Psss column: Oct. 14 meeting topic to be on Medicare Advantage insurance

The Psss group for senior citizens was started in June of 2025. This group meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. — usually in the Philomath Community Library’s conference room but on Oct. 14, the gathering will be at Philomath City Hall.

Anyone is welcome, especially 55-plus aged citizens. At the Tuesday meetings, we often have speakers or information appropriate to senior citizens. So far, our topics have included brainstorming, fraud alert, area resource lists and meeting our community leaders (police chief, fire chief and office personnel, city manager, assistant city manager and mayor).

The sensational seniors that have been meeting have asked also for some social time so we held our first social/game playing meeting on Sept. 18. Much fun and laughter was had and so we have scheduled our second social/game playing meeting that will be on Oct. 30 at 3 p.m., at Fitness Over 50, 6735 SW Country Club Drive — part-way between Philomath and Corvallis. There is pool to play, shuffleboard, chess, puzzles and board games. It is free — please join us! 

We have a very important topic coming up on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. in the City Hall’s council chambers. Many of us on Medicare Advantage programs have been notified that local medical facilities will no longer accept our chosen insurance. Those people, as well as those who are new to Medicare and those wishing to change insurance have important decisions in choosing a new plan.

The Medicare program offers an open enrollment period in order to change or sign up for new plans. This period runs from Oct. 15- to Dec. 7, so time is limited and making informed decisions is very important.

On Oct. 14, Renee Mulberry from RJS & Associates (2354 Main St.) will be our guest speaker.  She is a Medicare specialist with information and knowledge to help us make good decisions. She will not push one plan or another, but will instead give us the information such as cost, coverage, medical facility, etc for each plan.

Her information is going to be limited to Benton County and so you will not need to sit through information that does not pertain to you. You will also be able to make free follow-up appointments with Renee, regarding further information or private medical needs.

It would help us to have a rough estimate of how many are coming to this meeting. If you would like to come, please text or call me (Diane Crocker) at 541-609-0018 and tell me how many people will attend, so we can have enough material packets on hand. 

Since we do not have a senior citizen center in our town, this group — Philomath Sensational Senior Society — is trying to fill the need. If you have questions or suggestions about this society, please text or call me at the number above. Otherwise, please just join us!

(Diane Crocker is a co-organizer of the Philomath Sensational Senior Society. She can be reached at 6cr@peak.org).