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From: Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan
Date: Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Where: Northwestern Michigan
Medicare Premium Help Program Reaches Out to Struggling Traverse City Seniors
TRAVERSE CITY ----- According to a 2011 study by Wayne State
University’s Seniors Count! project, one-third of the more than 65,000
seniors residing in northwestern Michigan don’t have enough income to
cover basic living expenses.As health care costs continue to rise, seniors need more help than ever to
pay for their Medicare and prescription drug premiums.“People come to us because they have difficulty affording their health
care,” said Sue Graybill, regional coordinator for the Area Agency on
Aging of Northwest Michigan, which provides services for a ten-county
region of northwest lower Michigan.Medicare Premium Help is an outreach campaign that works to spread
awareness and assist Michigan seniors with their health care premiums.
The campaign is part of the nonprofit Michigan Medicare/Medicaid
Assistance Program (MMAP) and works through Michigan Area Agencies
on Aging.MMAP has already helped thousands of senior citizens since its inception in
1984, and has saved seniors millions of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses.
The organization is looking to reach even more seniors this year with the
Medicare Premium Help campaign.“We want to put that extra $99 per month back into the pockets of seniors
in our region,” said Graybill.Seniors — and their family, caregivers and friends — are encouraged to
call 1.800.803.7174. Counselors are available to help seniors and people
with disabilities understand their premium costs, determine if they’re
eligible for premium payment assistance and enroll them in money-saving
programs. Eligibility is based on monthly income of up to $1,277 for
singles and up to $1,702 for married couples.“It’s our goal to make sure seniors get the health care they need,” said
Graybill.MMAP (Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program) is a free
counseling program that can help you apply for a Medicare Savings
Program and compare and enroll in Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage.
The program is free and provides unbiased, expert health benefit guidance.
MMAP counselors are not connected with any insurance company. MMAP
works through the Area Agencies on Aging throughout Michigan.MMAP is funded by a grant from the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging
through funding received from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services, the Medicare agency and a grant from the Administration
on Aging.Learn more by calling 1.800.803.7174.
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