Medicare, fraud prevention seminar coming to Bellamy Center

April 28-- Apr. 28--The Medicare process may be confusing for many seniors and unfortunately scammers are taking advantage of people uninformed.

Leaders from Sampson County's Department of Aging and Transportation are working to spread awareness to have less victims in the future.

"Your Medicare Benefits & Preventing Fraud," a free seminar, is scheduled for 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 29, at the Bellamy Center, 500 Pierce St., Clinton. Anyone new to the Medicare or interested in learning more is encouraged to attend. Information is being provided by the Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), a division of the North Carolina Department of Insurance.

Lorie Sutton, director of Sampson County's Department of Aging, said the presentation will include guidance regarding benefits of Medicare and other important steps. SHIPP, a division of the North Carolina Department of Insurance, offers residents information related to Medicare such as supplements, advantage plans, prescription drugs, fraud, abuse and long-term care insurance.

"They will get some good information and there will be a period of time where they can ask any kind of questions they want if they want individual counseling," she said. "Medicare can be kind of confusing, so this puts them in a one-on-one situation where they can ask questions and get some things answered that they don't understand."

Sutton expressed how the Medicare system may be complicated, especially when it's always being updated. One of the examples was the Part B, which deals with prescription drugs.

"I think a lot a lot of people on Medicare or their caregivers don't understand the system and it's kind of hard to navigate," Sutton. "The SHIIP program's sole purpose is to help people navigate that system and understand how it works.

"I think there is a big problem with people understanding the Medicare system, especially with people who don't feel comfortable getting on the Internet and looking up the information themselves," she said. "I think it can be real confusing for them."

Those are some of the reasons Sutton hopes people attend the seminar. It's one of many efforts conducted by Sampson's Department of Aging and Transportation. Along with older adults, assistance is also provided to family caregivers, handicapped residents and people living on low incomes.

Refreshments will be served during the event. For more information or to register, contact Sutton or Rachael Tatum at 910-592-4653.

Reach Chase Jordan at 910-249-4617. Follow us on Twitter at @SampsonInd and like us on Facebook.

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