Nestled near the border of southern Iowa, Medicare beneficiaries in and around Monroe County represent some of the highest need individuals. Despite supporting a high percentage of low-income and high need clients, last year, one SHIIP-SMP counselor held 726 appointments with 343 unique clients – the largest number of appointments for one person in the state.
Monroe County Hospital & Clinics (MCHC) in Albia began sponsoring the SHIIP-SMP program in 2003, historically maintaining at least two volunteer counselors to help individuals and their families navigate Medicare options. Martha Hornick and Kathy Griffin both served together starting in 2015, with Ann Stocker stepping in to help as Martha “retired” from her SHIIP-SMP volunteer service in 2021. After Kathy shared her plans to wrap up seven years of service, she and Ann worked hard to identify a new volunteer to help. Unfortunately, they were unable to find someone ready and able to step into the role before the new volunteer training began.
By the end of July last year, Ann had already completed 224 appointments – assisting individuals turning 65, helping complete applications for financial assistance, working with those caught in Medicare fraud or stuck in difficult situations when their plans didn’t cover as expected. Ann shared with us, “Many of our clients either don’t have a computer and find it difficult to use their phone, and want to meet with someone face to face.”
In August, she told SHIIP-SMP staff that she didn’t think she could continue on her own. Ann was distraught at the idea of leaving people without the support they need. She reached out to her former counseling partner, “I told Kathy about my decision to close the office right away. She immediately talked with Martha and called me back to say that they would both come out of retirement to assist me during Open Enrollment.” They put their heads together and set up some new processes and tools for scheduling appointments and procedures for tracking clients. The SHIIP-SMP site at Monroe County Hospital & Clinics would stay open after all.
Jami Anderson, the site SHIIP-SMP Coordinator at MCHC, shared, “In a time of uncertainty, when our SHIIP office faced closure and hundreds of clients were left without a clear path forward, three remarkable women—Ann Stocker, Kathy Griffin, and Martha Hornick—answered the call to serve once again. Their selfless return to support Monroe County and surrounding areas during Medicare open enrollment is a testament to the heart of true volunteerism.”
With the dedicated help of Kathy and Martha scheduling clients and prepping for their visit, Ann completed 446 appointments during the seven weeks between Oct. 15-Dec. 7 alone. She logged more than 208 hours of volunteer service, devoting an average of 30hrs per week.
“Volunteering is just helping people to help themselves. It only takes sharing some of your knowledge and time along with having the desire to help others. It is very rewarding to help someone solve a problem or make a decision that leads to the best possible outcome for them. Volunteering can make a difference in the lives of the people you serve as well as your own in the most positive way. I would encourage anyone to volunteer and reap the mutual benefits!”
Jami added, “SHIIP volunteers are more than counselors; they are lifelines, problem-solvers, and compassionate neighbors ensuring no one has to navigate the complex world of Medicare alone. We are deeply grateful for their unwavering commitment to our community.”
Since then, Kathy has continued helping as a SHIIP-SMP office assistant. We are excited to also have two additional counselors joining the team at MCHC! Pamela Datwyler and Cynthia Halbmaier have almost completed their extensive training and mentoring. Their people skills and professional experience make them a great fit as SHIIP-SMP counselors, and they are looking forward to meeting with clients in the near future.
A tremendous thanks to Ann and the team in Monroe for all their hard work, and to all of the SHIIP-SMP volunteers across Iowa who go above and beyond to make sure their clients can feel confident in their Medicare choices.