When Kim Skinner, volunteer coordinator with Lancaster County Office of Aging, looked at the county map in early 2021, she saw that the ELANCO and Pequea Valley areas had no PA Medi locations. PA Medi offers help to new and existing Medicare beneficiaries by providing certified counselors who can help recipients reduce Medicare costs during the annual open enrollment period, which ran from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 in 2021.
Skinner contacted Dawn Ranck-Hower, pastor of New Holland Mennonite Church, for help. Ranck-Hower referred Skinner to Audrey Kanagy, who pastors Ridgeview Mennonite Church, 3723 Ridge Road, Gordonville. Ridgeview sits on the high ground in Pequea Valley School District, just over the line from ELANCO School District, making it convenient for residents from both areas.
Kanagy was pleased to hear from Skinner. "Ever since I came three years ago, I have thought, 'We have this big, lovely building, and we don't fully use it,'" she recalled. "I want it to be a resource for the community." When Skinner called, the church was able to say, "yes," to being a PA Medi site. "We said, 'Sure,'" reported Kanagy. "We consider that a community service, so we don't ask for rent."
On Nov. 22, 2021, Susan Ryan, volunteer with the Office of Aging, spent much of the day at Ridgeview helping area residents who had signed up to discuss their specific Medicare needs. "We had back-to-back appointments here," reported Kanagy. PA Medi counselors provide information on Medicare Part D plans, Advantage plans, supplemental insurance, and more. "It's a free service we provide," explained Skinner. "It's objective, and people really can't get anything like this (elsewhere)." Skinner stated that the organization provides charts with income levels for PACE, PACENET, and Extra Help, which can assist with prescription medicines for those in low-income brackets. Skinner noted that Advantage plans were advertised heavily on television during the enrollment period. "Our calls increased because of all the ads on TV," she said.
Other county PA Medi locations include Adamstown, Columbia, Denver, Elizabethtown, Ephrata, Lititz, Manheim Township, Mount Joy, and Quarryville. Skinner shared that she is always looking for churches, libraries, and other locations in areas where Apprise is not already present.
Kanagy pointed out that the partnership is exactly what she was hoping for. "We are excited about that kind of community collaboration," she said.
More information about the Office of Aging may be found at http://www.lancoaging.org. For specific questions, readers may call 717-299-7979 or email aging@co.lancaster.pa.us.
More information about Ridgeview Mennonite Church is available at http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net.
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