Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors
SHIBA HelpLine
SHIBA HelpLine is a statewide network of trained volunteers who educate, assist and advocate for consumers about their rights and options regarding health insurance and health care access. A free counseling service of the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner, the Whatcom SHIBA HelpLine is sponsored by the Whatcom Alliance for Healthcare Access.
SHIBA HelpLine is:
- Completely FREE
- Confidential—your personal information is kept safe and private
- Accessible—some operators and volunteers are bi-lingual
- Impartial/objective/unbiased—we don’t sell or endorse anything
SHIBA HelpLine can help you:
- Find affordable health insurance, prescription drugs or health care for you and your family
- Learn about your rights and options
- Compare insurance plans and prices
- Understand government health programs
- Appeal a decision by your health plan
- Understand a bill from your doctor’s office
SHIBA HelpLine can provide information on:
- Navigating the healthcare system
- COBRA and other post-employment options
- Commercial market catastrophic and comprehensive individual and family health plans
- Health Savings Accounts
- Basic Health (lower-cost subsidized health insurance)
- Health insurance for kids (a family of 4 can earn up to $40,000/yr and their children may still qualify for low-cost or free health insurance)
- Washington State Health Insurance Pool
- Health insurance for people with disabilities
- Planning health insurance options for retirement
- Medicare A, B, D and Medicare supplements
- Medicaid and other state-sponsored health programs
- Health insurance for immigrant families
- How to read a medical bill or explanation of benefits (EOB)
- Understanding insurance policies
- Multiple insurance: Who pays first?
- Reporting insurance fraud and abuse
Call today! Whatcom SHIBA* HelpLine: (360) 788-6533 or (800) 562-6900
Want to help others navigate their healthcare options? Click here for information about becoming a SHIBA Helpline volunteer.
