The question came as an afterthought. The Medicare beneficiary was wrapping up a session with a Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) counselor when the question occurred to her. “By the way,” she said, “in a year or so I want to move from Salem to be closer to one[Read More…]
Tag: GUEST COLUMN
COLUMN: As economy recovers, Salem is seeing inflation like the rest of the country
Inflation in the U.S. Over the course of the pandemic, the Salem area’s economy has experienced the largest job loss in a single month, 21,000 jobs from March to April of 2020, and the fastest recovery ever from a recession. The unemployment rate took 14 months to fall from its[Read More…]
COLUMN: Asking for help clears roadblock to senior’s medical care
The Medicare beneficiary appeared to have excellent health-care benefits – both Medicare and Medicaid. But he was being denied a medical procedure because part of the bill wasn’t being paid. To get help, he made an appointment with a Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance counselor. The monthly procedure, done in[Read More…]
COLUMN: Those earning low wages in Salem suffered worst as pandemic layoffs hit
The Salem area added 1,600 jobs in June, many more than is normal for this time of year, and total employment is nearly 180,000. That is 10,000 more than one year ago. The unemployment rate dropped to 5.5%. One year ago it was 8.9%. The economy is on the road[Read More…]
COLUMN: Research saves woman nearly $2,000 a year in insurance costs
The woman was about to turn 65, and friends had given her conflicting advice about Medicare. She made an appointment with a counselor through Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance to ask some questions. She said one friend had told her to enroll in Medicare only, what’s called Original Medicare. Another[Read More…]
COLUMN: Employers around Salem likely to face continuing challenges filling jobs
Many area employers are trying to staff to full capacity as pandemic restrictions are lifted, and are having difficulty filling openings. This is in part because, just as businesses had to shut down all at once, employers are now trying to hire all at once. There is a long-term trend,[Read More…]
COLUMN: What’s behind large Medicare Part B premiums?
The couple had a modest household income and relatively few assets. They made an appointment with a Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) counselor to see if they could get help with their health-care costs. Their income would have qualified them for a benefit that significantly reduces the cost of[Read More…]
COLUMN: Using federal stimulus could bolster health insurance coverage
Oregonians have found myriad ways to spend their stimulus checks, but this might be a new one. With her Medicare about to start, the woman said she wanted to use the check for medical insurance. She made an appointment with a Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance counselor to ask about[Read More…]
COLUMN: Higher cost insurance can actually mean less out of pocket
Only weeks before turning 65, the man received his Medicare card for coverage that would start the first of day of his birth month. He made an appointment with a Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) counselor to review Medicare Advantage insurance plans. As he reviewed them, he saw that[Read More…]
COLUMN: Those ‘zero premium’ plans can have major differences for out-of-pocket expenses
She was asking a fairly common question. “I’m about to turn 65 and have good insurance through my employer,” she said. “I plan to work another year or two. Does Medicare require me to do anything now?” She met with a Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) volunteer counselor to[Read More…]
