...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
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Published 1st and 3rd Fridays
Send to:
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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
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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