During AEP, existing Medicare beneficiaries may enroll in, change, or drop a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan or a Medicare Part C HMO plan. HICAP counselors can help you review Medicare Prescription D prescription drug plan costs and formulary changes, identify options available for Part C Medicare Advantage Plans (HMOs), and identify other ways to supplement Medicare for the upcoming 2021 year.

To keep clients safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, HICAP will provide AEP Medicare counseling services remotely either by phone or video conference, when possible. Before speaking with a HICAP counselor about your options, be prepared, and sign up for a MyMedicare.gov account. You will gain access to a personalized Medicare Plan Finder Tool that shows your unique list of medications. HICAP counselors can help you sort through the different options to find what options may be best for you or your loved one. HICAP will host AEP presentations called Medicare & You via Zoom to keep you informed of the latest plan options and changes for 2021.

Sourcewise HICAP provides financial application assistance for Medicare beneficiaries who want to sign up for the Low-Income Subsidy (also called “Extra Help”). It is available for Medicare beneficiaries who have incomes less than $2,155 each month for couples and $1,595 each month for singles; whose savings or assets are less than $29,160 and $14,610 respectively. If you are still working, the income limits can be higher since roughly half a person’s earned income is not counted.

HICAP counseling is free, unbiased, and available to Medicare-eligible Santa Clara County residents. To attend a Medicare & You presentation or to schedule a one-on-one counseling session with a HICAP counselor, call (408) 350-3200, option 2, or visit the Sourcewise website at mysourcewise.com/calendar.

The World Health Organization defines ageism as the stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination towards people based on age. Common adverse themes of ageism that older adults face in society, especially in the workforce is being incapable of using technology or being overlooked for employment. In the 2020-2024 Sourcewise Area Plan on Aging, in a national survey conducted by the AARP in 2018, 61-percent of older adults said they had seen or experienced age-related discrimination in the workplace.

In a 2017 study reported in an article written by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the callback rate for interviews was uniformly lower for older applicants regarding specific job positions and specific genders. Older (64 to 66 years of age) female applicants had a 47-percent lower callback rate than young (29 to 31 years of age), female applicants, for administrative assistant jobs.

In August 2020, the California Department of Aging launched the California for All Ages digital campaign to address ageism and promote equity in aging. The intention of this campaign is to raise awareness on ageism and educate the community on what ageism is, how to address ageism, and identify inequities in aging. Together we can combat ageism so that no one in our community misses out on opportunities merely because of their age.

To learn more about ageism and to find resources that will help you to be a part of the solution to ageism, view the video recording on the California for All Ages virtual town hall via YouTube.

November 3 is quickly approaching for everyone to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming 2020 election.

In 2016, California lawmakers established the Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) to provide registered voters the freedom to dictate how, when, and where to cast their ballot. This year vote by mail by visiting a polling location or drop off your ballot at a drop-box location. The VCA is modernizing voting and providing voters with greater flexibility and convenience. For this year’s election, the VCA has expanded across other counties within California, including Santa Clara County (SCC) to implement the new voting model for the 2020 elections.

According to the Presidential General Election Candidate Guide, the County of Santa Clara Registrar of Voters shares, “Ballots will be mailed about a month before each election, giving you plenty of time to mark and return your ballot when is most convenient for you.” With ballots being mailed out, voters can still cast their votes while practicing social distancing. Voters are encouraged to return their ballot in no less than a week of receiving it for election day and to be cognizant of the cutoff times for pickup for each collection box.

The County of Santa Clara Registrar of Voters (ROV) is actively preparing to conduct the November 3 Presidential Election and interested community members can visit sccgov.org to learn more about the important election announcements and voting and voting instructions. The ROV anticipates that approximately 100 Voting Centers throughout SCC will be open for in-person voting for a minimum of four days with health and safety protocols in place.

The ROV office continues to be open for services and you can access information and resources online, like:

• How to register to vote
• The initiative, Referendum, and Recall Petitions
• Candiditate and Campign Filings
• Virtual Education Activities

To learn more about how to locate 2020 Voting Centers near you, visit sccgov.org or contact a Sourcewise Community Resource Specialist: (408) 350-3200 option 1 for assistance.