New York, NY – The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will host free public workshops at HHC hospitals and large health centers throughout the city just in time for the Medicare open enrollment period to help senior citizens, other beneficiaries and their caregivers apply for Medicare and get the most out of their benefits.

Health Insurance Specialists from CMS will conduct 13 Medicare learning sessions at HHC hospitals and health centers in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens before and during open enrollment October 15 to December 7. In Queens, workshops will be held at Elmhurst and Queens Hospitals.

The workshops will provide Medicare information and materials that are current, accurate and consistent for beneficiaries, healthcare professionals, including coming-of-agers (people approaching age 65, when they become eligible for Medicare), and those who want a refresher course. The sessions will also cover updates brought about by the Affordable Care Act, the healthcare reform law passed by the U.S. Congress in 2010 and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in June.

"Seniors are a significant and growing part of our patient population and we are providing this important information to assist them in making informed decisions about their healthcare," said HHC President Alan D. Aviles.

Workshop participants will learn:

• The benefits of the Medicare program and how to apply.
• The parts of Medicare: Part A: hospital insurance; Part B: medical insurance – outpatient visits, lab work, preventive services; Part C: health plans; and Part D: prescription drug coverage.
• The Medicare appeals process.
• The Medicare programs in place for people with limited income and resources.

CMS is the federal agency that provides health coverage for 100 million people through Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Medicare is a health insurance program for people age 65 or older, people younger than 65 with disabilities, and people with end stage renal disease who require dialysis or a transplant.

“These workshops are an excellent way to inform beneficiaries, caregivers, coming-of-agers, and all who serve people with Medicare,” said Norma Harris, CMS health insurance specialist. “Through education, CMS is committed to continuing the important work involved in transforming health care delivery systems and helping to ensure a healthy future for all Americans.”

Here is the schedule for the Manhattan. All workshops will be held 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.:

Thurs., Oct.11, Elmhurst Hospital Center, 79-01 Broadway RSVP: http://medicare101elmhurst.eventbrite.com

Tues., Oct.23, Queens Hospital Center, 82-68 164th Street RSVP: http://medicare101queenshospital.eventbrite.com 

Participants may also RSVP by calling 212-788-3450.

About HHC

The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is a $6.7 billion integrated healthcare delivery system with its own 420,000 member health plan, MetroPlus, and is the largest municipal healthcare organization in the country. HHC serves 1.4 million New Yorkers every year and more than 475,000 are uninsured. HHC provides medical, mental health and substance abuse services through its 11 acute care hospitals, four skilled nursing facilities, six large diagnostic and treatment centers and more than 70 community based clinics. HHC Health and Home Care also provides in-home services for New Yorkers. HHC was the 2008 recipient of the National Quality Forum and The Joint Commission's John M. Eisenberg Award for Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/hhc.

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