Help offered to review Medicare options

As Medicare open enrollment approaches and mailboxes fill up with fliers about available health and drug plans, local volunteers are offering to help seniors sort through their options.

Medicare’s annual open enrollment — Thursday through Dec. 7 — gives seniors the opportunity to review and change their Medicare Part D prescription drug and Medicare Advantage plans.

“Medicare recipients should review their coverage options on a yearly basis,” said Sarah Clark, manager for the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors program, in a news release. “Plan premiums and drug formularies change each year. Plans may even be discontinued, so people need to be proactive in understanding their options.”

Lower Columbia Community Action Program’s SHIBA volunteers are available to provide seniors with free, unbiased information about the plans available locally.

Medicare recipients need to make sure their current plans will continue to cover all of their medications, Clark said. Medicare open enrollment is the only time of the year people can change plans, unless they have qualifying special circumstances.

SHIBA volunteers are holding phone or in-person appointments at their new office, 5411 E. Mill Plain Blvd. in Vancouver, throughout open enrollment. To schedule an appointment, call 360-947-2479.

The SHIBA program is also hosting free informational presentations throughout the month:

• 4 p.m. Wednesday at Vancouver Community Library, 901 C St., Vancouver.

• 2 p.m. Friday at Cascade Park Community Library, 600 N.E. 136th Ave., Vancouver.

• 10 a.m. Oct. 19 at Luepke Senior Center, 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd., Vancouver.

• 3 p.m. Oct. 22 at Battle Ground Community Library, 1207 S.E. Eighth Way, Battle Ground.

• 10:30 a.m. Oct. 23 at Camas Public Library, 625 N.E. Fourth Ave., Camas.

• 6 p.m. Oct. 28 at Ridgefield Community Library, 210 N. Main Ave., Ridgefield.

• 4:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at La Center Community Library, 1411 N.E. Lockwood Creek Road, La Center.

SHIBA will offer a free presentation and counseling clinic for Skamania County residents from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26 at Stevenson Community Library, 120 N.W. Vancouver Ave., Stevenson.