By Linda Feist
HPIC counselor

Rise and shine, shower and dress - gather lunch and HPIC support materials - drive to the Senior Federation - turn on the computer, check for messages, check for unfinished work and then turn on the live phones - Get to work listening, answering and mailing material. Some days I don’t come up for air at the Senior Federation’s Health Plan Information Center.

What health-related information do seniors want? Well, let’s see...

• Callers want to go over choices of supplemental or health insurance or Medicare Part D plans and get help selecting the one best for them.
• They want to understand how to get on a Medicare after they retire from employment when they’re over age 65.
• They’re not on any drugs so they want to know why they should enroll in Part D
• They ask about eligibility for Senior Partners Care.
• By summer they are concerned about how to pay for drugs once they’re in the Part D donut hole.
• They ask about getting dental coverage or low-cost dental care
• They want to know about the penalties for not enrolling in Medicare Part B

12-1 p.m.: down time - lunch and chat with other volunteers.

When the phone stops ringing, we volunteers are:

• Doing the time-consuming research work needed to help people select an appropriate Medicare supplement, best Medicare Part D plan or find relief for those in the donut hole.
• Helping to prepare the annual Health Care Choices publication
• Planning and helping with events and outreach programs

3 p.m.: phone’s off - close down, put unfinished questions in the file to be handled by the next shift, get desk ready for tomorrow’s volunteer. Depart - smiling and satisfied.

Volunteering in HPIC - being able to help Minnesotans on Medicare find their way through the health care maze is extremely rewarding. Volunteering in HPIC is the most gratifying part of my week.

We need you. We want you! Do you want a worthwhile activity that helps others while rewarding you with information you may need yourself? If so, join your peer counselors. HPIC will need more volunteers, particularly in the fall when there is open enrollment for Medicare or Medicare Part D. Call Lynn Moseng at 651/783-5018. Training and mentoring are provided.