SILETZ NEWS
A monthly publication of the
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon
Vol. 31, No. 2, February 2003
Elders Can Get Reimbursed for
Medicare Part B
by Judy Muschamp
up for Part B now. Will the tribe
reimburse me for the penalty too?
Answer: Yes.
Question: I want to add Part B to
my Medicare. When can I do that?
Answer: You can sign up for
Medicare Part B:
The Siletz Tribal Council has
continued to set aside gaming revenue
funds to reimburse tribal elders, age 65
and older, for Medicare Part B
premiums. This benefit has become
very popular for our tribal elders,
regardless of where you live. I’m happy
to say I’ve made personal contact with
tribal elders all over the United States
who enjoy this benefit. I want to wish
you all a Happy New Year.
It’s the time of year for anyone who
isn’t already covered by Medicare B to
enroll. I’m continuing to negotiate with
the Social Security Administration to
pay the agency directly, but so far I
haven’t been successful. Regardless,
this is an excellent program for anyone
who qualifies and if you live within the
11-county service area, helps the
Contract Health Services program by
shifting the majority of the cost of
physician services to Medicare.
Here are answers to some common
questions:
1) When you first enroll in Medicare
during your initial enrollment period,
which starts three months before you
turn age 65 and for seven months.
2) Jan. 1-March 31 of each year,
which is your general enrollment
period. If you enroll in Part B
during this time, it’ll be effective
July 1 of the year in which you
apply. Your Medicare Part B
premium will go up 10 percent for
each 12-month period that you
could have had Medicare Part B,
but did not take it.
3) If you did not take Medicare B
when you were first eligible
because you or your spouse were
working and had group health plan
coverage through you or your
spouse’s employer or union, you
can sign up for Medicare Part B
during a special enrollment period.
You can sign up anytime you’re still
covered by the employer or union
group health plan through your or
your spouse’s current or active
employment, or during the eight
months following the month the
employer or union group health plan
Question: What paperwork do you
need so I can receive reimbursement?
Answer: I need a copy of your
Medicare card. This shows that you’re
covered by Part B medical. I also need
a copy of your benefit statement from
Social Security that shows how much
per month is withheld from your check.
Mail these copies to Judy Muschamp,
SCHC, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380.
Question: The Social Security
office said I would be penalized if I sign
Siletz Tribal Head Start students take a break and dance before
beginning their next session.
Community Mobilization for
Drug House Elimination
Neighborhood Awareness, Empowerment,
and Education
Are you interested in attending and
participating in a community forum
moderated by Rob Bovett, assistant
county counsel of Lincoln County?
The forum will provide
information about the process for
citizens to document illegal drug
traffic in our community.
Feb. 27, 2003
Siletz Tribal Community Center
5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Sponsored by the Siletz Valley
Partnership, in collaboration with
the Siletz Tribal Housing
Residents Organization
What’s Inside
Letters to the Editor
Chairman’s Report
Tribal Program News
Tribal Member News
Notices
2
3
5
8
12
Tribal Council Timesheets
Siletz Clinic
Chinook Winds
Passages
See Medicare on page 17.
Siletz News
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon
P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380-0549
Delores Pigsley, Tribal Chairman
Brenda Bremner, General Manager
and Editor-in-Chief
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PRESORTED
FIRST CLASS
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
SILETZ, OR
97380
PERMIT NO. 2
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