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Stayin’ Alive

The Bee Gees song “Stayin’ Alive” could be a great theme song for Medicare Open Enrollment season. Now get your jive or disco moves grooving as you read the chorus, followed by the second verse which I “altered” the last line to fit the topic. I would beg forgiveness or permission from the surviving Bee Gees member, Barry Gibb, but I couldn’t find his address, and since he is 67 years old he might like the new version too, so here goes:

“Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother,
You’re stayin alive, stayin alive.
Feel the city breakin and everybody shakin,

And were stayin alive, stayin alive.
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin alive, stayin alive.
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin alive.

Verse 2:

Well now, I get low and I get high,
And if I can’t get either, I really try.
Got the wings of heaven on my shoes.
I’m a dancin man and I just can’t lose.
You know it’s all right. its ok.
I’ll live to see another day.
We can try to understand
How Medicare affects a man.”

How Medicare affects a man or woman is often a big question and this is the time of year is when you need guidance to find the answers you need to make good decisions.

Whether you are enrolled in Original Medicare using Parts A & B with a supplement and a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or if you have a Medicare Advantage Plan now is the time to compare your needs to what you have. Medicare Open Enrollment is from October 15-December 7 and this is the time to compare plans and for most people, especially their Medicare prescription drug plans.

You should have received information in the mail from your current plan about their costs and coverage for next year. That is great, but unless you compare plans you don’t know if you are getting the best coverage for the least cost.

There are 29 Medicare Prescription Drug Plans available this year in Nebraska and some are new names to this list. There are six Medicare Advantage Plans in Burt County, four in Dodge County and nine in Washington County to choose from if you get your health coverage in this manner. The only way you can tell which plan is best for you is by comparing and there are several ways to do that:

1. Go on-line to www.medicare.gov and click on “Find Health & Drug Plans” then you will be well on your way to comparing your needs to the plans available.
2. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and after a series of automated selections you can compare your prescriptions to the plans available.
3. Set up an appointment with a REAL person trained to help you compare plans and explain options at a Medicare Open Enrollment Comparison Event. A complete list of Medicare Open Enrollment Event opportunities follows this article. Just call the UNL Extension office in the county where you would like to attend and make an appointment.

Mary Loftis

With a little bit of help during Open Enrollment everyone can understand how Medicare affects a man and we’ll all keep singing: “Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin alive, stayin alive.”

2014 Medicare Open Enrollment Comparison Workshops

offered in Burt, Dodge & Washington Counties

Coordinated by Mary Loftis, UNL Extension Assistant & SHIIP Volunteer

Linda Bisanz, Deb Hawkins, Rick Scofield and Judy Knoell SHIIP Volunteers

Anyone in ANY community or county is welcome to attend any of these free sessions; however reservations should be made at UNL Extension in Burt County 402-374-2929, Dodge County at 402-727-2775 or Washington County at 402-426-9455.

In Burt County call UNL Extension in Burt County at 402-374-2929 for an appointment:

October 17 – Thursday – Tekamah Chatt Center, 1124 South 13^th St. 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

October 21 – Monday – Tekamah Chatt Center, 1124 South 13^th St. 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

October 25 – Friday – Lyons Public Library, 305 Main St., 9:00-Noon

October 29 – Tuesday – Decatur Sears Senior Center, 8^th and Broadway, 9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

October 30 – Wednesday – Lyons Public Library, 305 Main St., 9:00-Noon

October 30 – Wednesday – Tekamah-Herman School Computer Club, Rm. #106, 112 N. 13^th St., 3:30-5:00 p.m.

October 31 – Thursday – Oakland Library, 104 East 3^rd St., 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

November 1 – Friday – Craig Fire Hall – South Main Street 12:30-4:30 p.m.

November 6 – Wednesday –Lyons – Lyons Public Library, 305 Main St., 9:00 a.m.-Noon.

November 6 – Wednesday – Decatur – Sears Senior Center, 8^th and Broadway, 1:00-5:00 p.m.

November 21 – Thursday – Tekamah – Chatt Senior Center, 1124 South 13^th St., 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

In Dodge County Call UNL Extension in Dodge County at 402-727-2775 for an appointment:

October 28 – Monday – North Bend Library, 110 East 13^th St. Heritage Rm. 1:00-5:00 p.m.

November 7 – Thursday – Fremont – Dodge County Extension Office, 1206 W. 23rd St. 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

November 8 – Friday – Fremont – Dodge County Extension Office, 1206 W. 23rd Street, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

In Washington County Call UNL Extension in Washington County at 402-426-9455 for an appointment:

October 23 – Wednesday – Blair – Washington County Extension Office, 597 Grant St. 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

October 24 – Thursday – Blair – Washington County Extension Office, 597 Grant St. 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

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

Healthy Communities Workshop held

Healthy Communities Initiative (HCI), a drug abuse prevention group that serves the counties of Burt, Cuming, Madison and Stanton in Nebraska, recently held a Leading Change workshop for its board members in addition to management staff of Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department in Oakland on October 1, 2013.  UNMC Office of Public Health Practice facilitated the workshop.

Changes are constantly happening in our lives and specifically in the workplace.  How one perceives and deals with change was the basis of the workshop.  All participants completed an online assessment prior to the workshop which was designed to measure ones preferred style in approaching change and dealing with situations involving change.  Three styles for change were identified and each style had distinct differences and preferences when approaching change.

The information presented helped give insight into why some people appear so threatened by change and intent upon preserving the status quo; why some people appear constantly dissatisfied with the status quo and ready to challenge the existing paradigm; why some people are reluctant to take small calculated risks while others seem so eager to take dangerous unexplored risks; or why some people respond so effectively to gradual incremental change while others seem oriented toward radical, systemic change.

The workshop highlighted understanding personal preferences when it comes to change; appreciating the potential dynamics on teams during times of change; and discussing the leader’s role in assuring successful change transitions.

Funding for the Leading Change training was provided by Drug Free Communities grant funds.

For more information about the workshop, HCI’s programs or to get involved with Healthy Communities Initiative, please call Kathy Becker, HCI Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator at 402-529-2233.