Workshops
Smart Health Decisions offers small group workshops designed to help consumers learn what they need to know to make smart health decisions. What makes our workshops unique is they are conducted by objective, unbiased experts with whom participants always can follow-up if later they find something unclear or discover a new question. The workshops emphasize practical, useful information while covering necessary, technical topics in language everyone can understand. Printed materials make it easy to follow along and serve as a handy reference after the workshop is over. Ample time is allowed for questions and clarifications. Our experienced speakers can make even Medicare entertaining!
It is necessary to pre-register for our workshops because space and materials are limited. Look for our monthly early sign-up discounts. When you sign up, please tell us if you have specific concerns you would like addressed in the workshop you plan to attend. This allows us to customize the workshop to your needs.
Generally, our workshops are held in our offices at 211 East 11th Street in downtown Vancouver. If you have an available meeting room and a group of 8 to 12 interested people, we will bring our workshop to you.
MEDICARE WORKSHOPS
There are more than 40 Medicare Advantage Plans and over 30 Medicare Drug Plans to choose from in SW WA. The Medicare website has 46 pages containing more than 700 frequently asked questions. It is impossible for a smart consumer to learn all they need to know about Medicare in an hour or two. That is why SHD offers a series of Medicare workshops that allow you to choose the Medicare topics you want to learn more about. And after the workshop we are here to help you with follow-up.
Medicare Reform and You 1.5 hours $15
Everyone is concerned about what the recent healthcare reforms will mean for their health and wealth. In this workshop we will cover what the reforms will mean for those enrolled in Medicare. Get ahead of the changes and be confident you will get the most out of your benefits!
What You Don't Know about Medicare Can Cost You...PLENTY! 1.5 hours $15
Your Medicare choices can make all the difference to your health and wealth. This workshop offers a quick overview of the Medicare choices available to you. Learn about things not to do, common myths, mistakes and pitfalls to avoid. Learn about things to do and some very helpful secrets you're not likely to learn from a health insurance professional!
Medicare Smart in One Day 8 hours $125
A one-day investment that will pay off for the rest of your life! This workshop covers the topics in our other individual Medicare workshops in one convenient day-long session. We will examine all parts of Medicare: Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drugs Plans, and Medicare Supplements. Please refer to the below descriptions of each individual class for more specifics this workshop will cover. Your workshop fee includes lunch and snacks.
Your Medicare Choices 1.5 hours $10
Medicare is a big, complicated government program. Its health insurance is very different than the kind most people experience before becoming eligible for Medicare. This workshop describes in simple terms the insurance choices all Medicare enrollees must make. Leaders share the practical essentials each enrollee should know about Medicare: the different parts of Medicare, how they fit together, and some Medicare terminology. When you leave the workshop you should have a solid idea about how Medicare works, understand the options you have in Medicare, and know the deadlines for choosing those options. This workshop is ideal for individuals new to Medicare, enrollees participating in Medicare’s annual open enrollment, or friends and loved ones helping someone with Medicare.
Medicare for Out-of- Hospital Care:
Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage? 3 hours $40
If you decide to get Medicare Part B coverage for your out-of-hospital medical care, you must choose between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. We help you understand these two options, their similarities and differences, strengths and weaknesses. Once the options are clear, we’ll help you review important personal factors to consider when making your choice like your medical needs, financial situation, and lifestyle. Because Medicare Advantage is an increasingly popular choice and there are so many private Medicare Advantage plans to choose from, we will review how to comparison shop for Medicare Advantage plans. At the end of this workshop you should understand the difference between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and if you are interested in the Advantage option, you should feel prepared to do some serious comparison shopping.
Medicare Prescription Drug Plans 3 hours $40
Prescription drug coverage, Part D, is optional in Medicare. If you choose to sign up for it, you must pick from dozens of very different Medicare drug plans offered by private insurance companies. Research shows many people in our local area have not done such a good job picking their drug plans. This means they could get better drug benefits for less money. This workshop tells you how.
We describe the way all Medicare drug plans work, the common rules all must follow, the different phases of drug coverage over the benefit year, including the workings of the famous “donut hole”. You will learn about what to look for and to avoid in drug plans. We will discuss strategies for picking a drug plan that offers the most useful benefits for the least total cost depending on the drugs you take. Our SHD pharmacist will share strategies for managing your drug spending during the year to maximize your drug benefits. This workshop is meant to assist everyone who is comparison shopping for Medicare drug plans or is interested in getting the most out of their drug plan.
Medicare Supplements 3 hours $40
This workshop focuses on the Medicare Supplement plans that can be purchased by Original Medicare enrollees. Unlike many other Medicare decisions which can be easily changed each year during open enrollment, picking a Medicare Supplement plan should be regarded as a long-term decision. So, you want to get it right the first time!
We’ll talk about when it is best to enroll and review how these private insurance plans work, the Medicare rules they must follow, and their differences and similarities. When shopping for Medicare Supplements it is especially important to compare benefits, the insurers rating methods, and prices. Comparing premiums can be tricky because sometimes the best deal today will definitely not be the best deal in the future. This workshop is meant to assist everyone comparison shopping for Medicare Supplement plans.
Navigating the Medicare Website 1.5 hours Free
In this workshop you will learn how to navigate the large and often overwhelming Medicare website in order to explore the best Medicare options for you.
OTHER WORKSHOPS
How Do Independent Healthcare Advocates Help You? 1.5 hours $15
More and more healthcare providers are suggesting their patients have an independent advocate. The concept of a healthcare advocate is new and many people are uncertain about who they are and what they do. This workshop explains what an advocate is and the variety of healthcare issues they can assist you with, how you benefit (save money and get better care) and why it is important that the advocate be independent (not affiliated with a provider or insurer).
Healthcare Reform and the Small Business Owner 1.5 hours $20
The recent healthcare reforms are confusing to everyone. Small business owners in particular will be affected by the changes being made. This workshop will teach you what you, as a small business owner, need to know about the reforms, how they will affect your business and how they will affect your employees.
