New Year Resolution - Sign up for MEDICARE? News to Use..

Turning 65 this year? Looking to retire on Medicare?.... While signing up for Medicare sounds relatively simple, there are a lot of moving parts [literally ! Parts A, B, D...!] that require decisions that will impact your pocketbook and your insurance coverage. 

TIME TO START ENROLLING... Starting the project this NEW YEAR...(been in denial)... and will share info that may be helpful to fellow "boomers"..... this is a good overview to use in planning the "big event".... 

The author  Bob Rall, CFP®  April 24, 2017 (Investopedia)
 recommend six steps when going through the Medicare enrollment process:

1.  Check your timing
2.  Choose your Medicare path
3.  Select your specific plans
4.  Enroll in Medicare (note that this is the fourth step, not the first!)
5.  Enroll in your specific plan(s) (For related reading, see: Medicare 101: Do You Need All 4 Parts?)
6.  Review your coverage annually

You can find the FULL article at the following website link: "Investopedia" website that is an excellent source for explaining financial concepts in understandable terms!!!!!   I will "feed" the entire on to this site for those of you who are unable to obtain the full article. 

COMING ..NEXT SECTION: "The BASICS - Medicares A, B, [C] D 

LINK (Cut & Paste)
Read more: Medicare Enrollment Part 1: When to Enroll | Investopedia https://www.investopedia.com/advisor-network/articles/medicare-enrollment-part-1-when-enroll/#ixzz52qBZFbRA
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RUSSIAN Followers..very interesting!!!

Here is PROOF that the Russians (Dark Green/Right) follow US Bloggers....check out the Russian interest in this website... this comes from the stats Google keeps on followers...

CMH News: Dr. Ivan Gowan retires from Community Memorial Hospital

HAMILTON >> Medical staff and employees from Community Memorial Hospital gathered on Wednesday, Dec. 20 to celebrate the career of Dr. Ivan D. Gowan, who is retiring after serving patients at Community Memorial Hospital for 34 years.

“Dr. Gowan has made a significant impact on the well-being of the residents in our community. His expertise in Orthopaedic medicine using ground-breaking methods has advanced the quality of care at Community Memorial Hospital,” said Dr. Robert Delorme, vice president of Medical Affairs at Community Memorial. “His energy and passion for medicine will be missed by all staff and we wish him well as he begins the next chapter of his life.”

See the ONEIDA DISPATCH for rest of article....great source of local news:
http://www.oneidadispatch.com/business/20171223/dr-ivan-gowan-retires-from-community-memorial-hospital

CONGRESS: 2018 - [Quick Read] Year Ahead

WASHINGTON — After a halting start, the Republican-controlled 115th Congress — sometimes in collaboration with President Trump, often despite him — has enacted surprisingly far-reaching conservative achievements in its first year, among them a long-promised rewrite of the tax code, oil drilling in the Arctic and a series of lifetime appointments to the judiciary.

For the new year, Republican leaders in the House have their sights on decades-old programs for the poor that they say are too easily exploited by those who do not need them. Mr. Trump is expected to move forward with a long-promised program to rebuild roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

And Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, is speaking gamely of bipartisanship, especially on legislation to protect young undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children, whose Obama-era protection from deportation will run out in March.

On Jan. 20, the latest stopgap spending measure expires, giving lawmakers from both parties another chance to force resolutions on outstanding immigration and health care measures, along with efforts to raise caps on military and domestic spending. And an $81 billion package of relief for hurricane and wildfire victims that passed the House last week awaits Senate action.

(NYT/ LINK: for full article)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/24/us/politics/congress-2017-conservative-courts-taxes-trump.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

VETERANS FAMILIES - Memorial Bricks ..Waterville's SOLDIERS & SAILORS MONUMENT

Wonderful idea... just saw this in the Waterville Website "HUB OF THE HUDDLE" .. Memorial Bricks...for Veterans...to be placed at the SOLDIERS & SAILORS MONUMENT in Waterville.

Check out this link to the "HUB" or call the Waterville Public Library and speak with Jeff Reynolds (315) 841-4651  ...there is an order form and guidelines... the  suggested donation are included. 

DETAILS, FORMS at the "HUB"..also great website for kid events   CUT & PASE:  http://hubofthehuddle.blogspot.com/

Congress averts partial shutdown, pushes showdowns into January

The stopgap sending bill approved Thursday extends current federal funding through Jan. 19, delaying showdowns on spending, immigration, health care and national security. The measure provides temporary extensions of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, a veterans health-care program and a warrantless surveillance program.

Senate Approves Historic Tax Cut in 51-48 Vote

Senate Approves Historic Tax Cut in 51-48 Vote
Congress stands on the cusp of passing a $1.5 trillion tax cut and the largest structural overhaul of the tax system since 1986.

The Senate passed the tax-overhaul bill, 51-48, early Wednesday morning, hours after it sailed through the House on a 227-203 vote. A last-minute glitch because of Senate rules forced Republican leaders to schedule another vote in the House for Wednesday morning. The result isn't likely to be any different, and the measure will head to President Donald Trump for his signature, though no date has been set.

The Senate vote was purely along party lines, with Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) absent. In the House, every Democrat who was present voted no, as did 12 Republicans, almost all from high-tax states.