Need help with Medicare? Questions welcome at Yakima event on Thursday

People with questions about Medicare open enrollment and recent changes to Yakima County health insurance options can get help this week.

Catholic Charities and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner will have a health insurance event from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday at the West Valley Library, 223 S. 72nd Ave. The meeting will include a presentation and opportunities to ask questions and schedule personal appointments.

The Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors, or SHIBA, is a program under the Office of the Insurance Commissioner aimed at providing free, unbiased and confidential help to people navigating Medicare-related health care decisions. In Central Washington, Catholic Charities serves as a sponsor for the program, helping to connect people with trained volunteers.

SHIBA Program Manager Tim Smolen said the event is for anyone with questions about Medicare, especially those who need to make changes to their plans by the Dec. 7 open enrollment deadline.

In October, Community Health Plan of Washington announced it would discontinue two of its four plans in 2026 – a decision expected to affect around 1,850 beneficiaries in Yakima County. People who received a discontinuance letter have until Dec. 31 to make changes for next year, Smolen said. MultiCare also recently announced new restrictions around the types of insurance and insurance companies it will accept in 2026, meaning some patients may need to change their health insurance or use a different hospital.

Representatives from Community Health Plan of Washington, MultiCare and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner will be at the event.

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