Nebraska Department of Insurance
THE NEBRASKA HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION, COUNSELING, AND ASSISTANCE (NICA) PROGRAM
DECEMBER 1998 NICA NEWS
GREETINGS
The NICA Program Office has had a busy fall. One of the exciting new changes is that NICA has an 800-telephone number. This is a phone line that anyone in the United States may call.There are a total of six regional offices where the 800 service will be implemented. These offices include the NICA Program Office, Buford Law Office, South Central Area Agency on Aging, West Central Area Agency on Aging, Western Nebraska Legal Services, and Volunteers Intervening for Equity (Omaha). The NICA Regional Representatives at these offices will take calls for the regions they represent.
The phone system is complicated. The calls will be routed to the appropriate office depending on from where the call had been placed. This means that the calls placed on the 800 line will be routed depending on their area code and prefix. For example, if individuals in Scottsbluff call the 800 number their call will be routed to the Western Nebraska Legal Services where Regional Representative Bonnie Youngquist respond. Bonnie would then be able to work with the clients or refer them to a NICA Volunteer in the area. This should help not only the people calling in, but also give more referrals to the volunteers! The NICA Program Office will be responsible for all phone calls coming in from outside the state and Lincoln and surrounding communities.
NICA will slowly be phasing in the number in a variety of outreach materials. The 800 number will be published on all brochures and handouts. A press release will be issued to all radio stations and newspapers announcing the number later this winter. There will also be special outreach materials designed for the volunteers to give to their clients. Until these outreach materials are developed it will be up to you to let your clients know about the new number. Let everyone and anyone know the number is (800) 234-7119.
Thank you,