Bilingual Bingo

Elizabeth Mensing

Every first Friday of the month from 10:30 to 11:30 NESCO holds Bilingual Bingo. This is a multicultural event that allows individuals who speak both English and Spanish to come together and play bingo.

Bilingual Bingo usually draws about 75 people and is followed by a hot lunch. This is a one-of-a-kind experience that cannot be found at any other Dane County senior center or coalition. Since NESCO is the only senior focal point in Dane County that has a cultural diversity program we are the only one that can offer unique multicultural programming such as Bilingual Bingo.

If you are interested in joining us for a fun and lively hour of Bilingual Bingo please contact NESCO for more information about the next Bilingual Bingo event and how to sign up. Also, if you have the ability to speak both English and Spanish and are interested in calling bingo for one of our fabulous Bilingual Bingo events, please contact NESCO to sign up. We look forward to seeing you there!

Medicare Cost Assistance

Cortney Doescher-Hino

A new federal law is increasing access to a special program that helps Medicare beneficiaries with their Medicare costs. Some beneficiaries will be eligible for assistance with both their Medicare Part B premiums and their Medicare copayments and deductibles. Other beneficiaries may be eligible for assistance with their Medicare Part B premiums. This program is called the Medicare Savings Program and eligibility is based on a Medicare beneficiary’s income and assets.

Beginning in January 2010 for all the Medicare Savings Programs, beneficiaries can have assets up to $6,600 for an individual and $9,910 for a couple. Beneficiaries can also have $1500 per person for a burial fund in addition to the asset limits. The asset limits

included are based on the asset limits for the Medicare Part D low income subsidy and they may go up for 2010. Medicare beneficiaries with monthly income below $902.50 per month for an individual and $1,214.17 per month for a couple may be eligible for assistance with Medicare premiums and copayments.

Beneficiaries with income below $1,218.38 per month for an individual and $1,639.13 per month for couples may be eligible for assistance with their Medicare Part B premiums. Anyone who is eligible for the Medicare Savings Programs is automatically eligible for assistance with their Medicare Part D prescription drug costs. Medicare beneficiaries who think they are eligible for these programs can check their eligibility at https://access.wisconsin.gov/access/ or by contacting the county human services department.