CCH dietician becomes a SHIIP counselor

News release:

(COLUMBUS, Neb.) – Columbus Community Hospital Dietician Joan Plummer has completed the training to be a SHIIP counselor.

SHIIP stands for Senior Health Insurance Information Program and is coordinated within the Nebraska Department of Insurance. The program trains counselors to offer free, objective and local health insurance counseling to people with Medicare and their families. The Nebraska SHIIP mission is for counselors to educate people about Medicare and empower people with disabilities to make informed decisions about health insurance while focusing on fraud prevention. SHIIP counselors do not recommend policies, companies or insurance agents, but will give free, unbiased answers to consumers and their caregivers.

Plummer completed the training in June.

“I became interested in becoming a SHIIP counselor when so many of the people I work with that have diabetes struggle to pay for their medications. I spend much time counseling them on help they can get with their medications and educating them on benefits from Medicare, including diabetes education,” she said.

Plummer also said a SHIIP counselor has been at some of the hospital’s diabetes events and she found the information the counselor provided to be very valuable.

“I also wanted to become more educated myself about Medicare and insurance for seniors so I can continue to help people in my position at Columbus Community Hospital and in the community as a volunteer. There are many professional resources that I have at my fingertips that I did not have previously,” she said.

Anyone who is on Medicare or is becoming Medicare eligible and has questions about Medicare, Medicare supplements, Medicare Part D, income assistance or other questions can utilize the services of a SHIIP counselor.

For more information, contact Plummer at 402-562-4462 or email her at [email protected].