SHIIP counseling available this fall at KRHC

ALGONA—Local volunteers will offer free Medicare counseling through the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) in-person again this fall.

Every year between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7, Iowans on Medicare have the opportunity to review and make changes to their drug plan or Medicare Advantage. The Part D and Medicare Advantage plans can change their coverage, premiums, co-payments and provider networks every year. It is important that Iowans on Medicare use this time to review changes to their current plan and compare with plans available to them in the coming year.

SHIIP counselors can help you:

Plan to make sure your medications are covered at the lowest cost and with the least amount of restrictions

Review your current drug coverage and compare to new Medicare plans for 2026

Check to see if you are eligible for Part D Extra Help

Understand your options if you do not currently have a Medicare drug plan

Marla Steier, Sharon Berte, Paula Seely, Peg Skilling and Trish Casey serve as the Kossuth County SHIIP volunteer counselors and support through a partnership with Kossuth Regional Health Center. Open enrollment letters will be mailed out mid-September to all who received an appointment last year. In order to schedule an appointment with a local SHIIP counselor, first individuals must complete the enrollment paperwork and return it in the mail.

If individuals want their drug plan reviewed and did not receive forms in the mail, they can pick up forms at the hospital front desk, at the Bancroft clinic, or any public library in Kossuth County.

Forms should be mailed back to the SHIIP counselors or can be dropped off at the Hospital front desk, or the Bancroft clinic.

Once completed and forms are received by SHIIP volunteers, the client will be called to set up an individual appointment.

"The SHIIP-SMP program has a great track record for saving Iowans money and helping them with Medicare questions and problems. In 2025, the program served over 60,000 Medicare beneficiaries and saved clients in Iowa millions of dollars," shared Kristin Griffith, the SHIIP-SMP Director.

"Our SHIIP volunteers are passionate about helping others and have completed comprehensive training to become certified annually. Kossuth Regional Health Center is proud to support this valuable service and encourages Kossuth County residents to take advantage of SHIIP's free, confidential Medicare assistance by submitting the necessary forms," said Jordan Behounek, Public Relations Manager & Volunteer Coordinator at KRHC.

SHIIP services are free, confidential and objective. Counselors are available to help anyone on Medicare with questions about the drug benefit. For more information about SHIIP counseling at Kossuth Regional Health Center call 515-295-4658.

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