Crystal Clear Medicare

06/21/2026

Natural disasters can strike with little or no warning. Medicare is here to help you get care if an emergency is declared and you must evacuate to a safe area. Visit Medicare.gov/emergency to find resources and plan ahead.

Get Care in an Emergency

Prescription Drugs: You can transfer most prescriptions to another in-network pharmacy during an emergency, then return to your regular pharmacy afterward. If you need an out-of-network pharmacy, contact your Medicare drug plan.



Seeing a Doctor: With Original Medicare, you can see any doctor who accepts Medicare. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or other Medicare health plan, contact your plan about temporary options, such as using an out-of-network provider.


Critical Care & Equipment: Need access to cancer treatments, dialysis, or a replacement wheelchair or walker? Visit Medicare.gov/emergency to learn more about getting the care and equipment you need during an emergency.

Sincerely,

The Medicare Team

Rules for getting health care may change for a short time if there is a disaster or emergency in your area.

06/03/2026

Good advice to remember!
The calls are coming more often now... STOP AND ASK

Someone you don't know calls, emails, or texts you offering free medical equipment or services. What should you do? Hang up. Delete it. Only you and your doctor should decide what care and services are right for you.
Scammers want your Medicare information so they can bill Medicare for services you don't need — like hospice (end-of-life care), home health care, or durable medical equipment (like a brace or cane).
Hospice scams are particularly harmful. If a scammer signs you up for hospice care without your knowledge, you could lose access to your regular Medicare benefits.
Remember: Never give out your Medicare Number and don't sign anything for free services — it's a scam. If you think you may have experienced fraud, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or report it online at Medicare.gov/fraud.

04/14/2026

Urgent reminder!

The Social Security Administration has issued an urgent warning about an increase in scams impersonating their officials to steal personal information and benefits.
The Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration reports a significant uptick in these scams, which aim to obtain individuals' information and benefits.
Government imposter scams
Known as government imposter scams, these fraudulent emails pretend to be from the Social Security Administration, claiming to provide access to recipients' Social Security statements.
The bogus emails claim to include a statement of benefits and a link to click on to get that statement.
To make the scam even more convincing, the scammers are now using the names of actual employees from the Social Security Administration and sometimes attach a picture of the real employee to prove the email is legitimate.
Warning signs
• Warning signs to watch for include messages claiming your Social Security statement is ready to download.
• You can download your statement, but only if you have already established a login on the real Social Security website.
• Also, watch for embedded links or attachments labeled as statements or documents, messages telling you to act immediately, and sender addresses that do not end in ".gov."
For many older adults, their Social Security benefits are a true
lifeline.
Do not take any chances of putting those benefits in danger.

Feel free to contact me at 412-716-4942 or my daughter Dvonya Sedlacko-Stephens 412-657-3889 for questions or concerns.

04/05/2026

10/24/2025

Social Security Administration TODAY

Services are still available with your online My Social Security account.
As Congress works to pass a new federal budget, the government is currently shut down. We know this raises questions. We have answers to the most commonly asked questions about how the shutdown impacts you.

Will the Shutdown Affect Payments?

No, it will not affect payments. If you receive benefits, payments will continue without interruption. You will receive your benefits on time, with no changes to payment dates.

What Services Are Available Online?

We are constantly expanding our online services to give you freedom and control when conducting business with Social Security. Today, you can use your personal my Social Security account to:

Request a replacement Social Security or Medicare card
Access benefit verification letters
Apply for benefits
Check your application or appeal status
Access your Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) notice up to three weeks earlier than by mail (if you sign up for digital notices before November 20)
Change your address
Set up or change direct deposit
Print your 1099
View your latest statement
Review your earning history
Are Local Offices Open?

Offices are open, but not all in-person services are available. We encourage you to use your personal my Social Security account to easily access SSA services and benefits online. Log in to your existing account to access these services.

For more information, please check out this helpful blog post or visit our website for shutdown information.

Federal Government Shutdown Information