Showing posts with label insurance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label insurance. Show all posts

Fight fraud: Guard your Medicare card

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

New Medicare cards will be mailed starting in April 2018.
If you have Medicare, you can protect your identity and help prevent health care fraud by guarding your Medicare card just like you would a credit card. 

Identity theft from stolen Medicare numbers is becoming more common.

To help combat fraud, Medicare is removing Social Security Numbers from cards and replacing them with a new, unique number for each person. 

The new cards will be mailed starting in April 2018 and should be fully distributed by April 2019.

In the meantime, here are some important steps you can take to protect yourself from the identity theft that can lead to health care fraud:

  • Don’t share your Medicare number with anyone who contacts you by phone, email or in person, unless you’ve given them permission in advance. Medicare will NEVER contact you (unless you ask us to) for your Medicare number or other personal information.
  • Never let anyone borrow or pay to use your Medicare number.
  • Review your Medicare Summary Notice to be sure you and Medicare are only being charged for actual items and services received.

If you’re looking to enroll in a Medicare plan:
  • Remember there are no “early bird discounts” or “limited time offers.” 
  • Don’t let anyone rush you to enroll by claiming you need to “act now for the best deal.” 
  • Be skeptical of free gifts, free medical services, discount packages or any offer that sounds too good to be true.If someone calls you and asks for your Medicare number or other personal information, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). 

Learn more about protecting yourself from identity theft and health care fraud here or contact the SHIBA program at 1-800-562-6900. SHIBA is Washington state's Senior Medicare Patrol, the fraud-fighting unit of the federal program.



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Open enrollment continues for people buying their own health insurance

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Open enrollment for people buying their own health insurance started November 1 and ends January 15, 2018.


Consumers looking for a health plan for themselves or their families should first visit Washington’s Exchange Health Plan Finder

The Exchange offers financial help with premiums and lower co-pays and deductibles to people who financially qualify. It’s also where people can see if they are eligible for free coverage through Apple Health, Washington state’s Medicaid program.



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Health Insurance Application Assistance at Mountlake Terrace Library

Monday, November 13, 2017

Health Insurance Application Assistance

Tuesdays Nov 14, 21, 28 1:00-4:00pm
Mountlake Terrace Library, 23300 58th Ave W, Mountlake Terrace 98043


Sea Mar Community Health Centers will assist you with enrolling in Medicaid and low cost coverage health plans through the Washington Health Plan Finder as well as Food Stamps and/or cash assistance for those in need.

For those who already have insurance through the state they will help you renew and answer any questions you might have about your coverage. Drop in anytime between 1:00 - 4:00pm to meet with a Certified Navigator who is available to help you free of charge.



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Healthcare Open Enrollment now through Jan 15 - but Dec 15 deadline for a January start date

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Healthcare Open Enrollment is now through January 15th! Must be enrolled by December 15th for coverage to begin January 1, 2018.

Go to kingcounty.gov/coverage for more information.

Following dates and local locations for free in-person support:

Shoreline Library, 345 NE 175th St.
Shoreline City Hall, 17500 Midvale Ave. North
Health Insurance & ORCA Lift Enrollment
-          Tue. Dec. 5th, 2pm-6pm
-          Thurs. Dec. 14th, 2-6pm
First come, first served.
Health Insurance & Orca Life Enrollment 
-          Mondays: Nov. 6th- Jan. 8th, 10am – 1pm
-          Thur. Jan. 11th, 5pm-8pm
Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) answer questions about Medicare. 
-          Mondays, Nov. 20th, 27th, & Dec. 4th, 18th, 1pm-5pm
Registration required.  Call to make a one-hour appointment, 206-362-7550.




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Insurance Commissioner approves 11 health insurers for individual plans - but rates are up

Saturday, October 28, 2017

According to state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, eleven health insurers are approved to sell 74 plans in Washington's 2018 individual health insurance market (PDF, 138 KB). The average premium increase this year has jumped to 36.4 percent due to President Trump's decision to stop funding the cost-sharing reduction assistance.

He reports that the president's decision increased rates by 10 percent on average in Washington state.

2018 Approved rate changes by insurer

Health insurerApproved average* rate change due to CSR funding endingApproved average* rate change if CSR funding is restored

Sold inside/outside Exchange
Asuris Northwest Health25.00%25.00%Outside
BridgeSpan Health Co.16.00%16.00%Outside
Coordinated Care Corp.45.85%30.03%Inside
Health Alliance11.76%11.76%Outside
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington23.26%15.53%Both
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest28.30%18.89%Both
LifeWise Health Plan of Washington33.73%26.20%Inside
Molina Healthcare of Washington61.25%45.53%Inside
Premera Blue Cross35.51%29.71%Inside
Regence BlueShield24.60%24.60%Outside
Regence BlueShield of Oregon23.30%23.30%Outside
Total approved average* change
*weighted by enrollment as of March 2017
36.4%26.4% 
"I'm very disheartened to have to approve these rates," said Kreidler  
"For months, we've struggled with the ongoing uncertainty at the federal level and have shared our concerns with our Congressional delegation and with the president's administration.  
"I warned of the harm their actions could inflict on real people and their families. The president's decision to stop making cost-sharing subsidy payments and weakening the enforcement of the individual mandate to buy health insurance are behind the surge in premiums we're seeing this year.  
"The other major cost driver is the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs -- something the administration promised to tackle, yet has failed to take on."

See insurers and their rates by county

Consumers who select a silver-level plan inside the Washington Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) will see an additional rate increase due to the end of cost-sharing reduction funding. However, they will still receive cost-sharing assistance if they income qualify, and any rate increase would be mitigated if they qualify for these subsidies or Advanced Premium Tax Credits (APTCs). People who select a silver plan and do not qualify for subsidies will be hit the hardest by the president's decision.

Last year, approximately 110,000 people purchased silver plans through the Exchange.  More than 73,000 of them received subsidies.

More than 300,000 people in Washington - or about 5 percent of our state population - do not get health insurance from their employer and must buy a plan through the individual health insurance market. They can buy these plans through the Exchange or directly from an insurer. However, subsidies are only available through the Exchange.



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Presentation on Medicare at Senior Center Thursday

Friday, October 13, 2017

SHIBA volunteers from the office of the Insurance Commissioner
will be in Shoreline for a presentation on Medicare


MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT TIME
October 15 - December 7

Join us for a 
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION

Thursday, October 19th, 1:00pm to 2:30pm
In the Senior Center Dining Room


Got Medicare questions? SHIBA can help!
Medicare Open enrollment can be confusing and overwhelming. No need to worry, the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) will be available to help YOU. Find out during this educational presentation:

  • How to get help navigating Medicare's annual open enrollment
  • Learn about SHIBA: Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors program that provides free, unbiased help with your options.
  • SHIBA is a free service of the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. 
  • SHIBA can help you research, assess and evaluate what options work best for you and your needs, so you can make an informed decision. 
SHIBA volunteers come to the senior center the 3rd Friday of each month. To get an appointment call 206-365-1536 or come to the Front Desk of the Senior Center.

Special extra enrollment dates offered. The senior center has scheduled extra enrollment hours for the open enrollment period, in addition to the regular SHIBA appointment times. Representatives will be on-site to help you enroll on-line with the coverage that will benefit you the most.

  • November 14– 10am – 2pm – Plan Finder Enrollment Assistance.
  • November 21 – 10am – 2pm – Plan Finder Enrollment Assistance .

Call the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center at 206-365-1536 or visit the front desk to schedule your free in-person appointment with a SHIBA Advisor.



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New Medicare card replaces Social Security numbers with account numbers

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Sample of new Medicare card
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a first look at the new Medicare card design.

The new card contains a unique, randomly assigned number that replaces consumers' Social Security numbers.

The purpose is to prevent fraud, combat identity theft and safeguard taxpayer dollars.

CMS will stagger the mailings of the new card to people with Medicare benefits, starting April 2018 through April 2019.

Learn more about the new Medicare card initiative and how to protect yourself from Medicare scams.



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A lot going on at the Senior Center in October

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Shoreline - LFP Senior Center 18560 1st Ave S #1 

There are new workshops and classes taking place at the Shoreline-Lake Forest Senior Center this fall. All are open to anyone who may be interested.

Living Well with Chronic Conditions, Chronic Disease Self-Management, October 3 to November 7, 10:00am.

Living Well with Chronic Conditions is a 6 week, 2.5 hour workshop that focuses on supporting and providing tools to those living with or caring for someone with a chronic health condition. During the workshop, participants learn from two trained co-leaders and each other on how to better manage their chronic health conditions through nutrition, exercise, problem solving, and other self-management skills. Participants who graduate from the program are given a Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions book and Relaxation for Mind and Body CD to help them continue building their skills and self-management both during and after the workshop.

Please pre-register for this class. A minimum of 5 participants is required.


An Introduction to Genealogy and Family History; Friday, October 6, 27th, 11am-12 noon

Do you want to solve a family mystery? Learn more about your ancestors? Test your DNA and discover your DNA cousins? Or simply pass along your family story to your grandchildren? Genealogy is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the United States. According to some experts, nearly 75% of Americans are interested in discovering their family history. And thanks to the availability of information online, you can conduct research at home or your local library.

Join Heidi Mair for a fun, interactive four-part introduction to Genealogy and Family History. Bring your family story to share.

Please pre-register. A minimum of 4 participants is required.
Fee: $10 per session/$35 for all four sessions for members
Non-members: $12 per session of $37 for all four sessions.


Tuesday, October 17: WHAT’S UP,WHAT’S NEW 10:30—11:30pm; Exercise Room. Protecting Your Legacy, Planning for the Future. Personalizing Medicaid, Estate and Long Term Care Planning for Seniors by Brian Isaacson. 
Planning for tomorrow isn’t always easy. This friendly, interactive slideshow is designed to educate seniors and their families about essential long-term care and estate planning concerns. It takes a clear look at such concepts as pre-planning for Medicaid benefits; wills, trusts and tax planning; and disability and asset protection for seniors and their loved ones. Bring your questions and come away understanding any next steps you need to take to protect your legacy and provide well for your future care. Fee: $2.00 for members, $4.00 non-members


Special Class: Indoor Gardening, Tuesdays October 10 or December 5, 1:30-3:30pm. Instructor Maryellen Swanson will introduce you to the art of small space garden design. All materials are provided and you will walk out with a unique dish garden or terrarium. Fee: $22 for center members, $25 for non members. Come dig in the dirt with us! Sign up at the Front Desk. Pre-register, 5 minimum to hold class.


MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT TIME: October 15 - December 7
Join us for a SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION

Thursday, October 19th, 1:00pm to 2:30pm in the Senior Center Dining Room

Got Medicare questions? SHIBA can help!

· Get help navigating Medicare's annual open enrollment
· SHIBA: Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors program provides free, unbiased help with your options.
· SHIBA is a free service of the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
· SHIBA can help you research, assess and evaluate what options work best for you and your needs, so you can make an informed decision.

SHIBA volunteers come to the senior center the 3rd Friday of each month. To get an appointment call 206-365-1536 or come to the Front Desk of the Senior Center.


See a class or workshop you’d like to take? Be sure to pre-register or sign up at the Front Desk or call 206-365-1536. Some classes need a minimum number in order to be held. Don’t be disappointed, sign up now!

Shoreline-LFP Senior Center is located in the Shoreline Center Campus, 18560 1st Ave NE #1, Shoreline98155 206-365-1536 



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Schedule an appointment for help with Medicare enrollments

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

If you need help navigating Medicare, the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program provides free, unbiased help with your options.

SHIBA is a free service of the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. SHIBA can help you research, assess and evaluate what options work best for you and your needs, so you can make an informed decision.

Advisors will be at the Shoreline Library on Monday, October 2, 2017 from 1-5pm.

You must call to schedule an appointment - no drop ins. 206-362-7500

Shoreline Library 345 NE 175th St Shoreline 98155

Local sponsor Sound Generations



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Medicare survey is NOT a scam

Monday, August 28, 2017

Photo copyright Marc Weinberg
Medicare is partnering with the University of Chicago for its regular Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS).

Survey results help the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and researchers learn more about people who use Medicare and their health care experiences. 

The study includes randomly selecting 16,000 Medicare beneficiaries nationwide.

Participants will receive a letter and a brochure from NORC (non-partisan and objective research organization) at the University of Chicago about the survey and how to participate in the study.

If they choose to participate, the survey team will call them to set up an in-person interview.

If you receive this survey, it is not a scam. The survey is authorized by Section 1875 of the Social Security Act.


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Insurance Commissioner: Do you have Earthquake Insurance?

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Cadillac Hotel earthquake damage, 2001

Item 113523, Fleets and Facilities Department 
Imagebank Collection (Record Series 0207-01)        
From the Office of the Insurance Commissioner

Do you have Earthquake Insurance? Do you know what it covers?

How earthquake insurance works
  • It provides coverage if your home is destroyed by an earthquake.
  • It's a separate endorsement you must buy and add to your homeowner or renter policy.
  • You can also buy a stand-alone policy separate from your homeowner policy.
  • It's usually sold with deductibles equaling 10 to 25 percent of the structure’s policy limit.
  • It only pays for damages that exceed the deductible.
  • There may be a separate deductible for contents, structure and unattached structures like garages, sheds, driveways, or retaining walls.
  • Generally, this coverage isn't available to buy for a period of time after an earthquake.
What to expect from insurers

Some earthquake insurers may require an inspection of your property before they'll issue you a policy. They may even have different coverage requirements, such as:
  • The location of your home
  • Your home must be bolted to its foundation
  • The location and bracing of your home's interior walls
  • You must have strapping guards to secure fixtures, such as hot-water heaters
What damage it may cover
  • Landslides
  • Settlements
  • Mudflows
  • Rising, sinking and contracting of earth
What damage it may not cover
  • Floods
  • Tidal waves or tsunamis - even when caused by an earthquake

To see if you're covered or not for these types of damages, talk to your agent or broker and be sure to read your policy.


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Beware of new SHIBA phone scam

Thursday, August 10, 2017

The Insurance Commissioner's Office warns that there is a new phone scam starting in Snohomish County in which scammers are cold calling consumers telling them they are with SHIBA, the Insurance Commissioner’s Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors program.

SHIBA representatives never cold call

If you or someone you know gets a call like this, try to get the phone number if you have caller ID. Report the incident and provide the phone number to our office at 1-800-562-6900.

However, you should just hang up and do not provide any personal information.

Washington state's SHIBA provides free, unbiased and confidential help with Medicare and health care choices to people of all ages and backgrounds. Our volunteer advisors are located around the state.

SHIBA is also Washington state’s Senior Medicare Patrol project that helps consumers prevent, detect and report Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse. Contact SHIBA by email or at 1-800-562-6900.


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Op-Ed: State Insurance Commissioner reacts to the U.S. Senate Health Bill

Friday, June 23, 2017

Insurance Commissioner
Mike Kreidler
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Senate today releasing its draft health care bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act: 

"The Senate Republicans drafted their health care bill in secret, and now we know why: It will erode the stability of our health insurance market and cause people – especially those who are sick or poor - to pay significantly more for less coverage.

"This is not partisan rhetoric, it’s how insurance works. By removing the individual mandate, you guarantee that fewer healthy people will get coverage. If only people who need coverage buy it, the costs will rise for everyone. By removing the funding for cost-sharing subsidies, people will face unaffordable deductibles and copays.

"The Senate bill is not a mirror image of what the House passed, but the result is the same: It will seriously destabilize the health insurance market and harm the millions of individuals and families who have counted on having access to meaningful and affordable coverage.

"The Senate bill makes deep cuts that will directly harm people who rely on Medicaid for their insurance. It reduces the number of middle-income people who qualify for premium subsidies and rolls back the Medicaid expansion starting in 2021. Medicaid covers half of all births in our country, and cutting its funding jeopardizes the health of women and children.

"Like the bill passed by the U.S. House, it allows states to waive requirements to cover essential health benefits such as contraceptives, maternity care and mental health care. And just like the House Republicans, Senate Republicans have rushed through their legislation in the dark of the night and without a thorough examination of the costs and effects on consumers by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Up to 24 million Americans would lose coverage under the House version and we estimated that 700,000 people in Washington state could lose coverage if the bill becomes law.

"My review of the Senate plan has just begun, and the CBO score – expected next week – will shed light on the true impacts we can already begin to see.

"As I’ve said many times before, we can make meaningful improvements to the Affordable Care Act that will help people in real ways using sound insurance principles, including tackling rising out-of-pocket costs for medical services and the surging prices of prescription drugs.

"The latest bill pushed in secrecy by the Republican-controlled Congress will not bring relief to anyone other than the wealthy in search of another tax break. Everyone should be able to buy health insurance, regardless of their income, age or health. Republicans are targeting the very same people they are sworn to represent, and people’s lives are at risk."



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L.A. Times: In Washington state, a healthcare repeal lesson learned the hard way

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

An article in the Los Angeles Times analyzes a time in Washington state's history when Republican lawmakers repealed and replaced state-mandated insurance. 

Republicans in the state of Washington didn’t wait long in the spring of 1995 to fulfill their pledge to roll back a sweeping law expanding health coverage in the state. 
Coming off historic electoral gains, the GOP legislators scrapped much of the law while pledging to make health insurance affordable and to free state residents from onerous government mandates. 
It didn’t work out that way: The repeal left the state’s insurance market in shambles, sent premiums skyrocketing and drove health insurers from the state. It took nearly five years to repair the damage.

 Here's the rest of the story...

(there will be advertisements)



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Impact of the ACA in King County

Thursday, May 4, 2017

Red, orange and yellow zones have higher rates of uninsured.


Insights from Public Health – Seattle / King County staff
By Keith Seinfeld


Our epidemiologists at Public Health–Seattle / King County (PHSKC) have been keeping track of insurance enrollment for years.

And, for a long time, the picture was getting worse year by year, with increasing numbers of people uninsured.

That all changed after 2013, when new insurance options became available under the Affordable Care Act. King County embraced the opportunity to help residents enroll, and PHSKC assumed the lead roll, sending Navigators to every neighborhood and community.

The latest data — when shown on a map of the county — reveals how big the benefit has been for King County residents.  

The number of uninsured residents of King County has fallen by more than 50% since embracing the ACA, benefitting every neighborhood of the county

Read more about our enrollment efforts or about how to evaluate new proposals to replace the ACA.



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Free service helps Washington residents recover $366,000 in old life insurance policies

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Since November 2016, 53 Washington residents have recovered $366,000 in life insurance policies and annuities that they didn't know existed or were unable to locate. 

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners created on online Life Insurance Policy Locator to help consumers search for old policies and benefits. The free service makes the process simpler overall.

The service encrypts your request to keep personal details confidential. Insurers taking part compare requests with available policyholder information. They report all matches to state insurance departments and then contact beneficiaries or their authorized representatives.

Since its beginning last November, people have submitted more than 600 requests in Washington state alone, ranking among the top 10 states with queries. Texas, California and Florida lead the pack in recoveries – each with more than $2 million returned to consumers.

Since 2010, state insurance regulators have investigated unclaimed life insurance benefits. Regulatory actions within in the industry have resulted in returning more than $6.75 billion life insurance proceeds to consumers.

Learn more about how to search for a lost life insurance policy.
Read about national results from the NAIC’s life insurance policy locator



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Heavy rains bring risk of floods, landslides, mudslides to Washington state

Saturday, April 15, 2017

A 20 million-pound rock slab came loose from a hillside along SR 503 east of Woodland,
causing a slide that closed the highway on March 13.
Photo courtesy WSDOT.


Office of the Insurance Commissioner

Washington state has experienced heavy rainfall this year, increasing our risk for floods, landslides and mudslides this spring. Governor Inslee proclaimed a state of emergency in nearly two dozen counties on both sides of the state, where there have been storms, slides and floods in the past two months.

While the above- average snowpack from this winter is good for the upcoming wildfire season, it could mean an increased risk of flooding in low-lying areas, and areas with slopes may experience increased soil instability. The risk is higher in areas that were hit hard by past summers’ wildland fires, leaving fewer trees and vegetation to stop land movement.

Damage to your home from floods, landslides, and mudslides may not be covered under a standard homeowner’s policy. Review your insurance policy to make sure you have the right amount of coverage. Contact your insurance agent if you have questions about your policy or the availability of supplemental insurance coverage that will cover those events.

Consider flood insurance, even if you are not in a flood zone

Many agents and brokers offer flood insurance policies available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which offers protection against flood hazards for homeowners, business owners, condo owners and renters.

Landslides are not covered by flood insurance. You will need what’s called a “difference in conditions policy” to be covered for a landslide. You can ask your agent or broker about purchasing a difference in conditions policy. Read more about landslide insurance.

You don’t have to be in a flood hazard zone to be affected by a flood. People outside of mapped flood-risk areas file 20 percent of all flood insurance claims. Another benefit of purchasing flood insurance is that a policyholder may file a claim regardless of the declaration of a disaster. Read more about “Myths and Facts about the NFIP.”

The average residential flood claim in 2015 was $39,184, while the average flood insurance policy premium was $663 per year, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Check to see if your community participates in NFIP.* Typically, there is a 30-day waiting period before your flood insurance policy takes effect.

The Insurance Commissioner’s website has information for consumers about floods and homeowner’s insurance, including things you should talk to your insurance agent about and tips for protecting your home and belongings. We also have tips for filing a claim after a natural disaster and how to find disaster resources.

*Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Shoreline are all on the list of participating cities.



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Don’t become a Medicare card fraud victim

Friday, April 14, 2017

From the Office of the Insurance Commissioner

If you are on Medicare, have you heard you will soon receive your new Medicare card? Are you wondering when you will get it and why the change? It isn’t happening until April 2018, but scammers are already taking advantage of the confusion as a way to commit fraud.

The change to the cards will help prevent fraud and protect your identity. Currently, most people’s Social Security number is their Medicare card number, which makes collecting Medicare numbers an easy target for scammers to steal your identity, open new credit cards or take out loans in your name. The new Medicare card number, however, will not be tied to your Social Security number and will provide more security.

How do the scams work?

Some scammers call beneficiaries claiming to be with Medicare and say they must confirm their current Medicare numbers before they can send out a new card. Others call saying there is a charge for the new card and are collecting beneficiaries’ personal information.

There is no charge for the new Medicare card and Medicare will never call you for your information. They already have it.

If you receive any such calls or suspicious solicitations, hang up and call the Washington State Senior Medicare Patrol with our Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program at 1-800-562-6900.

If you need help with your Medicare, you can also call SHIBA and ask to speak with a SHIBA advisor in your local area. Call us at 1-800-562-6900.



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Top-notch SHIBA volunteers provide outstanding customer service

Sunday, April 9, 2017

SHIBA volunteers attend an outreach event in 2016. 

From the Office of the Insurance Commissioner

In honor of National Volunteer Month, the OIC is recognizing the more than 400 people who passionately volunteer their time to the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program. SHIBA's outstanding volunteer advisors are an integral part of the consumer protection work at the Office of the InsuranceCommissioner.

During 2016, SHIBA volunteers:
  • Assisted more than 88,000 Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers with one-on-one counseling in person and over the phone to help them: 
    • Evaluate their insurance needs. 
    • Choose a Medicare plan. 
    • Choose a Medicare supplement plan. 
    • Review long-term care insurance policies. 
    • Apply for subsidies to help pay for prescription drugs and Medicare Savings Plans to help pay Medicare Part A and B premiums, copays and deductibles. 
  • Educated more than 105,000 people about Medicare. 
  • Held more than 3,300 outreach events statewide. 
  • Resolved 648 complex complaints from beneficiaries between March 2016 and February 2017. Examples of complaints can include beneficiaries who were out of coverage, had been disenrolled by a plan, or needed an emergency prescription drug refill. 
Last year, volunteers donated 98,000 hours of their time to help Medicare consumers in our state. At a national average volunteer rate of $23.65 per hour, this amounts to approximately $2.3 million in valuable donated time and effort.

We honor and celebrate our volunteers this month – and all year long – for their dedication, compassion, commitment, kindness and service.

Read more about SHIBA services and where to find help in your area. You can reach SHIBA online or by phone at 1-800-562-6900.



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Office of Insurance Commissioner recovered $11.3 million for consumers in 2016

Sunday, March 5, 2017

An OIC consumer advocate helps a caller
with an insurance question.
Photo courtesy OIC
From the Office of the Insurance Commissioner

A big part of what we do is to help protect consumers from financial harm.

In 2016, our consumer advocates:
  • Fielded 7,195 consumer complaints and helped recover $11.3 million for consumers. 
  • Answered 67,405 calls to our consumer hotline. 
  • Responded to 5,449 written inquiries from consumers. 
  • Responded to 1,676 consumers via our live-chat feature on our website, which started in March. 
  • Mailed 1,905 insurance publications to consumers who requested them. 
 Our consumer advocates can help you:
More resources for consumers:


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