Senior benefits in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma

The KEDDO Area Agency on Aging serves people age 60 and older in Pushmataha 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 Pushmataha County are served at nutrition centers in Antlers. 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 Pushmataha County is at 104 SE B Street, Antlers, OK 74523. 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

Pushmataha Hospital in Antlers has a Charity Care program for uninsured or underinsured patients who cannot afford medically necessary care. People with insurance may also get help with deductibles, coinsurance and non-covered services. To qualify, you must live in Pushmataha County and have lived there for one year before your care. Eligibility is based on your monthly or annual income and family size, or on medical bills that are a hardship; discounts use a sliding scale. Fill out a Charity Care Application at or before your visit, or within 240 days after discharge, and include proof of income such as pay stubs, W-2 forms, tax returns, or unemployment or disability statements. You will get a letter within 30 working days. Call the Business Office at 580-298-3341, extension 405.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

In this county: Charity care is income-based and set by the hospital's financial assistance policy; the hospital makes the final award decision. The posted policy requires one year of Pushmataha County residency.

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 Antlers and Clayton area, call 580-298-6565. In Clayton, call 918-569-7325.

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