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THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022 Page 17 BEACH | FROM Page 12 decision-making process for their community.” Funds to support the program How to Choose a Medicare Supplemental (Medigap) Policy Dear Savvy Senior, I’m planning to enroll in original Medicare in a few months and have been told I probably need to get a Medicare supplemental policy too. Can you off er any tips on selecting one? Almost 65 Dear Almost, If you’re enrolling in original Medicare, getting a supplemental policy (also known as Medigap insurance) too is a smart idea because it will help pay for things that aren’t covered by Medicare like copayments, coinsurance and the Part A deductible. Here are some tips to help you choose an appropriate plan. Medigap Plans In all but three states (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin), Medigap plans, which are sold by private health insurers, are available to new enrollees in eight different standardized plans. These plans are labeled with the letters A, B, D, G, K, L, M and N, with two more, C and F, that are only available to those eligible for Medicare before 2020. Plan G is the most popular policy among new enrollees because it covers the most comprehensive range of benefi ts. Monthly premiums for Plan G typically range between $100 and $300, depending on your age and the state you reside in. If that’s more than you’re willing to pay, there are also high-deductible plans that have lower premiums but impose higher out-of-pocket costs. For more information on the different types of plans and coverage details, including Medigap options in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, go to Medicare.gov/ publications and type in “choosing a medigap policy” in the Keyword box, and download their 2022 guide. Or call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask them to mail you a copy. How to Choose To pick a Medigap policy that works best for you, consider your health, family medical history and your budget. The diff erences among plans can be small and rather confusing. To help you choose, visit Medicare.gov/medigap-supplemental-insurance-plans and type in your ZIP code. This will give you a list of the plans available in your area, their price ranges and the names, and contact information of companies that sell them. But to get specifi c pricing information, you’ll need to contact the carriers directly or call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. See ShipHelp.org or call 877-839-2675 for contact information. Since all Medigap policies with the same letter must cover the exact same benefi ts (it’s required by law), you should shop for the cheapest policy. You’ll get the best price if you sign up within six months after enrolling in Medicare Part B. During this open-enrollment period, an insurer cannot refuse to sell you a policy or charge you more because of your health. You also need to be aware of the pricing methods, which will aff ect your costs. Medigap policies are usually sold as either: “community-rated” where everyone in an area is charged the same premium regardless of age; “issue-age-rated” that is based on your age when you buy the policy, but will only increase due to infl ation, not age; and “attained-age-rated,” that starts premiums low but increases as you age. Community-rate and issue-age-rated policies are the best options because they will save you money in the long run. You can buy the plan directly from an insurance company, or you can work with a reputable insurance broker. Drug Coverage You also need to know that Medigap policies do not cover prescription drugs, so if you don’t have drug coverage, you’ll need to buy a separate Medicare Part D drug plan too. See Medicare.gov/ plan-compare to compare plans. Also note that Medigap plans do not cover vision, dental care, hearing aids or long-term care. Alternative Option Instead of getting original Medicare, plus a Medigap policy and a separate Part D drug plan, you could sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan (see medicare.gov/ plan-compare) that provides all-inone coverage. These plans, which are sold by insurance companies, are generally available through HMOs and PPOs that require you to get your care within a network of doctors. 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. 1. On June 17, 1775, the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought; what is the name of the Battle’s other hill? 2. What European country has six villages called Silly? 3. What is the heaviest land animal in North America? 4. What are Japanese zori, which were brought to America by returning soldiers after World War II? 5. June 18 is International Picnic Day; reportedly, picnics first became popular after what revolution? 6. What is the name of Simba’s father in “The Lion King”? 7. On June 19, 1676, Massachusetts declared amnesty for all Native Americans who surrendered during what war? 8. What did Julius Petri invent? 9. What mammal can fl y? 10. On June 20, 1863, on condition that its slaves were freed, what became the 35th state which had the motto “mountaineers always freemen”? 11. What imaginary animal is Scotland’s national animal? 12. Mount Etna, the Answers world’s oldest active volcano, is where: Greece, Sicily or Tonga? 13. How are “Mr. Mistoffelees,” “Old Deuteronomy” and “Growltiger” similar? 14. On June 21, 1948, at NYC’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, successful longplaying records were introduced to the public; for what rpm speed were they designed for? 15. In what war was the USS Constitution nicknamed “Old Ironsides”? 16. What orange fi sh has the name of an entertainer in its name? 17. What poet with a younger sister named Lavinia stated, “To see the Summer Sky / Is Poetry, though never in a Book it lie – / True Poems fl ee –”? 18. On June 22, 1946, what reservoir in New England was fi lled up? 19. Alexander Graham Bell suggested to use what word to answer the phone: ahoy, halloo or hello? 20. On June 23, 1917, Red Sox pitcher Ernie Shore retired 26 batters in a row; what pitcher had he replaced who had punched an umpire? comes from the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Baker/Polito Administration, and the Harpoon Shamrock Splash, which was held on March 6, 2022, at Constitution Beach in East Boston. “DCR is proud of our Better Beaches Program Partnership with Save the Harbor/Save the Bay,” said Acting DCR Commissioner Stephanie Cooper. “We are all looking forward to another great season of free events and programs on DCR’s beaches from Nahant to Nantasket,” New partners this year include Circus Up, Inc, North Shore Women of Color Association, YMCA of Metro-North, Po Couto: Haus of Threes, City of Revere Travel & Tourism Department, Charlestown YMCA, Caribbean American Carnival Association of Boston, Inc, Next Level Factory, South Boston en Acciуn, The Black Literacy & Arts Collaborative Project, Fields Corner Crossroads Collaborative, Linda Wells, Daddy & Me Literacy Program, Norfolk Sheriff 's Offi ce, Quincycles, Latifa Ziyad, Soca Hikes, Veronica Robles Cultural Center, Carolyn Lewenberg, Soca Fusion, and The Flavor Continues Save the Harbor’s success would not be possible without their program partners and event sponsors, including Arctic Chill and Harpoon Brewery, JetBlue, FMC Ice Sports, P&G Gillette, National Grid, Coast Cannabis, the Daily Catch, Comcast, Mix 104.1, iZotope, Inc, The Blue Sky Collaborative, Boston & Maine Webcams, BostonHarbor. com, The Boston Foundation, and The Richard Saltonstall Charitable Foundation. In addition, Save the Harbor recognized the Metropolitan Beaches Commission Co-Chairs Senator Brendan Crighton of Lynn, and Representative Adrian Madaro of East Boston and the legislative and community members of the Commission as well as Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano for their support for their beaches and communities. Save the Harbor also thanked the Baker-Polito Administration, the Massachusetts Legislature, Save the Harbor's partners at the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Boston Centers for Youth & Families, the YMCA of Greater Boston, and the hundreds of people who took part in the Shamrock Splash for their support. To learn more about Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and the great work they do to restore, protect and share Boston Harbor, the waterfront, islands, and the region’s public beaches with all Bostonians and the region’s residents, visit their website at www.savetheharbor.org and follow @savetheharbor on social media. 1. Breed’s 2. France 3. American bison 4. A type of fl ipfl op sandal that became a craze in the USA 5. The French Revolution, because then royal parks were opened to the public for the fi rst time 6. Mufasa 7. King Philip’s War 8. A way to grow bacteria in gelatin (namesake of petri dish) 9. Bat 10. West Virginia 11. Unicorn 12. Sicily 13. They are fi ctional characters in T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical “Cats” that was based on the book. 14. 33-1/3 15. The War of 1812 16. Clown fi sh 17. Emily Dickinson 18. Quabbin 19. Ahoy 20. Babe Ruth

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