The Oregon senior health insurance benefits assistance (SHIBA) program provides seniors and others who are on Medicare with health-benefits education and counseling services that help them to understand their rights and options in health insurance. The program is free and, in Oregon, is sponsored by the Oregon Insurance Division, a part of the Department of Consumer & Business Services.
In addition to helping Medicare recipients understand their options, SHIBA also provides them with the latest information about changes that might affect recipients. This is done utilizing a statewide network of highly-trained volunteers. SHIBA also provides education and outreach programs to Medicare recipients.
Oregon Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance Programs
There is a long list of information and training services available to Oregon Medicare recipients. It includes educational seminars for groups who are interested in senior health issues. These groups can be comprised of seniors or others interested in senior health. Speakers are also available to talk to clubs, associations, or groups.
One-on-one counseling services are provided in senior centers or homes by SHIBA volunteers who can help with questions about eligibility, complaints, insurance policy comparisons, and more. Volunteers who work with Medicare recipients are also trained to make referrals to federal, state, and county offices and to identify insurance violations. There are also a number of SHIBA publications available on the SHIBA website. These free publications include an extensive variety of senior health care topics.
