MEDICARE

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 or older, people of any age with permanent kidney failure, and certain disabled people. The local Social Security Administration office will take applications and provide information.

Medicare has three parts, Part A and Part B, and Part D prescription drug coverage. When you enroll in Medicare you automatically get Medicare Part A coverage. This covers hospital inpatient services, some short-stay nursing home care, hospice and some home health services. Medicare Part B is an optional program which requires you to pay a monthly minimum. Part B covers doctors, outpatient hospital, physical and occupational therapy, X-rays, labs and other services. Medicare Managed Care Plans are available. You must call individual insurance companies to learn more about Medicare Managed Care.

Medicare now offers prescription coverage.  Your cost will vary depending on your financial situation and which drug plan you choose.

Medicare does not pay for: custodial care (help with bathing, eating, taking medicine or supervision), dentures or dental care, eyeglasses, hearing aids and hearing exams.

Medicare
c/o Social Security Administration
505 106th Ave. NE #301   Bellevue 98004
1.800.772.1213
www.medicare.gov

Medicare Part A & B Claims for Washington State
Noridian (Medicare Part A)
P.O. Box 6720   Fargo  ND 58108

Qualis Health (Medicare Part B)
P.O. Box 6700   Fargo  ND 58108
1.800.633.4227 (1.800.MEDICARE)

Explains your Medicare beneficiary rights, answers general Medicare questions, reviews complaints about the quality of care you have received, and reviews care if you believe that you are being discharged from a hospital too early. Publishes a newsletter.

MEDICAID

A state-administered program that pays for medical care for financially needy individuals. Medicaid can also pay for care in a nursing home, adult family home, or retirement home; and for intensive home care. For information on eligibility and program benefits, contact one of the following organizations:

Medicaid - The Answer Phone (TAP)
1.877.980.9220
Access case status, payment, and basic information about food, financial, medical, and childcare benefits.  24 hours.

Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
Customer Service Center 
1.800.562.3022

Eastside Community Service Office
14360 SE Eastgate Way   Bellevue 98007
206.341.7404
1.800.662.6715
Processes applications for Medicaid medical coupons and food stamps.

Home and Community Services
1737 Airport Way S #130   Seattle 98134
206.341.7750
1.800.346.9257
Processes applications for Medicaid assistance/financial assistance for individuals who need to live in a nursing home, adult family home, congregate care facility or for those seeking equivalent care at home through the COPES program.

You can also receive information about Medicaid and assistance with applications from:

Evergreen Care Network – Information & Assistance
425.899.3200
1.800.676.6692

Overlake Hospital Senior Care
425.688.5800

Senior Information and Assistance – King County
206.448.3110

Senior Information and Assistance – Snohomish County
1.800.422.2024

TAX INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE

Northshore Senior Center
10201 E. Riverside Dr.  Bothell 98011
425.486.4564
Free financial counseling, money management, estate and retirement planning.  By appointment.

Senior Property Tax Exemption
King County Administration Building
500 4th Ave. Room 709F   Seattle 98104
206.296.3920
Property tax reductions to individuals 61 and older. Discounts are based on the property owner’s income. Participant’s yearly income must be less than $30,000.

Tax-Aide
Sponsored by AARP and the IRS
1.888.AARP NOW (1.888.227.7669)
1.800.829.1040 (IRS Tax Service  Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm)
Trained volunteers assist older adults with basic income tax returns and free electronic filing from February 1 to April 15. Call the above numbers to find out locations on the Eastside. Volunteers also do home visits for homebound individuals.

INSURANCE INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE

Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors – SHIBA
1.800.562.6900
206.389.2747
Trained volunteers who advise seniors regarding Medicare (including the new Part D benefit) and health insurance options. Free. Appointments available at the following locations:

Evergreen Care Network 425.899.3200	Mt. Si Senior Health Center 425.888.3434
Issaquah Senior Center 425.392.2381	Northshore Senior Center 425.487.2441
Kirkland Senior Center 425.587.3360	Overlake Hospital Senior Care 425.688.5800
Mercer Island Senior Health Center 425.888.3434	Redmond Senior Center 425.556.2314

Washington’s Insurance Commissioner’s Office
1.800.562.6900
www.insurance.wa.gov
Assistance with questions and problems relating to insurance companies.

LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICES AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE

These programs and agencies provide information and services to older adults who have legal questions. If you need additional help assessing your needs and identifying the best place to turn, call Senior Information and Assistance (206.448.3110), Evergreen Care Network Information & Assistance (425.899.3200), or Overlake Hospital Senior Care (425.688.5800).

CLEAR – Coordinated Legal Education, Advice and Referral System for Seniors
402 2nd Ave. S  Suite 407   Seattle 98104
1.888.387.7111
Intake system for persons 60 years and older to obtain free legal assistance with civil legal problems. No criminal cases. Income requirements depend on programs client is referred to.

Eastside Legal Clinic
First Congregational Church
752 108th Ave. NE  Bellevue 98004
206.340.2593
Wednesday evenings. Appointment required.

Eastside Legal Assistance Program (ELAP)
425.747.7274
Free legal advice and education to low-income persons in East King County. Legal clinics and senior lecture series offered at senior centers. One-half hour free consultation. Appointment required.

Lawyer Referral and Information Service
King County Bar Association
206.267.7010
Referral for legal assistance. Half-hour consultations with a lawyer and referral for on-going legal assistance; $30 fee.

Legal Action Center
Catholic Community Services
14044 NE 8th St.  Bellevue 98007
206.324.6890
Free legal assistance for low income people with concerns about: landlord-tenant, eviction, debtor-creditor, and consumer protection issues.

Neighborhood Legal Referral Clinics
206.267.7070
Provides half-hour consultation, information and referral with an attorney. Sites throughout Seattle-King County. Free.

Senior Rights Assistance
206.448.5720
Trained volunteers provide information on: social security, landlord-tenant, wills, small claims court, funeral/burial, and consumer issues.

ADVANCE DIRECTIVES: LIVING WILLS, POLST FORMS, AND HEALTH CARE DURABLE POWERS OF ATTORNEY

Living wills and health care powers of attorney are documents that allow you to make advance instructions for end-of-life decisions. The right to make a living will is found in Washington State’s “Natural Death Act”. It allows you to instruct your doctor of your wish to withdraw or withhold life-supporting procedures and let you die naturally.

The POLST form (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) is a voluntary form that helps patients with serious health conditions indicate their preferences regarding life-sustaining treatment.

Durable Powers of Attorney let you appoint someone (your agent) to make health care decisions for you, if you later can’t make them yourself. It can also contain instructions you want your agent to follow.

Lawyers specializing in estate planning have these forms as do the Evergreen Care Network – Information & Assistance (425.899.3200) and Overlake Hospital Senior Care (425.688.5800). Overlake Hospital offers regularly scheduled public education classes on advance directives. To register for this class or to receive information on future class dates, call 425.688.5800.

Senior Rights Assistance
Offers information and support to persons 55 and older dealing with end-of-life decisions. Through the Life Choice Volunteer Program, seniors can meet one-on-one with trained volunteers to discuss questions which surface when making these difficult decisions. Appointments can be made at:

Overlake Hospital Medical Center
425.688.5800
Connections members only.

Northshore Senior Center
425.486.4564

Redmond Senior Center
425.556.2314

Some booklets available on Advance Directives:

Aging and Disability Services, DSHS
1.800.562.6028
"Your Legal Right to Make Decisions About Health Care and Advance Directives in Washington State." Advance directives with sample forms.

Church Council of Greater Seattle
4759 15th Ave. NE  Seattle 98105
206.525.1213
"Time to Decide." End-of-life health care decisions for seniors and their families. $6.

Evergreen Care Network - Information & Assistance
425.899.3200
"Hard Choices for Loving People." Free.

King County Medical Society
200 Broadway  Seattle 98122
206.621.9393
"Health Care Decisions: Decisions About the End of Life." $2.50.

Overlake Hospital Medical Center
425.688.5800
"Starting Points." Health care decision-making and living wills, durable powers of attorney and values statements. Free.

Northwest Justice Project
401 Second Ave. S. Suite 407  Seattle 98104
1.888.201.1012
206.464.1519
www.washingtonlaw.org
"Quesions and Answers on Powers of Attorney." Free.

ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS

The following programs and services offer advocacy on behalf of older adults about such issues as nursing care, legislation, and age discrimination.

AARP – American Association of Retired Persons, West Region
9750 3rd Ave. NE #400   Seattle 98115
1.888.OUR AARP
www.aarp.org
Advocacy, education about consumer products, consumer discounts, insurance products, information and referral about services for those 50 and over.

CINH – Citizens for Improvement of Nursing Homes
206.545.7053
Provides information from state surveys, DSHS, and individual opinion about long-term care facilities (nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult family homes).

Long-term Care Ombudsman Program
206.623.0816
1.800.562.6028
www.ltcop.org
Responds to questions or complaints about nursing homes, retirement homes, adult family homes.  Confidentional.

OWL – Older Women’s League of Seattle/King County
Wallingford Senior Center
4649 Sunnyside Ave. N   Seattle 98103
206.325.6622
Advocacy organization dealing with policy issues for midlife and older women. Social support groups.

Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans
2800 1st Ave. #262   Seattle 98121
206.448.9646
Politically active non-partisan senior organization.

Legislative Hotline
1.800562.6000
Passes opinions from constituents to legislators, the Governor, Lt. Governor, and provides bill information to citizens.

Senior Citizens Lobby
360.754.0207
Works on legislation concerning senior citizens issues at the state level.

Senior Rights Assistance
206.448.5720
Trained volunteers provide information on legal and consumer issues.

Washington Protection and Advocacy System
315 5th Ave. S. Suite 850   Seattle 98104
206.324.1521
1.800.562.2702
Protect the rights of people with all types of physical, developmental, and mental disabilities. Provide information and referral, legal representation, education and advocacy. Free.

CRIME PREVENTION AND VICTIM ASSISTANCE

These programs seek to prevent crime and abusive conduct toward older adults and to provide support and assistance to victims. In any law enforcement emergency, always call 911.

Adult Protective Services (APS)
206.341.7660
Home and Community Services – Department of Social and Health Services investigates and responds to situations involving possible abuse, exploitation or neglect of an older adult. Services include assessment and referral for medical care, locating alternative living arrangements, and case management. Free.

Crime Victims Compensation Program
1.800.762.3716
Assist victims of violent crimes with medical or mental health expenses that arise as a result of that crime.

Eastside Domestic Violence Program
425.746.1940
1.800.827.8840
Information and referral for domestic violence programs. 24-hour crisis number.

Harborview Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress
206.521.1800
Information, counseling and referrals for victims of sexual abuse and traumatic events.

Office of Crime Victims Advocacy
360.725.2895
1.800.822.1067
Provide information, referral, and assistance in accessing benefits or services, and advocacy for crime victims.

Washington State Domestic Violence Hotline
1.800.562.6025
Information and referral service for domestic abuse problems.