Essex County Group Seeks Medicare Counseling Volunteers | West Orange, NJ Patch – Patch

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Jewish Family Service of MetroWest New Jersey. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.

The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free help to Essex County Medicare beneficiaries who have problems with, or questions about their health insurance. SHIP is a statewide program administered in Essex County by Jewish Family Service of MetroWest NJ (JFS) and RSVP. It is funded by the New Jersey Department of Human Services with financial assistance through a grant from the U.S. Administration for Community Living.

Medicare can be complex and hard to navigate. Volunteer SHIP Counselors are trained to assist people with Medicare questions including providing information on Medigap plans, Part D coverage, claims, and benefits. Volunteers also answer questions regarding Medicaid and low-income assistance programs. Our main office is in Florham Park, however, volunteers counsel at community sites such as libraries and community centers throughout the county. In-person events are also held throughout the county during Medicare Open Enrollment (October 15 – December 7). During the pandemic, we are providing services virtually via phone and Zoom.

Volunteer counselors do not provide legal advice, sell, recommend, and/or endorse any specific insurance product, agent, insurance company or plan. Volunteers cannot hold an active license to sell insurance.

This program has 2 openings. We are especially in need of volunteers who are fluent in Spanish. A 40-hour virtual training is required with a minimum of 4 hours per week for a 1 year of commitment. The next training will be held virtually in March on Wednesdays/Fridays from 9:30 AM – 12:30PM via Zoom.

To volunteer, contact Brittany Bynum at bbynum@jfsmetrowest.org or 973-637-1717. The Essex County SHIP is run through RSVP, an AmeriCorps Seniors program, and only open to volunteers ages 55+ and willing to submit to a background check.

JFS MetroWest NJ, the sponsor of SHIP in Essex County, is a comprehensive social service agency providing mental health counseling and support services on a non-discriminatory basis. With a presence in the community since 1861, JFS today delivers an expanding number of programs to increasing numbers of people. For children and families, JFS provides individual, child and family counseling, play therapy, support groups, school and synagogue based social work services, family life education and other assistance needed to support healthy families. Rachel Coalition, a division of JFS, provides domestic violence services for all members of the family affected by domestic violence. JFS also offers a wide range of services for older adults and their families including case management services, counseling, caregiver education, volunteer friendly visitors and specialized programs for Holocaust survivors. JFS MetroWest is committed to inclusive programming. Please call to discuss how we can help you. For more information, call (973) 765-9050 or visit www.jfsmetrowest.org.