One of my favorite television programs was “Hill Street Blues.” The police officers in the station were always cautioned, “Be careful out there” before they left for their day’s work.
This is good advice for us all, as we attempt to maneuver in the world as it is and as it’s becoming. Get ready for more excuses about rising prices. We’ve kind of gotten used to hearing about the oil prices and the effect that has on delivery of goods. Next, it’s going to somehow attach to the recent help we’ve voted for the economic bailout.
I am no financial wizard, don’t have a 401k or investments. I don’t own a house and pay the going rate of rent and always have. This is the fallout of being a working single parent, with no alimony, child support or any kind of government assistance. Therefore, I tend to be more and more wary and suspicious as I get older. Is it just a coincidence that a few days after this windfall for Wall Street is announced, that food gets more expensive? Bacon, for example, that was $2.59 last week is more than $3.50 this week. Same brand, same weight.
We all, especially seniors, have to be careful out there. But, Lordy, it gets tiring sometimes and more and more complicated as we try to maintain a routine on less and less.
This is a true, albeit frustrating, experience. A few weeks ago I wrote about the so-called Medicare Buy-in program, whereby if a household income is below a certain amount, that household may be exempted from the monthly Medicare B premium. That sounded promising and on first glance, attainable. If I had that $95 odd dollars a month, it could help pay for my oil this winter. So I let my guard down and attacked this possibility in a businesslike manner, taking all the right steps.
After making the call to the state Department of Elder Services, I received an application, completed it and mailed it to the Department of Health and Human Services, as required.
Last week I received three separate letters from DHHS, three different envelopes, all dated the same day, same ID number (for me) and same caseworker name. Mind you, I had applied for the Medicare Buy-in Program, which is administered by DHHS. The first letter I opened informed me no decision had been made as to whether I’d qualify for MaineCare (which I had not applied for). The second letter informed me I was denied MaineCare coverage, as well as food stamps (I didn’t apply for those, either). Apparently you can get food stamps only if you earn less than about $860 a month, regardless of expenses.
The third letter told me that I was being considered for Medicare Buy-in and to provide proof of income, copy of my Medicare card (front and back) and proof of Social Security payment. I’ll go along with this, although it might be more satisfying if I whistled in the wind.
Apparently, technology hasn’t caught up with DHHS yet. It does seem that with a button or link, they would be able to access this information easily. After all, we’re informed they verify information they are provided. How? And down to basics, why weren’t all three letters mailed in one envelope (with one postpaid return envelope, instead of the three I now have)? Multiply this instance by thousands of applicants and it’s easy to see why the state (us taxpayers) is in a financial snarl. Maybe it’s time to plea for a “bailout package” for us.
I don’t hold out much hope that I’ll pass this test and receive some financial relief this winter, so I guess I’ll keep on typing and writing. Maybe another part-time job is in order. How much do babysitters get these days?
I haven’t heard from anyone who has tried for this Medicare Buy-In and actually succeeded. But optimist that I am, I hope it will be worthwhile for some, since many seniors I know have only their Social Security and cannot work, even part time.
Life for senior citizens is full of opportunities and challenges – that’s what we’re told, anyway. One thing for sure, we each need to be careful out there – careful of getting tangled in the red tape seemingly designed just for us.
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