Latino Community Assn. offers Medicare counseling
The Latino Community Association now offers advice to people on Medicare in English and Spanish at its offices in Madras, Redmond and Bend, thanks to a partnership with the Council on Aging of Central Oregon.
Ana Bueno, client services coordinator in Madras and Redmond, was recently certified as a counselor for the Oregon SHIBA (Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance) Program.
SHIBA provides free counseling to help people turning 65 or disabled understand how Medicare, their government health insurance program, works. Counselors help people navigate through the different Medicare options and figure out the best plan to reduce their out-of-pocket costs.
Ana counseled about 20 clients during the Medicare open enrollment period that ended Dec. 7. She can meet with people on a walk-in basis in Redmond at 412 SW 8 th St. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday. In Madras, she works at the Jefferson County Health Department, 715 SW 4 th St., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday. For questions, call 541 325-6837.
In Bend, Milagros Aparicio will soon be certified as a SHIBA counselor for Spanish speakers. She is available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. The office is located at 2445 NE Division St, Suite 200 (Waterside Building). Call 541-382-4366 or visit latinocommunityassociation.org.