Remember the familiar line chanted by children being driven somewhere, “Are we there yet?”
As I visit companies to conduct Medicare preretiree seminars, I hear employees nearing the age of Medicare eligibility, quietly asking each other something similar —“Are You There Yet?”
Most can hardly believe they are reaching their 65th birthday and will soon qualify for Medicare.
About 17,000 people in Hawai‘i are expected to turn 65 next year. Many may still be working and need to understand how Medicare will coordinate with their employer health coverage. Others want to learn more about valuable benefits, like FREE preventive screenings. Here are some rules:
STOP — Determine when you will first become eligible for benefits. You can use the Medicare Eligibility Tool at www.medicare.gov. This will help you avoid late enrollment penalties.
LOOK — You should get your Medicare card in the mail a few months before your 65th birthday. Contact Social Security and Medicare if you do not receive your card. You can reach Social Security at 800-772-1213 or Medicare at 800-633-4227.
LISTEN — Learn more about your options by attending Medicare workshops during the Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period, Oct. 15th through Dec. 7th. You can also call or meet with a licensed agent for more information.
So ask for directions if you need to, sit back and relax. You are almost there!
Martha Khlopin hosts the popular weekly radio program “Medicare Moment with Martha — The World of Medicare” sponsored by AlohaCare. It airs on KHNR-690AM on Saturdays from 11–11:30 a.m. and on KGU-99.5FM on Sundays from 10–10:30 a.m.For info, call (808) 973-0754, mkhlopin@alohacare.org.
“The Joy of Sake”
This event was founded in Honolulu in 2001 as a way to give sake enthusiasts an opportunity to experience and appreciate premium sakes from breweries all over Japan. The event will feature “competition sakes” from the U.S. National Sake Appraisal — each recently bottled and cold-stored to ensure maximum flavor.
It was September 8, 2011 that I had a stroke … some say it was “mild” and some say it was a “nerve stroke” while I say, “It happened, now move on!” Every day since then, I test myself on doing things with my right side. Within two weeks I got rid of the walker but was very careful getting around. Driving and bouncing a tennis ball took two months. Walking down a flight of stairs without using the handrail or wall took nine months — that’s when I bought a Shuzi bracelet and walked down 12 steps with no problem (at the bottom of the stairs, I turned around to look up in amazement). I did more “self-tests” like balancing on my right leg for 40 seconds instead of the 3 seconds before Shuzi and walking on stepping stones on the side of our house with ease. There are so many products out there that claim a lot of things, but this one I believe made a HUGE difference to my “balance” in life.
This is what I know: Shuzi (pronounced Shoo-zee) has been an international company since 2004. The jewelry utilizes a proprietary “Nano Vibrational Technology” Chip from the United States which is programmed to resonate with your cells’ natural frequencies. The chip sends out a pulse that balances the body’s bio-field and blood cells become much rounder and stronger promoting better blood flow, which means more oxygen through the body.
Summer brings in the time of year when melons are in season. Watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe are rich in vitimins, minerals and antioxidants such as beta-carotene, lycopene, potassium, magnesium vitamin A and C. Adding them to a green smoothie makes for a tasty drink and a great way to get a lot of healthy nutrients into your body at one time.
Ingredients
A colorful summer delight. You’ll want to use a nice rigatoni (tube) or farfalle (bowtie) pasta for this recipe. The shape of the pasta is perfect with the creamy sauce and serves as the perfect backdrop for the beautiful greens and pinks of the asparagus and shrimp.
If you thought it was just the low prices that enticed thousands of Hawaii’s seniors to book their Vegas trips through Vacations Hawai‘i, take a closer look. Vacations Hawai‘i offers 4 flight patterns per week on non-stop flights between Honolulu & Vegas, on comfortable wide body 767 aircraft. It’s the most comfortable aircraft to fly across the Pacific. With a 2-3-2 seat configuration and twin aisles, you’re never more than a seat away from an aisle. A Vacations Hawaii escort travels with each flight to ease the normal challenges that come with traveling. It’s not uncommon for us to transport a fair number of customers who require wheelchairs and with the assistance of porters, we provide a seamless transition for them from the aircraft, through the airport and on to our buses. Should you need assistance during your stay at our 3 popular downtown properties, the California, Fremont and Main Street Station Hotels, Vacations Hawaii’s staff is just a phone call away. And of course the biggest reason customers
keep coming back, is the great time they have in Vegas with old and new friends!
gambler or playing your first slot machine or table game, our friendly staff will make you feel at ease.
When you think of retirement, you may dream of spending carefree days traveling with friends or loved ones. If you’re at that stage of life, 65 Things to Do When You Retire: Travel can help you steer toward a fulfilling and enjoyable retirement, whether you are looking for physical adventure, a spiritual journey, or to go sightseeing in far-flung places.
Twenty-four years ago, Herbert Yasuhara, then Halawa Park Director, wanted to find an activity that his senior club members could participate in to keep active and exercise. He said, “You see, most of the seniors back then would come to the park and sit down and play games like Mah Jong and Hanafuda.”