Do You Need Help With Medicare costs?
If you have limited income and resources, you may be able to get help paying some of your Medicare expenses through Extra Help or Medicare Savings Programs. You must be enrolled in or eligible for Medicare Part A and meet the income and resource guidelines.
To find out if you may be eligible, please refer to the chart below for current income and resource limits.
For more information or help determining your eligibility, contact your local Albia SHIIP office by calling 641-932-1703. You may also dial 1-800-351-4664 for customer support, email shiip@iid.iowa.gov, or visit https://shiip.iowa.gov/.
Local SHIIP-SMP Counselor Receives Governor’s Volunteer Award
Ann Stocker, SHIIP/SMP Counselor with Monroe County Hospital & Clinics will receive a Governor’s Volunteer Award. Governor Kim Reynolds will personally announce 2026 awardees during a special recognition ceremony held on July 14th at 1:00pm at the Urbandale High School Performing Arts Center (7111 Aurora Ave, Urbandale, IA 50322).
Ann will be honored with a five-year service award by Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) and Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP). Since 2021, Ann has completed more than 2,283 appointments and spent more than 1,594 hours providing guidance to individuals, families and caregivers on how to navigate their Medicare and identify plans and resources that work for them.
“Iowans take great pride in their deep and rich commitment for serving others—it’s in our DNA,” Gov. Reynolds said. “Iowa nice is the foundation of our state–you see it everywhere you turn– Iowans volunteering their time to help others and improve their communities and our state. It truly is an honor to be able to recognize these individuals for their meaningful acts of generosity through the Governor’s Volunteer Awards and inspire others to do the same.”
Kristin Griffith, SHIIP-SMP Director, shares “SHIIP-SMP Counselors are some of the best volunteers and people you could ever work with. They care deeply about their community members and consistently go above and beyond to provide unbiased and trustworthy information helping individuals and their families navigate the complexity of Medicare.”
“Ann’s dedication to serving our community extends far beyond her work as a SHIIP/SMP Counselor,” said Veronica Fuhs, CEO of Monroe County Hospital & Clinics. “Whether she’s helping individuals navigate Medicare or serving on our Board of Trustees, Ann consistently demonstrates compassion, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others. We are incredibly proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition and grateful for all she does for Monroe County Hospital & Clinics and the communities we serve.”
Coordinated by Volunteer Iowa, the Governor’s Volunteer Award program provides an easy way for Iowa nonprofits, charitable organizations, and government entities to honor their volunteers with a prestigious, state-level award. A complete list of award recipients and an electronic copy of this news release are available at volunteeriowa.org.
SHIIP-SMP Volunteer Spotlight from 2025
Nestled near the border of southern Iowa, Medicare beneficiaries in and around Monroe County represent some of the highest need individuals. Despite supporting a high percentage of low-income and high need clients, last year, one SHIIP-SMP counselor held 726 appointments with 343 unique clients – Ann Stocker. This is the largest number of appointments for one person in the state!
During Medicare open enrollment, with the dedicated support of fellow volunteers Kathy Griffin and Martha Hornick, Ann completed an extraordinary 446 appointments in just seven weeks (Oct. 15–Dec. 7), logging more than 208 volunteer hours and averaging 30 hours per week.
Thanks to their teamwork and dedication, hundreds of clients in Monroe County received the guidance and reassurance they needed to navigate Medicare, apply for financial assistance, and feel confident in their health care choices.
Please join us in congratulating and thanking the entire SHIIP-SMP team for their outstanding commitment to serving our community. Their work is a shining example of the impact volunteers can make.
Albia SHIIP Office Background
The Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) is a free, objective, and confidential service offered through the State of Iowa to help people sort through confusing information about Medicare and health insurance. Trained and state-certified volunteer counselors assist thousands of Iowans annually, helping them save millions of dollars. These counselors can also upon request, assist with applications for, and enrollment in Medicare prescription drug plans, health plans, and assistance programs.
In 2002, Ruth Belzer was instrumental in starting the Albia SHIIP program sponsored by Monroe County Hospital. She set the foundation for the success of the program and volunteered tirelessly for fifteen years. To ensure that the program remained strong, she recruited competent and caring volunteers. Currently, Ann Stocker, Counselor, Cynthia Halbmaier, Counselor, Pam Datwyler, Counselor, and Kathy Griffin, Office Assistant, are the local SHIIP volunteers. Ann recently stated, “As a counselor at the Albia SHIIP office, I have a great appreciation for the program and the help that we can provide to Medicare recipients from the local area.”
There are 62 SHIIP offices in Iowa staffed by 350 volunteers. The Albia SHIIP office was recognized at the Fall training session held in Des Moines, Iowa on October 11, 2021. Based on statistics from the 2020 Medicare open enrollment season, the Albia SHIIP office received state-wide recognition for being #3 in the State of Iowa for MIPPA. MIPPA is a grant received by the state that provides funding that helps clients receive financial assistance to pay their Medicare Part A & B deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance.
Albia SHIIP volunteer counselors will answer questions and provide one-on-one assistance upon request. The SHIIP office offers appointments year-round. For an appointment, please call 641-932-1703, or e-mail albiashiip@gmail.com. The Albia SHIIP office is located at the east entrance of Monroe County Hospital & Clinics, 6580 165th Street, Albia.
