EDUCATION PROGRAM INFORM-INSURANCE NEEDS FOR RECIPIENTS OF MEDICARE, A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM

HEALTH CARE EDUCATION ASSOCIATES PROPOSES TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO 1) INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE LEVEL OF MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES REGARDING MEDICARECOVERAGE AND THE NEED FOR SUPPLEMENTAL LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE, 2) IMPROVE THE ABILITY OF BENEFICIARIES TO MAKE APPROPRIATE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEED FOR ADDITIONAL CATASTROPHIC HEALTH CARE INSURANCE, PARTICULARLY LONG-TERM CARE. THESE GOALS WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMATION BOOKLET FOR CONSUMERS AND A TRAINING KIT FOR COUNSELORS, LECTURERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND OTHER RELEVANT PERSONNEL WHOSE TASK IT IS TO EDUCATE CONSUMERS ABOUT MEDICARE COVERAGE AND LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE NEEDS. AT THE END OF PHASE I, BOTH THE BOOKLET AND THE TRAINING KIT WILL BE COMPLETE AND READY FOR MASS DISTRIBUTION AND PRINTING. THIS PROGRAM CAN BE FURTHER EXPANDED DURING PHASE II, THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A VIDEO PRESENTATION AND THROUGH A TRANSLATION OF ALL MATERIALS, BOTH PRINTED AND AUDIOVISUAL, INTO SPANISH. IN ADDITION, AN EVALUATION COMPONENT OF PHASE II RESEARCH WOULDHELP ESTABLISH A CORE OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROGRAMS TO EDUCATE THE ELDERLY ON MEDICARE AND ADDITIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE. THE 31 MILLION MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES REPRESENT THE MAIN TARGET MARKET FOR THE PROGRAM. A SECONDARY TARGET MARKET INCLUDES EMPLOYERS WITH MORE THAN 2,000 EMPLOYEES.