Dear Neighbors:
It is an honor to serve the people of Kalamazoo County in our state capital in Lansing.
My first year in the Senate has been an exciting challenge with so many opportunities to make our community and Michigan better. I am working hard in Lansing to fight for the things that matter in Kalamazoo County. Every letter, email and call to our office has helped me to better represent you, and I hope to continue hearing from you as we enter the New Year!
Last year, we hosted a senior town hall as well as monthly coffee and open office hours so we could stay in touch with the community. I’m thankful to those of you who attended, and I hope more of you can come speak with me and my staff in the future. Our state succeeds when everyone is involved.
If there’s anything I can do to help you, please let me know! You can reach me through email at SenSMcCann@senate.michigan.gov, by phone at (517) 373-5100, or toll-free at (855) 347-8020. I would love to hear from you!
Sean McCann
State Senator
20th District
Toll-free: (855) DIST020 or (855) 347-8020
Website: SenSeanMcCann.com
Email: SenSMcCann@senate.michigan.gov
State Senator Sean McCann SenSeanMcCann.com | (855) 347-8020
Meet with McCann
From coffee hours and town halls to school visits, I enjoy sitting down and talking about what matters most to you. To find the most up-to-date list of in-district events, visit my website at SenSeanMcCann.com, or follow me on Facebook.
Michigan
918 Jasper St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001
(269) 382-0515 State Senator
Senior Services of Southwest
Senior citizens are a vital part of our community. After a lifetime of hard work, many continue to give back to our communities, and serve as the backbone of our neighborhoods, while others need our help. Meals-on-Wheels, served through the Senior Services of Southwest Michigan, helps meet the needs of vulnerable adults who can no longer cook for themselves or who may not have support systems in place.
SEAN McCANN
Providing nutritious meals to vulnerable adults is just one of their services.
P.O. Box 30036, Lansing, MI 48909
Make Sure Your Health is Covered with Medicare
Access to affordable and dependable health care is an issue for people of all ages but, fortunately for older adults, Medicare is an available option.
You may be automatically enrolled in Medicare when you turn 65 if you meet certain conditions. If you aren’t automatically enrolled, you can enroll online in just a few minutes. Simply fill out a Medicare application through the Social Security website at SSA.gov/Benefits/Medicare or visit your local Social Security office.
Medicare is the federal government program that provides health care coverage if you are 65+, under 65 and receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for a certain amount of time, or under 65 and with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
It offers multiple options for insurance coverage, including planning for hospital stays, medical costs or prescription drugs. In addition, Medicare Advantage through private insurance is available to those who need, or want, additional health care coverage options.
Although the open enrollment period for 2020 has passed, please visit Medicare.gov or call (800) 633-4227 for more information on how you can qualify for coverage after the enrollment period.
For further assistance, you can call Senior Services of Southwest Michigan’s toll-free number at (800) 803-7174. Michigan Medicare Assistance Program counselors are available at no cost to present to local groups and organizations on the following topics:
• Medicare/Medicaid benefits
• Medicare Health and/or Prescription Drug Coverage plans
• Identifying and reporting Medicare or Medicaid fraud, abuse, scams and identity theft
Helpful Resources
Adult Home Help/Chore Services: (800) 292-2550
Adult Protective Services, for reports of suspected abuse and neglect: (855) 444-3911
Area Agency on Aging 3A: (269) 373-5173
Attorney General – Consumer Protection Division, for cases of identity theft: (877) 765-8388
Attorney General – Office of Elder Abuse: (800) 242-2873
Bridge Card (EBT) – Customer Service: (888) 678-8914
Disability Ombudsman: (800) 288-5923
Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233
Elder Law of Michigan, Inc: (866) 400-9164
Elder Care Services for the elderly, for help with transportation, meals, etc. :(800) 677-1116
Elder Law of Michigan, Inc.: (866) 400-9164
Energy Assistance: (800) 292-5650
Food Assistance: (855) 275-6424
Fraud Reporting – Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, 24-hour hotline: (800) 222-8558
Home Heating Tax Credit Status: (517) 636-4486
Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department:
(269) 373-5200
Kalamazoo County Long Term Care Ombudsman: (269) 373-5173
Medicaid Customer Help: (800) 642-3195
Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) at the Area Agency on Aging 1B: (800) 803-7174
Medicare, includes Part D for pharmacy: (888) 633-4227
Medicare Savings Program: (800) 772-1213
MI Enrolls – Medicaid Managed Care: (888) 367-6557
Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, Medicaid Beneficiary Support: (800) 642-3195
Michigan Stroke Network: (866) 522-8676
Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency: (800) 642-4838
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NMI): (810) 232-6498
Nursing Home Complaints: (800) 882-6006
Relay Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 7-1-1
Senior Services of Southwest Michigan/Meals on Wheels: (269) 382-0515 Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention: (517) 372-6666
Social Security Administration: (800) 772-1213
State SSI Supplement: (800) 481-4774
Substance Abuse Hotline: (800) 662-4357
Suicide Prevention Crisis Hotline: (800) 273-8255
TAX statements for Adult Home Help: (800) 292-2550
THAW – The Heat and Warmth Fund: (800) 552-1183
Volunteers of America: (248) 945-0101
Vulnerable Adult Services: (800) 996-6228
Enjoy the Benefits of Our Senior Millage
This time last year, Kalamazoo County residents were asked to approve a millage to help our seniors be able to live with dignity and respect in their homes — and they did! I couldn’t be prouder of our community.
The millage will fund in-home meals, cleaning and hygiene services, healthy living programs, elder abuse prevention, improvements to make homes more accessible and other programs for people over the age of 60.
Home Repair & Other Services
Did you know that in Kalamazoo County there is a program specifically for helping seniors with home repairs, safety checks and more? It’s just one of the many programs offered by the Senior Services of Southwest Michigan — a nonprofit, person-centered organization encompassing more than 21 services to support the independence and well-being of older adults, adults with disabilities and caregivers throughout Southwest Michigan.
To find out more, call (269) 382-0515.
Phone Scams on the Rise – Don’t Get Cheated!
Attorney General Dana Nessel and her team are working diligently to put an end to phone scams, but this change won’t happen overnight. In the meantime, it’s important to stay diligent when answering the phone.
Here are some tips to be sure you don’t get scammed:
• BEFORE you answer the phone, ask:
Do I recognize the caller or the number?
- Am I on the do-not-call list? If so and this is not a personal, charity or political call, then the caller is breaking the law.
- Don’t know it? Don’t answer it. If you don’t pick up, you can’t get scammed. Do I want more unsolicited calls? Answering unsolicited calls verifies you are a working number and can result in more calls. • If you answer the call:
- • It is okay to hang up if you’re uncomfortable. • If you think the call is legitimate, call it back to verify. • NEVER give out personal information.
- • This includes name, address, birthdate, social security and/or account numbers.
- • Remember, the IRS does NOT make phone calls demanding payment. If you suspect scamming, report it to the Attorney General’s office at (877) 765-8388.
Every 10 years, the U.S. government is constitutionally required to count the people living in our country. It doesn’t matter if you’re a natural-born citizen, a Green Card holder or an immigrant — every person living in our country mat- ters.
The 2020 Census questionnaire will contain a short set of questions asking about the people living in your household. It’s critical that you fill out these forms and return them.
Be Counted: U.S. CENSUS 2020
You should make sure you respond to the 2020 Census questionnaire because the results of it:
- Determine how much money our state and our community receive from the federal government;
- Determine the number of Congressional seats Michigan receives;
- Provide local government officials with data to ensure public safety, and plan schools and build hospitals;
- Provide data so businesses can find communities where they can create jobs.
BY APRIL 1, 2020, every home in Michigan should receive a census questionnaire. Thanks to upgrades in technology, you will be able to return your answers via MAIL, PHONE or ONLINE.
Earn extra income while helping your community
The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting thousands of people across the country to assist with the 2020 Census count. These temporary positions include Census takers, Census field supervisors, recruiting assistants, clerks and office operations supervisors.
Interested? Learn more and apply online at Recruitment.2020Census.gov. How to avoid scams
Between March 12 and 20, most households will receive a postcard invitation to respond online to the 2020 census. Those who don’t answer will then receive the traditional paper form in the mail. If you don’t respond, the bureau will send a census taker to knock on that door to collect the household’s data.
Real census employees won’t ask for your full Social Security number, for money or donations, or for bank or credit card numbers.
Check to make sure that the person has a valid identification badge with his or her photograph, a Department of Commerce watermark and an expiration date. If you still suspect fraud, call the Census Bureau at (800) 923-8282 to speak to a representative.
Snowbirds reminded to
On Oct. 1, 2020, the federally mandated REAL ID law will go into full effect and, if you travel by air, this law will impact you. If you haven’t been paying attention to this issue, it’s time to get informed.
REAL ID is the post-9/11 federal requirement setting higher security standards for identification. Once in effect, standard state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards will not be enough when boarding flights within the U.S. or entering certain federal facilities, such as military bases or nuclear power plants.
Some people already have a REAL ID document, such as a valid U.S. passport, a DHS Trusted Traveler Card or an enhanced driver’s license. A full list of acceptable REAL ID documents is available online at TSA.gov.
To make a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID card, visit a Secretary of State Office and bring the following documents with you:
- Your driver’s license or state ID card;
- Your certified birth certificate, with a raised seal or stamp issued by a governmental agency;
- Your valid, unexpired U.S. passport OR an approved citizenship or legal presence document (faxes and photocopies won’t be accepted); and,
- If your name differs from what is on your birth certificate, bring certified documents for every time your name has changed, such as marriage licenses or court orders. There’s no additional fee to turn a license or state ID card into a standard REAL ID if it’s done during your normal renewal time. Otherwise, a duplicate card fee will be charged.
RENEW EARLY
Residents heading south for the winter are reminded to renew their driver’s licenses and license plates before leaving Michigan.
You can renew plates for individually owned or leased
cars, pickup trucks, vans and motorcycles up to six months before they expire. Renew early online at ExpressSOS.com or at a Secretary of State office, even if you have not yet received your renewal information in the mail. License plate tabs will arrive by mail within two weeks. Driver’s licenses (for drivers age 21 and older) and state ID cards may be renewed up to a year early.
Motorists have the option of obtaining a REAL ID-compliant license or state ID card at no extra cost when renewing. Certain paperwork and a visit to a branch is required, so drivers are encouraged to check Michigan.gov/REALID or call the Department of State Information Center at (888) SOS-MICH (767-6424) for more details.
Visiting a branch office? Consider scheduling an appointment. Appointments are reserved online at Michigan.gov/SOSAppointments and help ensure that visits are 30 minutes or less. 
DON’T DELAY.
REAL ID goes into effect Oct. 1, 2020
For more information, visit Michigan.gov/RealID.