Workshops to help seniors
navigate insurance options
FARMINGTON — The Senior Planning Center in Farmington will expand its services to northern Maine seniors with a series of free workshops.
The center is partnering with agent Susan Beaulieu Staples of Staples Insurance Agency in Wilton.
“We help individuals find state and federally funded programs to reduce Medicare and drug coverage expenses,” explained Staples. “We also help seniors make informed choices about long-term care, insurance and retirement planning.”
Staples offers individual meetings with clients as well as group workshops, including “Medicare 101” and, new this year especially for low-income seniors, “Four Ways to Save Money on Your Medicare Expenses with the Medicare Buy-In Program.”
Six Aroostook County workshops are planned.
Presque Isle sessions will be held at the Turner Memorial Library conference room on Wednesdays, March 23, April 13 and May 11, all from 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m.
In Van Buren, workshops will be held at the Community Center on Wednesdays, March 28, April 11 and May 9, all from 12-2 p.m.
“It’s important that people understand these are educational meetings only. I will not be selling insurance products at these events,” Staples said. “Understanding Medicare benefits can be confusing for many people. It’s important that seniors feel well educated about their benefits before making any decision about what solution is best for them.”
She added, “Seniors are transitioning from an employee group insurance plan or an Affordable Care Act plan and they’re facing the challenges of ‘What do I do now?’ and ‘How do I avoid penalties?’ We really break it down and make these big questions easy to understand.”
Staples grew up in Presque Isle. She and her husband David own Staples Insurance Agency. Their son Clifton is serving in the Peace Corps in China.
For more information, call 207-441-8163 or e-mail susan.b.staples@gmail.com.
