By Sara Duris
Q. Does Area Agency on Aging provide meals to people in the community? How can someone qualify to get meals delivered?
A. The Agency does provide meals to our clients through home-delivery programs. We also partner with Meals on Wheels of Southwest Michigan and Cass County Council on Aging to provide not only home-delivered meals but congregate meals at locations throughout Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties.
Funded by the Older Americans Act, the national Senior Nutrition Program has provided nutrition services to older Americans since 1972. This month marks the 53rd anniversary of the Senior Nutrition Program. The Administration for Community Living (ACL), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides grants to states to enable a network of local programs that deliver nutrition services to older adults. These programs promote healthy eating, foster meaningful social connections, and support overall health. They also act as a gateway to other home and community-based services like falls prevention programs, chronic disease management resources, and more.
Individuals age 60+ who are unable to leave their home under normal circumstances to shop or otherwise unable to obtain food or prepared meals are eligible for the home-delivered meals program. Individuals must be home to receive the meals, which are generally hot but can be frozen for some geographic areas. In Berrien and Van Buren counties, call 269-925-0137, and in Cass County, call 269-445-8110, to schedule an assessment. If a senior does not meet home-bound criteria, meals can be obtained through privately paying, or individuals can go to one of the many congregate meal sites throughout the three counties. Congregate meal sites can be found by calling the above numbers for the corresponding county, or going to the agencies’ websites, as follows: https://www.snsmeals.org/congregate-meals-for-active-seniors or https://casscoa.org/care-services/meals-wheels
If someone has care needs in the home in addition to meals, or is younger than age 60 and disabled, they might be eligible for assistance through one of our other programs. Please contact our Info Line for Aging and Disability at 800-654-2810 to learn more.
Q. Did Medicare costs for Part A and B change for 2025?
A. Both Parts A and B had increases in cost and deductibles at the beginning of 2025. Original Medicare Part A, which covers inpatient hospital services, skilled nursing facility services, hospice, and some skilled homecare, still has no-cost for the monthly premium for those who have worked more than 10 years. For those who worked between 7.5 and 10 years, the monthly premium cost is $285 (up from $278 last year) and for those who have worked less than 30 quarters / 7.5 years, the premium cost is $518 a month (up from $505 last year.) If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, it provides your Part A coverage and you can contact your plan to review the costs associated with your 2025 plan.
Medicare Part B covers outpatient medical services, such as services from a licensed health professional, preventive services, outpatient therapy, and home health services. The Part B monthly premium for 2025 is now $185 a month, up from $174.70 last year. The Part B deductible increased from $240/year to $257/year for 2025. Part B coinsurance remains at 20 percent for most services.
If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, your plan administers your Part A and Part B coverage. Remember that most people with Medicare, whether they have Original Medicare or a Medicare
Advantage Plan, pay the Part B monthly premium. Some people with a Medicare Advantage Plan may also pay an additional monthly premium for that plan. The amount you pay for Medicare Advantage Plan deductibles, copayments, and/or coinsurances varies by plan.
If your annual income is higher than $106,000 for an individual, or $212,000 for a couple, you will pay a higher Part B premium. The Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) is an amount you may pay in addition to your Part B or Part D premium if your income is above a certain level. The Social Security Administration (SSA) sets four income brackets that determine your (or you and your spouse’s) IRMAA. If you are expected to pay IRMAA, SSA will notify you that you have a higher Part B premium.
If you need to better understand your Medicare/Medicaid benefits and look for ways to maximize savings, please call the State Health Insurance Assistance Plan (SHIP) at 800-803-7174 to speak to an unbiased counselor