Medicare Near Miss

Have you ever had a “near miss”? You know, the kind of thing that happens in a blink of an eye that sends your heart beating wildly and sometimes causes goose bumps? According to Wikipedia “A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury, illness, or damage – but had the potential to do so. Only a fortunate break in the chain of events prevented an injury, fatality or damage.”

Many of us recently experienced a near miss…whether you knew it or not. Many of you are aware of the work I’ve been doing with the Medicare program for the past 10 years…ever since the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan started.

Since that time I personally have worked with over 1900 people helping them understand the Medicare program and compare all the Medicare Prescription Drug Plans to their particular prescriptions in order to get the best plan to cover their needs for the least money. Over those years I have helped these individuals save over half a million dollars! Additionally though the assistance of other SHIIP volunteers at events I have planned the grand total of savings is almost $660,000!

Despite the huge financial impact being made, the grant funding for the support of UNL Extension offering this program has been declining in recent years. The near miss came about recently when the announcement was made stating Extension personnel would not be working with the Medicare program in 2015.

Those of us in Extension were very upset.  This was such an important program showing such valuable impact not only saving people money, but offering peace of mind and education on these complex programs. We set about working to make sure the Extension decision makers knew how very much we were needed in rural Nebraska to help people make intelligent and well informed decisions about their medical and prescription needs. After a few weeks of emails, conversations and support from communities across the state we received notice the decision to pull Extension out of the Medicare program has been reversed!

This was truly a near miss not only for my programming, but for all the people in the state and especially the 3 county area I serve as an Extension and SHIIP Medicare contact.

Now it’s time to make sure you don’t have a near miss experience with your Medicare Prescription Drug or Health Plan. Make an appointment to attend one of the 19 Medicare Open Enrollment events available in Burt, Dodge and Washington Counties before the December 7 enrollment deadline.

These are free – no pressure events and NOTHING will be sold. Just make an appointment for the most convenient time and location on one of the event dates; bring your list of prescription medications and relax and take comfort in knowing you did everything you could to compare and save money on prescriptions for next year. Anyone from any county may attend any of these Open Enrollment Events. I hope to see you there!

In Burt County call UNL Extension in Burt County at 402-374-2929 for an appointment:

October 15 – Wednesday – Tekamah – UNL Extension Office, 111 North 13^th Street, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 pm

October 20 – Monday – Tekamah – Orville and Willa Chatt Senior Center – 1124 S. 13th Street, 9:00 am-8:00 pm

October 21 – Tuesday – Decatur –Sears Senior Center – 8^th and Broadway, 9:00 am-4:00 p.m.

October 22 – Wednesday – Tekamah – Tekamah-Herman Computer Classroom #106 – 112 N. 13th Street, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

November 3 – Monday – Lyons – Lyons Public Library, 305 Main St., 9:00-Noon.

November 3 – Monday – Decatur – Sears Senior Center, 8^th and Broadway, 1:00-5:00 p.m.

November 4 – Tuesday – Oakland -Oakland Public Library, 110 East 3^rd Street, 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

November 4 – Tuesday – Tekamah – Tekamah-Herman Computer Classroom #106 – 112 N. 13th Street, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

November 5 – Friday – Lyons – Lyons Public Library, 305 Main St., 9:00-Noon.

November 5 – Tuesday – Oakland – Oakland Public Library, 110 East 3^rd Street, 1:30-5:00 p.m.

November 7 – Friday – Lyons – Lyons Public Library, 305 Main St., 9:00 a.m.-Noon.

November 10 – Monday – Craig – Craig Fire Hall – 333 Main Street, 8:30 am-4:0 pm

November 20 – Thursday – Tekamah – Orville and Willa Chatt Senior Center – 1124 S. 13^th Street,

9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

November 24 – Monday – Tekamah – Orville and Willa Chatt Senior Center – 1124 S. 13^th Street,

9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

In Washington County call UNL Extension in Washington County at 402-426-9455 for an appointment.

November 17 – Monday – Blair – Washington County Extension Office, 597 Grant St., 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 pm

November 18 – Tuesday – Blair – Washington County Extension Office, 597 Grant St. 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

In Dodge County Call UNL Extension in Dodge County at 402-727-2775 for an appointment:

October 23 –Thursday– Fremont – Dodge County Extension Office, 1206 W. 23rd St. 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

October 24 – Friday – Fremont – Dodge County Extension Office, 1206 W. 23rd Street, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

November 6 – Thursday – North Bend – 110 E 13^th St. North Bend, NE Heritage Room 1:00-5:00 pm

Mary Loftis,

Extension Assistant
UNL Extension – Burt County
111 North 13th Street, Suite 6
Tekamah, NE 68061
Phone: (402) 374-2929

Fax: (402) 374-2930

Internet: mloftis2@unl.edu