Provides a variety of no cost resource information for people age 60+ and their family caregivers including counseling, memory screening, dementia consultation, fall prevention programs, meals on wheels, legal information such as power of attorney forms, telephone reassurance calls, energy assistance programs, and information about other existing community resources including light medical equipment loan programs in the community. This service also includes DSHS application assistance for programs such as SNAP/food benefits, Medicare Savings Programs, and state of Washington (DSHS) Long Term Care services (COPES, CFC, MAC, TSOA). Adults of any age, who are helping an adult in Kitsap County can also be connected to the Family Caregiver Support Program which provides customized support to help reduce caregiver stress and burnout.

Senior Information and Assistance offered at Kitsap County Division of Aging and Long-Term Care

Provides individuals 60 years of age and older information, referrals, and client advocacy.

Programs that provide benefits screening services which help individuals determine whether they are eligible for benefits through any of a wide variety of public and private federal, state and local programs. In addition to identifying the programs that a person may be eligible to receive, the service generally also provides a detailed description of the programs, local contacts for additional information (typically the addresses and phone numbers of where to apply for the programs), and materials to help successfully apply for each program. Included are programs that provide this service online and those that do benefits screening via the telephone or in-person. Some benefits screening programs may focus on specific populations such as older adults and people with disabilities; or specific aspects of benefits eligibility such as the impact that working will have on their benefits as an aid to helping people make informed decisions regarding whether to work. Also included are programs that help people complete the benefits screening form.

Benefits Screening

Programs that develop plans for the evaluation, treatment and/or care of individuals who, because of age, illness, disability or other difficulties, need assistance in planning and arranging for services; which assess the individual's needs; coordinate the delivery of needed services; ensure that services are obtained in accordance with the case plan; and follow up and monitor progress to ensure that services are having a beneficial impact on the individual. Case management is a collaborative process characterized by communication, advocacy and resource management to promote high quality, cost-effective interventions and outcomes.

Case/Care Management

Programs that offer information and guidance for older adults and people with disabilities regarding their health insurance options with the objective of empowering them to make informed choices. Included is information about benefits covered (and not covered); the payment process; the rights of beneficiaries; the process for eligibility determinations, coverage denials and appeals; consumer safeguards; and options for filling the gap in Medicare coverage (Medigap supplement insurance). Also available is information relating to an individual's eligibility for benefits and assistance with evaluating their options and enrolling in a Medicare plan (A, B, C, and/or D) that will best meet their needs. These programs also address coordination of benefits when beneficiaries have other types of health insurance in addition to Medicare (e.g. Medicaid, employer coverage or retiree insurance) and provide counseling and assistance regarding the subsidies that are available to low income beneficiaries enrolled in the Part D Prescription Drug Benefit (which help pay for Part D premiums and reduce the cost of prescriptions at the pharmacy) and the Medicare Savings Programs which help pay for Medicare out-of-pocket costs. They may also provide information about Medicaid and the linkages between the two programs, referrals to appropriate state and local agencies involved in the Medicaid program, information about other Medicare-related entities (such as peer review organizations, Medicare-approved prescription drug plans, Medicare administrative contractors), and assistance in completing related Medicare insurance forms.

Medicare Information/Counseling

Programs that maintain information about community resources that are appropriate for a specific target group or human services sector (for example, youth programs or addiction services) and which link individuals who are in need of specialized services with appropriate resources and/or which provide information about community agencies and organizations that offer specialized services.

Specialized Information and Referral

Social Security offices and state Medicaid agencies that accept applications and determine eligibility for the subsidies that are available to low income beneficiaries enrolled in the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit. Beneficiaries may also apply for the subsidy through the online application available on the Social Security Administration website.

Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy (Extra Help) Applications

Programs that create a single, coordinated system of information and access for older adults and people with disabilities who are seeking long term support to minimize confusion, enhance individual choice, and support informed decision-making. ADRC centers serve as a single point of entry to public long term support programs and services. They offer information and counseling regarding available long term support options; assist individuals in determining their eligibility for public long term support programs and benefits including level of care determinations for Medicaid nursing facility and home and community-based service waiver programs; provide short-term case management to stabilize long term supports for individuals and their families in times of immediate need; help people plan for their future long term support needs; and provide information about and referral to other programs and benefits (such as health promotion and disease prevention, transportation services, housing and income support programs) that help people remain in the community.

Aging and Disability Resource Centers

Substate organizations authorized under the Older Americans Act of 1965 to develop a comprehensive, coordinated system of community-based services for older adults within their planning and service area. State Units on Aging designate, provide federal and state funding, and monitor operations of AAAs. Eight states and the District of Columbia do not have AAAs and, therefore, serve the roles of both state and area agency. AAA's responsibilities include planning; development of local funding resources; and contracting with local service provider organizations to provide authorized services which include information and referral/assistance, outreach, case/care management, escort, transportation, homemaker/chore, personal care, home repair and rehabilitation, home delivered meals, congregate meals, adult day care, elder abuse prevention, nursing home ombudsman, legal assistance, employment and training, health promotion and disease prevention and senior centers as well as services that support caregivers including respite care, counseling and education programs. AAAs may provide a number of other services in situations where local service provider options are limited.

Area Agencies on Aging

Programs that provide information for people who need to understand the options that are legally available to help them protect the assets of a spouse or child with a disability when a family member has a catastrophic illness and needs to have access to Medicaid to meet the expenses. Planning techniques may include spending down assets (e.g. purchasing an automobile or paying off the mortgage on a home), paying family members to provide care for the individual, separating a couple's assets to ensure that the healthy spouse does not become impoverished, transferring assets within legal timeframes, establishing joint tenancy accounts, purchasing annuities and other similar actions.

Medicaid Planning

Programs that provide information and guidance regarding available managed health care options with the objective of helping people become more knowledgeable health care consumers. Managed health care deals with the variety of methods for financing and organizing the delivery of health services in which costs are contained by controlling the provision of services.

Managed Health Care Information

CHAS Health Patient Services Coordinators (PSCs) are available to help individuals enroll in health insurance and understand their coverage. PSCs are certified navigators for the Washington Health Plan Finder, and enrollment counselors for Your Health Idaho state health insurance marketplaces. PSCs help individuals apply for Medicaid, Qualified Health Plans, and other applicable assistance programs.

Medicaid Enrollment Assistance offered at CHAS Health

County or state offices that accept applications and determine eligibility for the Medicaid program; and reinstate individuals who have lost their Medicaid benefits due to incarceration, institutionalization, noncompliance or other reasons. Also included are other programs that help people prepare and file Medicaid applications and/or are authorized to do eligibility determinations for the program.

Medicaid Applications

Offices in hospitals and other health care institutions that answer patient questions about their accounts, billings, or insurance.

Patient Financial Services Offices

Programs that offer information and guidance for people who may qualify for Medicaid with the objective of empowering them to make informed choices. Included may be information about the eligibility requirements for Medicaid and how to apply; Medicaid Managed Care options, benefits covered (and not covered) by the program including long-term care and home and community-based services; the payment process for co-payments; Medicaid "spend-down" (the process of reducing income and/or assets an individual possesses in order to qualify for Medicaid); and information about Medicare and the linkages between the two programs. The program may also answer questions about Medicaid services available to individuals with disabilities; and some programs may help people who qualify with enrollment and provide referrals to providers who accept State Medicaid health insurance.

Medicaid Information/Counseling

Programs mandated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that help individuals who want to purchase insurance, and small businesses that need to provide health insurance for their employees, understand the qualified private health plans that are available within the marketplace and guide them through the enrollment process. The navigator conducts public education activities to raise awareness about the marketplace; distributes fair, accurate and impartial information concerning enrollment including information that acknowledges other health programs such as Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the availability of premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions; provides referrals for consumers with a grievance, question or complaint; and offers information that is culturally and linguistically appropriate to meet the needs of the population served by the marketplace. Navigators are trained to offer expertise on each health insurance plan with the objective of empowering individuals to make informed choices and to facilitate selection of a qualified health plan; and either have or can easily establish relationships with the target population.

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Senior Information and Assistance offered at Kitsap County Division of Aging and Long-Term Care

Medicaid Enrollment Assistance offered at CHAS Health