Nebraska Department of Insurance
THE NEBRASKA HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION, COUNSELING, AND ASSISTANCE (NICA) PROGRAM
DECEMBER 1999 NICA NEWS
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Promotional Activities
Sandra Gaube, Regional Representative for the Eastern Region and Executive Director of Volunteers Intervening for Equity in the Omaha area, organized some promotional activities last month that garnered new NICA volunteers. Sandra reported five people, who saw the ad in the volunteer corner of the Omaha World Herald, called and wanted to become new volunteers. Sandra also spoke at the Omaha Golden Kiwanis Club to a group of retired men and got three interested volunteers. Good work, Sandra!NICA Speakers
Have you had a NICA speaker at your Senior Center? In August, Mary L. Wilson, Regional Representative for Northeast Nebraska, gave Medicare presentations to over 300 people at seven senior centers; Columbus Senior Center, Schuyler Senior Center, Beemer Senior Center, West Point Senior Center, So. Sioux Senior Center, Oakland Senior Center, and Lyons Senior Center. Brochures were also distributed.
HMO Non-Renewal Outreach
You may already be aware that one of the two Medicare HMO's in Nebraska, Medicare Preferred, of Douglas and Sarpy Counties, is leaving Medicare as of December 31, 1999. Tiffany Geis, NICA Program Director, recently held two informational sessions, in Omaha, to answer questions for beneficiaries who were enrolled in that managed care plan. In addition to answering questions arising from the decision of Medicare Preferred to not renew their Medicare contract, Tiffany made sure beneficiaries understand their options.
Medicare Resources
Medicare Choices Helpline 1/800-633-4227 and TYY 1/877-486-2048 - Customer Service Representatives at this number answer beneficiary questions about the Original Medicare Plan and provide up-to-date information regarding the Medicare + Choice plans available in their area from 8:00a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, in all time zones. Beneficiaries can also call this number if they want a copy of the Medicare & You handbook. The Handbook is available in English, Spanish, braille, or on audiotape. Other helpful publications available from the Medicare Choices Helpline include: Understanding Your Medicare Choices and the 1999 Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare.
Medicare Beneficiary Manual Web Sites
HCFA has announced the Medicare Beneficiary Manual Web Site. This website has been created to provide Medicare beneficiaries, HCFA's partners, and advocacy groups with information about topics related to Medicare rules. It is an electronic document containing useful information about the Medicare health choices. There are more than 2000 pages of HCFA Medicare, policies, and regulation information written in plain language. Access to the URL for this website is: http://miranda.aspensys.com/mhpcbeta/index.html (*under development).
Internet Site: http://www.medicare.gov This beneficiary-friendly website provides extensive information on the Medicare program including the text of the Medicare & You handbook and the 1999 Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare. This website also provides access to Medicare Compare. Medicare Compare is an interactive database, which includes detailed information on Medicare's health plan options. Medicare Compare allows beneficiaries to "comparison shop" and find the plans that will work best for them. The website also lists referrals to local information sources and contains links to other health sites.