“Demystifying Medicare” programs scheduled for the fall

“Demystifying Medicare” is for anyone who needs to understand how Medicare works. It’s not only for people who are considering changes to their current coverage, but for those who are soon to be Medicare-eligible, approaching retirement, or helping relatives or friends with their medical decisions and paperwork.

People on Medicare can make changes to their health insurance during Open People on Medicare can make changes to their health insurance during Open Enrollment — October 15th through December 7th, and the Westchester Library System is here to help, with its free live workshops.

All the upcoming in-person events are listed at the bottom of the library’s webpage: seniors.westchesterlibraries.org/demystifyingmedicare/. Currently there are 20 of them, running from September 24th through mid-November.

A complete understanding of the whole system is key to making the best personal health coverage choices. Topics include Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, prescription drug plans, Medigaps (supplemental plans), EPIC, and cost-saving programs for people with limited resources.

At the same link above you can also access the online version and work through this complicated subject at your own pace, beginning with a 5-minute video on how to get the best out of the audio chapters, displays and handouts that match the ones used in the live workshops.

To sign up for these engaging, interactive presentations, please leave your name and number at (914) 231-3236 or email SBICmedia@gmail.com.

By the way, in addition to these free presentations, volunteer counselors run free Senior Benefits Individual Counseling centers (SBICs) at the John C. Hart (Shrub Oak) and Will (Yonkers) libraries, both 10 am – 1 pm throughout the year, and additional opportunities seasonally, where people can get answers to their coverage and billing questions on a first-come, first-served basis. If you leave your name and number at one of their HELPLINES, a counselor will call you back: North county (347-441-0566) and South county (914-417-9102). You can check for updates to all of these Medicare help programs at seniors.westchesterlibraries.org.

Counselors are all HIICAP-certified (Health Insurance Information Counseling & Assistance Program) and unaffiliated with insurance companies. They work in partnership with WLS the county's Department of Senior Programs – (914) 813-6100.