Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/463276
Most people I know are looking forward to signing up for Medicare just as soon as they can. When you're first eligi- ble for Medicare, you have a seven-month Initial En- rollment Period to sign up for Medicare's Part A and/ or Part B benefits and ser- vices. Part A covers hospi- talization and Part B cov- ers doctor visits, outpatient care, and other medical goods and services. Many people become el- igible on their 65th birth- day. Those folks can sign up during the seven-month period that begins three months before the month they turn 65, includes the month they turn 65, and ends three months after the month they turn 65. But what happens if you miss that window? If you didn't sign up for Part A and/or Part B (for which you must pay premi- ums) when you were first eligi- ble, and you aren't eli- gible for a Special En- rollment Pe- riod (more on that be- low), you can sign up during the Gen- eral Enrollment Period be- tween January 1—March 31 each year. Your coverage will start July 1. However, you may have to pay a higher pre- mium for late enrollment in Part A and/or Part B. How do you actually en- roll? You can call Social Se- curity (1-800-772-1213) or visit a local Social Security office. Or you can apply on- line at www.ssa.gov. After your Initial Enroll- ment Period ends, you may have the chance to sign up for Medicare during a Spe- cial Enrollment Period. If you're covered under a group health plan based on current employment, you have a Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part A and/or Part B any time as long as you or your spouse (or family member if you're disabled) are working, and you're covered by a group health plan through the employer or union based on that work. You also have an eight- month Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part A and/or Part B that starts the month after the em- ployment ends or the group health insurance based on current employment ends, whichever happens first. Usually, you don't pay a late enrollment penalty if you sign up during a Spe- cial Enrollment Period. Important Note: COBRA and retiree health plans aren't considered coverage based on current employ- ment. You're not eligible for a Special Enrollment Period when such coverage ends. This Special Enrollment Period also doesn't apply to people with End-Stage Re- nal Disease (ESRD). You may also qualify for a Special Enrollment Pe- riod for Part A and Part B if you're a volunteer, serving in a foreign country. Some people get auto- matically enrolled in Medi- care. Among them are peo- ple with certain disabilities and those who are already getting benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Re- tirement Board. If you're automatically enrolled, you'll get your red, white, and blue Medi- care card in the mail three months before your 65th birthday or your 25th month of disability. Also, Social Security is now processing some Medi- care enrollments for same- sex spouses, including: Enrollments for premium- free Part A for uninsured spouses age65 or olderbased on the work history of a cur- rent or former spouse. Enrollments for people with End Stage Renal Dis- ease based on the work his- tory of a current or former spouse; Reductions in Part A pre- miums based on the work history of a current or for- mer spouse; Requests for Special En- rollment Periods based on group health plan coverage from current employment of a same-sex spouse; Reductions in late-en- rollment penalties based on group health plan cov- erage from current employ- ment of a same-sex spouse. DavidSayenisMedicare's regional administrator for Arizona, California, Ha- waii, Nevada, and the Pa- cific Territories. You can get answers to your Medi- care questions 24/7 by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). DAVIDSAYEN WhenisthebesttimetosignupforMedicare Sayen A free agricultural tire collection event will be held the entire month of February. Extending this event throughout the month aims to better serve Tehama County farmers and ranchers. Agricultural tires will be accepted at the Te- hama County/Red Bluff Landfill located at 19995 Plymire Road and Lin- net's Tire Shop located at 1090 State Route 99W in Corning, during nor- mal business hours the entire month of February free. Tire vouchers are re- quired with a maximum of six agricultural tires accepted for disposal per address. Vouchers are lim- ited and will be available at the landfill, Tehama County Farm Bureau of- fice at 275 Sale Lane, Ag- riculture Commissioner's Office at 1834 Walnut St., Bull & Gelding Sale Office at 670 Antelope Blvd., Ste. 3 and Corning City Hall at 794 3rd St. Accepted tires sizes in- clude tractor, grader and backhoe tires with num- bers ranging from 9.5-24 up to 19.5-24. Other farm tires with numbers ending in 38, 40, and 42 also will be accepted, for example size 18.4-42. No scraper or loader tires will be accepted for free during agricultural tire month. Agricultural plastics are accepted at the land- fill free of charge year round during normal land- fill business hours. Triple- rinsed pesticide containers up to 55 gallons in size are accepted. All 35-55 gallon sized plastic drums must be quartered. There is no limit to the number of properly rinsed, quartered, lid and label free containers that are ac- cepted. Save vehicle trips and bring your spent agricul- tural plastics and waste tires at the same time, if possible. For more information about the agricultural tire collection event, call 528- 1103. TEHAMA COUNTY Fe br ua ry i s fr ee a gr ic ul tu ra l ti re c ol le ct io n mo nt h RED BLUFF Would you give blood to a loved one if you knew it was their only chance for survival? Would you give blood for a stranger to help save their life? When you give blood at the Red Bluff Commu- nity Blood Drive you will help save a life. The blood drive is sched- uled for 2-6 p.m. Wednes- day, Feb. 18 at the Veterans Memorial Hall, Oak and Jackson streets, sponsored by the Emblem Club. When you give blood in Red Bluff, that blood will stay locally at St. Elizabeth Community Hospital or Mercy Medical Center in Redding. The blood collected lo- cally has helped countless accident victims on Inter- state 5. Blood collected has also helped numerous cancer patients in Tehama County battle and beat can- cer. Did you know that 50 percent of blood collected is used for local cancer pa- tients? There is no substi- tute for blood and your help is needed to continue to save lives. If you would like to help with this important com- munity cause, call Todd Jones at 242-3005 for more information. BLOODSOURCE Blood drive set for Wednesday in Red Bluff By Kimberly Pierceall The Associated Press LAS VEGAS It's all seemed likeonebigunlikelymashup: the Deep South, God-fearing family of A&E's "Duck Dy- nasty" turning their tale into a song and dance musical on stage in Sin City. Even Broadway producer Michael David has been on the receiving end of inevita- ble surprise and, sometimes, concernwhenpeoplelearned of his involvement in the "DuckCommanderMusical." What were thespian blue- statersdoinggettinginvolved with duck-hunting entrepre- neurs from a decidedly red state? Especially duck-hunt- ing entrepreneurs whose pa- triarch has been quoted vil- ifying homosexual behavior. "If theater people are sto- rytellers, God knows we don't only tell stories about people we agree with," Da- vid said. The man behind the musi- cal"JerseyBoys,"hisDodgers Theatricals group and music executive Tommy Mottola teamed up with the "Ducks" to bridge two worlds. There certainly will be beards. And the usual fam- ily antics seen on the show. But there will be no do-si-do- ing around any of the contro- versy involving the family on "Duck Dynasty," cable's high- est-rated reality show. The good, the bad and the in-between are all said to be part of the 90-minute retell- ing of the Robertson fami- ly's rags-to-riches story, per- formed in a 680-seat theater inside the Rio hotel and ca- sino starting April 15. THEATER Unlikely new musical tells 'Duck Dynasty' family's tale Forinfocall 527-5162 ChildmustbefiveyrsoldonorbeforeSept.1,2015. If your child's birthday falls between Sept. 2 nd & Dec. 2 nd they are eligible for Transitional Kindergarten. Bring child's legal birth certificate and immunization records. Help will be available to answer questions Prescreening Assessment will be held on April 22, 2015 Sign up sheet available Wednesday,February 25,2015 7:30 am until 3:30 pm School Office Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten Registration Lassen View Elementary School FREE TO THE PUBLIC FREE TO THE PUBLIC (530) 529-1220 100 Jackson Street Red Bluff $25AMonthwith No Enrollment Fee Offer Expires 2-28-2015 Call for details Res iden tia l D irec t Care Staff neededtoworkwith adults with disabilities in residential facility. $9.92 per hour with benefit package. Must be (25 yrs. old+) must be insurable, pass drug screening/negative TB test, DOJ background check and health screen. Apply at North Valley Services, 1040 Washington St. Red Bluff TheCityofRedBluff is accepting apps for POLICEOFFICER. HS diploma/GED & Current CDL; possess a current California P.O.S.T. basic academy certificate. Salary: $47,287 – $57,477. Apps/ description avail @ www.cityofredbluff.org or 527-2605 ext 3051 Closing Date: February 20, 2015 at 5:00 pm. EOE CNAs neededat Red Bluff Health Care FT, PT, & On-call Call 527-6232 or stop by 555 Luther Rd. EOE LIFESTYLES » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, February 14, 2015 MOREAT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A8