Senior benefits in Ellis County, Kansas

The Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging in Hays runs Older Americans Act programs for older adults and caregivers in the 18 counties of northwest Kansas, including Ellis County. Call its Information and Assistance line at 1-800-432-7422, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff can tell you about in-home help, such as housekeeping, laundry, cooking, bathing and dressing, and which in-home program fits you. A CARE assessor can talk with you about long-term care choices; there is no cost for the assessment. Trained SHICK volunteers explain Medicare, supplement policies and Medicaid, and the office can help you apply for Medicare Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs. The caregiver program offers information, support groups and respite care, and also helps grandparents raising grandchildren. Legal help for people 60 and older is offered through Kansas Legal Services.

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

Kansas DCF has a service center in Hays, in Ellis County. Kansas DCF (Department for Children and Families) takes applications for Food Assistance (SNAP), cash assistance and the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP), which helps with winter heating bills. DCF recommends applying online through the DCF Self-Service Portal. For a paper application, visit a DCF service center or call 1-888-369-4777. DCF service centers in northwest Kansas are in Hays (2250 E. 22nd St., 785-628-1066), Colby (1135 S. Country Club Drive, Suite 1, 785-462-6760), Phillipsburg (111 E. Highway 36, 785-543-5258) and Goodland (812 Broadway Ave., open every Wednesday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.). LIEAP is only open in the winter months, typically December through March. KanCare health coverage is not handled by DCF; apply for it through KanCare.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

HaysMed in Hays, part of The University of Kansas Health System, offers financial assistance to eligible patients for medically necessary care. Discounts are based on household income compared with the federal poverty level, and catastrophic medical bills are also considered. Assistance applies only to the self-pay part of your bill, and you must live in the HaysMed service area. To apply, send the application with your income tax return and last three months of pay stubs to PO Box 8110, Hays, KS 67601, or take it to Registration at 2220 Canterbury Drive. Call a Financial Counselor at 785-623-5100 with questions. Uninsured patients get a self-pay discount of 67% for hospital services and 50% for physician services.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas (DSNWK) in Hays runs ride-on-request transportation, listed for older adults, people with disabilities and the general public, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fares are $3 within the City of Hays and $5 within Ellis County. Call 785-621-2078 to ask about rides. Gove County Medical Center in Quinter also runs a general public transportation van that lists Ellis County among the counties it serves. Its two wheelchair-accessible vans go anywhere within 90 miles of Quinter, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to noon, for a free-will donation, first come, first served. Call 785-754-5141.

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