Navigating the New World of Medicare Options
Part of our Aging Well series
Information about Medicare insurance plans is everywhere, ranging from sales pitches to warnings. How can you determine what to trust? Fortunately, Washington residents have a reliable resource within the Office of the Insurance Commissioner: the State Health Insurance Benefits Advisors.
In this presentation, SHIBA’s program manager, Tim Smolen, will review the roles of Washington’s OIC and the Federal government’s Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services for consumer protection and regulation of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans. He will discuss the resources, rights and privileges of UW Medicare beneficiaries as they navigate making choices between original Medicare Supplement and Part D plans and the various Medicare Advantage plans, with plenty of time for you to ask your questions.
For further information, you may also want to attend Benefits sessions of the virtual Retiree Resource Fair on October 31.
Speakers
Tim Smolen
Manager, State Health Insurance Benefits Advisors Program
Tim Smolen is the SHIBA Program Manager. In the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of Insurance Commissioner (OIC), the SHIBA program is responsible for helping people with Medicare – and those who will be eligible soon – as well their families and advocates to understand their rights and protections and options. Navigating this complex system can be challenging and frustrating; we are here to help.
Tim was appointed SHIBA Program Manager in January 2021. He looks forward to each day on the job as an opportunity to be kind and useful. The best part of the work is knowing the impact of helping people, in terms of saving them money and also in terms of putting their mind and heart at ease.