In a 29-1 decision, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee voted in early June to cut funding for free state Medicare assister programs for seniors, including SHICK. SHICK is part of is the national federally-funded State Health Insurance Assistance Program, which provides free health benefits counseling for Medicare members and their families.
SHICK costs over half a million to operate in the state. Nationally, SHIP costs $52.1 million, according to The Hutchinson News. In Reno County, SHICK assisted 728 citizens over the age of 60 during the 2015 Medicare Part D open enrollment period.
Director of the Department of Aging for Reno County Barbara Lilyhorn said SHICK saved seniors $1,000 each last year, The Hutchinson News reported.
The Senate and the House will need to vote to end SHIP before the cuts are finalized.
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