Des Moines – Iowans currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan have options to switch through the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period that continues through March 31.
“During this open enrollment period Iowans can switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage.  They can even go back to Original Medicare and, if needed, join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan,” Kristin Griffith, Director of the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) said.

Iowans switching Medicare Advantage Plans or switching to Original Medicare with or without a Medicare drug plan, will have new coverage start the first day of the month after your new plan gets your request for coverage. “Iowans should keep in mind, if you go back to Original Medicare, you may not be able to buy a Medicare Supplement insurance policy.  Call 1-800-351-4664 to be connected to a SHIIP counselor who can help you make the change and answer your questions,” Griffith said.

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period isn’t for people who are enrolled in Original Medicare or are enrolled in a Medicare Cost plan.

(Radio Iowa) – One month of 2021 already behind us, but there are still several days left before the tax filing season opens for 2020. I-R-S spokesman, Christopher Miller, says February 12th is the first day you can file. “If that seems a little late to some people — we have changed the date depending on what we need to do to our systems,” Miller explains. “The February 12th start date allows the I-R-S to do additional programming and testing of the I-R-S system.”

He says that additional programming is needed after the tax change that came on December 27th. Miller says that was the change that brought the second round of economic impact payments and other benefits, and the programming is needed to keep things running smoothly. Miller says the changes ensure that eligible people will receive any remaining stimulus money as a Recovery Rebate Credit when they file their 2020 tax return. “If filing season were open without the correct programming in place — then there could be a delay in issuing refunds to taxpayers — and nobody wants that,” according to Miller. ” These changes ensure that eligible people will receive any remaining stimulus money as a recovery rebate credit when they file their 2020 tax return.”

Miller says the agency is still urging you to file electronically with direct deposit as soon as you have the information they need. He says you can get the tax returns completed now and the returns will be transmitted to the I-R-S when the filing season opens on February 12th.

(Radio Iowa) – Scammers are targeting some Iowans who are trying to get COVID-19 vaccinations. Larry Jones, a public health expert, says criminals are pretending to be from a local health department or another organization in order to get your personal information. “Health departments, etcetera, are not going to be asking people for their credit card numbers or personal information of that nature,” says Jones. “They’re going to be wanting to know your name, probably a telephone or an email to be able to get back with you, but they’re not going to be asking you for financial information.”

Jones says some of the scammers have built sophisticated websites with authentic-looking vaccine sign-up forms. “They look very legitimate like they are a local health department and they’re not,” says Jones. “When you go onto their site, they start asking for their credit card and their Medicare or Medicaid numbers and things of that nature.”

If you get a call, email or letter from your local, county or state health department that looks suspicious, call that agency directly before responding.

The Atlantic Community School District Board of Directors and representatives with the Non-Certified Staff Collective Bargaining Unit (CBU) are set to begin contract negotiations on Wednesday, February 2. The meeting starts at 4:00 p.m. at the High School Media Center, and will be available for viewing live on YouTube. The meeting is open to the Public. The NCS CBU will present its proposal first, followed by the Atlantic Board of Education’s proposal.

In the last school year (2020-2021), the non-certified staff CBU negotiated a 2.31% increase, at an estimated cost of $68,357.64. In 2020-2021, the certified staff CBU negotiated a 2.28% increase for the 2020-21 school years, with an estimated cost of $157,503.82.

(Radio Iowa) A House committee has voted to create two new state tax incentives for expanding child care in Iowa, but backers admit both bills are not in final form. Representative Phil Thompson of Jefferson says the first would establish a new state tax credit for property developers.

The other bill would offer state tax breaks to business owners that promise to expand on-site day care centers for their employees or build new ones. State economic development officials have asked for more guidelines for how businesses would qualify. Representative Lindsay James of Dubuque says these two bills are a start.

Other bills on the topic are pending. One that’s eligible for House debate would increase the number of Iowa parents who are eligible to claim a state income tax credit for child care expenses.

(Radio Iowa) – Students in Iowa’s K-through-12 schools would be led in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of each school day under legislation that’s cleared initial review in the Iowa House. Representative Joe Mitchell, a Republican from Wayland, says Iowa is one of four states that doesn’t have this requirement.

If the bill becomes law, students would not be forced to stand and say the pledge if they or their parents object. Parochial schools would be exempted if the pledge conflicts with the school’s religion. The Iowa State Education Association — that’s the state teachers’ union — is registered in support of the bill, while other groups representing school boards and school administrators are registered as undecided.