Understanding Medicare In Your Future

Participants sign in to the introduction to Medicare seminar held Wednesday night at the ISU Extension Office in Oskaloosa

Oskaloosa, Iowa – “Welcome to Medicare” was a seminar offered, by the State of Iowa’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) and Mahaska Health Partnership, to area residents who wanted to learn more about the government program. The nearly 2 hour seminar was held at the ISU extension office in Oskaloosa Wednesday evening.

The SHIIP program is a service provided by the State of Iowa and is part of the Iowa Insurance Division. It trains counselors to help inform individuals about the Medicare program. “We’re trying to educate them,” says Dick Craven, a volunteer counselor for SHIIP. “I don’t understand what’s happening”, is the most common question asked by an individual as they look into Medicare.

One of the things counselors, like Craven, help with is guiding an individual with when the best time to enroll is, during the decision making process of enrollment. SHIIP counselors normally spend time with individuals on a one-on-one basis, but Wednesday’s seminar was similar to others offered.

“We explain what Medicare is and the many insurances that go with it, supplements and drug plans,” explaining when to sign up for such things as ‘advantage plans’, that would cover all of the above in a single plan. “One of the things that makes it confusing is there’s lots of choices,” explained Craven.

Craven explained that the move to Medicare is a whole new ballgame, especially, as an example, for those who had been on a plan offered by their employer.

Looking for more information on the Senior Health Insurance Information Program? You can visit them on their website HERE – http://www.therightcalliowa.gov/ or contact Mahaska Health Partnership at 641.672.3342