SHIINE offers free Medicare guidance to seniors
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — October 15th to December 7th is open enrollment for Medicare. During this time, eligible people can review their coverage options, make changes, and choose new plans.
At Active Generations in Sioux Falls you will find a room full of desks and computers. SHIINE is a federally funded program administered by the South Dakota Department of Human Services. It stands for Senior Health Information and Insurance Education.
"It's really like talking with a trusted peer in an unbiased way, we are not selling anything we just want to educate, so individuals can make the best decision for themselves," said Active Generations CEO Betsy Schuster.
Medicare only covers 80 percent of medical needs. And is much more complicated than people might imagine, there are all sorts of options from supplemental insurance to advantage plans, make the wrong decision and you are paying thousands of dollars more than you need to.
"At 65 you qualify for Medicare and all of a sudden now you are out here in the insurance world by yourself," said David Jones.
Jones is one of the volunteers, he worked in H.R. for many years, so he's well suited to guiding people through complicated issues.
"We are here just to help them navigate the Medicare website which can be daunting if you've never been in there. We show them what their options are and they make the decisions," said Jones.
Jones and other volunteers like Pamela Ephgrave go through extensive training.
"When you are first turning 65 you can choose a supplement plan and they have to take you no matter what kind of medical conditions you have," she advises one couple seeking guidance.
For decades this retired doctor delivered babies, now she's delivering good news in the form of money savings.
"You can use this Medicare.gov on your own computer at home, but it can be confusing," said Ephgrave. "A lot of people aren't accustomed to computers and even if you are comfortable with computers, there are some nuances and things you have to pay attention to. There's a few tricks that we are aware of because we do this all the time."
Active Generations CEO Betsy Schuster says she is amazed by the volunteers and the work they put into helping people.
"Seniors need this information and they need help signing up. Technology is a barrier and so they see the computer screen but our volunteers do all the computer work for them, said Schuster. "So really SHIINE is about reducing barriers and education."
SHINE volunteers and staff also help seniors navigate Medicare appeals, billing issues and fraud prevention. There are SHIINE offices in Sioux Falls, Rapid City and Milbank. KELOLAND viewers in Iowa and Minnesota have similar programs for seniors, instead of SHINE they are called SHIP. They all have the same goal, helping people navigate the complicated rules and options of Medicare.
Shiine:
Medicare.gov:
Ship IA:
