Help is here for Medicare confusions

Upcoming SHIBA events:

o Monday: Medicare forum, 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Luepke Center, 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd., Vancouver. Free.

o Wednesday: Medicare 101, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at New Seasons Market – Fisher’s Landing, 2100 S.E. 164th Ave., Vancouver. Free.

o Oct. 17: Medicare 101, 11 a.m. to noon at Rock Creek Hegewald Center, 710 S.W. Rock Creek Drive, Stevenson. Free.

Ongoing SHIBA counseling:

o 12:30 to 3 p.m. every Tuesday at Human Services Council, 120 N.E. 136th Ave., Building B, Suite 215, Vancouver. This is the new SHIBA office location. No appointment needed.

o By appointment every Friday at Luepke Center, 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd., Vancouver. Call 360-735-3692 to schedule an appointment.

o By appointment on the second and fourth Monday of each month at Firstenburg Center, 700 N.E. 136th Ave., Vancouver. Call 360-487-7036 to schedule an appointment.

Clark County seniors are getting bombarded with information about health plans, prescription drug coverage and rising premiums as Medicare open enrollment approaches.

While the volume of mail flooding their mailboxes can be overwhelming, SHIBA volunteers want local seniors to know one thing: They’re here to help.

The local SHIBA program has about 15 volunteers who serve Clark and Skamania counties. The volunteers offer weekly, drop-in counseling sessions at the Human Services Council office in East Vancouver at 120 N.E. 136th Ave., Building B, Suite 215. The office there opened Oct. 1. The free counseling is available year-round.

The volunteers also offer counseling sessions by appointment and host informational events during open enrollment.

Open enrollment for Medicare Advantage (provided by private insurance companies) and Part D (optional prescription drug coverage) plans will be from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. During that time, seniors can choose new plans if they’re unhappy with their current coverage or if their plan is making changes they don’t like.

As open enrollment approaches, seniors should be sure to review the information they receive from their insurance company, said Fiona Humphrey, a SHIBA volunteer for 10 years. Seniors should be aware of the changes to their plan and their drug coverage and be comfortable with those changes, she said.

Seniors considering making changes — such as choosing a new Medicare Advantage plan — should make sure their current primary care provider accepts that plan, said Sandi Osborn, a SHIBA volunteer for eight years.

SHIBA volunteers are already hearing from local seniors who are concerned about upcoming changes.

Some local primary care providers have announced they will no longer accept traditional Medicare plans or won’t accept new Medicare patients. Plans are changing which prescription drugs they cover. And at least one insurance company that offered a zero-premium plan is increasing its monthly premium to $50, Osborn said.

SHIBA volunteers can help seniors to decipher their plan changes, show them how to navigate the online plan portal and explain the differences between plans. Volunteers can also help seniors determine if they qualify for financial assistance and advise seniors of which medical providers are accepting Medicare patients.

They don’t, however, recommend or promote certain plans. That decision is left to the senior, Osborn said.

Counseling appointments typically last about an hour. During open enrollment, the volunteers see about 16 to 18 people a day.

Many times, seniors show up frustrated and exhausted from trying to understand everything thrown at them.

“They’ll come in in tears or soon-to-be tears,” said Monique Krahn, SHIBA volunteer coordinator. “But they walk out head held high. These volunteers really make a difference.”