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SHIP aids
informed decisions
Health counseling
program gains popularity
Sorting out the
complexities of health insurance can be intimidating
for anyone, but especially for those who are
unfamiliar with the issues and do not know how to
access the resources that can make these decisions
easier.
The State Health
Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) can alleviate
some of the confusion by providing information about
all Medicare and Medicare- related insurance
options, from supplements to HMOs.
Once a plan has
been selected, SHIP counselors can also help to
manage the billing issues as well as the other
paperwork involved in getting payment issues
resolved. One of the best parts of the program is
that it’s free and very accessible through the
Senior Link-Age Line®.
SHIP has been
helping older Minnesotans and their families since
1993. It grew out of national legislation that
re-worked Medicare to allow its beneficiaries to
have free access to good information about health
care options. More and more Minnesota seniors are
taking advantage of this program. In 2000, there
were nearly 34,000 contacts to the program, a
substantial hike from the 7,600 just two years
earlier.
Medical concerns,
especially questions about Medicare, are hot topics
for the information and assistance specialists at
the toll free Senior LinkAge Line®, 1-800-333-2433.
Help with prescription drug costs and health
insurance are the two top inquiries received by the
service, which helps seniors and their families with
a variety of services.
If the caller has
all of the necessary paperwork and other information
at hand, it’s possible to answer the insurance
question on that first call. If the issue is a
little more complicated than that, a follow-up call
or an individualized, in-person counseling session
can be scheduled. All calls to the Senior LinkAge
Line® will receive an initial reply within one
business day. The information and assistance
specialist who answer the Senior LinkAge Line®
calls will then continue to work with the caller
until all questions are answered.
One of SHIP’s
primary functions is to be an unbiased information
source for people entering the Medicare health
coverage arena. Many clients also have a secondary
coverage (a Medicare supplement or HMO plan) to
enhance their Medicare benefits. Questions or issues
about all types of Medicare related insurance
coverage are answered on the Senior LinkAge Line®.
SHIP strives to lay
out all the options in an understandable language.
Staff members or trained volunteers help outline the
options to be considered in selecting a secondary
plan. SHIP counselors will not make recommendations
but will provide broad-based information for people
to make informed choices on their own.
SHIP can make
people aware of options they might not even know
about or be thinking about. For example, counselors
will ask questions of an applicant regarding the
importance of being able to stay with his or her
current doctor. That may impact what type of
secondary plan they choose.
Also, SHIP
counselors will raise issues about long-term health
concerns that a new applicant may not be thinking
about at that moment. The goal is to link people to
the services they need and can afford.
While Medicare
related health insurance is the primary focus of
SHIP services, long-term care insurance has become a
close second. And SHIP doesn’t limit itself just
to the matters of those age 65 and older. It also
provides guidance to younger clients who qualify for
Medicare due to a disability.
People can also get
overwhelmed in the flood of forms, applications and
statements that are part of today’s business of
health care. SHIP provides assistance in filling out
applications for programs like the Minnesota
Prescription Drug Program or Medical Assistance. A
SHIP counselor or volunteer can meet with a client
and sort through the array of statements and bills
that come after a medical service has been provided,
or can assist in appealing coverage determinations
related to Medicare or other insurance coverage.
SHIP relies on a
corps of volunteers to help the growing numbers of
callers to the Senior LinkAge Line®. Being a SHIP
counselor is a very challenging volunteer
opportunity and requires a commitment to substantial
initial training and ongoing education. While a
background in health care is not essential, an
interest in the topic and helping others navigate
the complexities of insurance issues is vital.
Those interested in
becoming a SHIP volunteer can call the Senior
LinkAge Line® (1-800-333-2433) to get details.
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