State Launches Free, One-on-One Medicare Counseling Sessions Statewide During Early Medicare Open Enrollment Season
The Illinois Department
of Insurance today announced free counseling sessions
at more than 25 locations statewide to help thousands
of seniors and people with disabilities learn more
about Medicare insurance coverage and how to apply
for benefits. The Department’s Senior Health
Insurance Program (SHIP) volunteers will be on site
to provide one-on-one assistance during the Medicare
open-enrollment season, which this year falls on
Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. Governor Pat
Quinn proclaimed this week, Oct. 10 – 15, 2011, as
“SHIP Week” in Illinois to applaud the volunteer
effort and to help remind Medicare-eligible residents
that open-enrollment begins sooner this year.
“Especially during the open enrollment season, many
Illinois residents have questions about Medicare and
how to apply for a plan that best meet their
healthcare needs,” said Acting Director Jack
Messmore. “I am proud of the dedicated SHIP
volunteers who help seniors and people with
disabilities navigate through the Medicare
application process and towards obtaining necessary
healthcare coverage.”
SHIP assists Illinoisans who have questions about or
problems with Medicare, Medicare supplemental
insurance, Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, PPO, and
PFFS), Medicare claims and appeals, prescription drug
coverage through Medicare and other sources, and long
term care insurance. Throughout the year, hundreds
of trained SHIP volunteers staff 204 sites in every
county to help elderly residents learn more about
available Medicare insurance options. Since SHIP’s
inception, volunteers have provided nearly 700,000
hours of counseling, assisted more than 900,000
clients, and saved Medicare beneficiaries an
estimated $75 million in customer service costs.
In addition to the year-round services provided by
SHIP volunteers, the Illinois Department of Insurance
is conducting a series of free, one-on-one counseling
sessions throughout the state to assist
Medicare-eligible individuals with the Medicare
open-enrollment season, which runs this year from
October 15th – December 7th.
A list of upcoming SHIP events during open-enrollment
season is available on the Department’s website at
Insurance.Illinois.gov/SHIP or by calling the SHIP
toll-free hotline at (800) 548-9034.
Gov. Quinn’s proclamation reads:
WHEREAS, there are over 1.84 million Illinoisans 65
years of age or older on Medicare and more than
275,595 Illinoisans who are under 65 and have a
disability who are on Medicare; and,
WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the
number of Illinoisans 65 years of age or older is
estimated to increase to more than 2.4 million by the
year 2030; and,
WHEREAS, elderly and disabled people who lack a
social support network can be unaware of or
overwhelmed by their Medicare benefits or may be
unable to access and complete Medicare application
procedures; and,
WHEREAS, the Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP)
was originated in 1988 by the Illinois Department of
Insurance in order to educate the citizens of
Illinois about Medicare benefits and programs through
community organizations, senior citizen centers, and
the media; and,
WHEREAS, since its inception, more than 2,500 SHIP
volunteers have contributed nearly 700,000 hours to
assist over 900,000 clients, saving Illinois’
citizens more than $75 million in customer service
costs, $40 million of which have been recorded in the
past two years; and,
WHEREAS, hundreds of active SHIP volunteers are truly
admirable citizens, contributing their time and
talents through more than 204 local SHIP sites
throughout Illinois in order to improve the lives of
Illinois’ Medicare beneficiaries; and,
WHEREAS, consistent with the Department of
Insurance’s consumer education and protection
priorities, SHIP volunteers counsel eligible Illinois
residents in every county, helping our seniors and
disabled citizens work through the often confusing
array of Medicare insurance options:
THEREFORE, I, Pat Quinn, Governor of the State of
Illinois, do hereby proclaim October 10-14, 2011 as
SENIOR HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM WEEK in Illinois, and
encourage all residents to recognize the important
contributions of the SHIP volunteers who assist our
elderly and disabled citizens.