1. Breed’s 2. France 3. American bison 4. A type of fl ip-fl 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 Page 20 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022 Savvy Seniory Senior BY JIM MILLER 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 offer 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 diff erent 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-ofpocket 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 877839-2675 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 affect 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-in-one 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. became the 35th state which had the motto “mountaineers always freemen”? 11. What imaginary animal is Scotland’s national animal? 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 fi rst 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 12. Mount Etna, the world’s oldest active volcano, is where: Greece, Sicily or Tonga? 13. How are “Mr. Mistoff elees,” “Old Deuteronomy” and “Growltiger” similar? 14. On June 21, 1948, at NYC’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, successful long-playing 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 fish 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? ANSWERS BHRC | FROM PAGE 19 (D-Boston) said he fi led the bill after hearing from a constituent who was tested for marijuana, without her consent, by her primary care physician during a routine physical that included standard urine and blood work. Holmes noted she was under federal probation and marijuana, while legal in Massachusetts, is still prohibited federally and a positive test could have forced her again away from her family and back to federal prison. “My constituent changed her primary care physician because she could no longer trust her,” said Holmes. “That was the only recourse she had. The bill will be fi led again next term because more protection is needed.” FINE FOR OPEN CONTAINER OF MARIJUANA IN VEHICLE (H 149) — Would apply the — current alcohol open container law to marijuana. This would impose a $100 to $500 civil penalty on anyone who is driving with an open container of marijuana or any marijuana products in the passenger area of a motor vehicle. Sponsor Rep. Shawn Dooley (R-Norfolk) said the bill doesn’t criminalize anything but it simply imposes a civil fine—the same as having an open container of beer. He noted that police have a very hard time enforcing impaired driving under the infl uence of marijuana use due to lack of a Breathalyzer-type test. “As dispensaries become more popular and accessible— there will naturally be more of a chance for use while driving,” said Dooley. “And while I believe the vast majority of users are responsible—this is meant to hopefully incentivize those few who might partake while driving—just like with alcohol to not do it and wait till they are not behind the wheel.” QUOTABLE QUOTES “I think on this matter I will turn it over to [Sen. Brendan Crighton] the real expert on this subject matter, the gentleman from Lynn, the Senate chair of the Joint Committee on TransportaBHRC | SEE PAGE 21
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