There will soon be major promotions by online companies for the upcoming holiday shopping season. The holiday season is a prime opportunity for identity thieves to target consumers. With the growth of online shopping, millions of individuals are potentially exposed to online fraudsters. The first line of defense against online attacks is strong passwords.

The IRS cautions taxpayers to take a few simple steps to protect your passwords, which can in turn protect sensitive financial information from identity thieves. Protecting personal information makes it more difficult for an identity thief to file a fraudulent tax return on a taxpayer’s behalf.

Cybersecurity experts have changed their strategies for passwords. Previously, they suggested complex passwords that were different for every online account. Because most individuals have accounts for financial services, social media, online shopping and other purposes, the number of complex passwords was too great. 

As a result, many security experts now recommend longer phrases such as “SomethingYouCanRemember@30.” The IRS offers nine tips to help you protect your online accounts. 

• Password Length – Create a password with eight or more characters.
• Combination – Use upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols in your password.
• Personal Information – Do not use your city, street, or other personal information in a password. This information is widely available to identity thieves.
• Default Password – Do not use “password” for your password. Change all default passwords.
• Reuse of Passwords – Do not use the same or similar passwords for multiple accounts. For example, avoid “Begood!17, Begood!18 and Begood!19” as your passwords.
• Email Address – Do not use your email address in a password. This email address is easily known by fraudsters.
• Security – If you have a written list of passwords, store them in a safe or locked file cabinet.
• Disclosure – Never give out passwords over the internet. Be on guard if an email sender claims to be from your bank, the IRS or your employer.
• Password Manager – Consider using a password manager program. Do a search to find password programs for multiple devices. The best password programs typically have 256-bit encryption.

The amazing donors of the Washington County Community Foundation awarded over $100,000 in grants through the Spring 2025 Grant Cycle.  Grants are primarily awarded from the Foundation’s Touch Tomorrow Funds.

The Salem Police Department was awarded a $3,500 grant to purchase e-bikes and training equipment in order to improve safety on the Monon Trail as well as easy access to fairs and festivals in the community while providing law enforcement presence.

The Pierce Polk Volunteer Fire Department was awarded a grant for $15,000 to purchase a fire rescue utility terrain vehicle in order to perform trail rescue as well as assist with wildland firefighting, missing persons location and accessing community events such as festivals and parades.

The Salem Fire Department also received a $15,000 grant for a utility terrain vehicle with skids in order to help with medical rescue on the trail and difficult to reach locations as well as the fair and other festivals.  The UTV will also be utilized to assist with firefighting capabilities.

Choices Life Resource Center received a $3,742 grant to purchase much needed formula and diapers for the center as well as outdoor signage to raise awareness for their free parenting resource program.

The Washington County Fair Board will be getting new bleachers in the show barn thanks to a $25,000 grant.  The new bleachers will provide a better experience for exhibitors, families, and community members.

Washington County EMA received a $14,399 grant to purchase a thermal drone to assist in response to emergency situations and disasters.  The drone will have 24/7 accessibility to all types of emergency responses.

The Square will be getting additional public art through crosswalk design thanks to a $10,000 grant to the City of Salem.  The permanent art installation contains a pedestrian safety component for the downtown corridor while promoting downtown attraction and a welcoming atmosphere.

Lights, Camera, Action will be in order for WCACT with a $2,560.95 grant to purchase new sound and lighting equipment to replace the current system, which has ceased working.  The new equipment at the theatre will help to ensure production success for a better participant and audience experience.

Emmanuel Church was awarded a grant for $10,000 to prevent collapse of the north wall of the church, erected in 1872.  The funds will be used to replace the sill foundation logs as well as installing a French drain along the outside of the wall to divert rainwater and prevent future damage.

East Washington Elementary School is receiving a $1,493.37 grant from The Women’s Fund to purchase items for their back to school assistance program.  The program provides backpacks of needed supplies to students that might not be able to afford them.

Thank you to the donors of Washington County Community Foundation for making our community a better place for our residents through their generosity and compassion for Washington County.

Washington County Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity established in 1993 to serve donors, award grants, and provide leadership to improve Washington County forever

Is vision care covered by Medicare? I currently have vision insurance through my employer, but I will lose this coverage when I retire.

Many soon-to-be retirees are often unclear with what Medicare covers when it comes to vision care. The good news is that Medicare pays for most eye-related medical issues like cataract surgery, treatment of eye diseases and medical emergencies. Routine care, such as eye exams and eyeglasses, are usually the responsibility of the beneficiary. Below is an overview of what is included and excluded under Medicare.

Eye exams and treatments: Medicare does not cover routine eye exams that test for eyeglasses or contact lenses, but it does cover yearly medical eye exams for individuals with diabetes or at high risk for glaucoma. Medicare will cover examinations for eye diseases if you are experiencing vision issues that suggest a serious condition, including macular degeneration, dry eye syndrome, glaucoma, eye infections or if a foreign object is present in your eye.

Eye surgeries: Eye surgeries that are not considered medically necessary, including refractive (LASIK) surgery and cosmetic eye surgery, are not covered by Medicare. Medicare does pay for eye surgeries that help repair the eye function, including cataract surgery to remove cataracts and insert standard intraocular lenses. Medicare will not, however, cover the extra cost of premium multifocal lenses that restore the full range of vision, thereby reducing the need for glasses after cataract surgery. The additional cost for premium lenses may range from $1,500 to $4,000 per eye.

Eyeglasses and contact lenses: Medicare will not typically pay for eyeglasses or contact lenses. If you have had a conventional intraocular lens inserted during cataract surgery, Medicare will pay for one pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses following the operation.

Ways to Save

Although original Medicare’s vision coverage is limited to medical issues, there are ways to save on routine care. Here are some options to consider.

Medicare Advantage: Many Medicare Advantage plans, which are alternatives to original Medicare and sold through private insurance companies, cover routine eye exams and eyeglasses. Coverage may be limited so be sure to understand the details of what is and is not covered under any plan being considered. Although enrolling in an Advantage plan exclusively for vision coverage is not recommended, it is an option worth considering. To locate Advantage plans in your area that provide vision coverage, go to Medicare.gov/plan-compare or call 800-633-4227.

Purchase vision insurance: If you get routine eye exams and purchase new eyeglasses annually, a vision insurance plan may be worth the premiums. These policies typically range between $5 and $30 per month. Most plans will also have copays or deductibles you will be responsible for.

Check veterans’ benefits: If you are a veteran and qualify for VA health care benefits, you may be able to get some or all your routine vision care through the VA. Go to VA.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/vision-care to learn more.

Find cheaper shopping options: Many retailers provide discounts between 10% to 50% on eye exams and eyeglasses if you belong to a membership group. You can also save by shopping at discount retailers or big box stores.

You could also consider buying your eyeglasses online which may offer savings. To purchase eyeglasses online, you will need a valid prescription from an eye doctor, usually no more than a year old, and your pupillary distance (PD). Your PD is the measurement in millimeters between the centers of your pupils.

Look for assistance: There are health centers and local clinics that provide free or discounted vision exams and eyeglasses to those in need. To find referrals, visit the National Eye Institute online at nei.nih.gov and click on the “Get Help Paying for Eye Care” option. 

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

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