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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 2006)
...Drug plan explanations available (From Page 12) Or they can call a toll-free number 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and wait on hold, to have someone do it for them. Reports are there can be a long wait time. One in four Medicare beneficiaries — 10 million Americans had no pre- scription drug insurance previously. But only about 1 million of these had signed up by mid-December. That’s partly because many seniors are overwhelmed at the complexity of the choices. Even though benefits be- gan Jan. 1, they haven’t signed up. Bill Vaughan of Consumers Union calls it a “deer in the headlights” effect: Unfa- miliarity and confusion can lead to in- action. Of course, inaction may be the best course for those who already have em- ployer- or union-sponsored prescription drug insurance that’s as good or better as the new benefit. Seniors who did have such coverage should have re- ceived a letter telling them whether their coverage will continue for the next year. Most union and employer retiree drug plans had more generous coverage than the new government-subsidized plans, and most aren’t dropping coverage yet. Retirees who are in these plans WON’T face the late penalty if they are later dropped and have to sign up for a pri- vate plan. Here is some advice on the new drug choices for Medicare enrollees, based on conversations with a number of ex- perts on the new program: • If your employer or union is still providing you coverage as good or bet- ter than the new Medicare benefit, save the letter they sent you about it. That can be used as proof later on that you were advised not to sign up for the pri- vate plans, and you won’t face the higher premium penalty if your em- ployer or union later drops the cover- age. • If you are currently enrolled in a “Medicare Advantage” plan, a kind of government-subsidized private health plan, you may want to consider staying with it and accepting the new drug ben- efit that the plan will automatically pro- vide. If you sign up for a separate, stand-alone drug benefit, you will be dropped from the Medicare Advantage plan and enrolled in basic, traditional Medicare. Basically you can’t be in both the stand-alone plan and the Medicare Advantage plan. • If you don’t currently have drug coverage of any kind but take few or no prescription drugs and don’t currently need the drug benefit, you may want to choose the plan with the lowest pre- mium. You’ll have an opportunity to switch to a better plan in the last six weeks of each calendar year. You may end up taking expensive prescription drugs in the future and want to sign up for a drug plan. If that happens, the late enrollment penalty will make premiums more expensive. • Use the Web site or the hotline to narrow down your choices by provid- ing your preferred pharmacy and the list of drugs you take. Most people end up with 6 to 10 choices at this point. You can request information from each, spend time studying them, and choose whichever one seems like the best deal for you. Just as it’s hard to know whether you’re truly getting the best deal on auto insurance or home insur- ance, you may just have to live with a little uncertainty about whether you’re getting the very best deal in prescription drug coverage. There’s nothing wrong with deciding you’re not willing to spend unlimited hours reading the fine print of every plan. On balance, any plan will be of some help to you, be- cause the government subsidy will be helping you pay your prescription drug bill. • Don’t be shy about asking for help. Many elected officials, including mem- bers of Congress and state legislators, have assigned staff to help constituents. Some work with other agencies to set up meetings to answer questions and help seniors enroll. Some of these meet- ings even have computers onsite and volunteers to help. Contact your repre- sentative for help with questions. Also, there are state and county agencies working to help seniors with the new program. Oregon families can contact the Se- nior Health Insurance Benefits Assis- tance Program for free personalized ad- vice on choosing the best Medicare prescription drug benefit by calling 1- 800-722-4134. Additionally, residents of Clackamas, Multnomah and Wash- ington Counties can call Clackamas County Social Services at 503-655- 8427. Swanson,Thomas &Coon ATTORNEYS AT LAW Since 1981 James Coon Margaret Weddell Ray Thomas Sharon Maynard Megan Glor Cynthia F. Newton Tip of the week: If you are unable to work because of injury or disease, whether you are “disabled” or not depends on the system to which you are applying for benefits. State/Federal Workers Compensation, Social Security and private Long Term Disability plans all require different proof of disability. We represent people on all types of injury and disease related claims. n Workers’ Compensation and Longshore n Asbestos/Mesothelioma n Personal Injury/Product Liability n Social Security Disability n Death Claims n ERISA/Long-Term Disability We provide straight answers at no cost on any of the above areas of law. CALL US or VISIT OUR WEB SITE ( 503) 228-5222 http://www.stc-law.com E E FR BARGAIN COUNTER Free ads to subscribers DEADLINE: Friday prior to publication Published 1st and 3rd Fridays Send to: NW Labor Press, PO Box 13150, Portland, OR 97213 Classified ads MUST include area code on all phone numbers or they will not be published Automotive TWO 14’ studded snow tires on Ford five-hole wheels, real good tires. 503 257-7390 TRUCK RACK futs 1988- 2003 Chevy long bed, $200. 503 775-7963 2 JEEP PICKUPS, 4 x 4, 6 cyl and V8, $1500 and $2500 OBO. 503 231-1208 ’84 FORD F250 diesel, 4 spd, AC, PS, PB, 62k miles, very clean, oil in radiator, $750. 503 314-8600 STUDDED TIRES mounted on 14” Camry wheels, Les Schwab Quick Fit chains, $100. 503 244-4986 CONTRACTOR’S RACK off ’86 3/4 ton truck, fits full size box, nice cond, has to go, $200 OBO. 360 727- 5130 ’71 CHEVY 3/4 ton 4x4, strong motor, 4 spd, needs some TLC, dual exhaust, 33” tires, $2,500 OBO. 503 262-8997 MISCELLANEOUS CONTRACTOR rack, fits S10, Ranger type pickups, $110. 503 656-3996 (leave mes- sage) T-BIRD WHEEL and tire, new firestone FR480 215/70R15M+S, for ’90 T-bird and 3 hubcabs. 503 622- 3639 ’93 AEROSTAR EXTENDED 4x4 van, needs trans work, $500; P205/74R14 studded snow tires on Ford 5L wheels, $175. 360 837-3553 ‘78 GMC 454, 2x4 pickup, built to pull, $1,800 or trade for? need rebuildable ‘95 powerstroke injectors, A-A. 503-364-5776 4 STUDDED Sears ice and snow tires, never mounted, P185/80 R13, $80 for all. 503-771-8992 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS TAILGATE for ‘73-’79 Ford pickup, with hardware. 503- 771-8992 For the Home DOUBLE MATTRESS/box, $75; Nordic Trak, $100; child’s computer desk, $25; Indoor basketball, $35. 503 690-4929 Sporting Goods TC PATRIOT .45 pistol, $325; Renegade .54 Bbl. $80 OBO. 503 658-6108 308 WINCHESTER MODEL 88 lever action rifle, 5 shell clip, seldom used, $325. 503 956-3210 16’ BOAT/TRAILER, Bellboy, fiberglass, Ford 312 V8 in- board eng, owner needs the indoor storage space, ex cond, $4000. 503 648-2817 ’90 HERITAGE SOFTAIL, S & S carb – Python pipes, Crane Hi-4 Ing, Andrews EV-27 cam, outstanding mo- torcycle, $9,250 OBO. 503 257-7390 (Bill) 16-FOOT ALUMAWELD sled with 85 hp pump, kicker and top, perfect springer boat, $4,600. 360-225-5108 WEIGHT BENCH, 400 lbs of weights, straight bar, curl bar, weight holder rack, $250, nice. 503-632-4726 Miscellaneous LINCOLN 225 AMP welding machine, $125. 503 538- 4369 MYLOCK 234d Serger sewing machine, used only once, $200 firm. 503 761-1106 (9a.m to 5 p.m.) Housing NORTH GRESHAM home 4 sale, 19502 NE Hassalo, 2080 sq ft, 3 (poss 4) beds, 2 full bath, newly updated, call for appt. 503 667-8376 MF HOME, Milwaukie, dbl wide, low rent, 55+ park, $16k. 503 654-5871 Wanted Quarry 8” Safety toe or reg. Gortex/Vibram. Black Try a pair on, you’ll like them. OLD WOODWORKING tools, planes, levels, chisels, folding rules, handsaws, spoke shaves, slicks, adzes, tool chests. 503 659-0009 BUYING US/GERMAN/JAPANESE rifles, bayonets, pis- tols, uniforms, daggers and swords. 503 852-6791 MOTORCYCLES, running or not, dirt bikes, street bikes, scooters, mini-bikes, cash paid. 503 880-8183 AL’S SHOES Apprenticeship Opening Apprenticeship Opening Resilient Floor & Decorative Coverings Worker Masonry Trades Union Applicants must be at least 17 years old. Must apply in person and have a copy of either a high school diploma or GED. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted starting Wednesday, Feb. 15, and continuing through Thursday, May 18 between the hours of 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. at Floor Covering Joint Apprenticeship & Training Office 11105 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland, Ore. 97220 For more info, call 503-282-5783 PAGE 10 • 15 words or less • Include address label from front page and telephone number • Sorry, we cannot accept ads over the telephone • No commercial or business ads • 1 ad per issue • Type or print legibly Tough boots for the Northwest. 5811 SE 82nd, Portland 503-771-2130 Mon-Fri 10-7:30 Sat 10-5:30 Sun 12-6 Tile, Terrazzo, Brick & Tile Finisher Must be at least 18 years old. Must have copy of either a high school diploma or GED at time of application. Applications being taken Tuesday, Feb. 7 Wednesday, Feb. 8 and Thursday, Feb. 9 from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 12812 NE Marx St. Portland, Ore. 97230 Women and minorities are encouraged to apply JANUARY 20, 2006
