The Council on Aging of Central Oregon today announced that it will offer free Senior Health Insurance Benefits Association (SHIBA) counseling sessions during the upcoming 2019 Medicare enrollment period, which runs from October 15 through December 7. Tri-county adults aged 65 and up (or in the three-month period prior to their 65th birthday) can schedule appointments with an English- or Spanish-speaking certified volunteer counselor who can ease the stress of registering for Medicare or review a client’s current coverage and prescription plans.
“Throughout the year, our SHIBA team of volunteers plays a key role in advising Central Oregon’s older adults through the ins and outs of Medicare,” says the Council on Aging’s Executive Director Susan M. Rotella. “During the enrollment period, their work is particularly appreciated by those clients wishing to make changes to their current Medicare Advantage coverage and supplemental prescription plans. The Council on Aging is glad to offer this free service, especially as healthcare costs constitute such a significant part of many older adults’ budgets.”
The free and confidential appointments, which are held in the Council on Aging’s offices in Bend and Redmond, can be made by calling the Council’s SHIBA line at (541) 678-5483, x211. Callers will be asked to leave a message, which will be returned by a certified SHIBA counselor, usually by the end of the next business day.
About the Council on Aging of Central Oregon
The non-profit Council on Aging is the federally designated Area Agency on Aging serving Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson Counties, offering older aged adults 60 and older and their loved ones a range of support services that promote independence, well-being and safety, as well as preventing hunger and improving overall health. The Council on Aging is committed to equitable and inclusive services, programs and resources designed to meet immediate and direct need.
