Due to an unprecedented number of calls and requests for assistance this year, St. Lawrence County Office for the Aging currently has a waitlist of over 200 clients waiting to talk to a staff member about their plan options.

 As such, the Office regretfully announces that it is unable to take new requests for Medicare Annual Enrollment appointments. 

Office for the Aging staff are fully booked for this open enrollment season. 

The program receives around $34,000 total in Federal Funding, and due to this limited funding, the Office only has one Medicare counselor for the over 29,000 older adults in the county, a press release from the agency said. 

“We understand how challenging, frustrating, and confusing Medicare Plans can be and wish we had the staff resources to help everyone. Anyone looking for information and/or to sign up for a plan can log onto www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Unfortunately, many popular Advantage plans also ended this year. If your Advantage Plan is ending, you have until December 31, 2026, to pick a new plan,” said director Andrea Montgomery, in a press release. 

“We sincerely apologize that our lack of staff resources and the growing demand for insurance counseling limit our ability to serve you. We appreciate callers being patient and considerate, as staff are working very hard. There have been instances of verbal abuse directed at our staff, and that will not be tolerated. Staff have been doing an amazing job trying to keep up with the incredible demand as best they can. We are fortunate to have some of the best humans working with us and our clients,” Montgomery said. 

If you would like the Office to take your name and phone number to refer you to its partners at the NYS Office for the Aging, who can provide the same service over the phone, call 315-386-4730.