State Assemblywoman
Sandy Galef’s

Co-Sponsored by
Hudson Valley Hospital Center

Michael Burgess
Director, New York State Office For The Aging

Betty Duggan
Medicare Rights Center

Long-Term Care
EPIC Prescription Drug Plan
Medicare
Reverse Mortgages

Senior Forum Speakers:

Michael Burgess
Director, New York State Office for the Aging.
Director Burgess will discuss long-term care and also the state’s prescription drug plan, EPIC. He will focus on opportunities for people to live in both home and community-based care and the policy changes needed on the state level to deal with this move away from the nursing home structure. Other topics include caregivers and grandparents providing long-term care for their grandchildren. The state senior citizen’s hotline is 1-800-342-9871.

Betty Duggan
Director of Community Affairs, Medicare Rights Center.
Director Duggan will discuss changes in the Medicare program such as Part B premiums tied to incomes, enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans, and what you should know about Part D drug plans. The Center is the country’s largest independent source of health care information and assistance for Medicare issues with a hotline service for those who need answers or help getting coverage and care. The Center’s hotline is 1-800-333-4114.

Roberto Nascimento
MBA, CSA, RFG, Consumer Equity Mortgages, Elmsford, NY.
Mr. Nascimento will discuss providing senior homeowners and their families with reverse mortgage counseling to assist those 62 and older to maintain their independence and remain in their homes for the rest of their lives. Consumer Equity has been operating as a Reverse Mortgage company since 1994. Reverse Mortgages are created, designed, regulated and insured by the U.S. Government. Call Consumer Equity at 914-592-3660.

Senior Forum Co-Sponsors:

Putnam County Office for the Aging
Croton Seniors
Putnam Valley Seniors
Ossining Outreach
Peekskill Seniors
Buchanan Senior Citizens
Cortlandt Seniors
NorCort Seniors
Ossining Golden Age Club #1
Roosevelt Senior Citizens Club

Prescription Drugs

A3848. Creates prescription drug assistance program. Aims to improve the health of residents by making prescription drugs more accessible and affordable by organizing the collective market power of New York’s prescription drug consumers to negotiate rebates with suppliers.

A3794/S2971. Requires pharmaceutical drug companies to annually disclose all gifts to certain health care practitioners. Establishes measures to disclose and highlight the expenditures made by pharmaceutical companies to doctors and other health care providers for promoting predominately new, high-cost, brand name medications.

Mature Workforce Initiatives

A5565/S3058. Establishes mature worker task force in state office for the aging. The task force would plan, identify priorities, policy alternatives and emerging issues to assist businesses and older New Yorkers in preparing for the demographic shift and its impact on the workforce.

A5566/S3060. Establishes mature worker training programs and awards grants to providers. Directs the State Office for the Aging to establish mature worker training programs for those 55 or older who seek training in order to remain in or re-enter the work force; provides for the awarding of grants to the providers of such programs.

A5567/S3061. Establishes mature worker business initiative to encourage businesses to recruit, retain and retrain mature workers. Designs and implements a marketing outreach plan to encourage the participation of businesses in the program. Identifies businesses that offer such arrangements to employees.

A5568/S3062. Establishes life long learning centers within the state university to provide courses to those 40 and older seeking to explore life options. Encourages the offering of mid-life adult programs that assist eligible students in acquiring the skills and abilities needed to plan for and carry out new careers.

A5564/S3059. Establishes an intergenerational educational and mentoring service program to assist students in elementary schools. Designed to tap into the expertise, experience and knowledge of older adults and encourage their volunteering in schools.

Consumer Protection Laws Passed in 2006

Security Freeze (Chapter 63 of the Laws of 2006). Allows identity theft victims, and those concerned that they may become victims, to cut off an identity thief’s access to credit, loans, leases, goods and services by placing a “freeze” on their credit report.

Strengthening New York’s Do-Not-Call Law (Chapter 263 of the Laws of 2006). Requires telemarketers to update their Do-Not-Call lists every thirty-one days, instead of previous ninety days to better protect consumers against unwanted calls and conform with federal laws.

Privacy Protections for Social Security Numbers (Chapter 676 of the Laws of 2006). Prohibits businesses and others from making Social Security numbers available to the general public, restricts businesses from printing an individual’s number on mailings or other communications, bans businesses from using an individual’s number to access services, products, or benefits.

Extending Wheelchair Warranties (Chapter 219 of the Laws of 2006). Applies the same consumer protections to non-motorized wheelchairs that currently exists for purchasers of motorized wheelchairs.

Magazine Renewal Disclosure (Chapter 204 of the Laws of 2006). Reduces the occurrence of unnecessary renewal notices that lead consumers to believe that their subscription will run out soon. Many consumers do not read the fine print and renew, resulting in months and even years of unwanted pre-paid issues.

Unsolicited Faxes (Chapter 277 of the Laws of 2006). Eliminates a loophole by prohibiting the transmission of unsolicited advertisements between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., unless the recipient has an existing business relationship with the sender.

Long-Term Care Insurance. . . Is it for me?

The State of New York has created The Partnership For Long-Term Care Insurance to help residents pay for the high cost of long-term care. The insurance helps pay for care at home, assisted living, or a nursing home. It allows you to stay in control of your own assets, increase your chance of getting the long-term care of your choice when you need it, and to establish lifetime care. It is ideal for someone who will not be able to afford the high cost of long-term care but who can afford the more reasonable cost of long-term care insurance.

To purchase a Partnership policy, contact your financial advisor, insurance agent, insurance broker, and/or attorney. Partnership insurance is available from participating insurance companies authorized by the State Department of Insurance to market and sell these policies. Call New York State Partnership for Long-Term Care for information about insurance that combines private insurance and Medicaid: 1-888-697-7582.

New York State Tax Relief Program (STAR). Provides an exemption from school property taxes for owner-occupied, primary residences. Enhanced STAR available for property owners who are 65 and older with an income under $67,850 for 2007 school taxes. Contact your local assessor for more information or an application.

Programs for the Aging. For information about specific aging programs and issues affecting the elderly, call the New York Senior Citizens’ hotline: 1-800-342-9871. Staffed by the State Office for the Aging.

Health Insurance. Call the Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) for counseling, assistance and information about Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap, long-term care insurance and other health insurance related concerns: 1-800-333-4114 (Monday through Thursday, 10 AM to 3PM).

Prescription Drugs (EPIC). State program to help income-eligible residents 65 or older save on the cost of prescription drugs. To be eligible, must live in the state and have income of $35,000 or less if single, $50,000 or less if married. Seniors covered by Medicaid or other plans are ineligible. Most medications covered, including insulin and insulin syringes. Maximum charge for any prescription is $20. Call 1-800-332-EPIC.

Health Care Proxies. Allows residents of all ages to designate an agent to make health care decisions on their behalf in case they can no longer do so. Forms available at Sandy Galef’s office at 914-941-1111.

Hospital Patients’ Rights. Elderly consumers may obtain information on their health care related rights and how to appeal a hospital decision by calling 1-800-333-4374.

Medicare and Medicaid. Call the IPRO hotline to identify quality health care for Medicare and Medicaid Programs. Information is also available concerning patient’s rights when hospitalized and medical record review for quality of care and other information: 1-800-331-7767.

Eldercare Locator. The Eldercare Locator is a nationwide, toll-free service that links callers with information and services for and about senior citizens in other states: 1-800-677-1116.