Monday, June 26, 10:30 a.m., Orcas Library
— from Pegi Groundwater —
Get prepared for a whole new medical insurance experience. There are lots of confusing new provisions and options for you to understand. Medicare has four different parts: A, B, C, and D.
You can stay with Original Medicare (Parts A & B) or buy a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) or a Medicare Supplement (also called Medigap), which is private insurance that works with Part A & B. Most people also buy Drug Insurance (Part D). There are deadlines to meet and penalties (some lasting a lifetime) for not doing things at the right time. There are resources available to help people with very low income and limited assets help pay their premiums, copays, and deductibles.
Come to the Community Room at the Orcas Public Library on Monday, June 26 at 10:30 to learn how Medicare works, what your coverage options are in San Juan County, and when you must act to avoid penalties. The information will be provided by trained SHIBA volunteers who operate under the auspices of the Washington Insurance Commissioner to provide free, unbiased counseling assistance on Orcas Island.
SHIBA volunteers on Orcas Island also provide free, unbiased, confidential, personal counseling assistance in their office at the Orcas Medical Center. You can arrange an appointment to meet with one of them by calling 376-2561. Island Hospital has sponsored the SHIBA volunteers in San Juan County for the past 25 years.
I strongly encourage anyone facing the Medicare system for the first time, anyone wishing to make sure they are getting the right coverage or confirmation that the coverage they have is the best, or anyone wanting to learn if they have the most affordable coverage for the price to take advantage of this free service…It’s invaluable!