Phone: 907-563-2525
Statewide: 1-800 478-9998
Fax: 907-276-0066
E-mail: aiblink@ak.net
Web: http://www.acb.org/alaska/
Contents:
Well, we don't know about you, but Anchorage has had a wonderful summer! It's been sunny and warm.
Anchorage had a wonderful cook-out for its members in July. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and drinks were enjoyed by all!
Welcome back, Don Lutz from Ohio. No, he just couldn't stay away. He is back in Anchorage after a little more than two years' absence. He is working with us now at our "office" at 1561 Nelchina St., Unit C-1, Anchorage, AK 99501-5577.
If you have any addresses to update, please call 563-2525 or 1-800 478-9998 outside of Anchorage. If you would prefer not to receive information from this organization, please let us know that as well.
We have received a few address updates from the National Office, and we want to remain current. If you would prefer e-mail communications, let us know that also.
If you no longer want to receive "The Braille Forum," from American Council of the Blind, our parent organization, please let us know.
Finally, after quite some time, we have four phones that have two lines so that Alaska Independent Blind can answer phones in person. Feel free to reach us at any time at 563-2525 or 1-800 478-9998.
We need your help! We need to have phone numbers and format preference for mail verified since that computer information is lost to us. We will send out new applications that will ask you for this information. Please sign and return it so that we can update our database. Thank you for your patience.
This year has seen more former board members and friends pass on than usual that we know. Last fall, Ed Monaghan, whose daughters, Peggy and Eileen, had performed in an AIRRES folk show, who had spearheaded our work in 1997 with macular degeneration, and was secretary of the board for two years, died. Don Graham, in previous years gone by had been on both the AIRRES and AIB boards, also died. Carolyn Peter, who had also been on the AIRRES board, always a voice of reason and tolerance, also died right before the infamous September 11.
In May, we received shocking news that two young women had died. Mady Burnett, who was very active with the Lions, succumbed to pneumonia, and was in her early forties; and Jennie Brewer, only 34, died at the end of the month.
Mady Burnett had been very interested in accessible website access, you might remember her from the 1999 convention, and transportation parity, and she was also on the voting advisory committee in January to evaluate machines. She also led a fabulous diabetes seminar at the last convention. She will be missed.
We are counting down to our next state convention. "Coming Together; Strengthening Our Bonds," is the tentative theme for this convention. As mentioned previously, Christopher P. Gray, ACB National President is blessing us with his presence. Though not confirmed yet, the new librarian for the Talking Book Center will join us, and there is a new Randolph-Sheppard Program Manager to join us. His name, as Joy Swartz reminds me, is Scott Simpson, DVR'S Business Enterprise Program coordinator.
Though not confirmed, Alan Beatty, a perennial favorite with AIB members, is due to try to make it to our Palmer convention as well. He always graces us with folk music, and loves to join us in Alaska.
Did you hear Palmer? That's right, our most vibrant and successful convention was held in Palmer, and it might be added here that the Gold Miner's Hotel has the best food as well! Even better for our convention is that Barbara, who had been so helpful with folks, is now managing the Gold Miner's Hotel. Yes, we were there, you guessed it! In 1999!
Plan to make it to the AIB convention now. The dates are October 3-5, 2002. If interested, call 563-2525 or out of Anchorage, call 1-800 478-9998. E-mail AIB at aiblink@ak.net. Mail completed reservations forms to 1561 Nelchina St., Unit C-1 Anchorage, AK 99501-5577.
If you cannot fill out your application, call us and we will help you with filling it out.
Again, double occupancy is necessary to cut down on costs. The room rate is still $20.00, and so are the dinners. The two dinners are again the Legislative Dinner and the Banquet.
Our nominations chair is Don Lutz, so if you have any recommendations for two board seats, please let us know. We will also be confirming a Secretary who was approved by the Board when Trudy Boissonneau resigned this past March. Nugget Hiatt has graciously stepped in to help out with that task in the interim.
This newsletter will feature many of the articles and issues connected with House Bill 320, also known as "The Frank Haas Act," to authorize accessible voting machinery which was insisted on by the President of this organization to honor our long-time activist who left us on earth November 30, 1999. Rep. Green concurred with that wish.
Another project this organization has long been languishing with is House Bill 451. It will finish the process of implementing standards for the teaching of orientation and mobility instruction. Finally, a stakeholders group was formed in March after discussion with one legislator who asked what happened with those standards. He knew the political struggles with National Federation of the Blind in 1998.
As of this writing, stakeholders have met with the proposed regulator writer, the chair, David Maltman, (who works for the Department of Health and Social Services), and many people concerned directly with these regulations. The National Federation of the Blind did not participate in the two meetings of the stakeholders group, but is likely to be involved with the public comment about the regulations once they are drafted.
Patricia Price put a website for us on the American Council of the Blind website. A listserve, which is an e-mail discussion group or mailing list, will be started as soon as you fill out the application and send in your e-mail information, and/or tell us at Alaska Independent Blind if this is a good idea. Listserves are interactive. Topics are brought up, and everyone on the list gets the same message, and can respond to it, or start their own discussion. Some lists are moderated, and some are not.
The AIB affiliate website is: http://www.acb.org/alaska/
Ms. Price says she will set up the listserve as soon as you tell her you want that, and get to our office names and e-mail addresses to participate. Tell us what you want to see on the website as well. Ms. Price put the list up sometime in January, right after the Board of Directors approved it at our January 23 meeting.
There have been many misunderstandings over chapter requirements and autonomy. Many things will be discussed about changes to our Constitution. It is just one more thing to do before convention begins.
If you are interested in becoming a board member, contact our office to go to the pre-convention retreat the first and second of October.
Thank you all for your wishes for us, and help with time you want to give. Though we are not at liberty to discuss specifics, we are working on our various disputes. We are still working on issues important to all of you. Videos are being ordered, and so are our aids and appliances that include canes, watches, writing guides, etc.
We also thank those of you for your prayers. Keep doing that also, or just think good thoughts about your leaders and Alaska Independent Blind.
We want to thank Joy Swartz for helping with this newsletter. We hope you enjoy upcoming issues, and are informed about all issues of concern to the blind community in Alaska.
We want to thank the Independent Living Center in Homer for the first support letter on behalf of support for House Bill 320, as well as the support from others in the Independent Living community in Alaska.
We want to express gratitude for June Haas, Frank Haas' widow, and Bill Craig of Sitka, who helped Lynne Koral and Sandy Sanderson in testifying for this bill; thanks also to Tony Cirvillo from Harris County, Texas, Jim Dixon, American Association of People with Disabilities, the Division of Elections, and many legislators and their staff for helping with this landmark legislation. Did you know it is the first bill of its kind in the country? We now have legislation that will pave the way for other states to advocate for with their representatives. It's a big step toward independent living.
Accessibility Story
This story and the next one appeared in the Division of Elections Newsletter in March of 2002, with pictures of Daryl Nelson and Lynne Koral in the newsletter.
One of the goals of the Division of Elections is to provide a secret ballot at the polling place for all voters. To meet the needs of voters who are physically disabled, especially those who are blind or otherwise visually impaired, the division in late January initiated a project to provide additional voting equipment that helps voters who cannot vote unassisted using paper ballots.
The division formed a Community Advisory Committee on Accessibility to assist in evaluating new voting machines that represent the latest in technology, including features that allow voters to follow instructions by listening instead of reading. The committee consisted of volunteers and advocates from such organizations as local government (Anchorage), Access Alaska, the Statewide Independent Living Council and the League of Women Voters. Lynne Koral, president of the Alaska Independent Blind, served as chairperson of the panel.
At the same time the division was exploring alternative voting equipment, Rep. Joe Green introduced a bill in the legislature, HB 320, that would authorize the division to use the new electronic voting machines. Legislation was necessary because under current law the division cannot use electronic balloting. Rep. Green's bill has passed both the House and the Senate this session.
At the two-day Community Advisory Committee meeting in Anchorage, the Committee listened to presentations by four of the major companies that manufacture accessible voting equipment. The Committee asked questions and tested the machines. The Division of Elections opened the meeting to the general public, and provided an opportunity for anyone who was interested to also test the voting equipment and respond during a public comment period.
What's next?
Congress is also debating election reform legislation that would require states to improve their voting systems, including a standard to improve equipment and process for voters with disabilities. One version has passed the House, and a second version is under consideration by the Senate. If a conference version of the bill passes, it will most likely include some level of funding for states to comply with the new mandates. Since Alaska has one of the best election systems in the country, most of the federal legislation does not affect our state. Alaska already takes care of many of the federal mandates such as keeping a centralized voter registration system and providing for absentee and questioned balloting. The priority would be to use any funds available to increase the accessibility of voting in Alaska. Over 12,500 voters in Alaska are blind and currently do not have access to a secret ballot.
The division, through the Lieutenant Governor's Office, asked the legislature for a small Capital Improvement Project to allow for the purchase of machines for early voting. Language was added to that request to allow the purchase of accessible machines with some of the money.
Elections staff are summarizing the results of the Community Advisory Committee's review of the accessible voting equipment, and if the legislature authorizes use of the new machines, the division hopes to have a couple of machines available for the general election this fall.
Statement from Lynne Koral, committee chair:
This committee was extremely important to blind people in our effort to try to assist the Division of Elections whose staff has been so supportive of accessible equipment for those of us who need privacy in voting. The committee feels its responsibility in determining the best access for blind and visually-impaired voters at the polls. Therefore we have not come to a final decision about the equipment we would recommend. We had hands-on experience with four different machines for use by blind and disabled voters. This is a project that the committee and the division have a commitment to continue and we all hope to come to a conclusion sometime in the next few months.
(This was written to several people after the AIB office got copies in Braille and print of these letters, and two pens to sign the Bill. AIB members should be awfully proud that this bill is now law.)
I received a hand-written card, and the two pens that the Governor used to sign HB320, with the engraved name of Gov. Tony Knowles on the pens along with the actual bill itself a few days ago in the mail, and thought I would share the good wishes from Gov. Tony Knowles and Lt. Gov. Fran Ulmer. Thanks to all from the SILC, and several Independent Living Centers and others at American Council of the Blind for cheering us on in Alaska. Together we can obtain dignity and equality and respect with each other and those that see us as threats to their way of life. Send this to anyone you wish.
Lynne Koral
Dear Ms. Koral:
Congratulations for getting House Bill 320 signed in to law. I know this has been a long-standing goal for the Alaska Independent Blind, Frank Haas, and the entire visually impaired and disabled community. Equal access to the voting booth, including the ability to cast the vote in privacy, is essential to our democracy.
Mazel Tov, signed Tony Knowles
March 8, 2002
Lynne Koral
Alaska Independent Blind
1102 W. International Airport Rd.
Anchorage, Alaska 99518
Dear Lynne:
Congratulations to you for your hard work in support of House Bill 320, "An Act relating to the use of electronic balloting equipment," more appropriately known as the "Frank Haas Act." As you are aware, Governor Tony Knowles signed this historic bill sponsored by Representative Joe Green in to law yesterday.
Your initial efforts last fall to get interested parties to work collaboratively together were instrumental in the ultimate success of this bill. I especially appreciate the time and energy you put toward working with my elections staff to craft a proposal that took in to account the needs and procedures of the Division of Elections. Director Janet Kowalski tells me that she could not possibly have convened the division's Community Advisory Committee on Accessibility without your able assistance as volunteer Chairwoman. I am proud of both you and the staff at the division for making this very important project a reality.
Your efforts to create a process whereby blind and sight-impaired voters can vote a secret ballot without assistance truly stand out as exceptional. Thank you again for all of your efforts on behalf of Alaska's blind and sight-impaired voters.
Sincerely,
signed Fran Ulmer, Lieutenant Governor
CC: Janet Kowalski
Director of Elections
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 12, 2002 02-048
KNOWLES SIGNS ELECTRONIC BALLOT BILL
Bill Allows People with Disabilities to Vote without Assistance
Gov. Tony Knowles signed into law Thursday a bill that affords people with disabilities, especially the blind and visually impaired, the same privacy in the voting booth that others enjoy. House Bill 320 allows people with disabilities to vote without assistance through the use of "paperless" electronic balloting equipment. The equipment will allow voters with disabilities to cast private, independent, and verifiable ballots.
"Previously, our sight-impaired voters brought a sighted assistant into the voting booth with them to read them the voting ballot," said Knowles. "Now they will have the same opportunity to exercise their right to vote in private as other voters." Alaska is one of the first states in the nation to take this step to accommodate the visually impaired in the voting booth.
Lt. Gov. Fran Ulmer, who is responsible for overseeing the state's election process, recently appointed a committee to make recommendations to address voting issues experienced by those with disabilities. The committee and the Division of Elections researched electronic elections equipment that is newly available on the market.
"We're hopeful that we will be able to upgrade our services with this new equipment to accommodate the sight-impaired," Ulmer said. No funding was provided to implement House Bill 320, so the state will purchase new electronic balloting equipment as replacement of old or broken equipment is funded.
Lynne Koral of Alaska Independent Blind welcomed the new law. "Machines that give audio information through headsets or Braille templates are here now, making this bill the perfect vehicle for allowing those of us with visual impairments the opportunity to exercise our right to vote in a private, secure voting booth. Alaska Independent Blind applauds an idea whose time has arrived, and looks forward to a time when every person who is blind can vote his or her own ballot."
The bill is known as the "Frank Haas Act" to recognize the contributions of Frank Haas, a long-time advocate for Alaska's visually impaired who spent years encouraging the use of large-print ballots to improve the voting rights of visually impaired Alaskans. HB 320 will take effect on June 5, 2002. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Joe Green (R-Anchorage).
-----------------------
Federal Computer Week
http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2002/0415/pol-vote-04-15-02.asp
A sweeping election reform bill that overwhelmingly passed by the Senate on April 11 includes a little-noticed provision requiring that states using federal funds to upgrade their voting technology include technology that enables blind and visually impaired voters to cast ballots without assistance.
The bill, which passed 99-1, follows on the heels of the passage last month of Alaska's H.B. 320, which Tony Knowles, the state's governor, signed March 7. The legislation permits the state Division of Elections to provide technology for blind and visually impaired voters so they can cast "private, independent and verifiable ballots." Alaska is the first state to pass such a law.
Few funds were available to address the problems of visually impaired voters until voting controversies erupted in the 2000 election, according to R. Doug Lewis, executive director of the Election Center, a nonprofit group based in Houston.
The center has been studying voting accessibility for people with disabilities for three years, Lewis said. "We're still in the first series of [investigations into] how we can really make it possible for blind people to vote unassisted," he said. "We're making those incremental steps. It's coming along slowly but surely."
The House of Representatives passed a bill in December 2001 to establish a grant program for states that want to update antiquated punch-card voting machines. That bill, however, set only voluntary standards for the use of electronic voting technology that can be operated by the 8 million Americans who are blind and/or cannot read a paper ballot, according to James McCarthy, assistant director of governmental affairs for the National Federation of the Blind.
However, the Senate bill - the Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001, sponsored by Senate Rules and Administration Committee chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) - would require states that use federal funds to update their voting technology to give strong consideration to so-called direct recording electronic devices, or DREs, which are computerized machines that use touch-sensitive screens.
The Senate bill was close to passing in February, but because of disagreements over provisions relating to voter fraud, it was pulled off the floor calendar, McCarthy said. Although DREs' touch-sensitive screens are of little use by themselves to the visually impaired, several voting technology companies now produce plug-in components for the machines that "talk" through voice recordings and have keys with raised arrows and icons that blind voters can read with their fingertips.
The eSlate voting machine made by Hart InterCivic of Austin, Texas, includes an audible confirmation feature that makes a faint click as the voter moves from race to race, said Michelle Shafer, the company's director of marketing.
"Blind voters like that because they can hear the wheel turning" and feel certain that they are in the correct section of the ballot, she said.
If both houses of Congress pass legislation to require technology that aids visually impaired voters, "I think a lot of states will also be interested in passing similar legislation," McCarthy said. "The states' big concern is financial [because electronic voting machines are expensive], but the non-visual aspects of that technology are actually quite inexpensive, given the overall cost of the machines themselves."
Before Alaska passed its new law, the estimated 12,500 blind voters in the state had to rely on others to cast their ballots for them in the booth.
"We believe we have the highest per capita number of folks who are blind," said Janet Kowalski, director of Alaska's Division of Elections.
That doesn't include the members of the voting population who are visually impaired, meaning that they have partial sight or can make out only large print, she said.
"Our goal here has always been to treat voters the same," she said. "What the legislation says is that any time the Division of Elections buys electronic balloting equipment, it must be disabled-accessible." The law was passed quickly and had bipartisan support, she added.
Kowalski said the state plans to test some machines during the general election in November, but deploying the technology statewide may take time. Alaska has considered Internet voting, but security is an issue, she said.
The state legislature is considering a capital improvement fund to help pay for electronic voting machines, but it is too early in the process, she said.
Alaska's "Division of Elections has not been open to some of these technologies in the past because they were extremely time-intensive and expensive," she said. "With the revolution in technology, it's just far easier for election administrators to put these machines in place."
There are 452 polling places across Alaska, and about 97 percent of them use optical scanning machines. At the other 3 percent, ballots are hand-counted.
Although the balloting controversies in Florida during the 2000 presidential election helped spur passage of the Alaska bill, advocates had been pushing for secret balloting for blind and visually impaired voters for a decade. The Alaska bill is also known as the Frank Haas Act, commemorating a longtime advocate for visually impaired people in Alaska.
The White House will probably go along with what Congress determines in conference committee - provided the House and Senate can reconcile the differences in the two bills - but how much money will be authorized is unclear, Lewis said. He fears some people may decide, with current budget shortfalls, to "mandate a whole lot of changes and not provide the funds to do it."
Election reform advocates are trying to convince federal lawmakers that appropriate funding for their issue is just as important as, for example, foreign aid, Lewis said.
Plug-ins for visually impaired voters:
Several manufacturers of voting technology known as direct recording electronic devices (DREs) now provide special features or plug-in accessories that enable blind voters to cast a ballot in private, without the support of a precinct worker. Among the products are:
Here is the item that was used in the packet given to legislators written by Laura Achee, Rep. Joe Green's wonderful aide.
Frank Haas was an advocate for access issues for the visually impaired in Alaska. Voting access was especially important to Haas, and he advocated by writing and speaking with the Division of Elections and state legislators on this issue, focusing on the need for independence in his voting rights such as large print ballots or other technical means. Alaska Independent Blind is pleased that Rep. Joe Green recognized Haas' contribution to better voting access for the blind by naming House Bill 320 "The Frank Haas Act."
Originally from Wisconsin, Haas always wanted to see Alaska. As a young Army petroleum lab tech Haas traded an assignment in Europe for an assignment at the Army tank farm in Lutak, near Haines. Following his stint in the Army, Haas returned to Haines where he lived for 44 years.
Haas held a number of positions in his professional life. Immediately after his return to Haines he worked in a civilian position at the tank farm becoming operations supervisor. In the 1970's Haas earned a degree in education; but instead of teaching he was hired by the City of Haines, to be in charge of the water and waste water systems. He also earned a degree in travel and tourism and operated a ticket concession on Second Avenue in Haines.
In his private life Haas also wore a number of hats. He was active in his local church and chamber of commerce, as well as the American Legion, Elks, Haines Fire Department and Lynn Canal Community Players. That fire department still misses his cooking
Haas was also a public servant, holding seats on the Port Chilkoot city council and the Haines Borough Assembly. Haas joined the American Council of the Blind in 1984 and was a long-time member of Alaska Independent Blind, serving on the group's board of directors. He thought it was important that blind people have easy access to the vehicles they travel in, especially in winter, and was instrumental in bringing about parking placards for those vehicles. He also worked to ensure that the City of Haines complied with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Since his death in 1999, others have continued the work that Haas started to bring voting independence to the visually impaired. Passage of this bill would be a fitting legacy to this man who worked so hard on behalf of others.
As in every newsletter, here are some current items from Pamela Negri, from Medic-Care.
Tuesday, August 27, 2002 8:52 AM
Summary: CMS issued a press release Wednesday announcing the proposal of a rule that would establish a process for beneficiaries to appeal local or national Medicare coverage determinations. The proposed rule provides for independent review of these coverage policies.
Link: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/media/press/release.asp?Counter=481
Medicare News
For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, August 27, 2002
MS PROPOSES APPEALS PROCESS FOR MEDICARE COVERAGE DECISIONS
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a rule today that would establish a process for beneficiaries to appeal local or national Medicare coverage determinations. The proposed rule provides for independent review of these coverage policies.
Under the proposal, appeals of local coverage determinations (LCDs) would be reviewed initially by an administrative law judge (ALJ). Appeals from national coverage determinations (NCDs) and from ALJ decisions on LCDs would be reviewed by the Health and Human Services Departmental Appeals Board. The board's decisions could be appealed to federal court.
The proposed rule is a first step toward formal implementation of several provisions of Section 522 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act (BIPA) of 2000.
Beneficiaries already have the right to appeal individual claims denials when they believe a covered item or service was denied improperly. The proposed rule would give them an additional avenue to challenge the underlying coverage policy. The new appeals process would ensure that complaints are reviewed in a predictable, uniform manner. In addition, decisions in these appeals may have implications for future Medicare coverage of the item or service for all Medicare beneficiaries, not just the individual who filed the appeal.
CMS has already implemented a process for any interested party to follow when seeking a change in a national coverage determination. More recently, it has instructed the private insurers that process Medicare claims for CMS to establish and publicize a process, to become effective October 1, for certain interested parties to use to seek reconsideration of a local medical review policy. This is in addition to the process outlined in the proposed rule.
"This proposed rule will build on the policies CMS has already put into place to provide beneficiaries with the opportunity to seek review of CMS coverage policies," says CMS Administrator Tom Scully. "Unfortunately, when Congress enacted the BIPA provisions addressing appeals, it did not provide additional funding to the Medicare program for the associated costs. Consequently, this has caused some delays in implementing this new process because CMS has had to reallocate funds from other high priority and Congressionally-mandated activities to underwrite the expanded appeals process."
NCDs are made by CMS and must be followed by all contractors that process and pay Medicare claims. LCDs are made by the contractors and apply only in the areas served by the individual contractor.
The proposed rule will be published in the Aug. 22 Federal Register. CMS will accept public comments on the proposed rule until Oct. 21, and plans to publish a final rule as soon as practicable after the public comment period is completed.
Note: The existing policy for seeking
reconsideration of NCDs can be found on the CMS Website at
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/coverage/8a1.asp.
The policy for seeking reconsideration of LMRPs
can be found at
http://www.cms.gov/manuals/108_pim/pim83c13.asp#Sect11.
Pam Negri
Public Affairs Specialist
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Seattle Regional Office
Phone: 206-615-2370
Fax: 206-615-2363
E-mail: pnegri@cms.hhs.gov
Making Sense of Medicare
Enrolling in Medicare Part B: Timing is
Important
By Pam Negri
Public Affairs Specialist
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Region 10
For many, deciding when to enroll in Medicare Part B is easy. Retirees usually enroll when first eligible at age 65 or earlier if entitled to Medicare based on disability. But for others, particularly those still working and covered under employer or union group health insurance, the decision is not so simple.
Medicare Part B covers physician services, outpatient hospital services, medical equipment and supplies and ambulance services. Unlike Medicare Part A, hospital insurance, enrollment in Part B can be optional. People covered under the state Medicaid program generally must sign up for Part B. Also Part B is required to join a Medicare+Choice plan, like an HMO or private fee-for-service plan. Part B's monthly premium is $54.
Timing enrollment is important because federal law allows enrollment in Medicare Part B only during certain enrollment periods. Failure to enroll at the best time for you can mean a lapse in health insurance coverage and/or higher monthly premiums.
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): This period starts 3 months before you turn age 65 and lasts for 7 months. If you are not currently receiving Social Security Administration (SSA) or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits and want to apply for Medicare, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or go to www.ssa.gov. For Part B to be effective the month you turn 65, enroll during one of the 3 months before your birth month. Enrolling in the month you turn 65 or later will result in a future effective date.
If you currently get SSA or RRB benefits, you'll automatically get a Medicare card in the mail showing enrollment in Part A and B effective the first day of the month you turn age 65 or the 25th month of entitlement to a disability benefit. (Those with Lou Gehrig's disease can get Medicare the first month of entitlement to disability benefits.) However, you have the option to decline Part B. In some cases it may be to your advantage to delay enrollment.
Special Enrollment Period (SEP): If you or your spouse are working and have group health plan coverage through your or your spouse's employer or union, you can apply later for Part B during a SEP without having to pay higher premiums. You may wish to take advantage of the SEP to preserve your 6-month open enrollment for Medigap insurance. This 6-month period begins with the first month Part B is effective at age 65 or older.
You can sign up for Part B anytime you are still covered by the employer or union group health plan through your or your spouse's current or active employment. You can also sign up during the 8 months following the month the employer or union group health plan coverage ends, or when the employment ends (whichever is first). If you are disabled and working or you have coverage from a working family member, the SEP rules also apply. NOTE: Group insurance continued under COBRA does not qualify you for a SEP.
For Medicare Part B to begin without any lapse in coverage, sign up while covered by the group health plan or during the first full month after coverage ends. Enrollment during the remaining 7 months of the SEP will result in a future effective date.
General Enrollment Period (GEP): If you missed both your IEP and SEP and want to sign up for Part B, you have the opportunity right now during the annual GEP between January 1 through March 31. Because March 31 is a Sunday, you have through April 1 in 2002. When you enroll during the GEP, Part B is effective July 1 and you may have to pay higher premiums for late enrollment.
For answers to your Medicare questions, call toll-free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227); TTY/TDD 1-877-486-2048, or visit http://www.medicare.gov.
We hope you enjoyed this newsletter and are looking forward to the next one, which will be put together as soon as possible. There is plenty of newsworthy information to distribute. We hope to be with you next month at our convention, and then, right after that, get ready for another newsletter. We're trying to make up for lost time!
Last Updated: December 8, 2002