Are you on Medicare but confused about health insurance? Don't understand all the insurance company propaganda about Part B and D?
Do you wish there was someone who could guide you through the maze so you won't check a box that might cause you to lose some important medical coverage?
Well, buckle up, buddy, 'cause there's help on the horizon, and it's free for the asking!
The Kern County Department of Aging & Adult Services administers the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) program to help you make sense of Medicare and other health insurances. HICAP is a volunteer-supported program that provides assistance with Medicare problems and other health insurance issues. Offices are located in Arvin, Bakersfield, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest and Wasco.
Supported by a grant from the California Department of Aging, HICAP is unbiased. It does not sell, endorse, or recommend any specific insurance. Assistance is free, and it includes individual counseling and community education services. Wow! Imagine that? You really can get something for nothing - and from professionals who really understand your health insurance problems.
"Folks go without care because they either can't afford the medications or they don't know what is available to them. There might be assistance for them but they don't know how to work the system," says Yolanda Prado, the director of the HICAP program, adding that the volunteers undergo training to provide the latest, accurate health care information. "HICAP counseling services are provided by counselors registered with the California Department of Aging who are acting in good faith to provide information about health insurance policies and benefits to their clients."
Prado travels all over Kern County training volunteers and meeting with groups. She's a busy woman.
So who's eligible for HICAP help?
Well, it serves current Medicare beneficiaries; persons about to receive Medicare benefits; family or representatives of Medicare beneficiaries; persons planning for retirement; and Medicare and Medi-Cal beneficiaries (dual eligibility).
The local HICAP agency can help with understanding your rights as a health care consumer and Medicare benefits, including how to appeal denials. HICAP can also provide information on private Medicare supplement health insurances, Medicare Advantage (HMO, PPO, PFFS and MSA) benefits, rights and denials, as well as Part D information, comparison and enrollment.
"It really helped to have someone to talk to," one client said recently. "I talked to 10 other people today and you guys were the first to understand my situation."
Even if you don't need the help, HICAP is a good program to support as a volunteer.
To learn about becoming a part of this specialized team, email aginginfo@co.kern.ca.us or call the local HICAP office at (661) 868-1000. The Bakersfield office is located at 5357 Truxtun Ave.
Lou Gomez is a community columnist for The Californian. These are his opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of The Californian. Email him at lgomez@bakersfield.com
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