Contra Costa County HICAP Celebrates 30 Years of Service to the Community in 2009

In 1979 Margaret Alexander is credited with starting a health insurance counseling program for Medicare beneficiaries in Contra Costa County.

In 1984 Contra Costa County’s Office on Aging was awarded a contract from the California Department of Aging to administer one of the first Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Programs (HICAPs) in California. Art Agnos authored the legislation that created the first seven HICAPs in the state.

During the ensuing 25 years, HICAP programs have expanded to the entire state. Similar counseling programs for Medicare beneficiaries have been created in all 50 states funded by the federal government. Bob Sessler was instrumental in the successful transition of the HICAP contracts from the California Department of Aging to the Area Agencies on Aging. Medicare advocates, Betty Thurman and Bonnie Burns, have provided training and case consultation to our program since HICAP’s inception.

Awards that Contra Costa HICAP Counselors have received include:

• County Government Volunteer Program of the Year
• Acts of Caring Award from the National Association of Counties
• West County Unsung Heroes Award

Over the past twelve months, HICAP Counselors provided in-depth counseling to more than 1,800 Contra Costa County residents, and assistance to over 3,000 more. HICAP offered 75 Welcome to Medicare educational presentations attended by 2,500 people. HICAP documented savings of over $250,000 to residents from the successful appeal of medical bills and the reduction in the costs of their prescription drugs and other Medicare services.

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