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A
column by
District 50 State Representative Gary
Moore
Helpful
Information for Senior
Citizens
 Last month I
thanked the newspapers
which print the weekly
legislative reports
during session. I also
need to thank those who
faithfully post my
reports on their
websites. To all those
who help me keep my
constituents informed, I
offer heartfelt thanks.
I am dedicating this
month’s issue of
“Moore From the
Hill” to our senior
citizens. If you are not
a senior 65 or older,
please share this
information with your
friends or relatives who
meet the criteria. Printable copy
of this article. You may want
to do as I plan, share
but also save it in the
hopes that one day I will
be 65!
ELECTIONS
- VOTING
If you are 65 or older,
you are eligible to vote
by mail (absentee
ballot).
Tennessee Code 2-6-201
states: A registered
voter in any of the
following circumstances
may vote absentee by mail
in the procedures
outlined in this part.
Section (5) (A) states: A
person sixty-five (65)
years of age or older
when the person requests
to vote absentee.
In simple language, if
you are 65 or older you
can request an absentee
ballot from the Davidson
County Election
Commission. You may
contact the Election
Commission in one of the
following manners.
1) Visit their website at
http://www.nashville.gov/vote/absentee_ballot.htm
2) Call 862-8815 or
862-8800
Note: If you are 65 or
older and want to vote by
mail in all future
elections, you may
request an absentee
ballot for each election.
If you want a ballot
automatically sent to you
without having to request
it, you must have a form
filled out by your doctor
to send to the Election
Commission which states
your physical difficulty
or incapacity to vote in
person. This form can be
obtained from the
Election Commission.
SENIORS
PROPERTY TAX ASSISTANCE
I am listing two
different tax relief
programs for seniors as
outlined below.
1) Seniors Property Tax
Relief--The first
$25,000.00 of appraised
value of your home is
eligible for state tax
relief, if the total
combined income of your
household is $24,000.00
or less. To apply for
this or get details,
contact your county
Trustee. The Davidson
County Trustee telephone
number is 862-6330.
2) Seniors Property Tax
Freeze--For those senior
households with an income
of $34,260 or less (for
Davidson County), you are
eligible to
“freeze” your
property tax rate at the
current rate. In other
words, your tax amount
would stay the same, even
when there are property
tax increases. You would
contact the county
Trustee to apply for this
as well.
MEDICARE
Some important screenings
and prevention efforts
covered by Medicare:
One-time
“Welcome to
Medicare” Physical
Exam
Medicare covers a
one-time review of your
health, as well as
education and counseling
about the preventive
services you might need,
including certain
screenings and shots.
Referrals for other care,
if you need it, will also
be covered. You must have
the exam within the first
six months you are
enrolled in Medicare Part
B.
Cardiovascular
Screenings
Ask your doctor to test
your cholesterol, lipid
and triglyceride levels
so he or she can help you
prevent a heart attack or
stroke. Medicare covers
tests for cholesterol and
lipid levels every five
years.
Mammogram
This test checks for
breast cancer before you
or a health care
professional are aware of
it. Medicare covers
mammograms once every 12
months for enrolled women
age 40 and older.
Pap
Test and Pelvic Exam
These exams check for
cervical and vaginal
cancers and include a
clinical breast exam.
Medicare covers these
exams every 24 months for
all women with Medicare
and once every 12 months
for women with Medicare
at high risk.
Colorectal
Cancer Screening
This test helps find
colorectal cancer. If you
are age 50 or older, or
are at high risk for
colorectal cancer, one or
more of several tests are
covered. How often
Medicare pays for these
tests is different
depending on your
situation and your level
of risk for this cancer.
Prostate
Cancer Screening
This test helps find
prostate cancer. Medicare
covers a digital rectal
exam and Prostate
Specific Antigen (PSA)
test once every 12 months
for all men with Medicare
over age 50.
Diabetes
Screening
This test is available if
you have any of the
following risk factors:
high blood pressure,
obesity, a history of
high blood sugar, and
other factors. Medicare
also covers this test if
you have two or more of
the following
characteristics: age 65
or older, overweight,
family history of
diabetes (parents,
brothers, sisters) and a
history of gestational
diabetes (diabetes during
pregnancy) or delivery of
a baby weighing more than
9 pounds.
Based on the results of
these tests, you may be
eligible for up to two
diabetes screenings every
year. Talk to your doctor
for more information.
Bone
Mass Measurements
These measurements help
determine if you are at
risk for broken bones.
Medicare covers these
measurements once every
24 months (more often if
medically necessary) for
people with Medicare at
risk for osteoporosis.
Flu
Shot
This shot helps prevent
influenza, or flu virus.
Medicare covers the shot
once a flu season in the
fall or winter for all
people with Medicare.
Pneumococcal
Shot
This shot helps prevent
pneumococcal infections.
Medicare covers this shot
for all people with
Medicare. Most people
only need this shot once
in their lifetime.
Hepatitis
B Shots
These three shots help
protect people from
getting Hepatitis B.
Medicare covers these
shots for people with
Medicare at high or
medium risk for Hepatitis
B.
Glaucoma
Test
This test helps find the
eye disease glaucoma.
Medicare covers the test
once every 12 months for
people with Medicare at
high risk for glaucoma.
Smoking
Cessation Treatments
Smoking is the most
preventable cause of
death in the U.S., making
cessation programs an
important part of
wellness. Medicare covers
intermediate and
intensive smoking
cessation counseling for
up to two quit attempts
per year and other
cessation treatments
prescribed by a
physician.
For
some of these services, you might have
to pay a deductible,
coinsurance and/or
co-payment. These amounts
vary depending on the
type of services you need
and the kind of Medicare
health plan you have.
For more details about
Medicare’s coverage
of these preventive
services, including your
costs, call
1-800-MEDICARE or visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PrevntionGenInfo/.
As your state
representative, I care
about you and hope you
find this information
helpful. Please call my
office (741-4317) if I
may assist you in any
way. |
Contact
Representative Gary Moore
Phone 615-741-4317
Email rep.gary.moore@legislature.state.tn.us
--August 20, 2007
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