Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, June 28, 1993                   TAG: 9306260019
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ALMENA HUGHES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

MEDICARE RECIPIENTS CAN GET INSURANCE HELP

Abell is heading a new program, in conjunction with the statewide Virginia Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Project, to help answer Medicare-eligible people's questions about insurance claims and policies. He'll conduct a free seminar for that purpose from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 30 at the Ogden Senior Center.

"There are hundreds of thousands of dollars being taken from people who can ill afford to buy insurance," Abell says.

He blames confusion, fear and misinformation for the losses.

As of July 1992, all Medigap supplemental health insurance policies are the same, Abell says. So people need only one Medigap policy, yet many seniors have several.

He says to comparison shop for premium costs and customer services, then cancel all but one Medigap policy.

To avoid being pressured into buying unnecessary insurance, he says, "Don't buy the first policy you see and try to have a relative or trusted friend or neighbor with you when an insurance agent visits you."

Abell says that nearly all Medicare recipients need Medigap insurance to pay the 20 percent of medical expenses not covered by Medicare. A person cannot be refused Medigap coverage because of ill health during the six months immediately after becoming eligible for Part B of Medicare, so he suggests buying the coverage as soon as possible. Programs are available to help low-income individuals who cannot afford the premiums.

While everyone needs Medigap insurance, only people with heirs and at least $40,000 in assets may need long-term health care coverage, which can run as high as $2,500 per year, Abell says.

When selecting long-term care, he says, seek a policy that covers the desired long-term care facility, has the fewest requirements for meeting activities of daily living and returns the premiums to heirs if the policyholder dies without using it.

Abell says seniors buying any type of insurance should always pay by check or money order made payable to the home office rather than to the agent; should not allow companies to make automatic withdrawals from their accounts; should be wary of dread-disease policies, such as those covering cancer; and should cancel a policy by registered letters to both the agent and home office.

LOA's Insurance Counseling program uses volunteer counselors to provide information on what is available and advice on what is needed. It neither sells insurance nor advocates insurers.

Counselors will be at the seminar and also are available for individual and in-home consultations. For information or to schedule an appointment, call 345-0451.