RPEC On Air

Tim Smolen, Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) Program Manager, and our very own Matt Groshong, RPEC Healthcare Workgroup Chair and Ch. 3 President, have joined us once again to prepare you for the fast-approaching Medicare open enrollment period.

In this special webcast, Tim unveils a new resource to help Medicare enrollees get ready for open enrollment in just 7 easy steps, and we have an accompanying PowerPoint which members can download from the RPEC website.

Don't sleep on open enrollment, or you might wake up to an unpleasant surprise in January!

Links/Credits:

The Olympian article

Order the Medicare OEP jumpstart toolkit

www.insurance.wa.gov

www.insurance.wa.gov/medicareOEP

www.medicare.gov

Member engagement is how RPEC members participate and interact with the organization. This can take on many forms, but is there a right or wrong way to be engaged? (Spoiler alert: NO!)

To help us illustrate what member engagement could look like, we are joined by RPEC member Susan Leschinski from Chapter 21 in the Tri-cities area. Susan is heavily involved in the organization and shares with us her findings from an extensive project she undertook to identify different levels of member engagement. Listeners beware! You may find her enthusiasm contagious…

This legislative session, RPEC is monitoring over 30 bills. How do we know which bills to monitor? How do we determine our position on these bills? Where are these bills in the legislative process? How can you stay informed and get involved? So many questions…and we have so many answers! Tune in for an update from Executive Director Laurie Weidner and Associate Director Derek VanSpoor on the 2025 legislative session and our federal relations. (Recorded March 13th. Be sure to check our Bill Tracker at www.rpecwa.org!)

The Washington State Legislative Session starts on January 13th, 2025. This is when lawmakers convene to discuss issues affecting our state and vote on proposed bills! Legislators require input from their constituents in order to make these important decisions. No matter your circumstances, you can participate in the lawmaking process.

In this episode of RPEC On Air, Laurie Weidner, RPEC Executive Director, provides insights into what to expect this coming session, our legislative priorities, and the many ways you can engage in legislative advocacy.

Introducing our special 3-part series all about Medicare Open Enrollment: RPEC On Medicare! Special guests Tim Smolen, SHIBA Program Manager, and Matt Groshong, Ch. 3 President and Healthcare Workgroup Chair, share their expertise.

In part 3, we discuss the Public Employees’ Benefits Board (PEBB) Medicare Open Enrollment and review the different plans within the PEBB portfolio and all the changes coming in 2025. If you receive your health insurance through PEBB, tune in and make sure you are prepared, do your research so you can make the best choice for you, and please don’t miss your deadline!

Introducing our special 3-part series all about Medicare Open Enrollment: RPEC On Medicare! Special guests Tim Smolen, SHIBA Program Manager, and Matt Groshong, Ch. 3 President and Healthcare Workgroup Chair, share their expertise.

In part 2, we discuss Medicare options on the commercial market. Medicare open enrollment begins on Oct. 15, and there are big changes for 2025. Tune in to learn more about what you need to do so you can make the best choice for you.

Introducing our special 3-part series all about Medicare Open Enrollment: RPEC On Medicare! Special guests Tim Smolen, SHIBA Program Manager, and Matt Groshong, Ch. 3 President and Healthcare Workgroup Chair, share their expertise.

In part 1, we discuss getting ready for Medicare for those who are nearing retirement age. Tune in to learn about what you need to do, what your resources are, and why it's so important to get everything right the first time.

In this light episode, Project Coordinator Alissa Brady announces some upcoming events, including a three-part series featuring Matt Groshong (Ch. 3 President) and Tim Smolen, SHIBA Program Manager, to do a deep dive into Medicare just ahead of open enrollment period. Stay tuned for more!

The Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program is a free, unbiased, and confidential service offered through the Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner that is made up of volunteers trained to help people understand their Medicare options. Tim Smolen, SHIBA Program Manager, joins us to discuss how you can become a SHIBA volunteer and make a difference in the life of people on Medicare.

RPEC's Government Affairs Coordinator Emmett Mills joins us to discuss the outcomes of the 2024 legislative session and the work ahead to advance RPEC's priorities leading into 2025.