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Funding cuts in Senate File 760 will lead to a severe reduction in services provided by the Senior LinkAge Line®. This comes at a time when more people are aging and their ability to live at home independently often hinges on whether they can access services in their community.

As a Senior LinkAge Coordinator, I have been fortunate over the past twelve years to assist older adults and persons with disabilities and their family members in understanding their Medicare options. Medicare has designated the Senior LinkAge Line® as the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) in Minnesota. SHIP programs provide non-biased health insurance counseling to Medicare beneficiaries. In addition to health insurance counseling the Senior LinkAge Line® also makes it possible for people to remain in their own homes by locating resources and services which help them to be as independent as possible.

Because the Senior LinkAge Line® is helping people return successfully to their homes from a nursing home, these cuts will also lead to the loss of savings and in fact, cost the state money. The cuts will reduce our ability to serve Medicare beneficiaries and their families by 50 percent. Navigating the Medicare maze and accessing services can be daunting and intimidating.

If you or someone you know has been helped by the Senior LinkAge Line®, please call or write your local legislator and let them know the value of this service. If you would like more information on how to contact your legislators, information can be found at: www.leg.state.mn.us

Peggy Rieland

Senior LinkAge Coordinator

Central MN Council on Aging

St. Cloud, MN[[In-content Ad]]

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