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County aging office: Medicare counseling demand surges; staff warn program at capacity
Summary
Cayuga County Office for the Aging described rising demand for its Medicare counseling (ICAP) services, described how the program works and warned one full-time counselor cannot meet current need without additional resources or changes to staffing.
Erica Wyman, director of the Cayuga County Office for the Aging, told the Legislature that the county’s Medicare counseling program (ICAP) is seeing a marked increase in demand and complexity and that staffing and training needs are straining the office.
Wyman said the program offers three core services: monthly group “Medicare 101” classes, confidential one-on-one counseling and an annual enrollment assistance period from October through December. Nicole Sadoras, the county’s ICAP coordinator, demonstrated how counselors use a folder of client information, drug lists and the Medicare.gov tools to compare dozens of plans and to screen for savings programs.
Why it matters: County staff said decisions by Medicare Advantage and Part D plans change annually, so many Medicare-eligible residents rely on free, local counseling to pick coverage they can afford and that…
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