Senior Resource Center
For Douglas County
Medicare and Insurance
Medicare questions? New to Medicare? Need an Open Enrollment Appointment?
Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) is the federal State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for navigating Medicare in Kansas. SHICK is free, unbiased, and confidential. Trained community counselors answer questions about Medicare and other insurance issues. This program is supported by Douglas County, grants, volunteers and donations. We do not sell anything.
See our Resources Page for helpful websites, publications and information about health care and financial assistance!
Medicare Assistance Tool
Medicare Open Enrollment has started!
Do you have questions about Medicare? We can help.
Answer the following questions to determine your next step.
Let's Begin!
Call the SRC Medicare Helpline
If you are unsure about whether or not you (or the person you are helping) have Medicare coverage, please give us a call. We can help you determine how to proceed.
Still need help?
Make a Plan D Counseling Appointment
Medicare drug coverage (also known as Medicare Part D) helps pay for the brand-name and generic drugs you need. It's optional and offered to everyone with Medicare by insurance companies and other private companies approved by Medicare. Even if you don’t take prescription drugs now, consider getting Medicare drug coverage to avoid paying a late enrollment penalty if you join a plan later.
Still need help?
Make a Counseling Appointment
When you schedule an appointment with a Medicare counselor, you can review any concerns or issues you have about your current plan, questions about a Medicare claim, or learn if you qualify for assistance with your Medicare expenses. During Open Enrollment, you can review your plan to help make sure you have the best plan for your needs in the coming year.
Still need help?
Step 1: Download or Request a SRC Medicare Checklist
Turning 65 soon or approved for Medicare because of disability?
Delayed full Medicare and now stopping/losing employer health insurance?
“What an incredible program. Thanks for providing this service to the community.”
Still need help?
Step 2: Register here for SRC’s Welcome to Medicare Session
This is a monthly presentation by a certified SHICK counselor covering Medicare deadlines, coverage options, penalties for inaction, and more. Highly Recommended. Seating is limited.
“It was a very informational meeting. I will refer any 64-year-olds I meet.”
“I came into the meeting knowing nothing about Medicare and came out feeling like I had all the resources and information I needed. Thank you!”
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 - March 31
This is an additional special time for those with Medicare Advantage to change your Medicare Advantage plan or revert to traditional Medicare (Parts A, B, Supplement, D). Schedule an individual appointment during this period with a SHICK counselor if you wish to review or make changes to your Medicare Advantage plan.
Assistance With Premiums and Coverage
Do you have questions about coverage?
Do you need help to lower prescription drug and premium costs? Do you have questions about what Medicare covers or how much Medicare pays for claims?
Make an appointment with a SHICK counselor to assess your situation and answer your questions.
Volunteer
Interested in helping others with Medicare?
Our SHICK counselors provide a valuable service. Most have been through this process themselves and enjoy helping others make informed decisions. Some of our counselors volunteer year-round; others volunteer only during the fall open enrollment period. Our volunteers provide year-round assistance with phone calls and directing the public to resources.
Fill out the online application linked below, and we will contact you.
This publication is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award grant numbers 90SAPG0093 & 2201KSMISH by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
Contact Us
745 Vermont St, Lawrence, KS 66044
Hours: Mon-Fri | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Phone: 785-842-0543