Senior Spirit Online

Many older people need help paying for prescription drugs, health care, utilities and other basic needs. Ironically, millions of older Americans — especially those with limited incomes — are eligible for but not receiving benefits from existing federal, state and local programs. Ranging from heating and energy assistance to prescription savings programs to income supplements, there are many public programs available to seniors in need if they only knew about them and how to apply for them.

Developed and maintained by The National Council on Aging (NCOA), BenefitsCheckUp is the nation’s most comprehensive Web-based service to screen for benefits programs for seniors with limited income and resources.

BenefitsCheckUp includes more than 1,550 public and private benefits programs from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, such as:

• Prescription drugs
• Nutrition (including Food Stamps)
• Energy assistance
• Financial
• Legal
• Health care
• Social Security
• Housing
• In-home services
• Tax relief
• Transportation
• Educational assistance
• Employment
• Volunteer services

Since 2001, millions of people have used BenefitsCheckUp to find benefits programs that help them pay for prescription drugs, health care, rent, utilities, and other needs.  For information visit BenefitsCheckUp.

CIGNA Senior & Retiree Services, a division of one of the nation’s largest health service companies, is joining forces with the National Council on Aging (NCOA) to make available NCOA’s BenefitsCheckUp(R) to CIGNA’s Medicare members. The program helps identify federal, state and local benefits programs that can help enhance the quality of seniors’ lives.BenefitsCheckUp is the nation’s most comprehensive Web-based service to help individuals, primarily older Americans with limited income and resources, find and get the benefits programs for which they qualify. Launched by NCOA in 2001, the innovative program tracks over 1,550 benefits programs throughout all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

This arrangement provides CIGNA with its own version of NCOA’s BenefitsCheckUp, and the potential to provide access to benefits programs to thousands of its members nationwide.

“CIGNA’s mission is to improve the health, well-being and security of those we serve,” said Sam Srivastava, president, National and Senior Segments for CIGNA HealthCare. “What better way to accomplish that mission than to help provide necessary resources to improve the quality of seniors’ lives. NCOA adds a valuable dimension to our services and commitment to our members.”

Since its creation, BenefitsCheckUp has screened more than 2 million seniors and some younger persons with disabilities for programs that help pay for health care, prescription drugs, rent, utilities and many other needs.

More information on NCOA and its BenefitsCheckUp program is available at BenefitsCheckUp.org.