UCDD To Host Medicare Class Series

UCDD’s SHIP program will host the first in a series of classes to help Medicare beneficiaries get more clarity in their policies this Tuesday.

SHIP/SMP Volunteer Coordinator Erin Perdue said that SHIP stands for State Health Insurance Assistance Program. She said that SHIP offers free and unbiased Medicare counseling to beneficiaries and their loved ones.

“There are approximately 100,000 Medicare beneficiaries just in the 14 counties that make up the Upper Cumberland,” Perdue said. “And because Medicare can be such a difficult topic to digest, this class will make it easier and help people out on a broader surface.”

Perdue said the classes are not just for brand-new Medicare beneficiaries. She said anyone with a loved one on Medicare or long-standing Medicare beneficiaries is welcome to attend.

Perdue said the class will focus on training with different components of Medicare. She said they will also review Medigap policies, ways to prevent fraud, and everything people need to know about coverage.

“The assistance that these programs give protects the aging populations as well as giving them an advocate when they can’t protect themselves from scam or fraud,” Perdue said. “It also gives them the feeling of understanding fo what is going on with their healthcare and empowers them to make more confident decisions about their Medicare choices.”