Our speaker this morning is Sandy Anderson, president of Medicare Northeast.
9/30/20
Charlotte Shelburne Hinesburg Rotary via Zoom
Bob Sanders, Carrie Fenn, Linda Barker, Linda Gilbert, Fritz Horton, Chris Davis, France, Nancy Danforth, Susan Grimes, Richard Fox, Joan Lenes, Howard Seaver, Rosalyn Graham, Keith Walsh, Bill Deming, John Pane, Erik Kolomaznik, Denis Barton, Adam Bartsch, John Hammer, Carole Obuchowski, Jessica Brumsted, Dan York, Jim Donovan, Jonathan Lowell
Guests: Peg Adams, Lori Burke
Chris Davis rang the bell at 7:30
Susan Grimes gave us the morning devotional from Wendell Berry
The Peace of Wild Things
“When the despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
Who do not tax their lives with forethought
Of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
Waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.”
Carrie update us on the food program at the schools. Hours are 8:30 to 10, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. If you are interested in volunteering please email Carrie at carriebfenn@gmail.com
Halloween parade is happening- Richard is ordering candy, but hasn’t seen any PR. Chris grabbed the signs from the church- if you want to help put them out please talk to Chris.
Coat drive- drop offs at Town Hall and Richard’s office- need PR. We have some sizes that are needed, and the PR committee will push that out. Gift cards are acceptable. Drop off points are Richard’s office, Keith’s office and the Town Hall. Chris will call the Hinesburg and Charlotte town halls to see if they can be drop off points.
Fritz is part of an effort to submit an application to the Department of Historic Preservation to match funds to restore the town clock. The goal is to bring back the sound of the bell tolling the hour. Electra Webb gave the town the Town Hall with everything in the meeting room, including the dishes and the clock, to replace the one that burned down in 1927, and named it in tribute to her father-in-law. The clock is a great piece of equipment- a Seth Myers number 16- and will be a wonderful thing to have it toll on the hour. Donations need to be received by Monday at 5pm. Checks should be written to the Town of Shelburne and sent to PO Box 88; add “Town Clock Restoration” in the memo line. If you’d like to donate in someone’s name, add a post it note to the check with the individual’s name. Keith noted that if you donate, every single time you hear the bell, you’ll feel wonderful. Fritz would also like to see a competition for a sculpture to be installed between Marcotte’s and the clock “Show Us Time.”
Our speaker this morning is Sandy Anderson, president of Medicare Northeast.
What is Medicare? Medicare is a federal health insurance program for Americans. Large umbrella with 4 points underneath it.
A/B: original Medicare- required at 65, unemployed, self employed or employed by a company that employs fewer than 20.
C: supplemental
D: prescription coverage-required
When do you enroll in Medicare? Most people enroll at 65, but people with disabilities and end stage renal disease are also eligible.
In Vermont, we recognize same sex couples and your spouse can be on your plan, but the Federal government does not recognize same sex couples.
How do you enroll in Medicare? If you already receiving Social Security benefits, you will be automatically enrolled at 65. You can enroll online at 65. If you enroll when you are older than 65, you cannot enroll online, you need to apply with a paper application with a verification form for coverage and prescription insurance from your or your spouse’s employer.
There are fees and penalties- if you are late when you enroll in part B, you will be penalized with a monthly fee for the rest of your life. For every 12 months you delay, you will be charged an additional 10% of the premium, so do not be late for enrolling in Medicare! You have three months to sign up after 65, or 8 months after losing your coverage from your employer.
There’s a late fee penalty if you are late in applying for Part D. The late fee is calculated by 1% of the premium x every month you didn’t sign up. You have 63 days to sign up after turning 65 or losing your coverage from your employer.
IRMAA fee- Income related monthly adjustment fee. High earners will be hit with this. The government will look at your previous 2 years of tax returns to determine if you are assessed this fee. If earnings are over $87,000 as a single person/ $164,000 joint return, you will be assessed an additional fee for Part B and D. If you are a high earner, start talking to a tax professional 3-4 years before you plan to enroll in Medicare.
You will be billed quarterly for Part B. If you receive Social Security, the amount of your Medicare payment will be deducted from that payment.
COVID has brought out the best in people, but it has also brought out nasty scammers. Scammers are calling- Medicare and Social Security will never call you!! If someone says they are from Medicare and Social Security just hang up.
Medicare does not pay for everything. They will leave you to pay a lot of things, so it’s a good idea to get a supplement.
Howard noted that our system is absurdly complicated and his friends all over the world don’t have to worry about any of this.
CSH Rotary will be donating a book to the Carpenter Carse Library.
Carrie will be running the meeting next week. Club Assembly meeting- great opportunity for committee chairs to update the club on their happenings.
Denis’ question is land transportation of any kind- share your stories!
France has our closing words:
You may look down on your fellow man
That may be true
But that doesn’t mean they are looking up to you.
Have a great week!
Respectfully submitted,
Carrie Fenn