Ask Andre

Question:  I heard on the news that part of the economic stimulus package would be a one time payment to seniors on Social Security.  When will I be getting my payment if so?

Answer:  The Social Security Administration will be providing a one time economic recovery payment of $250 to nearly 55 million Americans, mostly senior citizens by the end of May.  The funds will be sent to individuals receiving Social Security, Railroad Retirement, Supplemental Security Income or Veterans benefits as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  Social Security Economic Recovery Payment

Credit Report Freeze

Question:  I was talking to a friend the other day about identity theft, and she said that you can put a freeze on your credit report to stop new accounts from being opened.  Is this the case, and how do I do it?

Answer:  Your friend is correct; the General Assembly passed a law last year allowing individuals in South Carolina to place a security freeze on their credit reports without incurring a fee beginning December 31, 2008.  With cases of identity theft growing more common, it is important for people to do everything they can to protect their credit now more than ever.  Credit Report Freeze

MyPHRSC Adds TRICARE to Online Records

Question:  Several months ago I read about a program that allowed people with Medicare to keep up with their health information on the internet.  I am a veteran, so I have TRICARE rather than Medicare.  Is there a way to use this system for TRICARE?

Answer:  The program you are referring to is My Personal Health Record, South Carolina (MyPHRSC), and from the reports that I have seen it is being well received.  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently expanded the MyPHRSC pilot project to include TRICARE for Life health data.  This is a significant development since there are approximately 56,000 DoD TRICARE beneficiaries who are Medicare eligible currently reside in South Carolina, and are therefore eligible to participate in the CMS MyPHRSC pilot.  MyPHRSC Adds TRICARE Records

Veterans Benefits

Question: My husband passed away this summer after a long battle with dementia.  He worked hard after leaving the service to set aside a comfortable retirement for us.  Unfortunately the majority of this was used to pay for his long term care and other medical expenses.

Recently I was talking to a friend who asked me if I had contacted the Veteran’s Administration for assistance, I told her I had, though at the time, it did not appear we qualified. I understand now, we may have qualified had we known more about the benefits available. I don’t want others to watch their savings disappear like ours did, can you help me clear this up?  Veterans Benefits

Digital Converter Coupons

Question: I recently tried to get a coupon for a digital television converter from DTV2009.gov and had to put my name on a waiting list. It seems every time I turn on the television I see a commercial telling me to act now or my screen will be blank on February 18, 2009.

Is the switch still going to occur and will I be able to get a coupon? Digital Converter Coupon Waiting List PDF

Healthcare Power of Attorney

Question:  My father is a resident in another state, but is staying with me in South Carolina because I don't like the idea of him living alone. I have gotten a doctor for him here, though he wants to return home if skilled care becomes necessary.
If something should happen while he is staying with me, and he has to be hospitalized, will his living will and the power of attorney be honored? Is it necessary that he have new documents drawn up by an attorney here? I want to make sure his wishes are honored within the extent of South Carolina law.  Health Care Power of Attorney

Medicare Open Enrollment

Question:  Last year my husband and I signed up for a Medicare drug plan for the first time. We thought that we had made a good choice, but with so many options we were slightly overwhelmed. As the bills came in over the year we found out that many of our prescriptions were not covered, and the cost started adding up quickly.

We really need to change our plan and want to know how to do it and if there is anyone that can help us understand the process. Who do we contact for this information? 
Open Enrollment

Digital Television Conversion

Question:  When I was watching the news the other evening, I saw the reporter talking about the government making a law that would change how television works. They said that if you didn’t have cable television your TV would not work any more and that you would have to get a new set. Will my television really quit working next year?  Digital Television Conversion

Long Term Care Insurance

Question:  A friend of mine recently lost his mother after a long stay in a nursing home.  I knew that she was on a fixed income, so I asked how they handled cost of nursing  home. He told me that they were lucky because his mother had purchased Long Term Care insurance shortly after she retired. He told me that his mother purchased the
insurance so that the money she had saved would go to her family rather than to pay medical bills.

My parents and in-laws are getting up in years, and I was wondering if this type of insurance was really that beneficial? Should I encourage my parents to purchase some of this insurance and do the same myself?  LongTerm Care Insurance

Stopping Unwanted Mail

Question:  I have been reading about your efforts to fight senior fraud recently and thought that you might be able to help me with my mother’s situation.

Several years ago she started making charitable contributions to several organizations that sent her information in the mail. Since that time she has been getting more and more mail from all sorts of organizations asking for money, many of them indicating that without her contribution terrible things are going to happen. She takes these very seriously and over time these $25 to $50 donations are starting to become a financial hardship.

What can I do to help her stop getting this unwanted mail? It is getting out of control and she just can’t say no to a "good" cause.
Stopping Unwanted Mail

Emergency Rental Assistance

Question:  My parents are on a fixed income with the bulk of their funds coming from Social Security. With the cost of everything from groceries, gas for their car, to the power bill increasing every month they are having a hard time making ends meet. Are there any programs out there to help them?
Emergency Rental Assistance

Identity Theft Protection

Question:  My mother called me the other day wanting to know what I thought about a great program that an insurance agent called her about. The agent told her that they would give her either a motorized scooter or $1000 if she completed a survey on health related questions and provided some personal information. When she said that she would fill out a survey, an agent came by her house to notarize the survey and have her sign a release. She told them that she would have to talk it over with me first since I have power of attorney. Is this legitimate? Why do they need to have this survey and release notarized?  Identity Theft Protection

Living Wills

Question:  My father is a resident in another state, but is staying with me in South Carolina because I don't like the idea of him living alone. I have gotten a doctor for him here, though he wants to return home if skilled care becomes necessary.

If something should happen while he is staying with me, and he has to be hospitalized, will his living will and the power of attorney be honored? Is it necessary that he have new documents drawn up by an attorney here? I want to make sure his wishes are honored within the extent of South Carolina law. Living Wills 

Medicare Fraud

Question: I turned 65 in August, and I am going to enroll in a Medicare Part-D program during the open enrollment period. Last week I received a call from an insurance agent who wanted me to sign up with his company. He told me about what the plan offered, and it sounded like a good fit for me, so I asked him where his office was located so I could come in and fill out the paperwork. He told me there was no need to come in, I could sign up right then on the phone. He asked me several personal questions and wanted me to provide him with my bank account information so he could charge me $299.99 as an enrollment fee. This seemed like an awful lot of money so I told him I would have to call him back after I reviewed other plans. He became rather aggressive in trying to convince me to sign up with his company so I told him goodbye. Something seemed very fishy about this to me, are most Medicare Insurance agents this aggressive? Medicare Part D Scams 

Question: With all of the technological advances today, I have been wondering why we are not able to keep up with our health care information and records on the internet like we do with banking and bills. My wife and I take care of almost everything on-line since we learned how to do it, and I would love to see this as an option as well.

Will this ever be an option for us in South Carolina?  MyPHRSC 

Telephone Bill Assistance for Low-Income Seniors

Question: My elderly neighbor is trying to get by on a very limited income.  She really needs telephone service in case of an emergency, but it’s gotten so expensive.  Is there any source of help available for her?  Lifeline and Linkup 

Economic Stimulus Payment

Question: I have been hearing on the news lately about seniors not getting their economic stimulus check from the Internal Revenue Service. I am confused. Do seniors qualify for this rebate? Economc Stimlus Payment 

Summer School for Gerontology

Question: What’s the “Summer School of Gerontology” and can anyone attend, or is it just for people who work in the Aging field?  Summer School 

Stranger Originated Life Insurance

Question: My mother called me the other day wanting to know what I thought about a great program that an insurance agent called her about. The agent told her that they would give her either a motorized scooter or $1000 if she completed a survey on health related questions and provided some personal information. When she said that she
would fill out a survey, an agent came by her house to notarize the survey and have her sign a release. She told them that she would have to talk it over with me first since I have power of attorney. Is this legitimate? Why do they need to have this survey and release notarized?   Stranger Originated Life Insurance

Telephones for the Hearing Disabled

Question: I’ve heard special telephones are available from the state for seniors who have trouble hearing. Is that true? Telephones for Hearing Disabled PDF

Five Wishes

Question: I read an article recently that encouraged people to plan for medical emergencies by completing papers to give their family and doctors directions about what they would want if they were unable to communicate.  The article mentioned something called the “Five Wishes.”  What is that?  Five Wishes PDF

Caregiver Support Groups

Question: I am currently caring for an elderly relative and I could really use some help balancing the demands of working and caregiving, where can I find it?  Caregiver Support PDF

Reverse Mortages

Question:  I’m hearing a lot lately about “reverse” mortgages. What are they, and are they a good idea?  Reverse Mortgages