June 14, 2018
Dear friend,
Champaign County Health Care Consumers (CCHCC) is steadily seeing more community members who declined Medicare Part B coverage when they first became eligible, because they could not afford it and did not realize that there were programs to help them afford their coverage.
They often come to us later in life, when they are in a crisis because of a health situation that requires treatment, and they are unable to pay for the care they need. These individuals need our help to navigate the Medicare system.
That is why CCHCC is launching our Medicare Education, Enrollment, and Advocacy Project, and we hope you will help support this effort.
To learn more, please visit our website.
Help support CCHCC’s Medicare Education, Enrollment, and Advocacy Project.
Medicare is complicated! CCHCC is here to help.
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older; certain younger people with disabilities; and people with End-Stage Renal Disease.
Medicare is complicated. There are many parts, and there are many options for additional coverage. And there are more expenses that go with Medicare than most people realize. To learn more about the basics of Medicare, please see CCHCC’s handout on Medicare: What you need to know.
To learn more about Medicare coverage choices, please see CCHCC’s handout.
Medicare is complicated, but CCHCC’s knowledgeable and experienced Community Health Workers are here to help our community members navigate the Medicare system!
Resources for low-income Medicare beneficiaries
CCHCC has expertise in helping low-income Medicare beneficiaries. The Medicare Savings Program helps pay the Medicare Part B monthly premiums for low-income Medicare beneficiaries. If more low-income individuals knew about The Medicare Savings Program at the time that they are signing up for Medicare, fewer people would forego Part B coverage.
The Medicare Extra Help Program helps make Part D prescription coverage and out-of-pocket prescriptions more affordable for low-income Medicare beneficiaries.
CCHCC helps low-income Medicare beneficiaries apply and qualify for these programs. But too many people are unaware that these programs exist, so CCHCC is working hard to provide community education about these programs.
CCHCC’s Medicare Education, Enrollment, and Advocacy Project
Our Medicare work includes both direct client services, as well as community education. Every fall, CCHCC holds a Medicare Open Enrollment Community Meeting, to help prepare community members for choosing a Medicare Part D prescription plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan, and to provide information about any new changes to Medicare. In addition, CCHCC develops easy-to-understand handouts on Medicare, and does presentations to community groups.
We hope you will help support CCHCC’s Medicare Education, Enrollment, and Advocacy Project by making a commitment to help share CCHCC’s resources with others, letting people know that we are here to help; and/or making a financial contribution to support this work.
We thank you for your commitment, and for your ongoing support and involvement!
Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Claudia Lennhoff
Executive Director
Champaign County Health Care Consumers