Senior benefits in McCurtain County, Oklahoma

The KEDDO Area Agency on Aging serves people age 60 and older in McCurtain County and six other southeast Oklahoma counties. It funds meals (at nutrition centers and delivered to the homebound), rides, outreach, home repair, legal help, nutrition education and caregiver support services. It also offers free Information and Assistance to help older adults and caregivers find local services, plus long-term care ombudsman help and Medicare counseling. Senior meals in McCurtain County are served at nutrition centers in Broken Bow, Idabel and Valliant. Call Information and Assistance at 918-465-2367 or toll free 1-800-722-8180.

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

The Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS, often called DHS) office for McCurtain County is at 906 SE Washington, Idabel. It is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and EBT cards are available there. You can also apply online any time at OKDHSLive.org. Staff can help with SNAP food benefits, SoonerCare (Medicaid) for people 65 or older or disabled, and energy help (LIHEAP). You can drop off a printed SNAP Request for Benefits form at a local office, and LIHEAP applicants can turn in proof there. For help applying, call 405-522-5050. To report abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult, call the hotline at 1-800-522-3511.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

McCurtain Memorial Hospital in Idabel serves all patients regardless of ability to pay, and offers discounts for essential services based on family size and income. Its financial assistance policy covers emergency and other medically necessary care. Eligible families generally have income below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level, and care can be free when family income is at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level. If you qualify, you will not be charged more than the amounts generally billed to insured patients. Fill out the Financial Assistance Application from the hospital's billing page or at hospital admissions, and include supporting papers such as your latest tax return, your 3 most recent pay stubs, your 3 most recent bank statements, and any SNAP or SSI/SSA/SSD award letter. Call the Financial Services Department at 580-208-3127.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

LIFT CAA Transit is the rural public transit system for Choctaw, McCurtain and Pushmataha Counties, and all of its services are open to the public. Demand-response rides run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., inside the city limits of Hugo, Antlers, Broken Bow, Idabel and Clayton. LIFT also makes longer trips to places like Oklahoma City and Dallas when drivers are available, and wheelchair-accessible vans are available if you ask the dispatcher. Seniors can fill out a senior ID application to get a discount rider card. Through the KEDDO Area Agency on Aging, rides are also available for people 60 and older who need to get to doctor appointments, pharmacies, or social service agencies. To schedule a ride in the Idabel and Broken Bow area, call 580-286-5384. In Broken Bow, call 580-584-6033.

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