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Show DAILY HERALD Tuesday, April 25, 2006 Medicare Part D — Who needs it? ' A low-fat meat and cheese lasagnarecipe ear Jim Miller Senior, I need to help my Medicare prescription drug coverage before the deadline, but I don’t understandit my- self. How can we knowif she really needs a plan andif so, howdo wechoosethe right one? *Procrastinating Pam Dear Pam, For Medicare beneficiaries, the May15 enrollment deadline for choosing a Part D prescription drug plan is rapidly approaching (unless congress extends it at the last:minute) — but who really needs it? Here are some tips that mayhelp you decide. Whoneeds it While all Medicare beneficiaries areeligible for drug coverage, who actually needs a Part D plan? The answer depends on how you payfor medicine now. You need a Medicare drug plan if you have: insurance)policythat covers drugs, drop the drug coverage portion and get a Part D plan because the coverageis better. Who doesn't need it If you fall into any of these categories, you either don't need Part D, or don't need to worry about enrolling in one. » Employer coverage:If you of their lasagna coup — “How WeDid It” — they disclose that they: | company’s human resources department. (Note:If the com- stead of ground beef and pork in the sauce. for you over the phone. will breakdown and compare » Made the sauce even lean- and they'll do the comparing panydecides later to reduce or drop their coverage you can en- roll in a Part D plan at that time without penalty), TriCare, your drug coverageis Part D. » Medicare Advantage: Ityyou have Medicare through aman: » Doublecheck: Be sure the plan you choose covers allthe drugs and dosages your mother currently takes.If it doesn’t, call her doctorto see if there’s an alternative medication that's enrollment penalty, which is a 1 percent premium increase each month you delay. aged careplan like an Har PPO — stay there. Your m cine is-already covered. » Medicaid: If you're on Medicaré and Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income(SSI) you're already been enrolled in or look for another plan. Enroll: Youcanenrollina drug Po Leora either Choosing a plan benefit by having a Medicare | will be dry and grainy. Do not online or by phone,or go use fat-free mozzarella or the filling will be rubbery. directly to the plan you select- Meat and Cheese plan you're in, you can change Makes 10 servings ed. (Note: If you don't like the Lasagna plans each year between Nov. 15 and Dec.31). For the Sauce: - If Savvy Tip:Ifyou need additional help choosing a plan contact your local SHIP (www. shiptalk.org, 800-677-1116), who ® Two 28-ounce cans diced Ginaknes) 1. medium onion, minced § 1 teaspoon olive oil Db Salt ».6 mediumgarlic cloves, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 2 »To To reach Jim Miller or to If yeu think your mom would zarella with reduced-fat moz- » Reduced the Parmesan to | just 1 ounce, from 2 1/2 ounces. Warning: Do not use ground turkey breast meat (sometimes | labeled as 99 percent fat free) for this recipe, or the sauce | | | provides free Medicare Part D cmetne. a Part D plan. DP Replaced whole-milk moz- zarella. on the plan's approved drug list EmployeesHealth System or 1 pound 93 percent lean ground turkey D1. cup low-sodium chicken 3 44.cup minced fresh basi! leaves ask a question, visit www. savvysenior.org. tablespoons) til the flavors are blended and the sauce is thickened, about 45 minutes. Se On TOE Eee into the sauce and canis simmer,stirring occasionally, until the sauce measures about 6 cups, 20 to 30 minutes. Removethe bay leaves and stir in the basil. Season with salt and » Ground biack pepper For Filling and Pasta Layers: ees. » 1 pound fat-free ricotta cheese ‘ and pepper together ina large B12 ounces reduced bow!until thoroughly commozzarella cheese, shredded ~ ‘bined (you should have about 3 (about 3 cups) cups of filling). To assemble and bake: Ad- » Used ground turkey in- youcan call 1-800-MEDICARE roll in a (low premium,zero de- have a Medigap (supplemental Test Kitchen, 2006, $35). To summarize the evolution receiving a letter, contact the ductible) plan to provide drug D Medigap insurance: If you | er& oe most of the oil. | iced whole-milk ricot| taa fat-free ricotta . coverageif your health deteriorates andto avoid the late see if you qualify for the Medicare “extra help”assistance. drug coverage. » Start shopping: Once you } 2 tablespoons tomato paste 3 +4 teaspoon red pepper flakes broth 3 2 bay leaves editors of Cook’s Illustrated magazine take on. the plan’s costs, coverage,list of preferredpharmacies and more.If you're not Websavvy, probablybetter than Medicare's drugplan so you don't need and youalso need to contact Social Security (800-772-1213) to The following recipe is one example of their efforts col| lected for our dining pleasure and health in “The Best Light Recipe” cookbook (America’s | | ‘The challenge a but it's the kind of thing the don't need Part D. You should have received letter indicatingif the coverageis creditable or not. If you can't remember Veterans Affairs, the Federal need to enroll in a Part D plan, able to print you a copy of this information. You'll also need , your mom's Medicare number, birth date, zip code, preferred pharmacies and current (if any) Plans. Fromthere you plug in $750 you maystill wantto en- » Limited income: If your | | your mom's information and get a personalized search that year on medications you need a drug plan. But, if you're monthlyincome is less than | the dosages and costs. Your mother’s pharmacy should your mom takes along with or union,that's as good as or better than Medicare's — you » Government benefits: If you havedrug coverage from $1,225 ($1,650 for couples) you THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Would you believe a kew-fat meat andcheese by making a list of the drugs get organized goto www.medicare.gov and click on Compare Medicare Prescription Drug. already have drug coverage through a former employer D Little or no coverage:If you spend morethan $750 a healthy and spendless than | | drug plan, here are some steps that can eer you select a plan to meet her needs. » Gather information: Start Savvy Senior mother figure out the just an oven rack to the middle 34 cup minced fresh basil leaves 1 large egg, lightly beaten 3% teaspoon salt 3} ¥% teaspoon ground black pepper Vegetable oil spray Bx conal eenane nents from one 8-ounce package For the sauce: Process | can of tomatoes with their juices in bine the onion, oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large nonstick skillet. Cover and cook over medium-low heat until softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic, tomato paste and pepperflakes andcook until the garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in half of the groundturkey and cook, breaking the fee into small pieces with a woodenspoon,until the meat loses its raw color but has not browned, about 4 minutes. Add the pureed tomatoes, re- ining can of diced tomatoes with their juices, broth and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer and cook,stirring occasionally, un- position and heat the oven to 375 F. Spray a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with vegetable oil spray. Spread | “cups of the sauce evenly over the bottom of the baking dish. Lay 3 lasagna noodles on top of the sauce, spaced evenly apart. Place /s cup of the filling on top of each noodle and spread it out evenly over the entire noodle using a rubberspatula. Spread 1 cup of the sauce evenly over the filling. Repeat this layering twice more. Lay the remaining 3 noodles over the top. Spread the remaining | '2 cups sauce evenly over the noodles, making sure to cover the edges. Spray a largepieceoffoil with vegetable oil spray, and coverthe lasagna tightly. Place the lasagna on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes. Removethefoil and sprinkle the lasagna evenly with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella. Continue to mie uncovered,until the cheese is bubbling andslightly brown, 10 to 15 minutes longer. Remove from the oven and cool on a wirerackforat least 15 minutes before serving. IHOProlls out cinn-fully sweet new pancakes | CELEBRATION his week| reached outfor a short stack of Cinn-A-Stack Pancakes, available at America’s No.1 flapjack emporium, IHOP,with 1,242 restaurants in 49 states. Whichstate is IHOP-deprived? Let's see, what's the favorite topping for pancakes .« Maple syrup, right? You got it — Ver- mont doesn't have an IHOP. Atleast, not currently. There's an [HOP on the drawing boardfor the Green Mountain State in early 2007. Here's the blueprint for Cinn-A-Stack Pancakes: two of IHOPs iconic buttermilk pancakes, slathered in a sticky cinnamon spread, then sheared with cream-cheese icing and topped with whipped cream. This isn’t breakfast — this is one of those cinnamonbuns yougetat the airport for 589. Total calories: 650. Fat grams: 23. Fiber: * 2grams.Carbs: 60 grams. Manufacturer's suggested retail price: $3.99. No airport gouging at IHOP. Cinn-A-Stack Pancakesalso are available as part of combo breakfasts that Ken Hoffman I ask for mine “alittle undercooked.” I like them gooeyin the middle. Then again,I eat chocolate-chip-cookie dough raw. Baking is such a wasteoftime.It’s a sucker’s play. THOP’scinnamon spread has the con- Drive+hru Gourmet include eggs, hash browns,bacon,etc., starting at $4.99. sistency-and mouth-stickiness of smooth peanut butter at room temperature. The Yeah,that’s a good idea — add lot of fat and cholesterol to the massive sugar rush you're alreadygetting. To be fair to IHOP,every timeit polls its customers cinnamonmeltsinto the pancakes. Then the cream-cheeseicing melts on top of that, followed by whipped cream melting on topofeverything.It's like global warming 9nyour breakfast plate. The only environmental damageis to your waistline, though. about whatthey'dlike to see on the menu, the answer comes back... more sweets. Cinn-A-Stack Pancakes fit the bill,all right. The only thing missing from these pancakesis syrup, and you'll find that on yourtable. Like that old Simon and Garfunkel song, [HOPis just keeping the customersatisfied. Rememberinsanely sweet Stuffed French Toast? Thatstarted as an LTO(tradelingo for “limited time only”), but customersflipped and nowit’s on the permanent menu. Cinn-A-Stack Pancakesstart with two pancakes arecinn-fully sweet‘n’ yummy— greatat breakfast, but even better at 3.a.m., after a hard day’snightlife. JHOPdeliversa consistently excellent product time after time. IHOPalsooffers Cinn-A-Stack French Toast. You Would think that'd be overdoing the cinnamonthing, but IHOPnormally does not put cinnamonin oronits French Toast. Very odd.Delicious,but still odd. regular ol’ IHOP pancakes, which are the gold standardofflapjacksin the industry. Letterato the Ls Lois Jorgensen, 80th Lois Jorgensen was born on April 25, 1926 in Lehi, Utah to Neil’and Erma Larson. She graduated from Lehi High Schoolin 1944. She then attended schoolat the LDS Business College. Lois worked in the offices at Geneva Steeland later worked at the Utah County Court House,working in the clerks’office. She married Glen Jorgensen on November17, 1948. Later, solemnized in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. Glen andLois had three boys: Larry, David (Kerri), and Ron (Toni). She has 9 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.She is a faithful member of the LDS Church & served in all of its ae including President of the MIA, Counselor of Relief Society and Primary. She loves to cook and Editoronline make beautiful quilts. Lois Jorgensen will be celebrating her80th Birthday with her family HappyBirthday! WeLoveYou! wwwheraldextra.com Savvy ShopperDeals HARMONS, Pietee aes Prices good through 5/2 Prices good through 5/29 |