Senior benefits in Lee County, Iowa

Milestones Area Agency on Aging is the Area Agency on Aging for Lee County and 16 other counties in southeast Iowa. It helps older Iowans live safely and on their own at home. Services include information and assistance, options counseling, case management, nutrition programs such as home-delivered meals and Milestones Community Cafés, caregiver support (including respite care information and support groups), health and wellness classes, elder abuse prevention, and free SHIIP Medicare counseling. Home-delivered meals are for people age 60 and older (and their spouse of any age) who live where the meals are offered. Call the toll-free line at 855-410-6222. Offices are in Davenport (4440 Brady St., 563-324-9085), Burlington (509 Jefferson Street, 319-752-5433) and Ottumwa (635 E. Pennsylvania Ave.).

Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps Iowa homeowners and renters with low income pay part of their main heating costs for the winter. In Lee County, Community Action of Southeast Iowa takes LIHEAP applications. People age 60 and over or with a disability can call for an appointment starting the first business day of October; other households start in November. Applications are taken until April 30, and you can also apply online from November 1. If you have a disconnect notice, contact your local center right away. Call or visit the Fort Madison Community Action Center at 1602 Avenue F, Fort Madison (319-372-4471), or the Tallarico Community Action Center at 220 South 22nd Street, Keokuk (319-524-6383), phone 319-372-4471.

Estimated bill savings: $80–$800 a year

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has two offices in Lee County: Lee County DHS North at 933 Avenue H, Fort Madison (phone 319-372-3651), and Lee County DHS South at 307 Bank Street, Keokuk (phone 319-524-1052). Iowa HHS says you can apply for SNAP food benefits and for Medicaid health coverage, including Medicaid for older adults and people with disabilities, at your local HHS office. You can also apply online through the Iowa HHS Benefits Portal, or apply for Medicaid by phone at 1-855-889-7985.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

Great River Health does not deny anyone services because they cannot pay, and it has a discounted/sliding fee schedule based on family size and income. Insured and uninsured patients getting medically necessary or emergency care may qualify. Patients with no insurance who qualify cannot be charged more than the amount generally billed to people with insurance. Return the completed application to Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center-Fort Madison Business Office, 5445 Avenue O, Fort Madison. For questions, call Patient Financial Services at 319-768-3625, option 2.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

SEIBUS (Southeast Iowa Bus) is the regional public transit system for Lee County, with door-to-door rides open to the general public, including people with disabilities. In Lee County, general public rides run Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Fort Madison in-town service runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday). Rides must be booked no later than 2:00 p.m. the day before. SEIBUS also runs a medical shuttle to Iowa City hospitals on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Fares are $3.00 one way in town, $9.00 town to town or county to county, and $20.00 one way on the medical shuttle; monthly passes cost $36.00 (in town) or $108.00 (county to county). Call the SEIBUS scheduler at 1-866-753-5107 and select option 1.

Estimated service value: $150–$1,500 a year

Lee County Veterans Affairs, at 220 South 7th Street, Building 1, Montrose, helps veterans get benefits at the county, state and federal level and helps file VA service-connected disability claims. Open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Call 319-372-5853.

Estimated cash: about $0 a year