The Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP)provides free and objective counseling services across the state of Iowa for Medicare and related insurances. - Our proposed project will provide one-on-one assistance, counseling, and education to Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to help them make informed decisions about their care and benefits. This goal will be reached by: • consistently and confidentially providing accurate, objective, and comprehensive information and assistance; • promoting awareness, knowledge, and visibility of the program; • recruiting, training, and retaining a diverse, sufficient, and effective workforce at all levels; and • promoting adaptable and sustainable processes and activities to position the SHIP for changes in the programmatic landscape. Implementation of the project will be accomplished by building on over 30 years of experience and an existing cadre of highly trained Counselors housed in a statewide network of community agencies. Through this established structure we will provide counseling and education to an estimated 55,000 client contacts each year. Our counseling and education services will be complemented by in person Welcome to Medicare Seminars (reaching at least 5,000 persons per year), and widespread outreach activities such as a mass mailing to all persons turning 65 in the state each year (an estimated 40,000) and an e-newsletter (reaching 30,000). We will also build out unique initiatives such as focusing on creating more self-service options to expand our reach, as well as opportunities to reach communities we have traditionally underserved through involvement in Iowa’s new Community Health Worker training program. Information and products created will be shared with other SHIPs, community partners and Medicare beneficiaries through our website, social media and the SHIP Technical Assistance Center.
