February, 2012:
What's New
Contra Costa County HICAP is looking for volunteers to join our new training class to be held in late March to early April 2012. We particularly need volunteers willing to serve East (Brentwood/Antioch) and West (El Cerrito, Richmond, San Pablo) County areas and people who speak languages such as Spanish, Tagalog, Laotian, Chinese, etc. in addition to English. To learn more, follow this link.
The Jewish Community Center in Walnut Creek has closed. See our Locations page for information about the new counseling location at the John Muir Outpatient Center in Walnut Creek.
As of December 7, 2011 Medicare Open Enrollment for 2012 medical plans is over. Do you still have questions? Did you miss the open enrollment period? Do you have Special Circumstances that might provide you with a Special Enrollment Period that would give you more time to change your Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan? To find answers to these questions, there's a booklet on the Medicare website, follow this link requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).
A list of 2012 Medicare premiums and costs is here available to view or download (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).
A chart listing Medicare preventive benefits from The National Council on Aging has been added to our Resources page. To learn more, follow this link
Links to information from the Medicare Rights Center defining how the new Health Care reform benefits Medicare recipients have been added to our Resources page. To learn more, follow this link
Many improvements and changes have been made to Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans. To see what has changed and how it might affect you, follow this link to information on our Resources page.
The prescription drug plan "Donut Hole" amounts have changed. If you have questions about these changes for 2012 and in future years, follow this link
The California Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) offers health coverage to medically-uninsurable individuals who live in California. For more information, follow this link.
We have a Medi-Cal fact sheet for seniors who live in Contra Costa County. To visit our ‘Medi-Cal Facts for Seniors’ page, follow this link.
Welcome to Contra Costa County HICAP
What is HICAP?
HICAP is the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program for those who are eligible for Medicare and who are living in California. It is sponsored nationally by Medicare; in California by the State of California Department of Aging; and in Contra Costa County by the County Department of Aging and Adult Services Area Agency on Aging. In California HICAP services are available in every county. Click here to go to the California Health Advocates webpage where there is a list of telephone numbers for other HICAP offices in California if you don't live in Contra Costa County. The HICAP telephone number for information and inquiries for Contra Costa County residents is 925-602-4163.
All other states and several U.S. Territories have similar programs; many of those use the name SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program), others use the name HICAP, and others have their own name for their program. Click here to go to the Medicare.gov webpage where there is a list of contact information for other states if you don't live in California.
HICAP provides free, unbiased information and
counseling about Medicare and related health insurance,
including long term care insurance. This way you won't
have to navigate the huge amount of information by
yourself.
HICAP also helps with Medicare claims and appeals, helps with referrals for legal assistance for health insurance
matters when necessary, and provides information to people who need extra help with the costs of their health care.
Click here for a list of locations and phone numbers where you can make an appointment to get one-on-one counseling throughout Contra Costa County.
Counseling is offered by volunteers who receive extensive training and are registered with the State of California Department of Aging, per the Welfare and Institutions Code, Section 9785 (c) Chapter 869, Statutes of 1990. Contra Costa County HICAP also provides community education on Medicare and health related issues.
HICAP does not sell, endorse, or recommend any specific insurance product or service.
What should you look for when shopping for health insurance?
- Compare premiums
- Compare deductibles and copays
- Buy from a reputable agent
- Beware of sales pressure
- Meet with a HICAP counselor!
- List companies offering Medicare health plans
- Compare companies and their policies
- Get a written outline of coverage from each plan
- Investigate coverage and limits of each policy
- Check eligibility requirements and restrictions
