(The Dallas Examiner) – The United States is hit hard by five to nine devastating natural disasters each year. A tornado, hurricane – and in recent years, an earthquake – could destroy everything in its path. They can strike quickly and sometimes without enough warning.
For many, recovery may be daunting and feel endless. But for seniors and disabled individuals, true recovery may be or seem impossible.
Whether it is financial help, housing needs, medical help, resources for mental health, transportation or educational needs, the federal government is continually updating its policies and resources for those in need. Especially for seniors and those disabled.
The State Health Insurance Assistance Program, also known as SHIP, is available for those in need. The federally funded program can help individuals understand costs and coverage; how to compare, enroll and change plans; and how to correct billing issues for those on Medicare plans.
“Our evidence-based programs can assist in managing chronic illnesses, and importantly, they can help you reduce your risk of falls, and we know a fall can put you in a nursing home, or even worse,” said Felecia Warner, benefits counselor II at the North Central Texas Area Agency on Aging during a webinar hosted by the agency entitled, Midweek Medicare: Medicare Advantage and Special Needs Plans and Natural Disaster and Emergency Scams, Aug. 14.
Volunteers are also needed to help those unfamiliar with programs and resources available.
“Our volunteers, they get to choose,” Warner stated. “They select what suits them best. The training gives an individual confidence, and you are enhancing your skills you’ve already learned in the workplace, such as communication, listening, which is so important, and relationship building, also understanding your own values, what you have already, which is respect and compassion for our elderly and disabled community.”
Members and their loved ones can either visit: shiphelp.org or call 877-839-2675 to learn about the new resources available.
Warner explained the updated Medicare program for those who receive extra help, known as a Medicare Advantage Plan. She then discussed the benefits for those on both Medicare and Medicaid that have a dual eligible special needs plan or other plans that are part of Medicare Part C. This is known as a Special Needs Plan.
“So our objectives here today with the Medicare Special Needs Plans are what are they, who is eligible and how they work,” she said.
SNP allows for those already on Medicaid to receive benefits and services for those with certain medical conditions. It’s also a service for care coordination, provider choices and a list of covered prescription drugs that meet the client’s needs.
“There are certain institutions, such as nursing homes or they live in a community and they require nursing home care and they can have an ISNP, which is institution, institutional Special Needs Plans,” Warner explained. “Our community members who have severe or disabling chronic conditions, such as diabetes, end stage renal disease, HIV, AIDS, chronic heart failure or dementia, can have a CSNP, which is Chronic Special Needs Plans.”
The end goal for those needing the SNP plan is to improve one’s quality of life for those with distinct health care needs and helping them long term by reducing their need for inpatient hospitalization, or those admitted to an institution or long-term facility.
“If you choose this route, plans have a yearly limit on what they pay for services, and once you reach your plans limit, you’ll pay nothing for the covered services for the rest of the year, and you cannot purchase a Medigap to cover your out-of-pocket costs with a Medicare Advantage plan,” Warner said.
Avoid scams during an emergency or natural disaster
The mission of the Texas Senior Medicare Patrol team is to empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers to prevent, detect and report health care fraud, errors and abuse through outreach, counseling and education.
The types of disasters that families need to be aware of are flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, winter storms and pandemics.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation received over 4,500 claims worth around $96 million in losses to groups such as fraudulent charities, crowdfunding accounts and disaster relief campaigns, according to the FBI report in 2024.
Medicare scams included individuals posing as agents and calling recipients with false information on obtaining help with extra aid, according to Valerie Petriciolet, state outreach specialist of the Texas Senior Medicare Patrol for the Better Business Bureau Foundation of Houston.
Victims of Medicare fraud and their loved ones should call their provider at 888-341-6187. For those scammed during natural disasters, call the National Center for Disaster Fraud at 1-866-720-5721 or the Texas Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-621-0508.
The presenters emphasized the importance of emergency preparedness such as to remember to keep your insurance information safe and accessible along with other important documentation. Do a household inventory, post emergency telephone numbers, prepare a disaster supply kit, know where water and gas shut offs are, keep a list of current prescriptions and medications, and keep your pets safe and sound as well.
Resources for help prepare for a natural disaster: