Medicare recipients and prescription drugs

Personal Column or News Release

Mary Loftis

UNL Extension Assistant

September 5, 2013

mloftis2@unl.edu

 

Medicare Recipients Plan for Prescription Drug Plan Race

 

On your mark…get set…GO!  The race to compare and select a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan for 2014 is nearly here. Open enrollment for the Medicare Prescription Drug Program is October 15-December 7 again this year. In order to complete the race successfully you need to make advance preparations just like you would train for a foot race in track.

 

Here are some training tips to help make you successful in your quest to win the race and find the best and least expensive drug plan for 2014:

 

1. On your mark…

That means come to the starting line prepared to win. Medicare recipients usually receive a lot of mail this time of year. Knowing what to read and what to recycle can sometimes be a challenge. If the information comes from Social Security or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) you will want to read and keep this information. Remember, Social Security and Medicare will not call you unless you have made contact with them and have requested help from them. Do not let anyone talk you out of your Medicare number and information. Scammers get rich off the Medicare program, don’t be a victim. In some cases you have to reapply each year to continue to receive Medicaid benefits or prescription drug assistance. You won’t want to miss those deadlines.

If you receive information from your current prescription drug plan it would be wise to read it also. This will most likely be an update on their program, costs and changes for the next year. However, just because a prescription drug plan has been “your plan” in the past, it does not mean you have to stay with them. The Medicare Prescription Drug Program allows its members to change drug plans every year with no penalty. That way you will get the prescriptions you need for the least amount of money.

 

1. 2.     Get set…

Make your preparations to compare prescription drug plans. You can

get help with this in several ways:

A. You can go on-line to: www.medicare.gov and compare drug and health plans by working your way through the website. If you or a family member or friend needs step by step directions on how to do that you are welcome to call or stop by the UNL Extension Office in Burt County at 402-374-2929 and ask for the Medicare Prescription Drug Computer Help Sheet.

B. You can also call the Medicare Hotline at: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). After going through the voicemail system you can tell the telephone consultant what prescriptions you are taking along with all your personal information. They will be able to tell or send you a comparison showing which plan offers you the best coverage for your needs from all 30+ Medicare Prescription Drug Plans offered in Nebraska for 2014.

C. Your third and possibly best option to get set for the race is to make an appointment at one of the Medicare Open Enrollment Comparison Events offered in Burt, Dodge and Washington Counties. The Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) trains volunteers to assist Medicare recipients compare prescription drug plans. They do not receive any commission from the drug companies and are only looking out for your best interests as they compare your prescription needs to all the plans available this year.

 

1. 3.     GO!

Between October 15 and December 7 make sure you GO to the computer,

GO to the phone or GO to a Medicare Open Enrollment Comparison Workshop

to make sure your prescription drug plan fits you the best for the least amount of

money. Check out the dates and locations (listed below) and call for an

appointment for the time, date and location most convenient to you. Other SHIIP

enrollment events may be found by calling the Nebraska SHIIP number at:

1-800-234-7119.

 

Don’t have a false start called against you by trying to enroll in a different

plan before October 15. Make sure you finish the race before December 7 so

you know you have the Prescription Drug plan that will serve you the best for the

least money next year. That is the best way to win the race for yourself and/or

your loved one.

 

Now you have the information you need to enter and win the race to select a Medicare Prescription Drug plan for 2014. On your mark…Get set…GO!

 

2014 Medicare Open Enrollment Comparison Workshops:

Coordinated by Mary Loftis, UNL Extension Assistant & SHIIP Volunteer

 

Anyone in any community or county is welcome to attend any of these sessions, however reservations should be made by calling the UNL Extension office in the host county.

 

Burt County  Call: 402-374-2929

 

 

Thursday, October 17 – 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Orville and Willa Chatt Senior Center – 1124 S. 13th Street, Tekamah

 

Monday, October 21 – 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Orville and Willa Chatt Senior Center – 1124 S. 13th Street, Tekamah

 

Friday October 25 – 9:00 – Noon.

Lyons Public Library, 305 Main St., Lyons

 

Tuesday, October 29 – 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Sears Senior Center – 8^th and Broadway, Decatur

 

Wednesday October 30 9:00 – Noon

Lyons Public Library, 305 Main St., Lyons

 

Wednesday October 30 – 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Tekamah-Herman Computer Classroom #106,  112 N. 13th Street, Tekamah

 

Thursday, October 31 – 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Oakland Public Library, 500 North Oakland Ave., Oakland

 

Friday, November 1 – 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Craig Fire Hall – 333 Main Street, Craig

 

Wednesday, November 6 – 9:00 – Noon

Lyons Public Library, 305 Main St., Lyons

 

Wednesday, November 6 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Sears Senior Center – 8^th and Broadway, Decatur

 

Thursday, November 21 – 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Orville and Willa Chatt Senior Center – 1124 S. 13^th Street, Tekamah

 

 

Washington County  Call: 402-426-9455

 

 

Wednesday, October 23 – 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Washington County Extension Office, 597 Grant Street, Blair

                                                                                                                

Thursday, October 24 – 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Washington County Extension Office, 597 Grant Street, Blair

 

Dodge County  Call: 402-727-2775

 

Monday, October 28 – 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

North Bend Library, 110 E 13^th St. North Bend, Heritage Room

 

Thursday, November 7 – 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Dodge County Extension Office, 1206 W. 23rd Street, Fremont

 

Friday, November 8 – 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Dodge County Extension Office, 1206 W. 23rd Street, Fremont

 Mary Loftis,

Extension Assistant
UNL Extension – Burt County
111 North 13th Street, Suite 6
Tekamah, NE 68061
Phone: (402) 374-2929

Fax: (402) 374-2930

Internet: mloftis2@unl.edu

 

Managing a rural landscape

News Column

John Wilson

Extension Educator

September 6, 2013

 

Managing A Rural Landscape

I need to give Karma Larsen with the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum credit for most of today’s content. I saw an excellent article she had written and I just added a few observations I’ve had in making recommendations to other rural landowners as well as working on my own rural landscape. This was written specifically for acreage owners, but it also applies to all rural residents, whether you live on five acres or five thousand acres.

Managing an urban landscape can be enough of a challenge for many homeowners. But when the landscape is several times larger, even the smallest decisions have broader consequences. Will plantings be visually “lost” in such a large space? Is there time to maintain it?

Planning and planting trees is often one of the first considerations since other plantings will be affected by them. Windbreaks or shelterbelts are usually planted first… both to define the land-scape and to shelter buildings and gardens from wind, heat and cold. Extensive caging and fencing may be necessary to protect trees – particularly young trees – from deer, rabbits and other wildlife.

Since turf is one of the most time-consuming aspects of most landscapes, many acreage owners keep mowed areas to a minimum, avoid high-maintenance bluegrass turf and plant fescue, buffalograss, prairie grasses or groundcovers.

The lawn on my acreage is actually smaller than the lawn at either place when I lived in town. I planted a turf-type fescue… and even thought it requires mowing more frequently than my bluegrass lawns in town, it also requires less maintenance. I’m glad I made the choice that I did.

One way rural residents scale back is by limiting managed areas to smaller spaces directly around buildings or to areas highly visible from the buildings or pathways. For plantings to have any impact, a dozen or more of any particular plant may need to be planted rather than just a few. Plants that are hardy and drought-tolerant are crucial in places where watering can range from difficult to impossible.

Here are some ideas for keeping your landscape manageable:

 

•       Think about views and function, and concentrate your efforts where they make the most difference. Since entrance areas are not always obvious in a country setting, you may want to highlight building entries and important paths.

•       Use windbreaks for shelter from wind, cold, unwanted views and as wildlife habitat. Keep the southwest exposure open to provide cooling summer breezes and plant deciduous trees to the south for summer shade and winter sunlight.

•       If possible, understand your drainage patterns BEFORE you begin and, if they’re problematic, change the grade as needed.

•       Protect young trees and shrubs from wildlife damage with cages or fencing.

•       Group plants according to maintenance needs. Don’t mix plants that need a lot of moisture with those that need little moisture. Put low moisture plants together. Also consider sunlight, drainage and fertility needs.

•       Limit turf to high traffic areas.

•       Ornamental and prairie grasses are low-maintenance and provide year-round interest but they can be a fire hazard if planted too close to buildings.

•       To attract wildlife, plant groups of fruiting shrubs such as wild plum, chokecherry or elderberry.

•       Remember the mature size of trees and shrubs so they don’t grow up too close to the house, out-buildings or each other and they won’t limit your ability to move equipment around or under them.

For more information on rural landscape planning and plantings, visit the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum website at http://arboretum.unl.edu, the University of Nebraska Acreage website at http://acreage.unl.edu or visit your local UNL Extension office.

A minute with the Mayor

This is an exciting time in Lyons.  Lots of good things have been happening.  2013 has proven thus far to be a year of “moving forward”.  Our “little engine that could” mentality is really paying off.  The city has had many accomplishments to celebrate and they are accomplishments we did as a community.  Lyons is committed to making life a better place to work, live and play.   It is because of this commitment that Lyons will continue to be a community on the

move.

We have improved the downtown aesthetics by removing two buildings on Main Street.  One of the buildings, a corner anchor, came down completely and the other retains its front façade to blend into the downtown landscape.  Both were safety issues and painted a picture of the community that wasn’t very flattering.  That isn’t the case any longer.  Now we have a great space on Main Street that is ready for someone’s dream to be built on.  The costs of these two projects were in excess of $250,000.  We were able to secure a deconstruction/recycling grant from the state to help cover the cost of much of the project.

The community is blessed with several wonderful partners who continue to invest and reinvest in their business and property to enhance the quality of life of Lyons.  Brehmer Manufacturing spent the last couple of years expanding its business with the help of a Community Development Block grant that was channeled through the city.  The Lyons-Decatur school system just laid a new track this past summer for a superior experience for its athletes.  And Three Rivers Housing in Tekamah and the city have partnered on a couple of projects that are in the works that will bring new housing opportunities to the community.  Communities, like Lyons, can’t move forward or make progress if they don’t have community partners that commit to making them a better place to live.  We are so fortunate to have partners like these and the countless others in town who not only believe in Lyons but also backs that belief up with action and deed.

Lyons has also been blessed with the generosity of others.  The city auditorium has been the benefactor of two such wonderful gifts.  The city received a $125,000 grant from the Nielsen Foundation to help jump start the city’s renovation of the city auditorium.  With this wonderful gift, the city of Lyons will be able to start upgrading the electrical and heating and cooling systems, add a fire sprinkler system and perform many cosmetic upgrades.  Lorraine and Floyd Glissman loved Lyons and with Lorraine’s recent passing, proved it financially by leaving the city approximately $130,000 to be used for the city auditorium project as well.  This donation will allow more of the phase two remodel to be completed more quickly.  The Glissmans are perfect examples of people who understood how important it was to give back to their community.  Their legacy will not only live on through their family and friends but through their community as well.  Projects likes these are hard to accomplish for small communities because we have such limited funding.  Having the Nielsen Foundation and folks like the Glissmans provide financial assistance is a big shot in the arm.  Plans have been completed and renovation is expected to begin by the end of the year.

Lastly, work on the new community pool has begun.  The city of Lyons passed a $2.1 million bond last November to replace its eighty year old pool.  This is an amazing testament to the people of Lyons.  2.1 million dollars is a lot of money for this small town but when we recognize an opportunity to improve our community, we go for it.  Thus, Lyons is in the process of building more than just a replacement pool; it is building an entertainment water park for all to enjoy.  If all goes well with the weather, the new Lyons Community Pool will be open for business by June of 2014.

The pool is just another example of Lyons being a community on the move.  There are countless other examples I could rattle off that shows Lyons believes in itself and is willing to reinvest in itself to secure a bright future.  (How many small communities can boast about having one of its own running for governor?!)  As busy as 2013 has been, I’m sure 2014 will be just as busy.  A community that stands still will not survive.  Lyons isn’t that type of community.  Come on over and enjoy the ride with us.  You won’t be disappointed!