Need Medicare help? Virtual, phone, in-person assistance

Do you need help as you wade through options for Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans?

There is help — but this year it will again mostly be all be virtual or by phone.

The COVID-19 pandemic has canceled in-person Medicare workshops sponsored in the Akron-area Direction Home, which is the Akron-Canton Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities, but there are a few in-person opportunities from the Ohio Department of Insurance's Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP). The state also is offering virtual and phone one-on-one counseling sessions, as well as webinars and a Town Hall meeting.

Both agencies offer unbiased information and education to help seniors and their loved ones learn about the various plans and how they should choose.

For those with smartphone, tablet or computer access, OSHIIP and Direction Home are offering webinars with a call-in option, though you would not be able to "see" the slides if you call in.

In addition, OSHIIP is offering one-on-one phone and virtual appointments to help seniors analyze available options and sign up for a Medicare plan.

Here are more details:

Ohio Senior Health Insurance

Information Program (OSHIIP)

Phone hotline: The OSHIIP hotline at 800-686-1578 has counselors available for education or one-on-one free consultations. It is staffed Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday, Oct. 11, is Columbus Day, a state holiday, so the call center will be closed.)

Virtual options: For information and a link to all OSHIIP online options for registration, go to https://bit.ly/3BpDqas

OSHIIP webinars will be held on Mondays with the exception of the first due to Columbus Day: 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m. Oct. 18, 2 p.m. Oct. 25, 10 a.m. Nov. 1, 2 p.m. Nov. 8, 10 a.m. Nov. 15, 2 p.m. Nov. 22 and 10 a.m. Nov. 29.

Participants in the webinars can type a question in the "chat."

There also are virtual one-on-one appointments available, for either a consumer who is new to Medicare or for a check-up to help educate or signup an existing Medicare consumer. Click on the link on the registration page for an appointment. It is suggested that spouses sign up for their own session, or two sessions back-to-back.

Additionally, there is a live Town Hall webinar with Ohio Department of Insurance Director Judith L. French and OSHIIP experts 3 p.m. Oct. 18.

Limited in-person events: There will be some in-person sessions throughout the state. There are two in-person sessions in Summit County, which will offer counseling sessions by appointment. Both will be at the Twinsburg Senior Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 28 and Nov. 18. Call 330-963-8722 to schedule.

Direction Home

Direction Home's annual lunch and workshops for Medicare also are still virtual this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For seniors uncomfortable with technology, Direction Home will mail out printed copies of comparison charts of available Medicare Advantage plans in Summit, Stark, Wayne and Portage counties. Leave a message at 330-776-4620 or email events@dhad.org. For information about Direction Home's other services, call 330-896-9172.

Francine Chuchanis, director of Entitlement Rights for Direction Home and who analyzes the Medicare Care Advantage plans in the Akron area yearly, will host five live Zoom webinars. Participants will automatically get the comparison charts emailed to them, or mailed upon request. All webinars are an hour and a half.

Webinars will be held 9:30 a.m. Oct. 25, 11:30 a.m. Nov. 4, 9:30 a.m. Nov. 9, 11:30 a.m. Nov. 12 and 9:30 a.m. Nov. 17.

To register or for recordings of the webinars if you are unable to attend, go to www.dhad.org/resources-education/medicare-education

There is a call-in option to listen to the webinars, but you will only be able to hear the presentation. Call 330-776-4620 to leave a message to register.

Other help

There are agents who represent a specific company or brokers who may represent several companies who can also help people shop. They can be helpful, but understand they are receiving a commission and you will only have access to the plans they represent.

The Medicare program also provides free personal help over the phone at 800-633-4227.

If you believe you cannot afford the plans, there may be help available for free drug coverage or reduced monthly premiums and lower out-of-pocket costs.

For information, contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 or www.ssa.gov.

Beacon Journal staff reporter Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her @blinfisherABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/BettyLinFisherABJ To see her most recent stories and columns, go to www.tinyurl.com/bettylinfisher