Dyslexia and Medicare: Why This Is Personal to Me

You might wonder why someone who owns a health insurance agency is talking about dyslexia.

For me, it starts with my family.

My daughter, Tess, is dyslexic. I have family members with severe dyslexia. And while I have never been formally diagnosed, I believe I may be dyslexic, too. Over the years, I have found ways to work through the things that are hard for me.

Last June I completed the Yoshimoto Orton-Gillingham Basic (PreK-12) Approach 40 hour training through Orton-Gillingham International. It is an approach used to help teach reading, and it is something I care about deeply.

It also shapes how we help people at Mere Benefits.

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. I want to talk about people we may overlook when we think about dyslexia: seniors who have spent much of their lives struggling with reading, sometimes without knowing why.

What about the kids who never got help?

Today, my daughter attends DePaul School, a school for dyslexic learners. I am grateful she has teachers who understand how she learns.

But some people now in their 60s, 70s, or 80s went through school without that kind of support. Their reading struggles may never have had a name.

They grew up. They worked. They raised families. They found ways to get things done.

Yet reading may still take a lot of effort.

Mayo Clinic explains that dyslexia can go undiagnosed for years, sometimes until adulthood. It can make reading slow and tiring and cause trouble with spelling.

You are far from alone

The International Dyslexia Association estimates that 15 to 20% of people have some symptoms of dyslexia. That is roughly 1 in 7 to 1 in 5 people.

That figure includes people with symptoms, not just those with a diagnosis. It does not tell us how many seniors have undiagnosed dyslexia. The sources I reviewed do not give a clear number for that group.

But we do know that dyslexia lasts throughout life. People can learn skills and find tools that help. That does not mean reading becomes easy for everyone.

Now add a Medicare booklet

Think about how much reading comes with health insurance.

Plan booklets. Letters about changes. Lists of costs. Forms. Words you may rarely use outside an insurance conversation.

That can be a lot for anyone.

If reading is already hard, being told to “just read the booklet” may leave you with more questions than answers.

You might understand a benefit when someone explains it but struggle with the same information on a page. You might need more time or want to hear it again.

That is something we want to know so we can help.

Tell us what makes it easier

At Mere Benefits, we want to help you understand your coverage in a way that works for you.

We can:

• Talk through your benefits and questions
• Use available videos so you can watch and listen
• Review one part of a plan at a time
• Explain insurance words with simple examples
• Go back over details that are still unclear

For example, we can explain a copay as the amount you pay for a covered service, then look together at what your plan says you would pay for a doctor visit.

We still use the plan’s official materials to check the details. We help you make sense of them.

This is part of how we care for our clients

Many people may not know this about Mere Benefits. We think about how we explain things, as well as what we explain.

My family’s experience reminds me that the person reading a booklet may be putting in far more effort than anyone can see.

We want you to feel comfortable asking us to slow down, give an example, or explain something again. Tell us what helps you. We can work through it together.

A few questions you may have

Can I have dyslexia if nobody noticed it when I was young? Yes. Some people reach adulthood without being diagnosed. If you want answers about lifelong reading struggles, a professional who evaluates adults for dyslexia can help.

Am I too old to get help? No. The International Dyslexia Association says adults can benefit from reading instruction and tools that read text aloud.

Do I have to know whether I am dyslexic before asking you for support? No. If plan materials are hard to read or understand, let us know. Our team can help explain your health insurance. A dyslexia evaluation is a separate service provided by a qualified specialist.

Let’s make your coverage easier to understand

If you are reviewing Medicare or other health insurance, you do not have to figure out every page by yourself.

Reach out to Mere Benefits in Jacksonville. Tell us what you need and how you prefer to learn about your options.

Your questions matter. We are happy to help.

Mere Benefits. Simply For Your Benefit.

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Sources reviewed October 7, 2026: Mayo Clinic on dyslexia, International Dyslexia Association dyslexia basics, and International Dyslexia Association on adolescents and adults. This article does not claim an exact count of seniors with undiagnosed dyslexia. Mere Benefits provides insurance guidance, not dyslexia evaluation or treatment.