Medicare cardholder bus fare will become less of a bargain

Question: I am a senior citizen who still drives and has access to my car so I only ride the bus once in a while. Right now, I am allowed to use my Medicare card and pay $1 for each ride I take. Two examples of the most frequent uses of my card are:

A) Catch the bus from the Namahana Street bus stop in Waikiki down Kuhio Street to Kapahulu Avenue. Pay $1.00 with the card, and

B) catch the bus on Pensacola Street to Ala Moana Center, ask for a transfer and then catch a bus to Waikiki. Pay $1.00 with the card. These are two separate examples and not a continual use of one trip.

Will the use of a Medicare card still be allowed for a senior discount and what will the cost be for the examples I cited above?

Answer: Yes, the Medicare cardholder fare remains in the Oahu bus fare structure table that was approved this month, but which won’t take effect until October. The main changes are the addition of a new all-day fare, and the elimination of free transfers and the four-day bus pass. You can see the updated fare structure table at 808ne.ws/dailybusfare, on page 3.

According to the table, the Medicare cardholder fare will be $1 for a single-fare ride (no transfers granted) and $2 for a one-day pass (unlimited rides during that period). So, in your examples, A) would still cost $1, but B) would cost $2. That’s because no transfers will be granted, so you could either buy the all-day pass ($2) or two single-ride fares (also $2).

The Medicare cardholder fare is separate from the senior citizen fare available to passengers with a valid senior ID card issued by TheBus system. The ID card costs $10 for four years. You said that you are an infrequent passenger, but the $5 monthly bus pass for seniors with ID is such a bargain that you might consider it. Seniors with valid ID also can buy an annual pass for $30, which is far less than youths ($330) or adults ($660) pay for a year’s worth of bus rides.

Kokua Line has received many questions about the new rate structure since it was passed by the Honolulu City Council and signed into law by Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Perhaps addressing your examples will help other readers as well.

For more information on purchasing bus passes, see 808ne.ws/currentfare and click on the relevant passenger category.

This site will have information about the current rules, as the new fare structure won’t occur until this fall.

Q: Do I have to bring last year’s tax return with me even if AARP did it last year?

A: Yes. The AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide Program always tells clients to bring a copy of last year’s tax return. Following that advice is especially important this year, because a change in tax-preparation software provided by the Internal Revenue Service means “there will be no carry forward of returns at any site in the state. Returning clients should bring their 2015 return and all new 2016 tax documents, along with Social Security cards/documentation and picture ID,” according to the AARP website.

You can find links to more information about the program at taxaidehi.org.

Mahalo

Thank you to the many people who helped me on Monday at Manoa Safeway find a package of Parowax. They include a young man and his daughter, who make an effort to help others, Safeway clerks and others. I was able to come home and make my jelly! — Mahalo, a senior citizen

Mahalo

A belated mahalo to police officer Mark Sylvester, who came to my rescue when I was stalled right off the North Pali exit going toward Nuuanu on Jan. 16. I am very grateful because I was stalled in a danger zone and I was very scared. Thank you so much. — Gratefully, H.I.

Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.