Senior benefits in Muscatine County, Iowa

Milestones Area Agency on Aging is the Area Agency on Aging for Muscatine 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) can help pay part of your winter heating costs if you meet income guidelines. In Muscatine County, Community Action of Eastern Iowa takes LIHEAP applications. Starting October 1, households with someone 60 or older, someone living with a disability, a disconnection notice, power turned off, or a furnace not working properly may apply; the general public can apply from November 1 through April 30. You can apply by mail, by phone, online (from November 1), or in person at the Muscatine office at 1903 Park Ave (inside the mall building), Muscatine. Call 563-324-3236.

Estimated bill savings: $80–$800 a year

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has an office for Muscatine County at 315 Iowa Ave., Suite 2, Muscatine. Phone: 563-263-9302. 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

UnityPoint Health – Trinity Muscatine follows the UnityPoint Health financial assistance policy for Iowa and Illinois patients. If your household income is below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, you will not have to pay your hospital bill; with income from 200% to 600%, you will not pay more than amounts generally billed to people with insurance and may get more discounts. Large assets may affect eligibility. Apply online through the UnityPoint patient portal, or call the Financial Assistance team at 1-833-874-4243.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

River Bend Transit is the regional public transit system for Muscatine County. It gives weekday door-to-door rides to rural residents, including older adults and people with disabilities, in fully ADA-accessible vehicles. In Muscatine County, service includes Monday to Iowa City, Tuesday to Davenport, Wednesday and Thursday to Iowa City, and Friday to West Liberty or Muscatine. Seniors (60+) and people with disabilities pay a suggested round-trip donation: Iowa City $8.00 and Davenport $6.50. The general public pays an established fare that is $5.00 more. Veterans ride free. Call 800-292-8959 for reservations. In the city of Muscatine, MuscaBus runs city bus routes Monday through Friday and on Saturdays; a route ride is $1.00, and paratransit (shuttle) rides are $2.00 (call 563-263-8152).

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

Muscatine County Veteran Affairs, at 315 Iowa Ave., Suite 1, Muscatine, helps veterans and families at no cost with a VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer. Help includes filing VA claims for disability compensation and pension, VA health care enrollment, survivor benefits, burial benefits, education and home loan benefits, Iowa property tax exemptions, and applying to the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund for emergency financial help. Open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; calling ahead is strongly encouraged. Call 563-262-4162.

Estimated cash: about $0 a year