Hammersley from the Health & Human Services Department graduated in 1985. After hitting a bump or two in the road (including sporting a “mullet” for a short period of time), “The Hammer” has become a Malden “Most Valuable Player” with a beautiful daughter, Bella, and an equally beautiful wife, Lisa. Maybe you know them? If you don’t, you should. Fine, fi ne people. • Steve “Psycho” Lyons (can we even nickname people that anymore – insert smiley face) was the guest speaker at the 20th Annual Malden Babe Ruth League Banquet. • We had a stylish bounce in our step when we proudly sported the Larry Bird–endorsed “Converse Weapon.” • Carmine (Cappuccio) was also named BRL MVP out of the Eastern Conference, and out of the West, Billy “The Ageless Wonder” Roderick (Chiefs) and Jason Knox from the Colts split the award. • In the photo: possibly a (1970s?) 4th of July Parade snaking its way through Maplewood Square with the aforementioned Gulliver’s Travels in the background. Do I spy Neil Kinnon sporting Chuck Taylor’s sitting on the roof? OBITUARIES Susan Ann Fontana A lifelong resident of Malden, passed away peacefully on April 16, 2024. She was 69 years old. Susan was the daughter of the late Joseph and Mary (Cappellucci) Fontana. She was the loving sister of Donna Abruzi and her husband Steve of Tewksbury. Susan was the dear aunt of Julie Andriolo and her husband Kevin, Brian Abruzi and his wife Karen, Joe Abruzi, and great aunt of KJ, Cole and Will. She is also survived by many cousins. Visitation was held at the A. J. Spadafora Funeral Home, Malden on Monday April 22nd from followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Saint Joseph’s Church, Malden. Relatives and friends were respectfully invited to attend. Interment was in Forest Dale Cemetery, Malden. In lieu of fl owers donations in Susan’s memory may be made to Bread of Life, 214 Commercial St., Malden, MA 02148. https://www. breadofl ifemalden.org As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – I leave this week with a “1985 Malden Slice of Life...” Billy Callahan lived on Highland Court and was our forever Ward 2 Councillor and State Rep. (they broke the Councillor mold when Billy passed). But most importantly, he was a living legend in Malden at the time (and still is). In 1985 the following kind words for Councillor Callahan were spoken by Editor Joseph W. Carroll of “Malden: This Week”: “As a politician, Billy Callahan, covered all the bases, old style but the way people like their offi cials to perform. Billy’s day, all 365 of them a year, was spent with an emphasis on visiting hospitals, acknowledging birthdays and anniversaries, paying last respects at the many funeral homes in his district, greeting constituents on the street and of course, kissing babies. “At campaign time, Billy was known to cover his entire district, door-to-door as many as 4 and 5 times...and at least once with his lovely wife Ann by his side. If Billy’s charm didn’t win support, then Ann’s would for sure.” Postscript: I thought it apropos to leave this week with lyrics from “Time” by the Pozo-Seco Singers. After writing this “look back” article, it just felt right: “Sometimes I’m satisfied, sometimes I’m not. Sometimes my face is cold, sometimes it’s hot. Sunset, I laugh, sunrise I cry. At midnight I’m in between and wondering why. … Time. oh, time where did you go? Time, oh good, good time where did you go? … Time, oh time where did you go? Time, oh good, good time where did you go?” —Peter is a longtime Malden resident and a regular contributor to the Malden Advocate and can be reached at PeteL39@aol. com for comments, compliments or criticisms.
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