Not too hot, not too cold – October is one of the nicest months. While we’re enjoying these colorful days and the pleasant weather, in the back of our minds we’re thinking ahead and planning for those cold days of January, when the fuel prices will be at their highest.

We’ll pick up a few rolls of that gray stuff that fills in the little spaces around window frames, gather all the tubes of caulking, caulking gun and plastic windows together in one place and hang all the quilts outdoors for a good airing-out.

Bags filled with dry leaves make good insulation around foundations, preventing drafts. Years ago when I was working for a building material firm, it was drummed into our heads that if you could feel a draft of cold air, hot air was going out. It’s still a good rule to follow.

Check out all information on LIHEAP (fuel assistance) and local organizations that have been working all year raising funds to help those who may find themselves in desperate circumstances. The volunteers and supporters of the “fuel fund” groups have done so much good it’s nearly impossible to tally.

This is also the time to update or at least review your health insurance coverage. Now is when you can change your Medicare plan if you wish. There are several organizations that can help you through all the options, costs and coverage – and this information and help is provided at no cost to you.

We’ve heard so much lately about Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act that many are totally confused. Many people think they are two different programs – a “man on the street” interview showed that those who hate Obamacare loved the Affordable Care Act. Well, they are one and the same. Whatever you call it, if you are receiving Medicare already, you don’t need to fret about it – Medicare isn’t included and other than a couple of improvements, it hasn’t changed.

According to the Medicare.gov website, “Medicare isn’t part of the Health Insurance Marketplace established by ACA, so you don’t have to replace your Medicare coverage with Marketplace coverage.”

No matter how you get Medicare, whether through Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan, you’ll still have the same benefits and security you have now.

Medicaid (in Maine, it’s called MaineCare) is affected by the Affordable Care Act. It expands Medicaid to adults with incomes at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level starting Jan. 1, 2014.

While the Medicaid expansion was intended to occur nationwide, the Supreme Court ruling on the Affordable Care Act effectively made it a state option. Maine is one of the states not taking the expansion, resulting in many who have depended on MaineCare to pick up the medical costs that Medicare didn’t cover, to lose this coverage. Leaders in the health-care field are now negotiating with the state to take another look at this new rule.

As for the government shutdown and how it will affect benefits for seniors, including veterans, we should remember this event and the instability and loss of security it brought – and take those memories to the voting booth with us.

Kay Soldier welcomes reader ideas for column topics of interest to seniors. She can be reached by email at kso48@aol.com, or write to 114 Tandberg Trail, Windham, ME 04062.