Some people live by the creed “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”

When it comes to the way people take care of themselves in the twilight of their lives, nothing is trivial.

Too often people fail to read the fine print, search for the better deal or in any way inconvenience themselves for one reason or another.

Those are traps some people who apply for Medicare coverage may have fallen into.

The simplest and most important message to relay is not every plan is the same.

Nearly everything that can be bought probably has its price marked up, and prescription drugs and hospital visits are no different.

Senior citizens should not be sucked into the mindset that it doesn’t matter what type of coverage they are under.

Furthermore, they should not ever be cheated out of what is rightfully theirs — medicine and personal care that can extend or even save their lives.

The Alabama Tombigbee Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging is offering a program Tuesday at the YMCA of Selma-Dallas County to assist people who qualify for Medicare coverage whereby they can get drugs and doctor visits at costs that could be much lower than what they currently pay.

It is something people who are not covered by an employer-sponsored plan would do well to look into to.

Enrolling in a medical coverage plan simply because it is convenient is no way to take care of yourself.

Elderly people have given a lot to this region, this country and to the world in general.

These are the people who stormed beaches under heavy artillery fire and marched into the equally vicious minefields of fire hoses and police dogs.

They have forged a comfort and prosperity that, although lean now, few other nations can claim.

Allowing them to leave on the table available federal money to protect their well being would be wrong.