News : Help coming for area seniors navigating Medicare and health insurance

Former location of VGH Home Health - soon to be the SHIIP office

Virginia Gay Hospital has been named an official sponsor for the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), a service of the State of Iowa. The former VGH Home Health building at 309 1st Avenue will be the SHIIP location for the area.

SHIIP volunteers provide free-of-charge counseling and information to people with questions about Medicare, Medicare supplement insurance, long term care insurance, and claims filings. Examples of services SHIIP provides include sorting, organizing and explaining health claims, explaining Medicare options, and comparing prescription drug plans.

All information provided is confidential and the program has no ties to any insurance company, drug provider, or other commercial entity.

Kris Gross, director of the program with the State of Iowa’s Insurance Division says, “SHIIP has a great track record for saving Iowans money and headaches.” Volunteers complete a 6-day training course so they’re able to help Medicare-eligible seniors, or those who soon will be, in a wide variety of ways.

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.

“Virginia Gay is proud to continue our tradition of helping our patients and the entire community make sound, informed decisions regarding their health care and coverage,” explains Mike Riege, CEO of Virginia Gay. “The options and choices can really be bewildering for most folks, and we’re happy that Iowa has such a longstanding and sound tradition of providing excellent help.”

Virginia Gay and SHIIP will be announcing the opening of the office in early October.