Watch “Save Our SHIP” Videos for Friends of Medicare Beneficiaries

Dear Friends of Medicare Beneficiaries,

Please take under 5 minutes to view either of these YouTube videos to see how Medicare beneficiaries feel about their State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), knowing that Congress may eliminate all SHIP funding. The House Appropriations Subcommittee meets after July 4th to vote on this unprecedented budget cut.  #SaveOurSHIPs

“Save Our SHIP for Medicare Beneficiaries” Video 4min45sec

https://youtu.be/31CjAWfHTGE

“Scottsdale Medicare Beneficiaries for Save Our SHIP” Video 3min45sec

https://youtu.be/7_u-omJ0w3I

The Senate Appropriations Committee recently passed a bill that eliminates the entire $52.1 million budget funding for the national network of SHIPs for Fiscal Year 2017 starting Oct 1, 2016. The bill goes before the House Appropriations Subcommittee for a vote soon. This budget represents spending of less than $1 per Medicare beneficiary per year.

http://kff.org/medicare/state-indicator/total-medicare-beneficiaries/

SHIP is the only program that provides free, unbiased one-on-one Medicare benefits counseling, education and advocacy to Medicare seniors and disabled beneficiaries, their families and caregivers. This effective Program is supported largely through volunteer counselors, but it needs funding to survive. SHIPs have successfully served the country’s Medicare population since 1992, providing local help to people with Medicare. 

Please read the links below if you’d like to learn more.

https://www.ncoa.org/news/ncoa-news/public-policy-news/ships-eliminated-scsep-cut-in-fy17-funding-bill/

https://www.ncoa.org/news/press-releases/proposed-elimination-of-ships-threatens-health-and-independence-of-people-with-medicare/

Together and as individuals we can make our voices heard! SHIP Counselors make an appreciated difference to the lives of Medicare beneficiaries daily and nationally by providing needed assistance and improving access to the health care Medicare beneficiaries have earned.

Please take five minutes to send emails to your members of Congress. You can use your zip code with the NCOA write-a-letter link and the message is pre-written. Or you can contact your legislators using the House and Senate links with your zip code, and simply cut and paste the above video title and link into the message space. The video contains a closing message to Members of Congress. Please use the Scottsdale video for emails to Representative David Schweikert.

http://cqrcengage.com/ncoa/app/onestep-write-a-letter?3&engagementId=219993

http://www.house.gov

http://www.senate.gov/index.htm

Thank you. And thank you for engaging friends, family or colleagues who might be willing to help “Save Our SHIP.”  #SaveOurSHIPs

Cindy Lee for

Medicare Beneficiaries For SHIP

medicarebeneficiaries4ship@gmail.com

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Author: Cindy Lee

Cindy Lee is the vice president and a member of GPPA’s Board of Directors and formerly served on Scottsdale’s Historic Preservation Commission. She is currently a graduate student in the Master of Liberal Studies degree program at Arizona State University. Cindy is a North Scottsdale resident since her 2009 move from New York. She volunteers free health insurance counseling and advocacy for Medicare beneficiaries through the Area Agency on Aging, a nonprofit organization serving Maricopa County.

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