Ann Moore

Happy B'day to Susan & Yvonne! Hope you are celebrating the whole month just because!   Claudia, it's good to hear from you.  So sorry about your Mom - the loss is always hard. Hang on to those memories which are forever. Glad you are recovering well from your surgery!       Early Happy B'day to Mike!! May we all enjoy entering the "65" experience!! Hope all of you in the class are doing well!!   Ann

Phil Drain

I see that many are turning the big 65.  Congratulations, and welcome to Medicare, for what that is worth to you.  I was just notified that SSI is taking an additional $32/mo from my check for part D coverage, which I didn't even need, or ask for.  I don't have any recourse.  Amazing, you pay into all of this for 40 plus years, in my case double since I was self employed, and then they charge more when you get the benefits.  I'm afraid to see what they will come up with next. 

Anyway, enough politics--have a really great birthday, and I truly hope your health is better than ever!

Phil

Yvonne Valdez (O'Connell)

Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes.  Happy 65th to all of us!  I hope that everyone is happy and healthy.  With lots of love to all of you.   Yvonne  

Margo Huff

Phil, when you said SSI is taking out an ADDITIONAL $34 for plan D did you mean that you were already covered by a secondary source for plan D or you were already paying SSI a certain amount for Plan D?  I realize that Medicare only covers 80% of any hospital or major medical and we need a secondary to cover the additional 20%.  Then we are required to have our own doctor coverage, Plan B and we are required to have medication coverage Plan D or Medicare will provide both plan B and plan D and charge us for it.  What is interesting is that for many of us in the middle, meaning we haven't retired and are not able to draw full social security until we turn 66, we are mandated to start Medicare at age 65.  If we do not provide the additional plans and secondary coverage we will be billed quarterly for plan b and d until we start to draw social security, at which time they then deduct the amounts from your social security checks.

Ken and I don't take any prescription mediations.  I realize at some point it might be necessary but not sure we have any options.  You have to pay for plan D whether you want it or need it.  

I do like to use a chiropractor occasionally and I think that is totally covered by Medicare.  Don't have to pay for it anymore.  Currently over the years I have always paid for chiropractor or acupuncture out of pocket.  

Thank you for any clarification!  This is becoming so very frustrating for so many people in our age group! 😐

Katherine Hawkins (Felter)

Hmm, I thought part D was optional, but if you decided to add it later, you would be penalized.  So many things to consider, luckily my husband went through this last year and I benefitted from his research and angst. 

Happy birthday to those I missed.

Phil Drain

Good morning all.  Yes, I have part D through my wife's employer, until she turns 65.  I was told at the time I inquired, 4 months prior to 65, that part D was paid by the employer and I did not need to do anything.  Although I take one prescription med, I pay out of pocket since it is only $36 for the entire year.  This past week I received notice that my SSI was going down by $32/mo, and retroactively deducted this month.  I called for a clarification and was told that even though the employer is providing part D, it is tied to Medicare anyway and since we received an inheritance 2 years ago, and made in excess of $160K that year, that I now have to pay the penalty for both part B and part D.  Amazing.  So now I have a deductible for part A, part B, and part D.  Fortunately, if you can say that, we make far less than $160K so both surcharges are supposed to be elimated this coming year.  They claim it will automatically be done based on our 2015 returns, but I have my doubts.

I hope this helps clarify this.  As for your situation, yes, since you are not receiving SSI now, you are required to pay for part B and part D.  You can opt out, but there are huge penalties if you decide you want it later.  If, as a married couple, you earn more than $160K, the costs go up, way up.   Phil

Margo Huff

Thank you Phil.  Can hear the frustration in your response. 

Kathy, I have heard so many different versions of what is required and what isn't, I'm meeting with an agent on Tuesday.  I think every time you speak to someone at Social Security you can get a different answer.  And I think we all want to avoid unnecessary fines or penalties.  

If I hear something new I will post next week.  It is all so aggravating.  

If I am not mistaken, when we were younger our parents had insurance for major medical and paid for everything else.  But then doctor visits were affordable.  Medication wasn't over prescribed and was also affordable.  Does anyone remember Dr. Troy?  And I remember he did home visits with his black bag in hand.

Because of allergies I am supposed to carry an epipen.  They were normally $50. Then they went to $100, then jumped to $400 and now you can't get one anywhere for less than $600. My insurance coverage requires that I pay out of pocket first, request a reimbursement form, fill out after I receive in the mail, send back with receipt of payment and then they take 2 to 3 months for reimbursement.  Needless to say, I decided to forgo the pen for now.  I have a written prescription that I might be able to fill in another country.  Just makes me angry.  They also used to have a 2 yr expiration, now it is one yr.  Heard that the company that originally made them sold and the new company has been allowed to raise price every year.  Same epipen.  

Just so very grateful that I wake up every morning and I still feel healthy and can still be somewhat active.

Katherine Hawkins (Felter)

Margo, funny you bring up Dr. Troy, I was just thinking about him the other day, we need more like him.  I am signed up for everything, Northrop, the company Rich retired from, had agents to help us get everything set up, that was a blessing.  

What a crock all of this is, so much of it is do to Obama care, and we seniors are getting screwed.

Phil Drain

In case you haven't heard, the medicare part B premiums are supposed to go up to $149 per month next year, from $121 this year.  So much for health care costs going down, as our emperor said they would!

Becky Markey (Smith)

Does anyone remember if Mickey Farley's middle name is Edward?

Connie Carter (Brown)

Becky

I do believe his name was Michael Edward Farley.  I haven't seen him since high school.  Brownie is still not doing well at all.  He is leaving Salem Hospital, after another surgical procedure, and back to his care facility.  He has been gone from home since May 29th.  We had a little quiet birthday celebration on the 20th.  He is very incoherent, and when I saw him last night it was so bad, I cried all the way home.  Getting old sucks....

Connie

Connie Carter (Brown)

Becky....it does look like Mickey passed away in Bakersfield on August 21st.  Another one gone too soon.  He was born on June 9th....the day before my birthday.  Very sad news.

Connie

Phil Drain

Hi Becky.  No I never knew Mickey's middle name.  I tried several times to find him on the net, but had no luck.  He was my roommate at UCSB the first year there and I would like to know how things are for him. If you hear, please let me know.  Phil

Becky Markey (Smith)

There was a Mickey E Farley death notice in the Californian. He was 65. There were no details. So I'm not sure if this is our Mickey Farley. I'll try to verify it.

Phil Drain

Wow, did the paper say what the cause of death was?  Phil

Becky Markey (Smith)

Phil, no details. The only thing I saw was his name, age and DOD.

Phil Drain

Thanks for letting me know.  As I said, several times I Googled Mickey to see if I could find him.  If I had known that he was in Bakersfield I would have made a trip to see him.  Phil

Eleazar Huizar

Good bye Mickey. We will miss him.  He used to live nx door and we used to hang out there looking and reading his comic collection and just be good friends. Lets all keep in touch as much as possible knowing life is unpredictable but for the moment. All be well Eli ( LaHa ).

Margo Huff

RIP Micky

i remember Micky being very shy.  He was in my 4th grade class with Mr. Otto.  Does anyone else here remember Mr. Otto? We Picked names to get someone a gift for Christmas that year and Micky got my name.  We were only allowed to spend very little or make something.  I got a box of chocolate cherries.  I'd never had a chocolate cherry.  They were good, and my mom enjoyed them even more.  Later that year mom made me get rid of two pet turtles.  She didn't like the smell of the bowl and I gave them to Mickey.  Don't remember him much in the later years.  Isn it curious that after all these years, everyone trying to track him down for reunions that he was in Bakersfield all this time?  

Yes, life is short.  

Eleazar Huizar

WOW ! I wonder what happened to everybody ? No one on the Web page posting any messages ? R we still out there ? We're only 65 yrs old. We aren't that tired to keep in touch r we ? I just want to say HELLO to all and HAPPY BDAY to our Late Bloomers that still have 2 wks left to catch up. I hope all is as well as can be and a very MARY CHRISTMAS to everybody and and Thanks to our LORD JESUS CHRIST for all our years of Life and may we enjoy more if HE wills. B BLESSED EVERYONE of my 69er Buddies ! Hope to hear from you ?

Katherine Hawkins (Felter)

Good morning, Eleazar, I think most of us are just busy living life!  I try to post every couple of months, but I am not always successful!  We are doing some renovations, after 11 years things tend to get tired, have never lived in a house 11 years before so new experiences all around. :)  I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, or whatever you celebrate.  If I missed your birthday, I am sorry, hope everyone is doing well.  Praying for new beginnings for our country.

Margo Huff

Eli, funny, yes I think everyone is pretty busy, especially during the holidays.  Can't believe the school districts here are keeping the kids in school through the 23rd of December.  I think many students (and teachers) will be heading out of town before school officially lets out for the break.  

Katherine, repairs and remodeling on houses never seems to end.  You find yourself fixing one thing and discovering something else that needs attention.  This little house was built in 1947 and I understand completely!  :)

Katherine Hawkins (Felter)

This is about the extent of my decorating due to the construction zone we are living in...too much?  Yes, Margo, it is a vicious cycle...we just found a leak, sooo we will be living in a construction zone a few days extra (she says, optimistically)!

Our kids here started their Christmas break yesterday, lucky kids!

P.S.  Katherine is my given name, and I love it...I usually only get called Katherine when I am in trouble! I am usually called Kathy

Rick Olmstead

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you have a very special time during the holidays. For those of you who have lost love ones I pray God's comfort and peace would be yours during this time. 

Cheers, 

Rick Olmstead

Phil Drain

Hi All,

An echo of Merry Christmas to all, and peace for all who need it.

I received a call from a college friend last week--breast cancer. 
Wow.

May God's blessings be with you all.

Phil