LGBTQ Class: Protect Your Soc. Sec., Medicare, Affordable Care (Pittsfield)

Elder Services of Berkshire County (ESBCI) SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs for Everyone) Counselors & Information & Referral Specialists review how you can enroll/protect your Social Security, Medicare, &/or Affordable Care Act benefits & latest we know about Fed cuts or changes that may affect you. This class will be hosted at City of Pittsfield's Elder Services Center thanks to their long-standing commitment to diversity and equity for seniors. People under 65 are welcome to attend as we will briefly cover Affordable Care Act enrollment.

This class will include any information we have about DOGE & other federal cuts to benefits and new requirements for verifying your identity to continue to receive benefits you already have. This class will also help you get started if you may qualify for state/federal health insurance subsidies, Medicare, or Affordable Care Act subsidies for your health insurance.

Lastly this class is for potential Q-MoB Ombudsman Volunteers who want to learn how to help rural LGBTQ people negotiate the many cuts coming in Social Security, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, and SNAP/Food Stamps. Please click on the Ombudsman link to learn more about becoming a Q-MoB Ombudsman.

IMPORTANT: This class will focus on Massachusetts procedures, which can be different for NY, VT, & CT residents because of varying state subsidies for these federal benefits, but you will still get a good overview of the federal programs you may qualify for and how to enroll in or protect your benefits. This Class is meant to be only a 101 overview and cannot help you with your specific circumstances, although if you live in Berkshire County, you can make an appointment with to go over your specific circumstances or seek assistance from their . It is worth noting all these programs are a bit swamped, so you may have to be patient and persistent in asking for help.

Counselors from BHS's Advocacy for Access Program will do a second Aging Well Class on How to Enroll in and/or protect you Medicaid or Affordable Care Act medical insurance benefits and what we know about the latest cuts to these federal/state benefits. This class is for LGBTQ people who are low-income and may or do qualify for Medicaid or Affordable Care Act subsidies. The class cannot help you with your specific circumstances, but it will give you a solid overview, and then you can show up at one of these 3 Advocacy for Access offices listed in the :

CARPOOLING/RIDE-SHARE: Carpooling is a great way to get to know other men, save money on gas, and help to reduce your carbon footprint and save the planet. If you need a ride or are open to carpooling with men who live near you, please indicate that when you are registering, & our ride coordinator will try to match you with people nearby who are interested in carpooling or offering rides.

REACHING US DAY OF EVENT: If on the day of the event you have trouble finding us, will be a little late, or can't make it, please call/text Bart at 503-734-6508. If you arrive more than 7 minutes late you likely will have to text us to get in, as the door will be locked and probably not staffed.

Host or Publisher Q-MoB (Queer Men of the Berkshires)