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The SENIOR Leader - Winter 2007

In This Issue: Just One Story, Medicare Part D, A Day in the Life of a HICAP Counselor, Conference News, A Time of Remembrance
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Medicare Part D: Time to Evaluate Your Plan

Medicare Part D: Time to Evaluate Your Plan


Medicare’s annual open enrollment period for prescription drug coverage known as Medicare Part D, is here!

The annual enrollment period begins November 15 and ends December 31.

This is your opportunity to enroll in a prescription drug plan if you have not already done so, or to switch plans if you are unsatisfied with your current one. The annual enrollment period begins November 15 and ends December 31. Your new prescription drug plan will take effect January 1, 2008.

Medicare Part D is a voluntary benefit. The need to sign up for Part D depends on what your current health coverage includes, or if you want prescription drug coverage at all. Be sure to check with your current or former employer to see if you already have drug coverage that is as good as or better than the Medicare Part D standard benefit (see chart below).  If you do, you may not need a Medicare Part D plan now.

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4th Annual Elder Abuse Conference in May 2008

Conference 2008 LogoMay 5 and 6, 2008
Oakland Airport Hilton Hotel
Learn more about the conference, submit a Workshop Proposal, and consider becoming a sponsor!
Also In This Issue

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Coming in March

Coming in March

  • Ageism
  • Guardianship
  • 4th Annual Elder Abuse Conference
A Time of Remembrance for LAS

The first full week of November turned out to be a very sad week indeed for our LAS family. 

Jane was the last surviving member of LAS’ Founding Mothers.

On Tuesday, November 6, Jane Welch passed away. Jane was the last surviving member of LAS’ Founding Mothers. LAS was founded by three women in 1976 as a result of a Displaced Homemakers Paralegal Program at Mills College. Jane Welch, Doka Clausen, and Willie James graduated from the paralegal course together and opened Legal Assistance for Seniors in a storefront office in Oakland. The agency grew, and Jane continued her work at LAS over the next two decades. She was a wonderful supporter to many people over the years, and her “can do” attitude, love of life and beautiful spirit will be greatly missed. Jane’s memorial service was on November 9 at the Mercy Retirement Center, and the room was packed with family, friends and current and former Legal Assistance for Seniors staff members.

Helen was dependable, caring, talented, and fun to work with.

On Wednesday, November 7, Helen Smith passed away on her 83rd birthday. Helen was a volunteer for LAS for seventeen years, constantly giving of her time to help the agency in whatever way she could. Helen was dependable, caring, talented, and fun to work with.  She assisted Legal Assistance for Seniors and the HICAP program with many paralegal and clerical tasks, and regularly served as an interpreter for our Spanish-speaking clients.  Helen officially retired from LAS in 2001 and continued to pursue her love of gardening and oil painting until her death. We are grateful to have known and worked with her.

On Monday, November 5, Phil Robbins passed away. Phil worked briefly at LAS this year through the City of Oakland’s Assets program. He had two passions in life: photography and music. He was very in tune with the local music scene, both as a performer and as the owner of a music store. He will be remembered as a kind person with a great sense of humor and a musical recommendation for any situation.
Health Law at LAS

The Health Law program at LAS acts as a voice for people who have been denied health care coverage or who have simply fallen through the cracks in the Medicare and Medi-Cal systems.

During Fiscal Year 2006-07, we served 417 Health Law clients.

Our Health Law advocates are often contacted by volunteer HICAP counselors when they have exhausted other avenues of assistance available to clients. The caseload has increased substantially since the advent of the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program. During Fiscal Year 2006-07, we served 417 Health Law clients.

One Client's Story

She came to LAS because the health care clinic where she recently received services was unable to bill Medicare or Medi-Cal for the services rendered.

Our advocate also discovered that the client enrolled in the Medicare HMO because of fraudulent information from a salesperson who did not accurately represent the limitations of the plan.

Our advocate discovered that the client had recently enrolled in a Medicare HMO that prevents enrollees from visiting clinics that are outside of the approved network. The client preferred to stay with her physician. Our advocate also discovered that the client enrolled in the Medicare HMO because of fraudulent information from a salesperson who did not accurately represent the limitations of the plan.

LAS’ advocate contacted the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services and successfully disenrolled the client from the Medicare HMO. She can continue to visit her preferred physician, and Medicare and Medi-Cal will cover the costs.

We learned that the misguided salesperson victimized several other individuals, and we advocated for those individuals as well. Our advocate contacted a member of the House of Representatives and made him aware of this problem. We hope this will lead to measures that will prevent other people from encountering the same problem in the future.