After cutting programs Illinois' senior citizens have taken advantage of for years, Illinois is adding four new benefits to the prevented service package for Medicare users to take advantage of.

Alcohol misuse counseling, intensive behavioral therapy for cardiovascular disease, depression screening, and sexually transmitted infections screening and counseling are all new benefits for Medicare benefactors. According to SHIP Outreach Coordinator Bryan Padget, Medicare benefactors can now get four free counseling sessions for those tested positive for alcohol misuse screenings, amongst several other benefits.

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Depression screenings are now free through Medicare and according to Padget, this goes along with another feature Medicare has.

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Padget says the biggest add on is the STI screenings. This includes two screenings each year for STIs and hepatitis B. He encourages all sexually active seniors to take advantage of these screenings since some STI symptoms mirror other symptoms.

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For a full list of everything in the prevented service package or for more information on the new benefits, go to insurance.illinois.gov or call SHIP at 1-800-548-9034.