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THE NEBRASKA HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION, COUNSELING, AND ASSISTANCE (NICA) PROGRAM

MARCH 2003 NICA NEWS

GREETINGS

The NICA program is marching into 2003 with great ambition and ideas for the future months to follow. "Winter" hibernation is coming to an end and putting a "Spring" back into our step is what life is all about.

Every morning as the alarm goes off, I shout to myself (shouting out loud is not allowed in my house) WAKE UP - GET GOING - THERE IS SO MUCH WORK TO DO! Those words ring so true. The energy needed to wake up this program takes a lot of muscle and brainpower. Last year alone, the NICA program ordered or created over 25,000 brochures. It takes a lot of muscle to tote those boxes around. But to be truthful, it is the brainstorming and production of ideas that takes the most energy.

NICA has many goals that need to be put into place, including more volunteers, greater volunteer coverage throughout Nebraska, easy accessibility of volunteers to our public, more referrals to volunteers, and closer networking. I will be meeting with our Representatives over the next several months to continue the brainstorming ideas for presentation to our volunteers. We need each and every one of you and hope the support we offer will make your volunteer efforts successful.

If you are talking Medicare, we want to hear it! If Tom at the Bakery asks at what age someone can get on Medicare and you tell him the answer as you pay for your danish, send in a contact form to let us know you were in the right place at the right time. The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services wants to know you shared your knowledge. In 2002, NICA produced 3,023 contact forms providing CMS with evidence of the Nebraska residents we counseled. As you read this newsletter, you will find that a greater emphasis has been put on the National Senior Health Insurance Programs (NICA in Nebraska) to do outreach. You will soon find out that we are the only local source of information coming directly from CMS to the Nebraska residents. Our load will be heavier but the challenge will make us stronger!

Let's get ready to SPRING into action!

Robin Szwanek