Boost Your Budget
Last week, Benefits in Action (BIA) took part in the National Council on Aging’s (NCOA) Boost Your Budget week to help community members make better use of their monthly budgets. During the event, we took live calls from individuals and helped them navigate health benefits that may help them better allocate their resources. This is a different approach than the approach that we normally take, but it proved such a positive experience that we plan to try it again on a monthly basis. Do you need help navigating the world of health benefits in order to make better use of your monthly budget? If so, pay close attention to this article.
The NCOA’s Boost Your Budget event is an event designed to educate low-income Medicare beneficiaries about the money saving health care and other benefits that are potentially available to them. The NCOA started this event because millions of older adults are either unaware of or not enrolled in benefits that are available to them and that could help them save money. The NCOA holds this event annually during the second full week of April. This year, the event took place between April 12 and 16, 2021.
We are thrilled to have been a part of Boost Your Budget week. We helped older adults and other individuals apply for benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which will provide them with money for food so they can more effectively allocate their other funds. We also helped older adults learn more about Medicare Savings Programs that could help them save money on their Medicare Part A and B premiums. Individuals reported that they loved the chance to speak to a health benefit navigator in real-time.
We are so happy with the results of Boost Your Budget week that we plan to hold similar events on a monthly basis. Here is how each event will work. Individuals will call our main line to speak to one of our intake coordinators about the health benefits that are potentially available to them. The intake coordinator will briefly assess the health benefit that the individual is interested in and transfer the individual to a navigator who specializes in that benefit. Most of the time, the assistance will take place in real-time, meaning the navigator will be able to provide advice or complete an application right there and then. However, certain complex cases may require a follow-up appointment. Either way, individuals will get the chance to speak to a navigator.
Next month’s event will take place on May 13, 2021, from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm. Be sure to mark this event on your calendar, as it can help you gain access to health benefits that can potentially save you money. If you have any questions about this event or need other assistance, please call BIA at 720-221-8354, or email us at info@benefitsinaction.org. Our experienced health benefit navigators are happy to help you access, use, and understand health benefits for which you may be eligible. Until next time, stay healthy and stay safe.
