Looking for a challenging volunteer opportunity that will bring smiles to faces? The Michigan Medicare Assistance Program, part of AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services, is looking for people who would like to help Medicare beneficiaries navigate their benefits — and ideally save money. An informational webinar is set for 1 p.m.
Wednesday, July 24, by Zoom. “Our volunteers really help beneficiaries understand Medicare. Beneficiaries feel much more confident about their Medicare choices, and they’re thrilled when we can save them money.
In fact, last year, we helped Medicare beneficiaries save over $1.5 million dollars in our region alone,’’ says Shari Smith, manager of MMAP. George Wojdacki of Clinton Township became a MMAP counselor 11 years ago after his doctor mentioned that he might be good at it.
Wojdacki had been a pharmaceutical drug rep and so it seemed like a logical step to take in post-retirement. It was. He loves meeting with people, doing presentations in the community, and seeing clients leave happy.
That last part? It’s the best. Wojdacki remembers a couple he helped sign up for supplemental drug coverage giving him a gift, which he refused. But it just sat there, in a bag, on his desk.
The man finally asked him if he was curious about what was inside. Wojdacki was, so he opened it and saw a bottle of single malt scotch. “I didn’t take it, but I told the guy it was killing me,” he says, adding that it’s part of what makes MMAP counseling so fun .