This summer, I’ve rediscovered some of the holes in Medicare coverage. I’ll just bet there are committees and commissions galore reviewing the program on which most of us over 65 depend for our health insurance coverage.

A couple of years ago I had cataract surgery on one of my eyes. This year, as I struggled to read the Celtics score on the television, and found myself putting off reading my usual book a week, I finally decided it was time to go to my eye doctor, set up appointments and have the cataract on the other eye removed. I couldn’t wait to have good vision once again.

Imagine my surprise when my longtime eye doctor told me the cataract wasn’t serious enough for Medicare to cover the surgery. That insurance doesn’t kick in until a person is truly sight-impaired. A new lens for my glasses was ordered, and of course Medicare does not cover that. Apparently, Medicare is not one of those programs concerned with preventive medicine.

Many of the people who are now working and approaching retirement have no idea that Medicare doesn’t cover the obvious age-related medical needs, like hearing aids, eyeglasses or dental work.

I’d advise all those employed by an entity that pays even part of dental coverage to first count their blessings and second, have any work done before they retire, if they can. Check and see how long that dental coverage is good for, once you’ve retired. It is possible to purchase individual dental insurance, but there is a limit as to coverage, there’s a monthly premium and deductible. And the dental insurance does not cover the entire amount billed, so be sure to do some arithmetic before making your choice of company.

Another thing that needs to be fixed is the availability of all kinds of housing specifically for senior citizens.

Independent living means apartments or structures designed for senior citizens who can live on their own without help. There are a number of these facilities in area towns, but not enough for the growing senior population, whose income is diminished but who are still active and in some cases, working.

In Windham there are four such places, and some of the rental units are subsidized. Income levels are checked before a potential renter is added to the waiting list, which is lengthy, up to 75 when I last checked. People who live in these units usually stay put until they need assisted living.

Assisted living housing is designed for those who need a little help in daily chores, such as cooking, medicine dispersal and mobility. Sometimes these units are subsidized and may be covered by MaineCare, for example. Most of them are what’s called private pay. There is an extreme shortage of this kind of housing. In one area town describing one such facility, the waiting list for those who are not in the category of private pay is stated as years. Imagine being on a waiting list for years. Impossible to contemplate, but I know of one woman who recently had to move to a facility many miles and several towns away from her lifelong home.

Recently I wrote about seniors getting organized to help make change happen. These few inequities in our health care and shelter availability are just two issues about which I hope all readers share my concern.

What can we do about it? We can start by writing or e-mailing or calling our elected representatives. Our political leaders may not even be aware of these problems. Within the last month or so, I heard one politician stating matter-of-factly on television that a certain elderly housing facility “had a bus that came by each day to transport people to medical appointments” and in the same conversation, referred to a local independent living site as “assisted living” – both referrals incorrect.

It’s time for us oldsters to help educate the youngsters – again.