{"id":152582,"date":"2021-12-02T16:47:41","date_gmt":"2021-12-03T02:47:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=152582"},"modified":"2021-12-07T10:27:52","modified_gmt":"2021-12-07T20:27:52","slug":"student-videos-explain-medicare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2021\/12\/02\/student-videos-explain-medicare\/","title":{"rendered":"Student videos explain Medicare in 5 languages"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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The student videos hope to make enrolling in Medicare less daunting for Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> k\u016bpuna.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa social work and public health students in the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health<\/a> combined their creativity and expertise in health systems to produce new videos that explain how to enroll in Medicare in five languages commonly spoken in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>. The project is a partnership with the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Department of Health (DOH<\/abbr>).<\/p>\n

Students in the course created videos that explain the major programs within Medicare and answer common questions in English<\/a>, Tagalog<\/a>, Korean<\/a>, Vietnamese<\/a> and Cantonese<\/a>. The videos also provide important phone numbers for people who may need more information. <\/p>\n

“We wanted to reach out to our community members who have difficulty accessing health care because of language barriers,” said student Debbie Drummondo<\/strong>, who created the Tagalog video when she took the course.<\/p>\n

“Speaking a language other than English often presents a barrier to enrolling in Medicare and may prevent people from getting the health care they need,” said Seunghye Hong<\/strong>, associate professor of social work, who co-designed the course with Victoria Fan<\/strong>, interim director of the UH<\/abbr> Center on Aging<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Helping k\u016bpuna<\/h2>\n

The videos aim to bring in language information and cultural sensitivity to the topic of Medicare eligibility and enrollment. They explain what health care services are covered by Medicare and the advantages offered by certain parts of Medicare, such as Part D, which covers prescription drugs. In one video, information about Medicare Part B is shown in Korean jamo (letters) over a background of Korean food. In another, information about copayments and coinsurance is explained in Tagalog. <\/p>\n

By presenting the information in these languages, the students hope to make enrolling in Medicare less daunting for Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> k\u016bpuna (older adults). The videos are posted on the YouTube channel of the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> State Health Insurance Assistance Program<\/a> (SHIP<\/abbr>). <\/p>\n

“We receive thousands of calls each year from people who don\u2019t understand Medicare coverage, and these videos made by the students can help increase awareness of Medicare,” said Wanda Anae-Onishi, director of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> SHIP<\/abbr> in the Executive Office on Aging, an attached agency of DOH<\/abbr>. <\/p>\n

“With the knowledge they gained, our talented UH<\/abbr> students are empowered to help our k\u016bpuna to enroll in and access Medicare,” Fan said. “These videos are just one way our students are working creatively to reduce barriers for health care access in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>.”<\/p>\n

Medicare\u2019s annual Open Enrollment Period ends on December 7. To get free unbiased help to enroll in and navigate Medicare, call (808) 586-7299 or visit DOH<\/abbr>\u2019s Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> SHIP<\/abbr> website<\/a>.<\/p>\n