With the baby boomers being the largest number of Senior Citizens ever entering the health care system as they age; I thought I would share my knowledge of what I have learned about how expensive, time consuming and confusing it is for Senior Citizens (who can afford it) to purchase additional supplemental health insurance because Medicare does not cover all of the needs.

My cousin and her husband have been in the business of selling supplemental insurance plans to Seniors in Phoenix, AZ. for 15 years.

I’ve visited with them during the peek season when time is of the essence to have policies for Seniors in place before year end. They barely have time to breath from July to year end. Meals are mostly take out or delivered to thier office.

They hold educational seminars for Seniors, are advocates for current customers who are caught in confusion of red tape between medical services and insurance companies and they sell supplemental insurance to Seniors.

The phones begin ringing at 8AM & continue until 5:30PM & beyond. Often, they work around the schedule of their clients, having them come to the office after the dinner hour. I’ve overheard long conversations over the phone with confused clients and have seen my cousin in action making follow up phone calls to medical service providers, pharmacies & Medicare personnel in her role as an advocate to help and to protect clients.

Over the years, my cousin has said countless times, that the health and insurance system is broken and reform needs to be done. This, from someone in the BUSINESS of selling supplemental insurance policies to Seniors.

With the downfall of our economy, many Seniors and baby boomer’s entering or about to enter the Senior Health Care system, are doing so with investments and assets for retirement stripped & Social Security running out. That means, they will not be able to afford the supplemental insurance plans under the current system.

With health issues that often make just getting through the day a challenge, they will be faced with all the red tape, to get what they need by being their own advocates while not receiving the help they desperately need.

This is just ONE of the many true stories regarding the broken Health Care and Insurance System in our country.

Lorraine Sexton, Colfax