Nebraska Department of Insurance
THE NEBRASKA HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION, COUNSELING, AND ASSISTANCE (NICA) PROGRAM
MARCH 2001 NICA NEWS
VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHTS
Barb Graham
NICA Volunteer Barb Graham, from the Midlands region, spent three hours at a health fair at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds in Aurora, in March, making people aware of the Medicare benefits. She distributed brochures where over 225 people attended this educational event. Barb said many people who attended her presentation will be looking closer at their EOMB's and MSN's for fraudulent claims.West Central Spring Update
On March 21, NICA held an update training for the West Central Region at the Stockman's in North Platte. The following NICA Volunteers attended: Marge Smith, Doretta Burrows, Jean Van Mark, Bob Bolles, Elaine Hink, Judy Lutz, Gloria Gummere, Melvin Richardson, Norma Phillips, Carolyn Cerny, Shirley Lake, Alice Sheffield, Elizabeth Cervantez, Katy Miyamoto, Ruth Nelson, Lucy Johnson, Ann Luther, and Regional Representative, Rhonda Godbey. Everyone seemed to really like their new NICA umbrellas.
Sunny Kontor
Sunny exhibited NICA information at four health fairs in April. The first, at Dorchester, was in conjunction with the school and more than 300 people attended this first community health fair. More than 500 people attended the Friend community health fair. The Western health fair drew 90 people and many experienced the bone density machine for the first time. Lastly, the Crete fair drew over 300 people and the blood draws were popular there. Sunny mentioned that her booth was the only one, at all four fairs, that offered the popular Medicare letter openers.
Legal Workshop
Mary Buford Wilson, Elder Law Attorney and NICA Regional Representative for Western, Northeast, Midland, Blue Rivers, and surrounding Lincoln areas, gave public presentations, in April, at the David City Senior Center, the Geneva Senior Center, and Crete. Her presentations were titled "Medicare & Legal Update." Mary gave an overview of Medicare, Financial Power of Attorney, Health Care Power of Attorney and Living Wills and Wills. Her presentations were sponsored by NICA and the Lincoln Area Agency on Aging. Seventy-seven people attended the presentations.
Addie Schroeder
NICA Volunteer, Addie Schroeder, from the South Central region, spent two hours presenting Medicare information at the Ravenna Senior Center in Buffalo County. Her presentation, "Medicare 2001 - Choices," walked the people through the Medicare and You 2001 handbook, including the Table of Contents and Index to find answers to questions. Thirty-six people attended Addie's presentation.
Sharon Strong
Sharon Strong, Regional Representative for the South Central area, spoke to a Family and Consumer Sciences class at the University of Nebraska at Kearney in April. Fifteen students attended the presenta- tion , "A Look at NICA."
Lifelong Living Senior Festival
NICA was an exhibitor at the seventh annual Aging Services' Lifelong Living Senior Festival held in May. The festival was held at Agricultural Hall at the State Fair Park and more than 2,700 people attended. The NICA Program office staff handed out 1,000 pieces of Medicare information.
Initial Training Omaha
Many new NICA Volunteers attended the initial training held in April in Omaha. Jennifer Hauschild, NICA Regional Representative and VIE Executive Director, coordinated the training for VIE volunteers. Our new NICA Volunteers for Omaha include: George Campbell, Alice Pauley, Hal McMinn, Loren Parks, Dorothy Eaton, Rod Picking, Bill Hamilton, Helen Riley, Robert Martin, Robert Campbell, Helen McKinley, Jack Brownrigg, Juanita Moore, Kathleen Hesselink, Joyce Mack, Morris Gotschall, Jim O'Donnell, Leonard Finnegan, and Evelyn Humlicek.
Initial Training Kearney
Five new NICA Volunteers attended the initial training held in May in Kearney. Sharon Strong, NICA Regional Representative for South Central, coordinated the training. Our new NICA Volunteers in that region include: Dorann Bartels, Corinne Howe, Dick Messersmith, Betty Schuster, and Tess Sinner.
VIE Hosted Speakers on May 3, 2001 in Omaha
Doug Frazier from CIGNA Medicare in Idaho, the DMERC Region D (which includes Nebraska) carrier spoke about Medicare coverage of durable medical equipment and supplies. Lark Ferguson from the Sunderbruch Corporation, the Nebraska Peer Review Organization, talked about Medicare patient's rights. Forty-five people attended.
We Couldn't Do It Without You!
The United Nations has designated 2001 as the international Year of the Volunteer. For more information on the International Year of the Volunteer, log on to this website: iyv2001.org
Northeast, Midland, Blue Rivers, Lincoln Spring Update
On May 14, NICA held an update training for these regions in York. The following NICA Volunteers attended: Ginny Bode, Mabel Gordon, Barbara Graham, Kathy Gruba, Karen Hakenkamp, Norma Havranek, Robert Hoeft, Edie Johnson, Wayne Kempf, Nancy Kohler, Sunny Kontor, Deborah Mohlman, Linda Sample, Betty Stiles, Mary Stockwell, and Alice Theis. In addition, Craig Buford, Regional Representative, and Rebecca Hasty, NICA Program Specialist attended.
Freckles
An elderly woman and her little grandson, whose face was sprinkled with bright freckles, spent the day at the zoo. Lots of children were waiting in line to get their face painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws.You've got so many freckles, there's no place to paint!" a girl in the line said to the little fella.
Embarrassed, the little boy dropped his head. His grandmother knelt down next to him, "I love your freckles. When I was a little girl I always wanted freckles," she said, while tracing her finger across the child's cheek. Freckles are beautiful."
The boy looked up, "Really?"
"Of course," said the grandmother. "Why just name me one thing that's prettier than freckles."
The little boy thought for a moment, peered intensely into his grandma's face, and said, "Wrinkles."
South Central Spring Update
NICA held an update training for the South Central Region in Kearney on May 22. The following NICA Volunteers attended:Jim and Wilma Barry
Doranne Bartels
Jill Catlin
Arlene Dillion
Patricia Gruwell
Ruby Hayes
Corinne Howe
Dorothy Lee
Barbara Mery
Dick Messersmith
Maidie Peters
Addie Schroeder
Betty Schuster
Tess Sinner
Sandra Skillett