Celebrate California Clean Air Day by joining us on Sunday, October 1^st (10 am -1:00 pm) for the San Fernando Valley Electrification Faire! Vendors from around Los Angeles will be there to help you electrify your homes, and we'll supply free resources to help you pay for their services! Learn more about solar panels, heat pumps, electric vehicle charging stations, induction stovetops, and so much more. Whether you're electrifying to help the planet or lower your utility bills, we're here to help. For questions, please contact Juana Torres at [email protected] or at 818-742-8622.

In celebration of September being National Intergenerational Month, ONEgeneration’s Intergenerational Daycare Center will be celebrating with a few extra special activities including a performance from “The Amazing Dave”, who will be conducting a Magic and Juggling Show, an Art Day in the Patio, a Pancake Breakfast, a Fall Picnic in the soccer field complete with floating apples and snow cones, and closing out the adventures, Mr. B will lead us in a drum circle! Check back next month to see photos of our preschoolers and their senior “neighbors” enjoying their celebratory shared time.

1.      Big news: Inflation reduction Act of 2022. For 2024 once you hit “catastrophic “level of drug coverage your cost will drop to zero from 5%. We calculate that no one should be spending more than $3300 on their prescriptions next year. I know that doesn’t sound great, but it will save a lot of people thousands of dollars. For 2025 there will be a hard cap of $2000.

2.      In response to the new limits on drug costs we expect to see Part D plans increase dramatically in 2024 and or 2025. A supposed 6% limit on premium increases only applies to the “standard” plan. None of them are standard. This added cost will also put pressure on Medicare Advantage plans.

3.      HHS announced the first ten drugs under part D subject to price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act. These ten drugs represent over $50 billion in annual program costs. Eliquis represents over $16 billion, more than double the next costliest drug, Jardiance, at $7 billion. Prices will be negotiated by September 2024 to take effect January 2026, pending resolution of several pending lawsuits regarding the legality of the negotiation process.

(Eliquis, Jardiance, Xarelto, Januvia, Farxiga, Entresto, Enbrel, Imbruvica, Stelara, Fiasp, Fiasp FlexTouch, Fiasp PenFill, NovoLog, NovoLog FlexPen, and NovoLog PenFill.

4.      The Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period is the best time to review your Medicare Advantage Plans and Part D prescription drug plans. 

5.      Things to know:

a.       Medicare Advantage Plans are plans run by insurance or nonprofit companies. You assign your Medicare benefits to these entities and they become your provider of Medicare services. You no longer can use your Medicare card separately for services. Los Angeles has 100+ plans, most of which are HMO. Most of these plans include drug coverage (MAPD). Many of these plans have no monthly premium.  Plan availability varies by county. Other states and counties have a very different assortment of plans. These plans are required to provide coverage at least as good as original Medicare. Plan designs vary dramatically. Many extras included such as dental and vision.

b.      Part D Prescription Drug Plans: These plans are sold by insurance companies and are available on standalone basis. There are 26 Part D plans available in California. If you have very expensive drugs, you will likely experience a share of cost for those drugs.

c.      Medicare Supplement Plans: Also known as Medi-gap plans. These plans allow you to obtain Medicare covered services from any Medicare contracted provider nationwide (other than those under exclusive contracts). There are presently 10 different plans available nationwide for those who turned 65 after 1/1/2020. If you are older than that, you have access to 2 additional plans—C and F. All these plans have a monthly premium that varies by age and zip code. But the benefits are standardized and identical nationwide.

d.      Retiree health plans: These are becoming rarer. Many companies are trying to divest themselves of this expense. If you’re paying more than $300/mo. for the plan you should probably explore other alternatives. You have guarantee issue options.

e.      Medi-Cal, Low Income Subsidy or Extra Help. If you are challenged in paying the cost for your prescriptions, be sure to check with Social Security or CA state Medi-Cal to see If you qualify for Medi-Cal or Low-Income Subsidy or Extra Help.

6.      During the Annual Open Enrollment Period, you have the greatest flexibility to make changes:

a.       You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan (if you have Medicare Parts A and B). There are no health questions.

b.      You can drop out of a Medicare Advantage plan and return to original Medicare. In doing this you would usually add a Part D drug plan and you can apply for a Medicare Supplement plan.

c.      You can change from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another plan from the same company or with a different company.

d.      You can enroll in a Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) if you have Medicare Part A or B.

e.      You can drop your Part D drug plan (not recommended).

7.      During the Annual Open Enrollment Period you normally do NOT have a guaranteed enrollment into a Medicare Supplement Plan. You usually must answer health history questions. However, there are some Special Enrollment Periods or circumstances that might alter that.

a.      If you have moved out of the service area of your Medicare Advantage Plan

b.      If you are losing group health coverage

c.      If you lose Medi-Cal

d.      If your Medicare Advantage plan reduced benefits

e.      If you medical group is no longer in the network of your plan

f.       If a carrier is offering an “underwriting holiday”

8.       If you are turning 65 or new to Medicare, you can enroll in any plan you wish on a guaranteed basis.

Paul Davis, Paul Davis Insurance Services is an independent agent representing the major carriers for Medicare supplement, Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. 818 888 0880 pdinsure.com CA license #’s 0669770, 0M47932. Also, now licensed in 20 other states. Supporter of ONE generation since 2003. “We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area.

Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.” (Please note the addition of the above Disclaimer as required by CMS to be compliant with 2023 Marketing Rules)

Adult Daycare    

My LA 311

The City of Los Angeles 311 Call Center provides various options to connect to a wide variety of non-emergency City services and general City information. Some of the most popular City services can be requested by calling 311 or (213) 473-3231, visiting https://myla311.lacity.org, or using the MyLA311 mobile app.

​​​​​​Medi-Nurse Line: ​​​​​​If you don’t have health care coverage, or you have Medi-Cal but don’t have a regular doctor, the advice line can connect you with a nurse to talk about COVID-19 symptoms and help connect you with local resources. This service is available 24/7. Call (877) 409-9052​​.

Medi-Cal Extended to 50+ Click on link to see if you qualify.

Costco Pharmacy now allows Medi-Cal clients to use their services. Read More

LA County Hotline: If you are feeling depressed call 1-800-854-7771.

National 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Alzheimer's Association - Southland Chapter Sept. Education and Support Groups

LA County Library digital card Use card for free movies and TV: Kanopy & Hoopla.

Free Wi-Fi: Click on the link for a list of Library parking lots offering fee Wi-Fi.

Please contact [email protected] before reproducing or distributing the included information.