AARP Missouri

Caregivers Together, a local support group in Carthage, meets monthly to offer family caregivers in the area an opportunity to share stories with others facing the same challenges. Founded by AARP volunteer Jinny Hopp, the group also shares tips on how to balance your own life and work with the tasks required to meet an aging loved one’s needs.

Medicare Annual Enrollment runs through December 7, and it’s a banner time for Medicare fraud. Beware of ads that promise medical equipment covered 100% by Medicare. Like the one that might appear in the newspaper offering a free back brace, or the TV infomercial claiming you can get anything to ease your pain with no money out of pocket. Medicare only covers durable medical equipment that is medically necessary with a doctor’s prescription. Scammers hope you don’t know this. They want your Medicare number to fraudulently bill Medicare. Plus, your Medicare number is also your Social Security number so be especially cautious about giving it out.

In keeping with the state’s constitutional guarantee to “free exercise of the right of suffrage,” AARP Missouri is raising concerns about a measure that would place new restrictions on voting. The resolution (HJR 53) calls for a state constitutional amendment that would require every voter to present an approved form of photo identification at the polls.

Every three seconds, someone is a victim of identity theft and fraud. That’s why AARP Missouri is creating events to help prevent con artists from committing these criminal acts against you.

Yum, yum, yum!

There were bikes everywhere at the Third Annual Women’s Bike Summit on September 10 at St. Teresa’s Academy in Kansas City.

In the last legislature, the state’s monopoly utility companies were working the halls of the capitol trying to raise rates on Missourians. AARP Missouri fought back and won. Even now, these same companies are arguing in front of the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) to try to raise rates through regulation – and AARP Missouri is there, fighting for you. For years, monopoly utility companies in Missouri have had bill paying stations located on-site at predatory payday lenders. It was a win-win for utilities and payday lenders because it meant utilities were more likely to be paid and Missourians on fixed incomes were more likely to take out payday loans to cover those bills – and pay triple digit interest rates on those loans. AARP has been fighting to stop this predatory practice for a long time. This year, the PSC sided with Missouri consumers and took the utility pay stations out of payday loan locations. That’s a win for every Missourian!

By Alan Greenblatt

AARP is teaming with the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis to present a Vice Presidential watch party and Social Security policy discussion on October 4 beginning at 6:00 p.m. The event will take place at the Fox-Clark Forum in Hillman Hall on the Danforth Campus located at the corner of Forsyth Blvd. and Hoyt Drive.

The devastating natural disasters that have made national news this year serve as a reminder to people of all ages that we must take action to prepare for emergencies that could affect us where we live, work or visit.