Page 16 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2023 BEACON | FROM Page 14 of up to $500 per hearing aid and then 80 percent coverage of the next $1,500 for each hearing aid. “This legislation was first brought to my attention by a senior citizen in my district who cannot aff ord his hearing aids,” said co-sponsor Rep. Jessica Giannino (D-Revere). “This bill will go a long way to improving the quality of life for people of the commonwealth,” said co-sponsor Rep. Sean Garballey (D-Arlington). “It builds on top of a law that was passed allowing children up to the age of 21 to receive hearing aids. This current bill would expand that coverage to every person.” RECOGNIZE HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADING AS A SPORT (HD 4074) – Would designate and treat high school cheerleading as a legitimate sport and have it governed by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) which currently governs 19 other high school sports. “I fi led this bill to have cheerleading designated a sport at the high school level, governed by the MIAA so that it is supported like all other team-based athletic programs off ered in high schools across the state,” said sponsor Rep. Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica). “I have fi led it … for the town of Billerica, [because] our cheerleading program is one of the best in the state and just won their 8th state championship this past March.” Supporters said that Bay State high school cheerleading is currently governed by the Massachusetts Schools Administrators’ Association (MSAA) which only supports Cheer/Game Day, Dance and eSports. They argued it would be more appropriate to have the MIAA run and support this highly athletic and competitive sport. HIS, HER AND THEIR EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (HD 3598 and HD 3729) – Would amend the part of the state constitution that creates the title “His Excellency” for the governor and lieutenant governor. The proposal would add two more possible titles – “Her Excellency” and “Their Excellency.” “It’s time to bring Massachusetts into the 21st century,” said sponsor Rep. Jenny Armini (DMarblehead). “Given who is sitting in the corner offi ce, it’s obviously ridiculous that the constitution doesn’t recognize Gov. Healey’s gender. We must plan for the future, which is why these bills also include language to accommodate those across the gender spectrum.” RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE FROM $15 PER HOUR TO $20 PER HOUSE (HD 3965) – Would increase, over a 4-year period (20242027), the minimum wage from $15 per hour to $20 per hour; and the tipped worker minimum from $6.75 to $12, increasing it from 45 percent of minimum wage to 60 percent of it. Another provision beginning in 2028, would index the minimum wage for infl ation, using the consumer price index. “While we celebrate the significant victory of the 2018 law, we know that working families and individuals are still under enormous fi nancial stress with rising infl ation and increased costs of housing and living,” said sponsor Rep. Tram Nguyen (D-Andover). “They are struggling to meet their basic needs and provide for their families.” QUOTABLE QUOTES “One of the most eff ective ways to reduce tobacco use, not only among low-income individuals but also for youth, is to signifi - cantly increase the tax on all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Multiple studies have shown that every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes reduces consumption by about 4 percent among adults and about 7 percent among youth.” ---The American Lung Association recommending that Massachusetts lawmakers increase the state’s current $3.51 per pack tax on cigarettes by at least $1. “We need tax reform. We need tax relief. Making Massachusetts more competitive and attractive means doing just that. I know how important this is to the business community.” ---Gov. Maura Healey in a speech to the business group Associated Industries of Massachusetts. “The dedicated men and women who keep our communities safe too often hide the significant stress and trauma they incur from the job. Every offi cer in the commonwealth must have access to quality mental health services and peer support to combat this stigma.” ---Sen. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford) on distribution of money for a statewide grant program, which he created via legislation in 2018, providing police offi cers across Massachusetts with access to mental health services and peer support. “We know that when kids are hungry at school they cannot learn. We know that hungry kids have problems concentrating, have lower academic achievement, suff er cognitive development impairments and exhibit more behavioral problems in their food secure peers.” ---Rep. Andres Vargas (D- Haverhill) on his bill that would allow every Massachusetts student to receive free breakfast or lunch in school without providing income or other eligibility information. HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been fi led. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session. During the week of January 2317, the House met for a total of 12 minutes while the Senate met for a total of 23 minutes. Mon. Jan. 23 House 11:03 a.m. to 11:05 a.m. Senate 12:03 p.m. to 12:05 p.m. Tues. Jan. 24 No House session No Senate session Wed. Jan. 25 No House session No Senate session Thurs. Jan. 26 House 11:03 a.m. to 11:13 a.m. Senate 11:14 a.m. to 11:35 a.m. Fri. Jan. 27 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019 ~ February Columns ~ 1. How to Cover Dental Care in Retirement. 2. How Much Do You Have to Make to File Taxes? 3. Retiring Abroad? Tips and tools to help you make an informed decision. 4. Could You Have a Thyroid Problem and Not Know It? Thank you! Jim Miller 405-360-4228 SavvySenior.org How to Cover Dental Care in Retirement Dear Savvy Senior, I had dental insurance through my work for many years but lost it when I retired and joined Medicare. Where can retirees fi nd aff ordable dental care? Uninsured Al Dear Al, Unfortunately, about twothirds of U.S. retirees don’t have dental insurance today. Without coverage from traditional Medicare, and with private dental insurance typically costing too much to be feasible, most seniors are stuck paying full outof-pocket prices every time they visit a dentist. While there’s no one simple solution to aff ordable dental care there are a variety of options that can help cut your costs. Here’s where to look. Medicare Advantage: While dental services are mostly excluded under original Medicare, many Medicare Advantage plans do provide coverage for dental care, but it’s usually very limited. Medicare Advantage plans are government approved health plans (usually HMOs and PPOs) sold by private insurance companies that you can choose in place of original Medicare. To shop and research Advantage plans in your area visit Medicare. gov/plan-compare or call 800633-4227. Dental insurance: If you have gum problems and need extensive dental care, a dental insurance plan may be worth the costs versus paying for care yourself. Monthly premiums for individual plans range from about $20 to $80. A typical plan includes two or three cleanings and checkups per year, but these plans will likely have a waiting period – anywhere from a few months to a few years – before coverage for more expensive procedures kicks in. To fi nd dental plans in your area, see eHealthInsurance.com. Dental savings plans: While savings plans aren’t as comprehensive as insurance, they are a good option for those who don’t have dental insurance. How this works is you pay an annual membership fee – around $80 to $200 a year – in exchange for 10 to 60 percent discounts on service and treatments from participating dentists. To fi nd a savings plan, go to DentalPlans.com (or 888632-5353) where you can search for plans and participating dentists, as well as get a breakdown of the discounts off ered. Veterans’ benefi ts: If you’re a veteran enrolled in the VA health care program or are a benefi ciary of the Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA), the VA offers a dental insurance program that gives you the option to buy dental insurance through Delta Dental and MetLife at a reduced cost. The VA also provides free dental care to vets who have dental problems resulting from service. To learn more about these options, visit VA.gov/dental or call 877-222-8387. Cheaper dental care: Because prices can vary by dentist, one way to ensure you get a good deal on your dental care is to call multiple provides and compare prices. To get an idea of what diff erent dental procedures cost in your area, see FairHealthConsumer.org. If you’re paying cash, it’s also perfectly reasonable to ask your dentist for a discount. There are also a number health centers and clinics that provide low-cost dental care to those in need. And all university dental schools and college dental hygiene programs off er dental care and cleanings for less than half of what you would pay at a dentist’s offi ce. Students who are supervised by their professors provide the care. See TeethWisdom. org to search for a center, clinic or school near you. 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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