Dear Neighbor,
The challenges we faced in 2020 were unlike any other as we dealt with (and continue to deal with) the impact of COVID-19 in our communities. Despite this immense challenge that has touched all of our lives, I hope this newsletter finds you and your families as safe and healthy as possible as we move through the start of a new year.
Michigan seniors have earned the right to enjoy their retirement and future with dignity and financial security. As your State Senator, my goal is to make sure you can spend these unprecedented times focusing on what matters most to you, and I’m working hard in Lansing to ensure that you get the stability and access to resources that you deserve.
If you have any questions, concerns or just want to share your thoughts or suggestions for how to make the 6th Senate District the best it can be, please call my office at (517) 373-7800, or toll-free at 855-DIST006 (855-347-8006).
Working for You,
Erika Geiss
State Senator
6th District
Website: SenatorGeiss.com
Email: SenEGeiss@senate.michigan.gov
Toll-free: (855) DIST006 or (855) 347-8006
Click link to review newsletter in PDF
SENIOR SERVICE NUMBERS TO ASSIST YOU
As a community, it’s important for us to support our older loved ones who, after a lifetime of hard work, continue to give back so much and serve as the backbone of our neighborhoods. If you are a senior, or if you know of someone who is, and are living on a fixed income and struggling to pay for nutritious food due to expensive prescription drug costs, rising utility rates, increased rent, and more, please know that Meals on Wheels can help.
Meals on Wheels helps senior citizens eat nutritious meals by providing five per week to homebound, older adults. They also offer liquid nutrition for those who are unable to eat solid food and who have a prescription from their physician.
To qualify for Meals on Wheels, an adult must be:
• 60 years of age or older;
• Homebound (e.g., unable to leave home without assistance and unable to drive);
• Unable to cook for oneself;
• Have no one willing or available to prepare meals on a regular basis; and,
• Able to feed oneself.
For more information and to determine whether you are or a loved one is eligible for Meals on Wheels, contact:
Wayne County Meals on Wheels | 30712 Michigan Ave., Westland, MI 48186 | (734) 727-7357
Home Heating Help
In the dead of winter, heating bills can become a burden that cause many to struggle just to keep their house warm but, fortunately, The Heat and Warmth (THAW) Fund can help.
THAW has multiple utility assistance programs available, including affordable payment plans for customers of DTE’s Low Income Self-Sufficiency Plan (LSP) and the Consumers Energy Consumers Affordable Resource for Energy (CARE) plan. They also offer resources for utility payment assistance and/or state emergency relief.
See which you may qualify for at THAWFund.org/Programs or call (800) 866-THAW (8429).
In addition, here are some helpful phone numbers if you have questions about your heating bill:
• DTE Energy: (800) 477-4747
• SEMCO Energy: (800) 624-2019
• Detroit Water & Sewerage Department: (313) 267-8000
• Consumers Energy: (800) 477-5050
• Michigan Gas Utilities: (800) 401-6402
WAYNE COUNTY SENIOR RESOURCES
Wayne County Senior Services
3600 Commerce Court, Building E Wayne, MI 48184
(734) 326-5202 or (800) 851-1454 seniornutrition@waynecounty.com
If you’re looking for information about aging well, check out the seniors’ section of the Wayne County Senior Services website at waynecounty.com/departments/seniorservices. Many resources are available for volunteering, donations, meals, legal issues, local services, and other valuable information. Be sure to check out their Senior Resource Directory — it has quite a bit of good information!
The Senior Alliance (TSA) – Friendly Reassurance Program
The Senior Alliance’s Friendly Reassurance Program is designed to help homebound individuals age 60 and older remain independent in their own homes for as long as possible by providing reassuring telephone calls, social support, and safety checks. This program aims to reduce isolation and help program participants feel safer and more connected to their community.
Program Services
• Ongoing telephone calls to a homebound individual
• The call is placed at a prearranged time each day
• Calls can be made up to five days a week, Monday through Friday
• Calls are made by TSA trained staff
• This service is provided at no cost
• If the recipient does not answer the phone, a procedure of safety checks is followed
Participant Information
• Must be temporarily or permanently homebound
• Be age 60 or older
• Must agree to program guidelines
Please call The Senior Alliance to learn more at 1-800-815-1112.
Protect Yourself from Medicare Scams
The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) are warning seniors to protect themselves and their personal information from potential scams and high-pressure sales tactics.
Fraudsters posing as Medicare “representatives” are calling unsuspecting consumers about their Medicare coverage and asking for Medicare ID numbers or other personal information, such as a Social Security Number or date of birth. Once the scammers have this information, they can use it to make unauthorized changes to your Medicare plan.
DIFS and MDHHS have some important tips to protect yourself:
• Never give your Medicare number or other personal information to an unknown caller. You are always able to get information on Medicare plans without providing an ID number. The only time the Medicare ID number is required is when you are actually enrolling in a plan.
• Do not give out your personal information if someone calls or visits your home and says they’re from Medicare. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will never call or send someone to your home to ask for personal information or check your Medicare number.
• Don’t trust caller ID. Scammers use technology to make it look like they are calling from a legitimate business or government agency.
• Ignore anyone who calls saying “you must join their prescription drug plan, or you will lose your Medicare coverage”. While it is true that there may be a penalty if you delay enrolling in the Medicare prescription drug plan (also known as Part D), that coverage is voluntary.
• Don’t trust mailers that appear to be government communications but are advertisements for private companies. These mailers will sometimes have a disclaimer, but it is buried in small print.
If you have questions or concerns about your Medicare coverage, DIFS and MDHHS urge you to contact Medicare directly at Medicare.gov or by calling 800-633-4227.
Insurance fraud, including Medicare fraud, results in higher health care costs for participants and taxpayers alike. That is why it’s so important to know how to protect your Medicare card and number. If you or a loved one has experienced this type of scam or high-pressure tactic, contact DIFS at Michigan.gov/DIFSComplaints or call 877-999-6442 to file a complaint.
THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
For many people who need prescription drugs, the costs can be extreme, leaving patients struggling to make difficult budgetary decisions about basic life expenses. No one should have to ration insulin or choose which refills to get. While many of the most impactful legislative changes on controlling the cost of prescription drugs must be addressed at the federal level, as a state we need to develop creative solutions. I am committed to finding ways to address this growing issue and ensure that you have safe, affordable access to the medications you need.
Here is some information that you may find useful as you head to the pharmacy:
• Know your rights: Michigan law requires pharmacies to share drug prices with consumers.
• Compare prices: The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services maintains MichiganDrugPrices.com, which allows you to compare and save money without ever stepping foot in a pharmacy.
• Prescription discount cards: The MiRx (My Prescription) Card is a prescription drug discount program for Michigan residents who do not have prescription drug coverage. The MiRx Card program is free; there is no cost for the card or to enroll in the program. MiRx cardholders can take their prescription and their MiRx card to their local participating pharmacy, where the pharmacist will fill the prescription and charge the MiRx discounted price. The discount covers any medicine the pharmacist stocks and that your doctor prescribes, except for over-the-counter drugs. Visit MIHealth.org/MiRx for more detailed information.
Pharmacies often also offer free discount cards to consumers who do not have insurance or who have very high co-pays. While these discount cards can offer significant savings, it is important to be aware that companies will sometimes use these cards as a scam to require you to pay more in the long run.
No one should have to ration insulin or choose which refills to get
-Sen. Geiss
Protect Yourself from Medicare Scams
The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) are warning seniors to protect themselves and their personal information from potential scams and high-pressure sales tactics.
Fraudsters posing as Medicare “representatives” are calling unsuspecting consumers about their Medicare coverage and asking for Medicare ID numbers or other personal information, such as a Social Security Number or date of birth. Once the scammers have this information, they can use it to make unauthorized changes to your Medicare plan.
DIFS and MDHHS have some important tips to protect yourself:
• Never give your Medicare number or other personal information to an unknown caller. You are always able to get information on Medicare plans without providing an ID number. The only time the Medicare ID number is required is when you are actually enrolling in a plan.
• Do not give out your personal information if someone calls or visits your home and says they’re from Medicare. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will never call or send someone to your home to ask for personal information or check your Medicare number.
• Don’t trust caller ID. Scammers use technology to make it look like they are calling from a legitimate business or government agency.
• Ignore anyone who calls saying “you must join their prescription drug plan, or you will lose your Medicare coverage”. While it is true that there may be a penalty if you delay enrolling in the Medicare prescription drug plan (also known as Part D), that coverage is voluntary.
• Don’t trust mailers that appear to be government communications but are advertisements for private companies. These mailers will sometimes have a disclaimer, but it is buried in small print.
If you have questions or concerns about your Medicare coverage, DIFS and MDHHS urge you to contact Medicare directly at Medicare.gov or by calling 800-633-4227.
Insurance fraud, including Medicare fraud, results in higher health care costs for participants and taxpayers alike. That is why it’s so important to know how to protect your Medicare card and number. If you or a loved one has experienced this type of scam or high-pressure tactic, contact DIFS at Michigan.gov/DIFSComplaints or call 877-999-6442 to file a complaint.
COVID-19 Information & Resources
Our health care professionals and public servants have been hard at work since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, making sure that everyone has access to important information and resources. Do your part to stay safe and stop the spread of this virus by wearing a mask when you go out, staying at least six feet apart from others, avoiding crowded indoor spaces and washing your hands often for at least 20 seconds. When water is unavailable, hand sanitizer containing at least 70% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) also helps combat the virus that causes COVID-19.
Visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus to find the latest information, a list of Frequently Asked Questions, and testing sites near you. You can also call the COVID-19 Hotline at (888) 535-6136 for information.
For more information specific to Wayne County, contact the Wayne County Health Department’s COVID-19 Public Information Line at (734) 287-7870 or go online to WayneCounty.com/COVID19 to learn more.
Download the MI COVID Alert app
As part of the state’s continued efforts to slow the increasing spread of COVID-19, the free, anonymous, and voluntary MI COVID Alert app can let you know whether you’ve been recently exposed to COVID-19. The app works in conjunction with traditional contact tracing, mask-wearing, hand washing and social distancing, but is not a replacement for these precautions.
When a person tests positive for COVID-19, they receive a randomly generated PIN from the local health department or State of Michigan that allows them to anonymously share their test results on the app. A notification from the app means you were possibly within six feet of the positive person for at least 15 minutes.
Every Michigander is encouraged to download MI COVID Alert, which is available in the Apple and Google app stores.
‘Be Kind to Your Mind’ and seek help
This year has been a difficult year for many Michiganders, which is why the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging people to Be Kind to Your Mind. Confidential counseling is available 24/7 by calling 888-535-6136 and pressing “8”, or residents can visit Michigan.gov/StayWell for more information and resources.
COVID Vaccines
On Dec. 11, 2020, following recommendations set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced a vaccine distribution plan and established a goal of vaccinating 70% of Michiganders by the end of 2021.
Distribution of the vaccine is in a phased approach — with an emphasis on both ensuring the continued functioning of the health care system and essential services in the community along with protecting people at increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness.
Seniors aged 65+ will be contacted through their health care provider that is affiliated with one of the hospital networks in Wayne County. It’s important that when your provider contacts you to schedule your appointment, that you keep the appointment to receive the vaccine.
It is important for Michiganders to continue to wear masks, practice social distancing from those not in their household, and wash their hands often, even after receiving the vaccine.
For more information, visit Michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine.