Medicare changes after Affordable Care Act discussed Wednesday

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David Holden, a manager at the Knoxville–Knox County Office on Aging, will speak on “How Changes in Medicare Regulations Will Affect You” at noon Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church.

The Health Luncheon program in the church’s Activities Building, Room 102, is free and open to the community. The lunch costs $5. Call (865) 483-1318 to make reservations and indicate whether you wish to buy lunch.

Holden said he will speak on the Affordable Care Act and its effects on two health insurance programs: Medicaid and Medicare. He will discuss the proposed expansion of Medicaid.

“It’s not a done deal yet whether Tennessee will reject the expansion,” he said. “It depends on the Obama administration’s response to Gov. Bill Haslam’s proposal.”

In his talk, Holden said: “I will emphasize improvements in Medicare benefits that will result from the Affordable Care Act. Some of the costs will go down, although other costs will go up.

“One improvement is in Medicare Part D, the prescription drug program. Some costs will come down, and the doughnut hole will be closed in 2020.”

Holden is program manager for the Affordable Medicine Options for Seniors in the Knoxville–Knox County Community Action Committee Office on Aging.

AMOS staff and volunteers help seniors and people with disabilities make good use of Medicare, Medicaid, and other public and private insurance programs to lower the cost of their prescription drugs.

Before 2002, Holden served as associate area director for the Elderhostel Southeast Area Office in Newnam, Ga., and as the state director of the Tennessee Elderhostel. He was director of the University of Tennessee’s Department of Independent Study and Distance Education in its Outreach and Continuing Education Office.

Holden has advanced degrees in English from the University of Kansas.

First Presbyterian Church is located on the southeast corner of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Lafayette Drive.