IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SENIORS

Special Notices!!

>>Election of Senior Caucus officers at a Nov. 7 Meeting.
Click here to read the official notice and information on declared candidates.

>>Senior Caucus Gala Event, Nov. 15
Click here for more information

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1.  Latest Newsletter – press here.

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2. Senior Caucus Calendar click to go to calendar page

3. Senior Caucus Brochure SrCaucus Brochure

4.  Plan D Information 2010 Click on Caucus Materials page and scroll down

5. The door to the White House is now open.  Just a click away!

Visit the Open White House || Track the Stimulus || Contact the White House

6. Find out what’s true and what’s not about health care reform! Health Care Reality Check

7. **Health Care & Medicare Resources for Minnesota Seniors click here

>Answers to your Medicare questions!

Need answers about Medicare? Go to the official U.S. government site for people with Medicare.  This site,  by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides the latest information and answers to about any questions you may have.

Home page:  http://www.medicare.gov/

Q & A:  http://questions.medicare.gov/

Example question:  Will my Medicare premiums increase in 2010?

Answer     :Question 2262

>>A NYT article:  Basic Medicare Premium to Rise 15% Next Year by Robert Pear 10/19/09, discusses who pays the extra premium and who doesn’t.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/health/policy/20health.html?hp

While he starts off with the bad news, he does explain, that while “about 12 million people, or 27 percent of Medicare beneficiaries, will have to pay higher premiums or have the additional amounts paid on their behalf. The other 73 percent (that is most of us) will be shielded from the increase because, under federal law, their Medicare premiums cannot go up more than the increase in their Social Security benefits.”

Here is another good resource: Medicare Rights http://www.medicarerights.org/

Consumer Hotline: 1-800-333-4114

Counselors are available Monday through Friday, between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm Eastern, and are happy to answer your questions about insurance choices, Medicare rights and protections, dealing with payment denials or appeals, complaints about care or treatment, and Medicare bills.

Also, click on the page Healthcare/Medicare Resources for a list of sites you may find useful.

>Vote for Instant Runoff Voting in St. Paul – Nov. 3

November 3 is Election day in Saint Paul

Vote for Instant Runoff Voting – It’s DFL supported.

Want more info?  Go to    http://stpaul.betterballotcampaign.org/VVV

and http://www.FairVoteMn.org

>Social Security Establishes Financial Literacy Research Consortium

SOCIAL SECURITY News Release

Social Security Establishes Financial Literacy Research Consortium

Research Centers Will Develop Innovative Ways to Help Americans Plan for a Secure Retirement:

Candidates for DFL endorsement for Governor

Note: The DFL Senior Caucus does not favor or endorse any of the candidates at this time. This is not an official DFL list. [Last update:  9/20/09]

The purpose of this post is only to make links to candidate’s websites available in one location.

Hennepin Libraries – How can I afford retirement?

How Can I Afford Retirement?^TM Investor Education at Hennepin County Library
Central Library
Pohlad Hall
Thursday, Sept. 24, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 8, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 22, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 5, 6:30–8:30 p.m.

Senator Franken visits Senior Caucus at the State Fair

(Updated 9/7)

The two Senior Days  at the State Fair DFL booth were the the best ever for the Senior Caucus.

• 189 seniors stopped by to talk and sign the registration sheet and 51 paid their membership dues.
• Al Franken met with the Caucus on Monday.  More below.
  

See YouTube of AL Franken receiving quilt from Senior Caucus at the DFL booth Monday.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crq6h604qqw

See photos below…..

Photos of Al Franken with Senior Caucus on Aug. 31:

Linda and Al

Franken accepts quilt

Klobuchar, Franken outline their health-care views

(Update 9/7) Amy Klobuchar gave tentative supportt to Olympia Snow’s idea that a government run program would be implemented only if private insurers were unable to deliver affordable insurance to most consumers within three to five years.  Ceci Connolly, Washington Post

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Cybthis Dizikes, for MinnPost.com, interviewed our two senators to get a better understanding of where they are on health care reform legislation as the Congress reconvenes on Sept. 8.

Get a pdf of the article here for easy printing or saving to your computer.

To see the original article click here.

Minnesota Senior Federation closes – Mature Voices Minnesota begins

Mature Voices Minnesota is open for business as the Minnesota Senior Federation closes its doors

In June, the Minnesota Senior Federation, long time friend of Minnesota seniors, found it necessary to dissolve after thirty-seven years of serving Minnesota seniors.

What Health Reform Means for Seniors in America

·        President Obama participated in a telephone town hall today with AARP members.  He spoke directly to seniors and answered their questions about what health care reform will mean for them.

Senior Federation closes – Finds homes for programs

The Minnesota Senior Federation has discontinued operations due to financial reasons.  However, they arranged for other organizations to continue their programs.  In their announcement they said:

Seniors-making home a safer place

Many older people settle on staying put….. Read this excellent article in the NY Times about staying put safer and more affordably.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/health/18patient.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail1=y

Senior Caucus Board. 2009-2011

A new Senior Caucus Board was elected at the Annual Membership Meeting, May 30, 2009.  Two officers, Secretary and Treasurer were elected.  The following list includes their CD and SD.

Pawlenty needs to drop cuts to get Federal Medicare money

Governor needs to eliminate cuts to get federal Medicare money..

Respond to Governor Pawlenty’s Veto Threat Now!

>Forum on National Healthcare Solutions-May 12,2009

>Merit Selection & Retention Elections for MN Judges

>Resource – Unemployment Lifeline

Unemployment LifeLine is a joint project of Working America, the Working America Education Fund and the AFL-CIO, with the help of AFL-CIO Community Services Liaisons throughout the country. The United Way of America, on behalf of 2-1-1 US, is a contributor to this project.   Click here for info.

MN Republicans on a Veto track

Today’s news from the Minnesota House…

Minority leader reiterates no new taxes mantra

House Minority Leader Marty Seifert sent a stern warning to House and Senate Democrats about the need to strip proposed tax increases from their omnibus bills.

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/sessiondaily.asp?yearid=2009&storyid=1798

Published 4/17/2009

Budget News

Several of the House’s major spending bills were split up and realigned to match up with the Senate’s budget proposals.

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/sessiondaily.asp?yearid=2009&storyid=1801

Published 4/17/2009
Education

The omnibus K-12 education finance bill was approved by the House Finance Division without one controversial provision.

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/sessiondaily.asp?yearid=2009&storyid=1800

Published 4/17/2009
Stimulus

The House speaker said that stimulus funds could complicate a smooth end to the end of session.

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/sessiondaily.asp?yearid=2009&storyid=1799

Published 4/17/2009

MN Budget – Keep up to date!

What is the latest on the Minnesota Budget deliberations?  The answer to that is constantly changing.  One of the best and most readable sources for keeping in touch is MinnesotaBudgetBites.org.  Try going there and see if it works for you.

Minnesota Budget Info On-line

New (Apri 6) budget information is available