Introducing two new Medicare Helplines

SBIC NORTH (347) 441-0566

SBIC SOUTH (914) 417-9102

Two new Helplines have been set up for people with questions about Medicare Parts A, B, and D, Medigaps, Advantage plans, enrollment, and cost-saving programs — especially during the upcoming Fall Enrollment period October 15th to December 7th.

You might want to change the healthcare insurance you already have or are nearing Medicare eligibility, planning your retirement, or helping others with their medical decisions and paperwork. If you call one of the helplines and leave your name, telephone number, the town you live in, and the best time to reach you, a counselor will get back to you for a phone conference, online meeting, or to set up an in-person session at a local library. You can also reach them by email, at SBICmedia@gmail.com.

SBIC counselors are trained and updated with materials from federal and state Medicare-related agencies, the Medicare Rights Center in NYC, and advocacy groups like the Statewide Senior Action Council, which are not affiliated with health insurance companies.

Regularly scheduled free walk-in programs — Senior Benefits Individual Counseling centers (SBICs) — are already running at two Westchester libraries, 10 am – 1 pm:

• In Shrub Oak, the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, at the John C. Hart Memorial Library, 1130 East Main Street (every Tuesday during Open Enrollment, except Election Day)
• In Yonkers, the 1st Thursday of each month, at the Grinton I. Will Library, 1500 Central Park Avenue

And for those who need a comprehensive online tutorial on how Medicare works in NYS, the library also hosts Demystifying Medicare Online (seniors.westchesterlibraries.org/ demystifyingmedicare/). There you’ll find an audio version of the comprehensive in-person workshops given across the county each Spring and Fall, as well as handouts and a schedule of future events.

Counseling for all these programs is provided by HIICAP-certified volunteers (Health Insurance Info Counseling & Assistance Program) in partnership with Westchester County’s Dept of Senior Programs (914-813-6100) and the Westchester Library System (WLS). Updates to all of these programs can be found at this link: seniors.westchesterlibraries.org/.