Counseling Sessions Help Seniors Choose Medicare Coverage
Pat Griffin knows that much of society is bombarded with health care costs these days. For most, affordable insurance is tough to find.
But for Griffin, finding a coverage plan that worked for her was a proverbial walk in the park.
“My husband was in the military, so his medications are covered by the federal government. But I was clueless about how to get help in paying for my own medications,” said Griffin, who lives in Paola, Kan.
Griffin worked with Miami County agent Diane Burnett to choose a drug plan that fit her needs – and pocketbook.
In fall 2005, Burnett presented 11 public programs that reached 538 Kansas citizens.
The drug plan, called Medicare Part D, began January 1, 2006, to make prescription drug coverage available to everyone eligible for Medicare, regardless of income, health status, or current prescription plans. Roughly, 5.5 million people across the nation meet these standards, but many are confused by the complex process and the number of drug plans available.
In Kansas, K-State Research and Extension agents have helped an estimated 400,000 Medicare-eligible people to make informed health insurance decisions. K-State formed a partnership with Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK), which distributes grant funds to sponsoring agencies.
“I had no idea how to go about finding what program was for me,” Griffin said. “It made me feel almost lazy, but Burnett was able to take care of all the work for me. It just made me feel like I didn’t need to worry anymore.”
Griffin and more than 15,000 other Kansans have gained health insurance education and assistance. K-State Research and Extension agents estimate an average savings per person to be $1,000 or more per year on medications and/or premiums.
“People have been so grateful for the individual help – some in tears,” Burnett said. “Many said they’d spent a number of sleepless nights worrying about which plan to choose and how to make sense out of all the information.”
Added Griffin: “The benefits were really noticeable. I appreciate all of the help I had and am very happy with how things turned out.”
Burnett notes she expects longterm benefits from helping Kansans with Medicare questions. “I have worked hard to build a trusting relationship with clientele, and I feel that they will now come for information about health insurance and financial assistance,” she said.
Diane Burnett
913-294-4306
^In the photo: Diane Burnett, Miami county agent, explains Medicare Part D coverage to Pat and Bill Griffin.
