SHIIP Information
Older Iowans Have Local Access to Medicare Information & Counseling
Jones Regional Medical Center is an official sponsor for the Senior Health Insurance Information Program, a service of the State of Iowa. Jones Regional and its volunteers provide free-of-charge counseling and information to people with questions about Medicare, Medicare supplement insurance, long term care insurance and claims filings.
They can 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 money each year. "SHIIP has a great track record for saving Iowans money and headaches," says Kris Gross, director of the program with the State of Iowa's Insurance Division. Annually the program saves older Iowans almost $371,000 or nearly $81 per client. "It's an important service and we're pleased to have Jones Regional join us in offering free, unbiased help to seniors with health insurance questions," says Gross.
Volunteer counselors complete an extensive five-day training program. Volunteers meet individuals on an appointment basis. The SHIIP office is located in Community Health of Jones County across from Jones Regional. People can make an appointment by calling 319-462-6131.
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. The volunteers, trained by the State of Iowa Insurance Division, answer questions and provide impartial information to help seniors make well-informed decisions.
