Virtual services are an option that’s particularly useful in rural areas and for people with limited mobility or little access to transportation, but they require online access. Virtual and in-person services, where both a beneficiary and a counselor can look at the same computer screen, are especially useful for looking through complex coverage options.

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We also interviewed SHIP counselors and coordinators from across the US As one SHIP coordinator noted, many people are not aware of all their coverage options. For instance, one beneficiary told a coordinator, “I’ve been on Medicaid and I’m aging out of Medicaid. And I don’t have a lot of money. And now I have to pay for my insurance?” As it turned out, the beneficiary was eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare because of their income, and so had to pay less than they thought.

The interviews made clear that many people are not aware that Medicare Advantage ads and insurance brokers may be biased. One counselor said, “There’s a lot of backing (beneficiaries) off the ledge, if you will, thanks to those TV commercials.”

Many SHIP staff counselors said they would benefit from additional training on coverage options, including for people who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. The SHIP program relies heavily on volunteers, and there is often greater demand for services than the available volunteers can offer. Additional counselors would help meet needs for complex coverage decisions.

The key to making a good Medicare coverage decision for yourself or a family member is to use the help available and weigh costs, access to health providers, current health and medication needs. Also, consider how your health and medication needs might change as time goes on.

Grace McCormack is a postdoctoral researcher of health policy and economics at the University of Southern California. McCormack receives funding from the Commonwealth Fund and Arnold Ventures.

Melissa Garrido is a research professor in health law, policy & management at Boston University. Garrido receives funding from the Commonwealth Fund, the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health for Medicare-related research, including research discussed in this article.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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-Grace McCormack -Melissa Garrido

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10-29-24 0550ET

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