Department on Aging to Assist Older Adults During Medicare Open
Enrollment Period
Free Help Available from Certified Health
Insurance Counselors
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[October 20, 2022]
With the Medicare open enrollment period
set to begin on Saturday, Oct. 15, older adults looking to change
their existing Medicare plan can receive free, personalized
assistance through the Illinois Department on Aging’s (IDoA) Senior
Health Insurance Program (SHIP).
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“It is that time of year where people with Medicare
will encounter numerous advertisements about the various Medicare
health and drugs plans for 2023,” said Illinois SHIP Director Sandy
Leith. “Don’t go it alone, let us put your mind at ease when you
discuss your options with a certified SHIP counselor and make an
educated choice.”
During open enrollment, which runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7,
people who are already enrolled in Medicare have the opportunity to
review their current coverage and switch to a different plan for the
following year. To make this process easier for Medicare
beneficiaries and their caregivers, Illinois’ SHIP program offers
statewide health insurance counseling services through a network of
300 sites and over 1,000 trained and certified counselors. Illinois
has trained 256 new SHIP counselors over the past year, and all
counselors have received additional training on how to assist older
adults during open enrollment.
SHIP counselors can answer questions about Medicare, Medicare
Advantage plans such as HMOs and PPOs, Medicare Part D drug plans,
Medicare Supplement policies, retiree group insurance and other
health insurances. Additionally, all Medicare participants with
prescription coverage will have their insulin copay capped at $35
per month in 2023, and SHIP counselors can explain participants’
options and cost savings due to this new law.[to top of second
column] |
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/May/02/images/ads/current/guzzardo_lda022609.png) All services are free, and
SHIP counselors do not sell or solicit any type of insurance.
Aside from open enrollment assistance, SHIP counselors can also help
soon-to-be eligible individuals with Medicare sign-up questions. To
find a SHIP counselor near you, call the statewide Senior HelpLine
at 1-800-252-8966 or email AGING.SHIP@illinois.gov. For general
information about the SHIP program, please visit
https://www2.illinois.gov/aging/ship/. You can also compare details
of Medicare plans at https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/#/?lang=en&year=2022.
IDoA serves and advocates for older Illinoisans and their caregivers
by administering quality and culturally appropriate programs that
promote partnerships and encourage independence, dignity, and
quality of life. For information about the Department’s programs and
services for older adults and persons with disabilities, visit
https://www2.illinois.gov/aging/programs or contact the Senior
HelpLine toll-free at 1-800-252-8966, Monday through Friday between
8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information] |