|
|
|
Sunrise Beach, Mo. —
A Sunrise Beach woman has been honored for her efforts to help residents in the Lake area get the most out of the federal Medicare program.
Sherilyn Bender received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for her outstanding work with Missouri CLAIM, which offers free counseling on Medicare plans. Bender was the recipient of the bronze award for the more than 100 hours of time she spent on volunteer counseling in 2011.
Bender is based at the Sunrise Beach library, a community partner with CLAIM. She started working out of the library back when she had slower internet service.
"I couldn't done it without them," she says. "I enjoy the ladies at the library."
Bender is one of more than 200 certified volunteers with CLAIM who provide free and confidential Medicare assistance, answering questions about benefits, options and changes.
Why did you become a CLAIM volunteer?
I read an article in the paper that they were looking for volunteers. I thought it sounded like it would be helpful. At the time, my husband was getting ready to turn 65, and we were trying to figure out what to do. It can be very confusing. If I couldn't understand what I would need or he would need, how do they expect older people to understand. There was clearly a need in the community.
How does the service work?
Medicare beneficiaries or people who are trying to enroll call the CLAIM office. The people in my surrounding area are referred to me by email, then I contact the client. We talk on the phone or sometimes I will make home visits. All the plans can can be very, very confusing. The government is always changing the plans, the names and what they cover. I usually have people make three columns on paper — one for the government plan, Medicare A&B, one for the Medigap supplemental and one for Medicare Advantage, the private plan. Then there are different lettered plans under each one. You have to do the math with the deductibles and premiums to really compare the plans.
What's the most common request from clients?
The majority are about drug plans. I can enter a list of their medications at medicaid.gov and it comes up with a list of 30-40 drug plans from least to most expensive. I can also tailor their plan to the pharmacy they like to go to. I try to highlight the important information for them, like the premiums, estimated drug costs for the year. I also have kids whose parents just moved here to Missouri and they need help getting them enrolled.
A Sunrise Beach woman has been honored for her efforts to help residents in the Lake area get the most out of the federal Medicare program.
Sherilyn Bender received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for her outstanding work with Missouri CLAIM, which offers free counseling on Medicare plans. Bender was the recipient of the bronze award for the more than 100 hours of time she spent on volunteer counseling in 2011.
Bender is based at the Sunrise Beach library, a community partner with CLAIM. She started working out of the library back when she had slower internet service.
"I couldn't done it without them," she says. "I enjoy the ladies at the library."
Bender is one of more than 200 certified volunteers with CLAIM who provide free and confidential Medicare assistance, answering questions about benefits, options and changes.
Why did you become a CLAIM volunteer?
I read an article in the paper that they were looking for volunteers. I thought it sounded like it would be helpful. At the time, my husband was getting ready to turn 65, and we were trying to figure out what to do. It can be very confusing. If I couldn't understand what I would need or he would need, how do they expect older people to understand. There was clearly a need in the community.
How does the service work?
Medicare beneficiaries or people who are trying to enroll call the CLAIM office. The people in my surrounding area are referred to me by email, then I contact the client. We talk on the phone or sometimes I will make home visits. All the plans can can be very, very confusing. The government is always changing the plans, the names and what they cover. I usually have people make three columns on paper — one for the government plan, Medicare A&B, one for the Medigap supplemental and one for Medicare Advantage, the private plan. Then there are different lettered plans under each one. You have to do the math with the deductibles and premiums to really compare the plans.
What's the most common request from clients?
The majority are about drug plans. I can enter a list of their medications at medicaid.gov and it comes up with a list of 30-40 drug plans from least to most expensive. I can also tailor their plan to the pharmacy they like to go to. I try to highlight the important information for them, like the premiums, estimated drug costs for the year. I also have kids whose parents just moved here to Missouri and they need help getting them enrolled.
