Newton Independent
Jasper County senior citizens have until Dec. 31 to open enroll into new plans for Medicare health and prescription drug coverage and Skiff Medical Center is trying to make residents aware of a free program that may help residents make the best decision for their individual situations.
The Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) provides one-on-one insurance coverage advise to Jasper County residents, Skiff said in a press release. One of the long-time, volunteer counselors is Jerry Castonguay of Newton.
The SHIIP volunteers meet individually with their clients on the third floor of Skiff Medical Center during business hours Monday through Friday. The counselors review each client's prescription drug regimen and, using an Internet-based Medicare program, find the plan that provides the most affordable coverage for each client. The sessions can range from 30 minutes to two hours.
"There are a lot of plans available," Castonguay said. "If you haven't dealt with that kind of thing in the past, it can be pretty confusing."
However, he said, using SHIIP's services can result in substantial financial savings.
"That brief investment of time could save you $500 over the course of the next year by helping you pick the right plan," said Castonguay, who along with four other SHIIP volunteers will help 400 to 500 people review their plans.
Castonguay credited the local hospital's support for the program's success in Jasper County.
"We're very lucky to have a sponsor like Skiff that treats us so well," he said. "They provide phones, computers, offices - everything we need to help our clients."
For more information about SHIIP or how the program may help a senior citizen in making decisions regarding health and prescription drug coverage, call 641-791-4899 and leave a message. A volunteer will respond.
Recent Comments