DEAR SUN SPOTS: If a wife suddenly finds herself unable to be on her husband’s insurance plan, does she have any recourse on acquiring insurance for herself, now that the deadline for the Affordable Care Act has passed? She is over 65 and only has Medicare. Thank you for your help. — No Name, Auburn

ANSWER: The Affordable Care Act does not make provisions for additional insurance for those who are eligible for Medicare (or for Medicaid). The ACA deems Medicare adequate insurance, and many people rely solely on Medicare.

Medicare recipients concerned about Medicare’s deductibles and copays can purchase a Medigap policy from a private company.

Sun Spots found a story at aarp.org (http://tinyurl.com/7r3pwrp) that explains how these policies work. It includes the following do’s and don’ts as to what Medigap policies cover:

“Generally, standard Medigap policies cover some or all of the cost of:

* Your Part A deductible and coinsurance (i.e. the 20 percent Medicare doesn’t cover) for hospital stays

* Your portion of your doctor’s bills for Part B services

* The first three pints of blood annually, if needed

* Hospice care coinsurance

“Medigap plans do not cover:

* Long-term care to help you bathe, dress, eat or use the bathroom

* Vision care, eyeglasses, hearing aids or dental care

* Private-duty nursing

* Prescription drugs, or any out-of-pocket costs for Part D plans”

There is much more to be learned about these policies. Research carefully before purchasing.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Is there going to be an increase in Social Security this year?

What happened to Sorba (sp?) and Kim who did sports on Channel 6? — B.B., Bethel

ANSWER: The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security recipients is 1.5 percent for 2014.

The closest Sun Spots came to Sorba is Csaba Sukosd, who is still listed as a member of the Channel 6 team. (He is originally from Transylvania!) Sun Spots could not find anyone with either the first or last name of Kim on the list of Channel 6 announcers.

Perhaps Kim left the station and the show you recall is no longer on? Csaba is still covering sports, according to wcsh.com.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Our class is working on a project called Parade of States. We are responsible for gathering as much information we can from a number of sources. I have chosen Maine for my state.

If any of your readers would help me out by sending any pictures, postcards, a used license plate, facts, products, etc., from your state, it would be greatly appreciated. — Sam Woodard, fifth grade, Cascade Christian School, 601 Ninth Ave., Puyallup, WA 98372

ANSWER: The last time Sun Spots had one of these requests, the response was excellent, and the mother sent a thank-you note!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am requesting any information on Jacqueline Roderick, who lived a short time in Livermore. She attended Livermore Falls High School as a freshman in 1960. Please contact the Bonnevie family at 207-897-5063. Thank you. — B. Bonnevie, Livermore

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