“Demystifying Medicare” Goes Online

For several years, the Library has hosted a presentation called “Demystifying Medicare” for people who are getting ready to sign up for Medicare or need to learn more about it for a loved one. While that series remains on hiatus during COVID-19 period, people are still to planning for their retirement, or assisting relatives and friends with their medical decisions and paperwork. If you need a real nuts-and-bolts understanding of the way health insurance works for seniors and people on Medicare disability, you can get one-on-one consultation from the program’s presenter, Julie Woodward, by emailing her at sbicmedia@gmail.com or calling 914-231-3236 (leave a message on voicemail.)

Woodward will get back to you to determine the kind of help you need and email you materials relevant to your situation. Once you’ve printed them out, she’ll be able to talk you through what you need to do to enroll in Medicare or make changes to the plans you already have. And if need be, she’ll also be able to refer you to specialists who can help with related issues outside the scope of basic Medicare and cost-saving programs (e.g., Medicaid and long-term care). Woodward has also created an audio lecture of her presentation along with up-to-date handouts on Medigap planfinders and other important information.

Woodward is with Westchester Seniors Out Speaking (WSOS), a volunteer group within the library system whose members receive initial training by the Medicare Rights Center in NYC and attend monthly update meetings based on their materials and related subjects. She has been giving her interactive “Demystifying Medicare” workshops in dozens of libraries and senior centers around the county since 2014. The programs are free, comprehensive and unbiased, specifically designed to break down this complicated material into easily accessible components that you can then explore on your own. Woodward has also prepared a “Demystifying Medicare” video series