The SHIBA HelpLine is ready to help you with your insurance needs. Contact us today.

• By phone - (253) 596-0918 - SHIBA HelpLine
• By e-mail - SHIBA@co.pierce.wa.us
• In Person - To make an appointment at our office or a location close to you, call the SHIBA HelpLine program coordinator at (253) 798-4422.

By giving free, informed, impartial health insurance counseling and education in their local community, volunteers help make sure people have access to health care coverage and prescription drugs. That means a healthier society and less socioeconomic disparity. Volunteering with the SHIBA HelpLine supports families, reduces stress, and sometimes even saves lives. It increases length and quality of life. And, as a bonus, it reduces expenses for both consumers and government.

The SHIBA HelpLine provides excellent training for all volunteers. Before you start your work, you will have a good grasp of insurance policies and programs. Regular update trainings are also provided to all volunteers.

The SHIBA HelpLine volunteers experience begins with a program orientation followed by three to four training days.

• SHIBA Orientation - Orientation time determined with each individual.
• SHIBA Basic Training - Next training dates are September 17, 18 and 19, 2007.

Call the SHIBA HelpLine Program Coordinator at (253) 798-4422 for more information.

The SHIBA HelpLine offers volunteers many rewarding ways to contribute to the community and assist folks with all kinds of health insurance problems. You will learn a lot, make a big difference, and be recognized for it!

Depending on your skills, interests, talents and experience, you can choose the most suitable and enjoyable role. Roles include:

• Administrative, Clerical & Technical Support
• Community Education & Public Speaking
• Outreach
• General Counselor: Assess coverage needs, Compare policies
• Specialty Counselor: Disabilities, Fraud & abuse, Rural access, Low income, Veterans/military/TRICARE, Professional groups (e.g., retired teachers, military), Disease groups (e.g., AIDS, fibromyalgia), Pre-retirees and retirees, Medicare & Medigap, Medicaid, Children's health, Prescription drug access, Advanced casework, Multicultural or bilingual liaison.

Call the Pierce County SHIBA HelpLine for more information
(253) 596-0918

In Pierce County there are two SHIBA HelpLine program sponsors:

• SHIBA HelpLine at Pierce County Aging & Long-Term Care (ALTC) - Serving English and Spanish-speaking people. (253) 596-0918 - SHIBA HelpLine
• SHIBA HelpLine at Korean Women's Association (KWA) - Serving Asian, Pacific Islander, Russian and English-speaking people. (253) 535-2612

Both programs work together to serve all the health insurance needs of the people in our area.

Call the Pierce County SHIBA HelpLine for more information
(253) 596-0918

• Medicare's Prescription Drug Program (Part D) helps older and disabled people cover the cost of prescription drugs. To be eligible for Part D, you must have or be eligible for Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A) or Medicare Medical Insurance (Part B), or both.
  
  All Medicare clients are eligible for Part D, but enrollment is voluntary. If you already have prescription drug coverage, it may be as good as Part D. You should research your options before you take any action. Please note that if you qualify for extra help with Medicare's prescription drug coverage costs, you can apply for prescription drug coverage at any time.

• The Washington Prescription Drug Program (WPDP) is a new prescription drug discount program. It is open to all Washington State residents who do not have prescription drug insurance coverage, or whose insurance does not cover all their prescription drug needs. There are no other eligibility requirements or fees required for membership in the WPDP.
  
  WPDP is brought to you by the Washington State Health Care Authority and is run by northwest-based ODS Companies through their pharmacy benefit management partner, MedImpact. Although it is not an insurance program, WPDP members can receive discount prices on drugs that are very similar to what the large health insurance companies must actually pay. On average you'll save up to 60% on generic drugs and 20% on brand name drugs. Information is available at www.rx.wa.gov .

Call the Pierce County SHIBA HelpLine for more information
(253) 596-0918

Part A: Hospital Insurance
Part A helps pay for inpatient care in qualifying, participating hospitals. It also helps pay for hospice care and some home health care. For most people, eligibility for Part A begins when they turn age 65. People with an illness such as End Stage Renal Disease or a disability may qualify before age 65.

Part B: Medical Insurance
Part B helps pay for participating doctors' services and outpatient care. It also helps cover medically-necessary services and supplies that Part A does not cover. For example, Part B covers physical therapy and durable medical equipment. Part B is open to all people who are entitled to Part A benefits, even if they chose not to enroll in Part A.

Part C: Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Advantage plans are a different way to get Medicare Parts A and B. Under these plans, people get Parts A and B through a private health insurance company. In addition to offering comparable coverage to Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage plans may also offer Part D coverage. There are four common types of Medicare Advantage plans:

• Managed Care/Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO)
• Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO)
• Private Fee for Service (PFFS)
• Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA)

Part D: Prescription Drug Plans
Anyone enrolled in Parts A or B or both is eligible to enroll in Part D. To get this coverage, you enroll in a stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) or Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD). These plans are approved and regulated by the Medicare program, but are actually designed and administered by private health insurance companies.

Call the Pierce County SHIBA HelpLine for more information
(253) 596-0918

Medicare Supplements
Medicare Parts A and B pay for many health care services and supplies, but these plans do not pay all of your health care costs. There are costs that you must pay, like co-insurance, co-payments, and deductibles. Medicare Supplement plans, commonly called Medigap plans, are private health insurance policies that provide you with a way to pay for the gaps in coverage left by Medicare Parts A and B. What your Medigap plan covers depends on which plan you buy. There are 12 standardized Medigap plans (A through L). Plan 'A' is the most basic policy. The other plans ('B' though 'L') offer Plan 'A' benefits plus a variety of other benefits, such as coverage for medical emergencies in foreign countries and preventive health care.

Call the Pierce County SHIBA HelpLine for more information
(253) 596-0918

Medicaid is the U.S. health insurance program for individuals and families with low incomes and resources. It is jointly funded by the state and federal governments. In Washington state it is managed by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Medicaid serves low-income parents, children, seniors, pregnant women, the blind and people with disabilities. Medicaid is the largest source of funding for medical and health-related services for people with limited income.

Note: Although their names are similar, Medicaid and Medicare are very different programs. Medicare is an entitlement program funded entirely at the federal level. It focuses primarily on the older population and individuals with long-term disabilities.

Call the Pierce County SHIBA HelpLine for more information
(253) 596-0918

Long-term care insurance is very complicated. It can cover medical and/or non-medical support services used during a prolonged illness, disability or loss of mental capacity.

This care may include assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring or continence. It may also include grocery shopping, laundry, meal preparation, managing medications, transportation, or various types of medical therapies.

Long-term care insurance may be right for you...or it may not. It's not right for everybody. Many factors will determine what is best. The right answer will require an honest and lengthy look at many issues: your current financial situation, your family needs, your long-term financial goals, and your health history, just to name a few.

NOTE: SHIBA HelpLine does not offer assistance with long-term care insurance issues.

Call the Aging & Disability Resource Center for more information
(253) 798-4600 or (800) 562-0332