DEAR SUN SPOTS: Regarding your May 18 column on Medicare Part B, you are totally correct: It is all very complicated.

The program that can pay for your Medicare Part B is called the Medicare Savings Program, also known as the “Buy-In.” In addition to paying for your Medicare B premium, this program qualifies individuals for the Social Security Low-Income Program and the Maine Rx Drugs for the Elderly programs. These programs combined will pay both your Medicare Part B and Part D (prescription drug plan) premiums, eliminate the doughnut hole for medications, significantly reduce the co-pays and sometimes even pay the co-pays and deductibles for Medicare Parts A and B.

As you indicated, these are valuable benefits to low-income Medicare beneficiaries who can currently qualify if single income is under $1,679 and $2,268 for those who are married and live with their spouse. Unfortunately, these income guidelines may change with the latest state budget cuts. If these cuts go through as proposed, they will impact some 40,000 current participants.

More information on the Medicare Savings Program can be attained by calling your local Area Agency on Aging at 1-877-353-3771. SeniorsPlus is the agency that services Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties and can be reached at 757-4010.

Thank you for the tremendous service you provide to our communities. — Roland Bussiere, Medicare specialist

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thank you for all the help you give everyone. A short time ago someone wanted used greeting cards. Would you please run that again? I also have lots of old calendars to give away. Thank you. — No Name, Auburn

ANSWER: That April 29 letter was from Louann in Auburn, 782-2815. She specified that donations should be in the L-A area.

Sun Spots doesn’t have a source for old calendars. People often write in to offer them, but Sun Spots knows of no takers. Recycling is probably your best bet.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I would like the addresses for the producer of “The Voice” and Hoda and Kathie Lee on “The Today Show.” I especially like the format of “The Voice” and “Everyone has a story” on Hoda and Kathy Lee. Thank you very much. — Velma Adams, Auburn

ANSWER: Fans of the duo of Kathie Lee and Hoda might want to visit their website at http://tinyurl.com/3vwz8qo. They have additional information on the show, its stars and video you can watch.

Readers can submit queries or their thoughts on “Today Show” segments at http://tinyurl.com/3pczfra. The only mailing address Sun Spots found was for NBC, NBC News, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112 You can put the name of the show above NBC News on the envelope.

As for “The Voice,” its website is www.nbc.com/the-voice. The executive producer is Mark Burnett. Sun Spots was unable to locate a specific mailing address for him. But you could write to him c/o the NBC headquarters address shown above.

Sun Spots suspects that the difficulty in finding a mailing address is intentional. It is much cheaper and easier for companies to create buzz online through fan sites such as Facebook than to deal with mountains of handwritten letters. They don’t want to annoy viewers by not answering their queries, but they don’t want to spend the money to respond either. On the websites they offer very clear warnings to even the emailers not to expect a personal response.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be e-mailed to [email protected].