Volunteers Needed for AgeWays Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program

MMAP Volunteers Help Seniors Understand and Access Benefits

Southfield, Michigan (March 9, 2017) – AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services’ Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) is looking for volunteers to become part of its team in Macomb County. The program is hosting two volunteer information sessions in Macomb County to help introduce potential volunteers to the program. The first session will be held on Thursday, March 30 at 2 p.m. at the Clinton-Macomb Public Library South Branch in Clinton Township. The second will be Wednesday, April 12 at 10:30 a.m. at the Clinton-Macomb Public Library North Branch in Macomb.

The MMAP program is funded by grants from several federal and state agencies and was put in place to be a source of free and unbiased help for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The program depends on a team of volunteer counselors that help beneficiaries understand their benefits and plan choices, work through problems and connect to programs that help Medicare beneficiaries save on health care premiums and costs.

“Our volunteers help seniors and people with disabilities get the information they need to make critical decisions about their health care coverage and spending,” explained Lilly Estenson, AgeWays MMAP manager. “They help people save money. I hear stories all the time of how our volunteer counselors have helped a low-income senior connect to a program that’s going to help them afford their health care or prescription costs. It’s very gratifying work.”

The program is looking for volunteers who have some computer skills. “You don’t have to be a computer whiz,” said Estenson, “but it is important that know your way around the internet and are able to pick up quickly on the simple internet-based tools we use.”

MMAP volunteers need to get familiar with Medicare and Medicaid benefits, so the program includes a thorough training program to make sure its volunteer counselors have the information they will need. “The training includes an orientation, about 10 hours of online training and a three-day, in-person training session,” said Estenson. The AgeWays MMAP program is holding a three-day, in-person volunteer training sessions in mid-June.

Once training is complete, volunteers are asked to commit to 60 hours of service per year. Insurance agents, insurance brokers, and financial planners are not eligible to become MMAP volunteers.

Volunteer information sessions will take place at the following locations and dates:

Thursday, March 30
2 -3 p.m.
Clinton-Macomb Public Library South Branch
35679 S. Gratiot Avenue
Clinton Township, MI 48035

Wednesday, April 12
10:30 -11:30 a.m.
Clinton-Macomb Public Library North Branch
16800 24 Mile Road
Macomb, MI 48042

For more information on becoming a MMAP volunteer, please contact Bev Clark, MMAP site coordinator Macomb and St. Clair counties, at (248) 978-6511.

To learn more about MMAP and the volunteer program visit our MMAP volunteer page.