Membership Committee Meeting – We Want You!
The Membership Committee is RPEC’s entity that is at the core of all membership initiatives and works closely with the professional team. This dedicated group of members leads key initiatives that drive recruitment, retention, and engagement for the organization.
Our next virtual Membership Committee meeting is Thursday, January 15th at 10:00 AM, and it would be a pleasure to have you in attendance! The committee has a full agenda which includes assessing the health of each chapter, reviewing the results of an outreach effort to Chapter 1 and Chapter 14 members, and exploring partnerships for marketing support.
Whether you’re looking to stay informed, share your ideas, or take a more active role, your participation is welcome and your voice matters. Members are the heart of RPEC. Together, we can make a real difference.
Editor’s Note: The link provided in our Dec. 19th NewsFlash for the Membership Committee meetings has been changed. Moving forward, please use the new link below.
Join by Zoom on January 15th:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84650640684?pwd=lgjlT0FiZDxs77fQgnGEkN7Q5cbW6I.1
Meeting ID: 846 5064 0684
Passcode: 387612
Dial by your location
253-205-0468 US
253-215-8782 US (Tacoma)
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31, 2026
A gentle reminder for those currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan to review your coverage during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, which runs through March 31, 2026.
During this period, individuals enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan may:
- Switch to another Medicare Advantage plan, with or without prescription drug coverage; or
- Return to Original Medicare and, if needed, enroll in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
It’s good practice for all Medicare Advantage enrollees to review your coverage to ensure it meets your health and financial needs. This MA Open Enrollment Period is an opportunity to manage Medicare costs and make changes if you’re dissatisfied with your current plan.
Any changes made will take effect on the first day of the month after the new plan receives your enrollment request. Those returning to Original Medicare should note that they may not be able to purchase a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy.
Do you have health care coverage questions or concerns? Contact the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) for assistance. Get free, unbiased Medicare help from the Washington SHIBA program. Call the Insurance Consumer Hotline at 800-562-6900 and ask to be connected with your local SHIBA office, or visit the SHIBA website here. Find Medicare counseling and events in your area here.
Also, here is a link to Medicare.gov’s Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans online booklet, available for download or printing – https://www.medicare.gov/publications/12026-understanding-medicare-advantage-plans.pdf
Be sure to visit our Healthcare Resources page for more information about Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
Weekly Legislative Update Calls
Our first Weekly Legislative Update Call will be held on Friday, January 16th at 2:00 pm. We are using a new meeting link for the Weekly Update Call beginning this year, and this is a different link than the Monthly Legislative Update Call. The meeting link for that call can be found on the Council calendar at www.rpecwa.org. It is also provided here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81948025087?pwd=PabX1DKJsnQHT5hsElvGqwfErwoaDt.1
Meeting ID: 819 4802 5087
Passcode: 700628
Dial by your location
253-205-0468 US
253-215-8782 US (Tacoma)
Upcoming Events:
Please refer to our calendar page for more information about each event, including links to Zoom meetings, if available.
- Jan. 9 – Legislative Update Call (2:00 pm)
- Jan. 12 – Start of Legislative Session
- Jan. 12 – Senior Lobby (10:00 am)
- Jan. 15 – Membership Committee (10:00 am)
- Jan. 16 – Legislative Committee (10:00 am)
- Jan. 16 – Legislative Update Call (2:00 pm)
- Jan. 19 – Council Office closed, MLK Jr. Day
- Jan. 22 – Healthcare Workgroup (3:30 pm)
- Jan. 23 – Legislative Update Call (2:00 pm)
- Jan. 26-30 – RPEC/WEA-Retired Joint Virtual Legislative Week
- Jan. 30 – Legislative Update Call (2:00 pm)
RPEC’s Member-Oriented Website Access
Please note that most areas on our new website are password protected to give value to the information available to you as a member of RPEC. Gaining access is a simple process.
1. Navigate in your browser to https://rpecwa.org/
2. On the blue menu bar, move your cursor over to Member Area and the menu will expand.
3. Move your mouse over My Account, and then click on Register New Account. (Or just click this link: https://rpecwa.org/register/).
4. Enter your name and email address and choose a password (please write this down so you do not forget), then click Submit.
That’s all there is to it! We will verify your membership and approve your registration within one business day so that you can then log on to the website (again, on the menu under Member Area, My Account, select Member Login or through this link: https://rpecwa.org/member-login/). Once logged in, you have access to all content on the website, including news stories, our digital content featuring recorded videos, webinars, the new RPEC podcast, and much, much more.