RPEC On Air

Tim Smolen, Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) Program Manager, and our very own Matt Groshong, RPEC Healthcare Workgroup Chair and Ch. 3 President, have joined us once again to prepare you for the fast-approaching Medicare open enrollment period. In this special webcast, Tim unveils a new resource to help Medicare enrollees get ready for open enrollment in just 7 easy steps, and...

Member engagement is how RPEC members participate and interact with the organization. This can take on many forms, but is there a right or wrong way to be engaged? (Spoiler alert: NO!) To help us illustrate what member engagement could look like, we are joined by RPEC member Susan Leschinski from Chapter 21 in the Tri-cities area. Susan is heavily involved in the organization and shares with us he...

This legislative session, RPEC is monitoring over 30 bills. How do we know which bills to monitor? How do we determine our position on these bills? Where are these bills in the legislative process? How can you stay informed and get involved? So many questions…and we have so many answers! Tune in for an update from Executive Director Laurie Weidner and Associate Director Derek VanSpoor on the 2025...

The Washington State Legislative Session starts on January 13th, 2025. This is when lawmakers convene to discuss issues affecting our state and vote on proposed bills! Legislators require input from their constituents in order to make these important decisions. No matter your circumstances, you can participate in the lawmaking process. In this episode of RPEC On Air , Laurie Weidner, RPEC Executiv...

Introducing our special 3-part series all about Medicare Open Enrollment: RPEC On Medicare! Special guests Tim Smolen, SHIBA Program Manager, and Matt Groshong, Ch. 3 President and Healthcare Workgroup Chair, share their expertise. In part 3, we discuss the Public Employees’ Benefits Board (PEBB) Medicare Open Enrollment and review the different plans within the PEBB portfolio and all the changes...

Introducing our special 3-part series all about Medicare Open Enrollment: RPEC On Medicare ! Special guests Tim Smolen, SHIBA Program Manager, and Matt Groshong, Ch. 3 President and Healthcare Workgroup Chair, share their expertise. In part 1, we discuss getting ready for Medicare for those who are nearing retirement age. Tune in to learn about what you need to do, what your resources are, and why...

Introducing our special 3-part series all about Medicare Open Enrollment: RPEC On Medicare ! Special guests Tim Smolen, SHIBA Program Manager, and Matt Groshong, Ch. 3 President and Healthcare Workgroup Chair, share their expertise. In part 2, we discuss Medicare options on the commercial market. Medicare open enrollment begins on Oct. 15, and there are big changes for 2025. Tune in to learn more...

In this light episode, Project Coordinator Alissa Brady announces some upcoming events, including a three-part series featuring Matt Groshong (Ch. 3 President) and Tim Smolen, SHIBA Program Manager, to do a deep dive into Medicare just ahead of open enrollment period. Stay tuned for more!

The Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program is a free, unbiased, and confidential service offered through the Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner that is made up of volunteers trained to help people understand their Medicare options. Tim Smolen, SHIBA Program Manager, joins us to discuss how you can become a SHIBA volunteer and make a difference in the life o...

RPEC's Government Affairs Coordinator Emmett Mills joins us to discuss the outcomes of the 2024 legislative session and the work ahead to advance RPEC's priorities leading into 2025.

Johanna Standish, RPEC Treasurer, shares with us her role as an RPEC leader and her history as a public sector employee. We talk about some of our favorite podcasts and how you can engage with RPEC On Air!