PA MEDI Seeks Volunteers

"After you have been through struggling to understand Medicare yourself, and you're helping other people to understand ... when they say, 'This is the most anyone has ever done to explain this,' it makes your day," said Kim Skinner, volunteer coordinator with Lancaster County Office of Aging.

Skinner is hoping to help more Lancaster County residents get that feeling of satisfaction that comes from helping others answer their Medicare questions. Volunteer Medicare counselors are needed for PA MEDI, a program run out of the Office of Aging at 150 N. Queen St., Lancaster. PA MEDI volunteers donate at least four hours weekly in private face-to-face sessions. Counselors answer questions about Medicare eligibility and enrollment, Parts A and B and Medigap benefits, Part D prescription drug plans, PACE and other financial assistance programs, Medicare Advantage Plans, and more.

Skinner noted that volunteers will complete a training course of 10 online modules with testing. "Then there's another online training (program) with the regional coordinator," Skinner added. She noted that people who enjoy reading make good volunteers. "There's a lot to know in Medicare," she stated, adding that many retired people volunteer for PA MEDI. Computer literacy is a must, according to Skinner, who said that counselors come from all walks of life and that former teachers, nurses, and lawyers are currently volunteering. "These are people who have worked and want to continue doing something that utilizes their brainpower," she said. "Often people who have retired need to have purpose." Skinner said she would like to see more men join the volunteer force.

Current volunteers JoAnn Irwin and Janet Foster both noted that their former careers aid them in their work with PA MEDI. Irwin, who worked in IT, said that the training and teaching she did when she explained a complex computer system to people has prepared her. "Medicare has a lot of crazy rules, and it's intimidating for people, but my job is to break it down and make it understandable," she said, adding that she loves the challenge of the work.

Foster, who worked for an orthopedic surgeon, said that knowing the provider's side of Medicare helps her help others. She also enjoys the sense of accomplishment. "It's satisfying because you have people who just appreciate what you do," she said. "You help them as best you can, and you see the stress lift."

Skinner noted that the counselors offer a unique perspective to those they help. "We provide objective answers and comparisons of different insurance plans. We never point them in a direction."

The free counseling service has been available for more than 30 years. "(Sites) were established as State Health Insurance Assistance Program - SHIP," said Skinner, who added that more than 50 SHIPs were offered across the state. She noted that nearly 760 people were served by the PA MEDI program in 2021.

Readers who would like to volunteer may email kskinner@co.lancaster.pa.us or call 717-299-7979.