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State agencies partner to help protect seniors and others from frauds and scams

Would you know how to recognize a scam? Harry, an Ohio grandparent, thought so until he received a phone call from someone posing as his grandson. Harry was in the processing of wiring $3,000 to his "grandson" when an intrepid observer raised a red flag and stopped the transaction.  

Later, Harry remarked, "I always thought I was too intelligent to fall for a scam. But when it comes to your grandson…"

Harry's true story is part of a new initiative launched in May by the state of Ohio to help educate residents about insurance fraud, financial exploitation and other scams. Take Action: Protect Yourself from Fraud (www.takeaction.ohio.gov) aims to help people recognize deceptive sales practices and schemes, prevent Medicare and health care fraud, safeguard their online information, and ward off unwanted telemarketers and spammers.

Older adults and caregivers are a primary target for the initiative -- and for scammers. According to the Ohio Department of Insurance, seasoned criminals and unscrupulous salespeople often prey on the aging population. Seniors attract 30 percent of reported fraud cases and are three times more likely to be swindled. 

The Take Action Web site and other experts point out that scammers are good at finding new opportunities to prey on people's fears and uncertainties. For example, passage of the new health reform law has brought a recent surge in fraud complaints. Many states are reporting instances where salespeople have gone door-to-door attempting to sell bogus "ObamaCare" health insurance policies. 

In other cases, seniors have received phone calls from "government representatives" who tell them they need access to their bank account so they can deposit a $250 donut hole rebate check (As part of the health reform law, Medicare Part D recipients who hit the donut hole in 2010 will receive a $250 rebate.). 

From the Take Action Web site, visitors can download the free Take Action consumer guide, take an investment fraud quiz, read the latest fraud alerts and news, and learn how to report fraud. The site also directs people to the right offices and agencies within Ohio's state government. For instance, anyone making an investment decision needs to contact the Ohio Department of Commerce to ensure the broker is legitimate and the security is registered.

The initiative is a cooperative effort of the departments of Insurance, Aging, Commerce and Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordrey's office. For more information, visit www.takeaction.ohio.gov.

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COA helps older Ohioans save $$ on out-of-pocket Medicare and drug costs

Many people struggle to pay Medicare premiums, deductibles, co-payments and drug costs. Help is available, but most people don't know about it, don't know how to apply, or don't think they'll qualify. In fact, about 70,000 older Ohioans are eligible for this help but are not yet enrolled.

Council on Aging is working to spread the word about Medicare assistance programs and help people find out if they qualify. Medicare assistance programs help older and disabled Ohioans pay monthly drug premiums and deductibles and lower their co-payments for generic and brand-name drugs.

To be eligible, a person's monthly income must be less than $1,354 and assets can't total more than $12,510. For couples, monthly income must be less than $1,822 and assets less than $25,010.

COA staff and providers are reaching out to clients to tell them about the programs and help them with paperwork to apply. Help is provided over the phone; no office visit is required.

Posters and information cards explaining the programs are available from COA.  Contact us if you would like copies for your office.

Know someone who might qualify? Have them call us at (513) 721-1025 and ask for Medicare help.

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Early-onset Alzheimer's patients now eligible for Social Security benefits

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has added early-onset/younger onset Alzheimer's to the list of conditions under its Compassionate Allowance Initiative, giving those with the disease expedited access to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

If you are affected by early-onset Alzheimer's, the Alzheimer's Association has created a checklist to help you make sure you have the information and resources you need in order to apply for Social Security Disability and Supplemental Income benefits. Click here to access the checklist.

Through the SSA's Compassionate Allowance Initiative, individuals with certain diseases/conditions are eligible for Social Security disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits by virtue of the disease and are fast-tracked for SSDI and SSI benefits. Applicants must still meet other SSDI criteria and/or SSI criteria.  

Social Security disability benefits are very important to those with early-onset Alzheimer's and related dementias because these individuals are often initially denied benefits and undergo a long disability decision process that is financially and emotionally draining. By adding Alzheimer's disease to the list of "Compassionate Allowance" conditions, it will simplify and streamline the SSDI/SSI application process and should result in receiving SSDI/SSI benefits in an expedited manner.

Click here to learn more about SSDI and SSI for people with early-onset Alzheimer's.

(Source: www.alz.org)

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Benefit checks will soon be a thing of the past

If you receive Social Security or other federal benefit payments by mail, your Social Security check will soon be a thing of the past. Beginning in 2011, the federal government will require all beneficiaries to receive their payments electronically -- either by direct deposit or prepaid debit card.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury, which oversees payments to beneficiaries, has set up a Web site, www.godirect.org, to provide information about the new requirements and help beneficiaries understand and enroll in one of the new payment options.

The new payment requirements affect people who receive benefit payments from Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), VA Compensation and Pension programs, or other federal benefit programs.

The electronic payment requirement will begin in phases, starting March 1, 2011 with all new enrollees. All current beneficiaries will be required to receive their payments electronically by March 1, 2013.  

According to the Treasury, direct deposit is the best way to receive federal benefit payments because it eliminates the risk of lost or stolen checks, reduces fraud, helps protect against identity theft and gives people more control over their money. Direct deposit also provides people with immediate access to their money from virtually everywhere.

The Treasury estimates the move to electronic payments will save more than $400 million and 12 million pounds of paper in the first five years alone.  Almost all the money saved would remain in the Social Security Trust Fund.

For more information, www.godirect.org or 202-874-6619.

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Ohio launches Web site to compare hospital performance

Nearly four years after lawmakers passed legislation designed to make hospital shopping easier, the Department of Health (ODH) unveiled a Web site that allows Ohioans to compare infection rates, patient satisfaction and other quality indicators.

ODH Director Dr. Alvin Jackson said the Web site would give people appropriate information when making decisions about their health care. This is a comprehensive, user-friendly system that gives patients deciding where to go for certain procedures access to important quality outcomes among Ohio's hospitals.

Ohio Hospital Compare allows users to compare more than 100 different performance measures among hospitals throughout the state. The website contains information on heart care, surgery, strokes, pneumonia, hospital-acquired infections, pregnancy and delivery, children's asthma, and patient satisfaction.

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New Web sites help explain health care reform

Ohio Health Care Reforms Initiative Web site
Ohio has launched a new Web site, www.healthcarereform.ohio.gov, to help residents understand the law's impact on the Buckeye State.  The site is a portal of information on a variety of issues related to health care reform, including: how the new law will expand coverage to the uninsured; its impact on Medicaid/Medicare recipients, seniors, businesses and college students; and the country's new long-term care insurance option (CLASS Act).  Visitors can also sign up for an e-newsletter to receive updates as phases of the law go into effect.

Government launches health care Web site -- ahead of schedule
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act set July 1 as the deadline for creation of a Web site to help people understand their health care options. The site was created by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and was launched one day ahead of schedule.  According to HHS, the Web site is the first to collect both public and private health insurance options across the nation in a single place. The Web site's insurance options finder helps users identify appropriate choices. The site includes information about consumer rights, about navigating the health insurance marketplace, and about how healthcare reform can help everyone.

Health care reform resources for older adults

• One of the main sub sites of healthcare.gov addresses health care for seniors.
• For older Ohioans who want to know how the health reform law will affect their Medicare coverage, the Ohio Department of Aging has compiled a list of resources to help them find answers.  Some of the more significant changes to Medicare that will come about as a result of the health care reform law include elimination of the prescription drug "donut hole," and the added benefit of free preventive care visits.
  
• Straight Talk for Seniors on Health Reform (National Council on Aging)
• Medicare and the New Health Reform Law (fact sheet from Medicare.gov)
• Medicare Rights Center
  

Additional Resources:

Kaiser Family Foundation

National Caregiving Alliance releases 2009 caregiver study

The National Caregiving Alliance (NAC) has released its 2009 Caregiving in the U.S. Study. 

The study is billed as the most comprehensive survey of caregiving in our country to date and is based primarily on quantitative telephone interviews with 1,480 family caregivers age 18 or older. An additional 288 interviews were conducted with caregivers of individuals age 50 or older and a special companion report was issued for this segment of the caregiving population.

NAC partnered with AARP to complete the study, with funding from the MetLife Foundation.

Highlights from the report: Caring for someone age 50 and older

• 43.5 million caregivers in the U.S. provide unpaid care for someone age 50 or older
• 64% of caregivers make workplace accommodations (going in late, leaving early, taking time off) to provide care
• Caregivers provide 19 hours of care in an average week (higher for those whose care recipient lives with them)
• Old age and Alzheimer's/dementia were noted as the top two reasons that care was needed

Click here to access the 2009 Caregiving in the U.S. Study

Click here to access the special report: A Focused Look at Those Caring for Someone Age 50 or Older (pdf)

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Time to request your Senior Resource Cards

Council on Aging is partnering with the Rockdale Temple Sisterhood to reproduce the Sisterhood's popular Senior Resource Cards.

The wallet-sized cards contain important contact information specific to the senior population, including elder abuse, consumer protection, health insurance, legal help, the long-term care ombudsman and more.

The cards will be available later this year.  Cards will be available for Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton and Warren counties in southwest Ohio, and Northern Kentucky.

If your organization is interested in receiving a supply of the cards, click here to complete a request form.  Completed forms should be faxed to (513) 542-0289. 

Click here to read a recent Cincinnati Enquirer news article about the Sisterhood and their resource cards.

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New brochure details voting rights of residents of Ohio's assisted living and nursing facilities

The Ohio Secretary of State's Voting Rights Institute has produced a new brochure entitled, Serving Ohio's Aging Population: Information on the Voting Process.  With federal and state elections coming this fall, the brochure will serve as a general guide to help answer some common voting-related questions that often arise as older Ohioans adapt to new living situations in assisted living and nursing facilities.  Click here to view the brochure.

The brochure is intended for residents and staff at assisted living and nursing facilities across the state.  It includes information on many of the special circumstances older Ohioans face throughout the voting process, including questions of residency for temporary and permanent residents of assisted living facilities. Also included are ways in which family members, employees and elections officials can offer direct assistance in the voting process, from absentee ballot requests, to transportation and assistance with actual ballot marking.

The Voting Rights Institute will mail copies of the brochure to approximately 1,900 facilities and organizations throughout Ohio in the coming weeks.  If you have questions about the brochure or would like to request copies, call 1-(877) VOTE-VRI or send an e-mail to vri@sos.state.oh.us.

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