Eastern Agency on Aging: Editorial Page

Recent Letter to the Editor in the Bangor Daily News

The tragic suicide of one of our community’s cherished elders seemed so needless and preventable.  While we don’t know all the details of this terrible incident, it was clear from the news stories that this person needed help paying for his prescriptions and fuel, and that he clearly felt desperate and hopeless.

Eastern Agency on Aging works very hard to provide programs that help our senior citizens.  We offer nutritious meals, help in getting fuel assistance, and now thanks to Medicare D, help with paying for prescription medications.  Sadly, there are still many of our areas seniors who think they must suffer in solitude.  But there is so much help available if they just give us a call.

If you know of someone who may be going without fuel, food or prescription medication because they just don’t have enough money, please let them know they should call their local agency on aging.  Our services are free and confidential and we are eager to assist seniors with any and all their concerns.

From providing free legal services, respite for Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers, to providing home delivery of meals, area agencies on aging stand at the ready to take calls and improve seniors’ quality of life. It is our mission.  We also recommend a “Benefits Check-Up” which will be done free of charge and will ensure that the senior is receiving every benefit for which he of she is eligible.

Eastern Agency on Aging covers eastern

Maine

but there are five agencies on aging in the state. To find the one in your area call, toll-free 1-877-353-3771.

Noëlle L. Merrill

Executive Director

Eastern Agency on Aging

Oxygen Pump Users Can Get a Rebate on Their Electric Bills

Seniors who need to run electric oxygen concentrators or oxygen pumps know that such medical equipment can be unwieldy and costly. What few seem to know, however, is that Maine’s Public Utilities Commission has mandated a rebate for low-income Mainers who must run these machines for at least eight hours every day. If you think you may qualify for this rebate, here’s how to apply!

(Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I can only confirm that the information in this post is accurate for Bangor Hydro Electric customers... because my wife works for BHE and has checked my facts. Seniors who live in territory covered by Central Maine Power are advised to contact them for information on their process for taking advantage of this rebate. If anyone reading this is familiar with CMP’s procedure, please post a comment and let us know!)

First off, in order to be eligible for the oxygen pump rebate, you must receive Bangor Hydro’s low-income rate on your electric bill. BHE’s website has an easy-to-read chart to help you determine whether you may qualify for this rate. It’s important to note that customers receiving housing subsidies are not eligible for this rate.

If you think you may qualify, the next step is to apply for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and be certified for BHE’s low-income rate. (This is a good money-saving tip for anyone who thinks she may qualify, incidentally, regardless of whether an oxygen concentrator is in the picture!) BHE customers who live in Penobscot or Piscataquis County should contact Penquis CAP to take care of this, while customers who live in Washington or Hancock County should contact WHCA. Be forewarned: this process can take a couple months because the CAP organizations are frequently backed up, and getting through on the phone is not always easy.

Once you’ve been approved for the low-income rate, the CAP organization will inform Bangor Hydro, who will contact you (or, if you’re already certified for a low-income rate, you may contact BHE customer service at 1-800-499-6600 during regular business hours), and you can tell them that you would like to receive the oxygen concentrator rebate. A customer service representative will send you a form for your doctor to sign. This will certify that you need to run an electric oxygen concentrator for eight or more hours per day. When your doctor has provided this certification, return it to BHE and you will begin to receive a monthly credit toward your bill.

What’s especially interesting about this program is that, in some cases, the oxygen rebate you receive may actually be greater than your electric bill! My wife writes, “The short explanation for this is that the rebate is currently calculated to apply to the highest wattage oxygen pump/concentrator on the market. Many customers may have machines with lower wattages.” If this should be the case, it’s a great way to build up credit toward your BHE account, though you certainly should not use your oxygen concentrator less often than is medically necessary in order to save money on your bills!

This may sound like a lot to handle, but if you’re patient and persistent, the savings will be worth it if you qualify. Of course, if you need some help with any step of the process, you can always call the Eastern Agency on Aging’s intake and referral department at 1-800-432-7812 and one of our specialists will be happy to assist you! Breathe easy!

--Chris Williams, Administrative Assistant