Free Health and Legal Info Seminar in Vestal

Health care has changed so much in recent years and for some living in the Southern Tier, these changes can be very confusing. There's an informative senior health and legal information seminar coming to the JCC in Vestal on September 30th.

Speakers Karen Sweet-O'Neill, CLTC, and Kathryn Grant Madigan will offer an informational seminar to members of the JCC and the general public on Wednesday, September 30, from 7-8:30 pm, at the JCC, 500 Clubhouse Road in Vestal.

Sweet-O'Neill will discuss several topics, including how to recognize one's status in a hospital setting and how to help save money if one is classified "under observation" instead of "inpatient." This issue has cost Medicare beneficiaries thousands of dollars, when in many circumstances it could cost nothing to the patient.

Sweet-O'Neill will also discuss the changes the long term care insurance industry is going through, and how some policyholders may be affected by premium rate increases. She will relate industry news on medical underwriting to qualify for LTC policies and how the gender-based calculation is escalating the costs in many cases. She will also introduce a solution for future long term care policy rate increases and a response to the concern of paying the premium for years and never using it. The answer, according to organizers, is "a new product with Baby Boomers in mind."

The group will also explain the pitfalls of annuities, transfer of asset rules, the importance of powers of attorney and recent estate tax reform in New York state. The event will be free and open to the public. For reservations, call the JCC at 724-2417.