While the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period nationwide ended December 7th, because the November California fires occurred during the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period, the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid have authorized a Special Enrollment Period for people impacted by the recent fires. Open Enrollment is the timeframe each year when individuals on Medicare can change their selected health insurer.

For impacted Medicare beneficiaries in Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, the Special Enrollment Period has been extended to March 31, 2019.

This Special Enrollment Period is also available to people with Medicare who don’t live in the affected counties but rely on or help make health care decisions for family or friends who are/were living in the impacted areas.

If you need assistance with Medicare enrollment or your rights under Medicare, you can contact the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) at 1-800- 434-0222.

HICAP provides free and objective information and counseling about Medicare insurance issues for California residents.

On September 17, 2018, the California Department of Aging designated the County of Solano as the lead agency for the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) serving Napa and Solano Counties. The new AAA will operate under a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement between the two counties.

The California Department of Aging will continue to work with and provide funding to the current service providers in both counties through emergency contracts until December 31, 2018. At that point the new AAA will assume those responsibilities.

On September 24, 2018, the California Department of Aging announced that Choices in Aging had been awarded the contract to operate the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) in Napa and Solano Counties. Choices in Aging also serves MSPP clients in Contra Costa County.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s, Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) sponsors the NEOWW which highlights the value of hiring older workers. This year’s NEOWW theme is “Their Knowledge, Their Skills, Their Abilities – Why Not Hire an Older Worker?” For more information, see the CDA SCSEP webpage.

Each year legislation is proposed that may impact older adults and persons with disabilities. Review what has been proposed here.

Thursday, October 23, 2014, Former First Lady Rosalyn Carter presented the 2014 Rosalynn Carter Leadership in Caregiving Award to CDA Director, Lora Connolly and Susan Howland, Director of Education for the Alzheimer's Association, California Southland Chapter.