For many older adults, Medicare is one of the most confusing systems they will ever have to navigate. With premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, prescription formularies, and enrollment periods, even the terminology alone can be overwhelming. When one single misstep can mean paying hundreds of dollars more than necessary or losing coverage altogether, the stakes could not be higher for the older adults of our community.

At the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island (JCCGCI), the Health Insurance Counseling Center (HICC) exists to make sure no one has to face those decisions alone. For more than twenty years the Center has provided free, independent Medicare counseling, education, and advocacy to older adults throughout New York City.

Led by Director Veronica Beres, the Center was originally established in response to the Medicare Modernization Act and the rollout of Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, a change that left thousands of older adults struggling to understand a complicated new system. What began as a response to a single policy shift has since grown into one of JCCGCI’s most enduring and essential services.

Today, seniors turn to the Center for far more than Medicare Part D. Clients come to HICC for help selecting and enrolling in Medicare plans, resolving coverage disputes, understanding costs, and making sense of the constantly changing Medicare rules and regulations. The Center’s staff assist with Coordination of Benefits (COB), Medicare Savings Programs (MSP), Extra Help, EPIC, coverage terminations, enrollment issues, and denied medical or prescription drug claims, the kind of complex problems that can feel impossible to untangle alone.

What sets JCCGCI’s Health Insurance Counseling Center apart is its independence. The Center is not affiliated with, or influenced by, any insurance company or healthcare provider — its only goal is to help each client find the coverage and resources that genuinely fit their health and financial needs, and to help them avoid the costly mistakes that so often come with navigating Medicare. Services are offered in English and Russian, with translators available for clients who speak other languages.

For many clients, the difference the Center makes is deeply personal. “She took the time to answer all of my questions and explained everything clearly and with care,” one client wrote after working with Veronica Beres at the Center. “Her help made the Medicare process much easier, and I truly appreciate the support she provided.”

Another client, a senior living on a limited income, credits the Center’s guidance with helping her secure no-cost prescription coverage after her premium payments rose sharply. “This assistance has been deeply meaningful and a tremendous relief,” she wrote, describing the Center’s staff as warm, professional, empathetic, and extraordinarily dedicated. “Her kindness and commitment reflect the mission and impact of your organization.”

The Center’s reach extends well beyond its own walls. Over two decades, HICC has built close relationships with elected officials’ offices, including the Office of House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and the office of Assemblyman William Colton, as well as community organizations that support older adults’ health throughout the city. Our partners recognize that the need for this kind of support continues to grow. Social service agencies and healthcare professionals increasingly refer their most complicated Medicare cases to HICC, and many clients who first come in with a single question stay connected to the Center for years afterward, returning whenever a new issue arises

“Medicare isn’t one-size-fits-all, and many of the people we help are facing situations that don’t have simple answers,” says HICC Director Veronica Beres. “We take the time to understand each person’s circumstances and work with them to find the solution best fit for their unique concerns.”

After more than two decades, JCCGCI’s Health Insurance Counseling Center remains committed to its founding mission: giving people the knowledge, independence, and compassionate support they need to make informed Medicare decisions, access the benefits they’ve earned, reduce their healthcare costs, and protect their health and financial security.

👉 Want to learn more about JCCGCI’s Health Insurance Counseling Center? Visit https://www.jccgci.org/programs/older-adult-services/health-insurance-counseling-center/