Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors
8221 44th Ave West, Suite 'E',
Mukilteo, WA 98275
(425) 290-1276
Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA)
The Senior Information and Assistance Program sponsors the Statewide
Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) Snohomish County unit.
SHIBA volunteers are trained and supervised by the Washington State
Insurance Commissioner’s Office to provide consumers with the education,
information about options and referrals needed to make smart, cost-effective,
low-risk choices about health insurance. SHIBA volunteers are trained
to counsel consumers on a range of health insurance options, issues
and concerns.
Advisors can:
- detect policy overlap, gaps, or fraud;
- advocate for consumer rights;
- education about Medicare and supplemental insurance
- evaluate long-term care insurance
- understand the basics of employer plans
- understand managed care/HMO’s
- process medical billings, claims, appeals
- disability issues and more.
SHIBA’s counseling, advocacy and education services are free.
It’s 100 percent impartial - no SHIBA advisor has any affiliation
with any insurance company or product. And all interactions are
kept completely confidential. SHIBA is also accessible. There’s
a SHIBA unit in nearly every county in Washington State. All of
them offer one-on-one support - individual counseling by appointment
with a caring "peer expert." SHIBA volunteer advisors: receive 20+
hours of basic training, consistent updates, and supervision by
Commissioner Senn’s staff; are support by sponsoring organizations
that coordinate each "unit" locally; are equipped with complete,
accurate, up-to-date information on the health insurance issues
that concern you. SHIBA volunteers do not solicit for, or endorse
any financial institution or insurance company or their policies.
Volunteer opportunities are always available. Call today for a SHIBA
volunteer application.
The SHIBA in Snohomish County also assists with Advance Medical
Directive forms and information to legally document your
health care decisions. Group presentations are available upon request.
Advance Directive Forms that are valid for use in Washington State
include:
- Health Care Directives - (Living Will)
- Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
- Code/No Code Orders - (Do not resuscitate orders)
- Anatomical Gift Forms
Call or contact us at: shiba@sssc.org
Visit the Washington State SHIBA site
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