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November
18, 2005
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more
information, contact: Cindy Thraen, Manning Regional
Healthcare Center, 712-655-2072 or Becky Vonnahme, 655-3624
or wcihf@longlines.com
MRHC to sponsor senior health insurance and information
program
MANNING –
The Manning Regional Healthcare Center (MRHC) has been named
an official sponsor for the Senior Health Insurance
Information Program (SHIIP), a service of the State of
Iowa. This new sponsorship means MRHC will provide office
space and volunteers to provide free-of-charge counseling
and information to people with questions about Medicare,
Medicare supplement insurance, long term care insurance, and
claims filings.
In
celebration of this new partnership, Manning Regional
Healthcare Center is hosting a free seminar for the public
from 1 to 3 p.m., November 29, at the American Legion Hall
in Manning. Kris Thompson, a senior health insurance
advocate, will lead the seminar providing detailed
information about SHIIP, Medicare Part D, and many other
senior health insurance topics. Snacks and refreshments will
also be provided free of charge courtesy of MRHC. All ages
are invited to attend and reservations are not required.
During the
last several years, SHIIP volunteers have been able to solve
problems like these:
-
An Iowa
woman held three long-term care policies, two Medicare
supplement policies and five other health insurance
policies of limited coverage. SHIIP reviewed the
policies, pointing out duplication. As a result, she
canceled several policies and saved $4,431 in insurance
premiums annually.
-
A
Northeast Iowa senior had 160 envelopes containing
medical bills, Medicare statements and insurance
statements. A SHIIP volunteer spent 26.5 hours sorting
through the papers, organizing, and explaining to the
client the status of each claim.
These cases
and many like them cost Iowans thousands of dollars each
year.
“SHIIP has
a great track record for saving Iowans money and headaches,”
said Kris Gross, director of the program with the State of
Iowa’s Insurance Division. Annually the program saves
Iowa’s seniors almost $371,000 or nearly $81 per client.
“It’s an important service and we’re pleased to have Manning
Regional Healthcare Center join us in offering free,
unbiased help to seniors with health insurance questions.”
Cindy Thraen will coordinate the program at MRHC. The SHIIP
office will be located near the MRHC Business Office.
Volunteer counselors complete an extensive 5-day training
program that makes them qualified to understand the complex
language surrounding senior health insurance policies. The
volunteers for SHIIP in Manning are Sally Hodne and MRHC
business office staff members. Interested persons can make
an appointment with a volunteer by calling 712-655-2072.
The State
of Iowa created SHIIP in 1990 in response to the statewide
need for senior health insurance information. SHIIP
provides free informational materials as well as one-to-one
assistance with Medicare coverage, Medicare supplement
insurance, long-term care insurance, Medicare and insurance
claims and other related issues. SHIIP does not recommend
insurance companies, plans or agents. SHIIP volunteers are
trained to provide unbiased information to help seniors make
well-informed decisions.
The Manning
Regional Healthcare Center is a four-part healthcare system
that includes the Manning General Hospital, Manning Plaza,
Manning Family Recovery Center and Manning Community
HomeCare. For more information about the November 29
seminar, call 712-655-2072.
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