Nebraska Department of Insurance
THE NEBRASKA HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION, COUNSELING, AND ASSISTANCE (NICA) PROGRAM
MARCH 2003 NICA NEWS
VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHTS
Jim Barry
Snowbird NICA volunteer Jim Barry remains active during his winter months in Texas. Jim passed out NICA & Medicare information to over 100 seniors at a craft sale in Mission, Texas.Jim Bendorf
Jim Bendorf gave presentations on two hot topics in February - prescription drug assistance programs and NICA! Jim spoke to ten Midland-area service coordinators about the NICA program, and to 20 beneficiaries at the Harvard Senior Center about Medicare Supplement Insurance and Prescription Drug Assistance programs.Laura & Charlie Kruse
Laura Kruse, with assistance from her husband Charlie, has spoken directly to over 230 Medicare beneficiaries, family members, and professionals in the past few months. Laura spoke to multiple groups at the Siouxland Senior Center in Sioux City, Iowa, and the Emerson Senior Center in Emerson, Nebraska. In addition, they set up Medicare informational displays at the public libraries in South Sioux City, Nebraska, and Sioux City, Iowa, with the potential to reach over 4,000 visitors a week. The displays in the libraries coincided with Laura & Charlie's participation on the KCAU Phone Bank, during which volunteers from three states answered a Medicare telephone hotline promoted for four hours during the local evening news. The phone bank had nearly 200 calls in 4 hours.Shirley Lake
The Gothenburg Senior Center was the location for NICA Volunteer Shirley Lake's presentation to Medicare beneficiaries. Shirley spoke to 150 people about their Medicare benefits.Bill Hamilton & Joyce Mack
NICA Volunteers Bill Hamilton and Joyce Mack became TV stars in January, 2003! The Omaha volunteers took part in a 45-minute television program aimed at educating a wide audience on Medicare and Medicare Supplement Insurance. In addition, Bill and Joyce set up an educational booth at the Corrigan Senior Center in Omaha for six hours over 3 separate Mondays in January, providing information and counseling beneficiaries on Medicare, Medsupps, and prescription drug assistance programs.Juanita Moore
Juanita Moore discussed Medicare fraud and abuse for an hour and half with over 40 people at the Jewish Community Center in Omaha in December.Loren Parks
NICA Volunteer Loren Parks reached over 40 people in 3 hours while stationed at a booth at a Younkers retail store in Omaha. During Oakview Senior Citizens Day, Loren counseled individuals on a variety of topics, including Medicare, Medsupps, Medicare fraud & abuse, Medicare + Choice, and long-term care insurance.Jayne Prince
NICA Volunteer Jayne Prince spoke to 40 Medicare beneficiaries in Oakland and 110 in Norfolk during various presentations on Medicare fraud and abuse. Her display booths and informational handouts in Norfolk, Columbus, Pierce, and Wisner reached an additional 400 beneficiaries & pre-enrollees. Jayne also spoke on a radio program that potentially reached 20,000 listeners in Northeast Nebraska.Sandy Skillett
Sandy Skillet, a NICA Volunteer from Broken Bow, reached 115 people by setting up a booth with information about Medicare, Medicare fraud and abuse, Medicare supplement insurance, Medicaid, prescription drug assistance programs, and general NICA program information.Ongoing Dedication
The following volunteers are to be congratulated for sending in contact forms documenting counseling efforts with beneficiaries during the months of December through February.|
Ed Baldrige Jim Barry Jill Catlin Barbara Graham Kathy Gruba Bill Hamilton Ruby Hays Evelyn Humlicek Edie Johnson Ruth Kamino Wayne Kempf Charles Kruse Laura Kruse Shirley Lake Dorothy Lee |
Judith Lutz Joyce Mack Jack Moran Loren Parks Maidie Peters Norma Phillips Jayne Prince Helen Riley Sue Schaefer Ted Schaefer Addie Schroeder Monica Shelton Tess Sinner Sandy Skillett |
Presentation Materials Available for Volunteers
Presentation materials have been developed at the NICA office and are available for use by NICA Volunteers. Presentations vary from 30 minutes to 2 hours, and cover Medicare Enrollment periods, benefits through Medicare Parts A and B, and Medicare Supplement Insurance policies.NICA Volunteers, consider reaching out to Medicare beneficiaries, family members, and/or pre-enrollees with a presentation on any of the following "hot" topics:
- Medicare eligibility & Social Security age
- Medicare update - new policies & coverage
- Medicare-covered preventative benefits
- Prescription drug assistance programs
- NICA Volunteer assistance availability
Congratulations to Jennifer Cunningham,
the NICA Regional Coordinator in the Omaha VIE Office.
Her new baby girl, Faye, was born on January 24, 2003.
Dear NICA friends,
Thank you for all the sympathy cards and your prayers at Wilma's death. They really meant a lot to both me and the family. Wilma really enjoyed her work as a NICA volunteer. She loved helping people.
-Jim Barry & family
There will be a memorial service for Wilma Barry on May 24th, 2:00 p.m., at the Loup City Methodist Church.