NORTH COAST, Calif. – When a person meets Alan Piombo, a military veteran, they are immediately taken with his warmth and humor.
But if you ask him a question about Medicare, be ready to sit back, listen closely, and learn how to navigate Medicare’s complex government health benefits for seniors.
Piombo’s experience giving this advice to seniors didn’t originate from paid employment. Rather, he began his rewarding work as a volunteer.
Piombo wasn’t always an expert in Medicare. When his wife needed Medicare at age 59 due to disability, they sought advice to make the right choices about their health care options.
Through word of mouth, Piombo learned about California’s HICAP program, otherwise known as the Medicare Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program.
He soon met with one of the volunteer HICAP counselors in his county to gain insight on the Medicare system and the choices afforded to his family.
The advice he received proved immediately beneficial – the counselor showed Piombo a cost savings related to his wife’s durable medical equipment costs paid each month, and his medical outlay reduced tremendously.
After this Piombo immediately thought of others who might need to know this information. With his trademark enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, Piombo was soon recruited to be a HICAP counselor just like the person who helped him.
For five years, he was a volunteer HICAP counselor and eventually became a HICAP presenter.
Each day, Piombo and other HICAP volunteer counselors help guide those in need of free, unbiased advice about Medicare.
If you have time to make a difference to those in Lake and Mendocino County helping seniors who are trying to understand their Medicare health care, HICAP needs you.
The volunteer time commitment begins at six hours a month but your availability will define how much you want to commit. You will be given extensive training in order to become certified by the California Department of Aging as a registered HICAP counselor.
HICAP volunteer counselors provide factual, unbiased and free informational services. The nonprofit program does not sell anything, endorse, nor recommend any insurance companies.
Like Piombo, who began as a volunteer, you will enjoy knowing your time and service are valued
by others and that the work you do is important to the health and well-being of so many seniors in your county.
If you enjoy the challenge of learning, and after certification would be willing to give six hours a month to make a difference, HICAP is the place for you.
For more information go online to www.SeniorAdvocacyServices.org/HICAP , email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 800-434-0222.
HICAP offers a rewarding role helping seniors with Medicare advice
- Lake County News reports
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