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LINDA CARGILL
THE MID-COUNTY MEMO
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| Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) volunteers Bob Earnest, left and Jay Becker III team up to help a new enrollee pick a Medicare plan. Mid-county Memo photo/Tim E. Curran |
It's almost noon on a recent Wednesday and already Becker has helped four women-two in their 90's-navigate the maze of Medicare. Walking out of the small conference room at the East Portland Community Center, Becker stretches his six-foot-one-inch frame into a chair in the main office of Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization Senior Services-one of nine sites in Portland where SHIBA volunteers answer often-confused clients' questions about Medicare. The SHIBA program currently has 25 certified counselors in the Portland area and about 275 in the state.
“I do like it,” Becker admits, his kind blue eyes and gray mustache recalling everyone's favorite uncle. “It's mentally challenging. You're helping people every week. Sometimes you give them the answer they want and sometimes an answer they don't want. But we'll find an answer for your question.”
Most of Becker's clients are close to 65 years old, and already have, or will soon sign up for Medicare.
“We have to decide if there are income-eligible programs for them,” he said. “If there are none, we decide which is the best medical plan for them.”
Depending on income, clients might receive help paying for their drugs, for deductibles or co-pays, or a reduction in the money Medicare scoops out of their Social Security check each month.
Some of his clients are under 65 and are eligible for Medicare if they have been on Social Security Disability for at least 24 months.
“The reason I became a volunteer is because my wife believes that to have a full life you should volunteer,” Becker explained.
A retired Air Force aircraft systems specialist, Becker decided she was right. As though on cue, an ad appeared in the paper asking for SHIBA volunteers. Becker applied and was accepted. All volunteers receive mandatory training through monthly meetings and twice-yearly conferences.
One of Becker's recent clients, Julie Gregowicz, praised his calm style. “He doesn't get excited,” said Gregowicz, 65. “He just greets you makes you feel really comfortable the minute you're there. He knows everything and knew where I was coming from. When I left there, everything was lifted off my shoulders.”
Once a client picks a Medicare supplement plan, they may change it once a year during “open enrollment season.” Open enrollment falls between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7 (see sidebar). SHIBA volunteers also help people handle billing problems and figure out which services their plan is obligated to provide and which ones they themselves are responsible for.
Becker stresses that the recently passed Affordable Care Act (Cover Oregon) plans are not the same as Medicare plans.
“One's an apple, one's an orange,” he explained.
Every other Wednesday at the IRCO office, Becker teams with fellow SHIBA volunteer Bob Earnest, who also volunteers at other sites. On Tuesdays, SHIBA volunteer Gary Olson staffs the site.
The SHIBA program always needs new volunteers. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Janet Bowman, Multnomah County's SHIBA Coordinator, at 503-988-3620 ext. 29851. For information on Medicare options, contact www.medicare.gov or www.oregonshiba.org
| SHIBA enrollment Events-appointments required To compare plans, make an individual one-hour appointment with a trained, impartial SHIBA volunteer. Call 503-988-3646 to schedule an appointment. |
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| Wednesday, Oct. 16 | Hollywood Library, 4040 N.E. Tillamook St. |
| Thursday, Oct. 24 | St. Johns Library, 7510 N. Charleston St. |
| Tuesday, Oct. 29 | Hollywood Library, 4040 N.E. Tillamook St. |
| Wednesday, Nov. 6 | Midland Library, 805 S.E. 122nd Ave. |
| Wednesday, Nov. 13 | Midland Library, 805 S.E. 122nd Ave. |
| Wednesday, Nov. 20 | Hollywood Library, 4040 N.E. Tillamook St. |
| Monday, Nov. 25 | Hillsdale Library, 1525 S.W. Sunset Blvd. |
| Monday, Dec. 2 | Midland Library, 805 S.E. 122nd Ave. |
| 90-minute Community presentations: Plan Finder Boot Camp A brief Medicare overview; tips on comparing plans, tutorial on using Medicare.gov Plan Finder, questions and answers-no individual counseling. |
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| Friday, Oct.18 | Bridge Meadows Community Room, 8502 N. Wayland Ave., 10 a.m. |
| Thursday, Oct. 7 | SE Multicultural Senior Center, 4610 S.E. Belmont St. lower conference room, 9 a.m. |
| Friday, Nov. 8 | Gresham Regional Library, 385 N.W. Miller, 1:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Nov. 15 | Neighborhood House Senior Center, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy., 9 a.m. |
| Monday, Nov. 18 | Hollywood Senior Center, 1820 N.E. 40th Ave., 9 a.m. |
| For more information, contact Multnomah County Aging and Disability Services Helpline at 503-988-3646. Janet Bowman or Bob Earnest, Multnomah County Department of Human Services, Aging and Disability Services Division Janet: 503-988-8304 Bob: 503 988-8273. |
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