It's not too late for Medicare counseling

Walks are great. You not only get exercise, but restlessness and worries seem to fade, and often you run into friends for delightful little chats.

On a recent walk I crossed paths with a friend who complimented the Area Agency on Aging on recent events, and also mentioned he was about to turn 65. He'd started getting a lot of mail from Medicare and varied insurance companies and joked that maybe he should see a counselor to sort it out. My quick reply? Absolutely he should!

Like a lot of things, Medicare seems pretty straight forward at first glance. Then the details and choices to be made seem fraught with peril in their importance and can be a bit overwhelming. Many people, yours truly included, have sought information and advice from a trained Medicare counselor to make sure they're making good decisions.

So what counselors am I talking about?

Medicare is a national godsend assuring access to healthcare for persons aged 65 and over, as well as younger persons with disabilities. One sometimes not well known but extremely valuable component of Medicare is its nationwide training of volunteer counselors who can answer questions and help people navigate www.Medicare.gov and understand the array of options across traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans, Special Needs plans, premium support opportunities through Medicaid, and prescription drug plans.

How does this work? Medicare works with each state to create a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to train volunteers statewide. The name of the effort by state may vary, though it's absolutely the same program. In Michigan, the SHIP effort is called Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP).

MMAP volunteers receive six days of training before they can counselor the public. They have a direct pipeline to state organizers and Medicare at the national level to assure consistency and accuracy of information. They also keep track of fraudulent attempts to derail Medicare beneficiaries from their rightful benefits and help warn the public.

Do you have to see a MMAP counselor? Certainly not. Medicare.gov and Medicare's toll-free lines are used actively to inform and answer questions as well as make application. However, stakes can be high when picking the right plans for one's individual needs and prescription drug use.

At Area Agency on Aging's recent annual meeting, data was presented on the impact of MMAP counselors in Southwest Michigan last year. Throughout Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties, a total of 33 trained counselors provided 1,285 hours of health benefits counseling to 1,666 individuals.

MMAP counselors don't select health plans for the consumer. Rather, they help people understand the options and how the most appropriate coverage and cost savings for their particular situation might be achieved. The 1,666 persons counseled last year saved a total of $2,998,167 in out-of-pocket expenses through their Medicare choices. That's an average of $3,576 per person.

Is there any cost to seeing a counselor? No. This is a public service of Medicare coordinated in Southwest Michigan by Area Agency on Aging.

Is it too late to see a counselor? No, but time is running short. Act now; open enrollment ends Dec. 7. There are some counseling appointments still available. Take advantage of them.

Go to areaagencyonaging.org and click on Medicare Open Enrollment on the home page to see the full list of locations with MMAP counselors in the tri-county area. There are eight locations in addition to AAA's home office at 2900 Lakeview in St. Joseph. Or call MMAP at AAA, 800-803-7174.

Call for an appointment now. You won't regret it.

Lynn Kellogg is former CEO of Region IV Area Agency on Aging in Southwest Michigan.