Agents Volunteer to Educate Seniors on New Medicare Prescription Drug Program
For Immediate Release
Contact: Caitlin Kubler 703/770-8251, CKubler@naifa.org
March 13, 2005
FALLS CHURCH, VA-The Association of Health Insurance Advisors (AHIA), the health insurance division of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), has been selected by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) MedicareRx Volunteer Initiative as an important partner in the national effort to help people with Medicare understand and choose a Medicare prescription drug plan that is right for them.
As with any insurance program, individuals will have options. "Who better to assist with the comparison of insurance policies than professionals who do this for a living?" said AHIA President Debra C. Newman, CLU, ChFC, LTCP.
Many AHIA members have volunteered to donate their time and talents to be a part of this landmark effort. In addition to their insurance expertise, AHIA members received education and detailed information on the new benefit, including the MedicareRx Help is Here Resource Kit. The kit offers step-by-step instructions for explaining Medicare's new prescription new drug coverage to people with Medicare. The kit also explains how to use the MedicareRx Web tools to navigate the online prescription drug plan enrollment process.
In addition to helping family, friends and neighbors who need assistance understanding and choosing a prescription drug plan, AHIA members are going "above and beyond" to volunteer to help people with Medicare. They are distributing flyers in their communities identifying themselves as trusted professionals including the "AHIA Member" logo. People with Medicare can also find an AHIA member in their area by providing their zip code in the Consumer Section of AHIA's website at http://www.ahia.net/consumer/search.cfm.
CMS recently issued a scam advisory that warns people to be aware of a scheme that asks Medicare beneficiaries for $299 and checking account information to help them enroll in a non-existent Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
"With the recent $299 scams, it is more important than ever that people with Medicare have a trusted source for information and assistance," adds Newman. "Our members have stepped up and volunteered to help people in their community understand this important benefit free of charge."
About AHIA: The Association of Health Insurance Advisors' (AHIA) mission is to sustain and improve the business environment for NAIFA members marketing a broad range of health-related products and services. AHIA advocates on issues that impact members involved in the sale of group and individual health-related products including major medical, disability, long-term care, critical illness and Medicare supplement insurance.
About NAIFA: Founded in 1890 as the National Association of Life Underwriters, NAIFA comprises 800 state and local associations representing the business interests of 225,000 members and their employees nationwide. Members focus their practices on one or more of the following: life insurance and annuities, health insurance and employee benefits, multiline, and financial advising and investments. NAIFA's mission is to advocate for a positive legislative and regulatory environment, enhance business and professional skills, and promote the ethical conduct of its members. NAIFA serves as an umbrella organization that includes the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU), the Association of Health Insurance Advisors (AHIA) and GAMA International.
The Association of Health Insurance Advisors' (AHIA) mission is to provide leadership in sustaining and improving the business environment for NAIFA Federation members marketing a broad range of health related products and services. AHIA takes a lead advocacy role on issues, which impact members involved in the sale of group and individual health related products including major medical, disability, long-term care, critical illness and Medicare supplement insurance.
Founded in 1890 as the National Association of Life Underwriters, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors' (NAIFA) umbrella of organizations includes the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU), the Association of Health Insurance Advisors (AHIA) and GAMA International. AHIA is the health insurance division of NAIFA.
