Senior Health Insurance Information volunteer Russ Hagen retires after 12 years of service to community
Health Insurance Information Program volunteers ... For the last twelve years, Russ Hagen of rural Waterville, pictured above at left, has provided assistance to hundreds of individuals in the tri-state area as a Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) volunteer at Veterans Memorial Hospital and has recently retired. Nancy Schoh, of rural Dorchester, pictured above at right, still provides this one-on-one assistance with Medicare coverage, supplement insurance, long-term care and other related issues, at the hospital. One more volunteer is needed to continue to meet the needs of the area communities. Anyone interested in volunteering should call the hospital. Submitted photo.
For the last twelve years, Russ Hagen of rural Waterville has provided assistance to hundreds of individuals in the tri-state area as a Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) volunteer at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH). He has helped many with their Medicare questions when joining the program and each year during the annual open enrollment period. Russ also delivered many “Welcome to Medicare” seminars at the hospital for those preparing to join a Medicare plan for the first time.
Russ initially completed an extensive six-day training program to become a SHIIP volunteer, and other trainings as needed, to continue his service at Veterans Memorial Hospital for over 12 years. He recently retired from this service at the end of 2022, making him the longest running SHIIP volunteer in the hospital’s history of being a SHIIP sponsor.
SHIIP, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program, was created in 1990 in response to the statewide need for senior health insurance information. SHIIP provides free informational materials as well as one-to-one assistance with Medicare Coverage, Medicare supplement insurance, long-term care insurance, Medicare and insurance claims and other related issues. SHIIP does not recommend insurance companies, plans or agents; the volunteers answer questions and provide impartial information to help seniors make well-informed decisions.
Nancy Schoh of rural Dorchester also provides this important service at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Ideally, one more volunteer is needed to work with Nancy to continue to meet the needs of the area communities.
For more information on becoming a SHIIP volunteer, or to make an appointment with Nancy for SHIIP counseling, call VMH at 563-568-3411.
