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Elders Health and Wellness

So you think you are ready to retire?

by Purchased & Referred Care | Mar 01, 2017

Which road can you take at this stage of retirement planning: work? or retire?

If you have been considering retirement from your employment, one of the considerations in your budget will be health care costs.

If you are turning 65 years old, you will be eligible for Medicare, a reasonably affordable health coverage plan. Medicare is not free, and there are numerous services that are not covered (vision, dental). Even the covered services are only covered at 80%, after deductibles. You may wish to enhance your coverage with a Medicare Supplement, a Medicare Advantage Plan, a prescription coverage (Part D). Joanne is trained as a SHIBA (State Health Insurance Benefits Advisor) volunteer, and can assist you with your Medicare signup process. Making the wrong choices can cost you for a long time to come.

If you are under 65 years old, you are generally not eligible for Medicare. You may discover, as some folks have, that purchasing health insurance for coverage until you are Medicare eligible will be quite expensive. Even finding subsidized insurance plans through the HealthPlanFinder (HPF) of the Washington State Health Care Authority will still be costly. People have found that basic insurance premiums can run from $ 400-600 per month. Pricing on the HPF varies based on income and age.

Other options for “early retiree” health insurance may be to continue coverage through the former employer (COBRA); through memberships in professional organizations or other groups such as church groups, AARP, etc.

If your income is low enough, you may be eligible for Washington’s Apple Health, at no cost to you. Apple Health and the subsidized health plans can be applied for through the Washington State HPF. Call Joanne for assistance 360-899-5454.

As a friendly reminder, Indian Health Services are not an insurance. By law, they are the payer of last resort.


Samish Elders Virtual & In-Person Spring Gathering


Join us for an afternoon of great conversation, culture talk and bingo.

Dates: 21 – 21 Mar, 2025

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RESCHEDULED - Ribbon Skirt Class

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New date: Saturday, May 24.

Dates: 22 – 22 Mar, 2025

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FULL - Quarter Bags Class (online)


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Dates: 25 – 25 Mar, 2025

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Community Dinner (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

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Come to gather over a shared community dinner.

Dates: 27 – 27 Mar, 2025

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Drumming Group (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Learn Coast Salish singing and drumming, taught by Chairman Tom Wooten.

Dates: 27 – 27 Mar, 2025

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History Talk: Lopez Island (online + Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Join Tribal Chairman Tom Wooten to learn the Samish history of Sx’wálech (Lopez Island).

Dates: 08 – 08 Apr, 2025

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Samish Elders Chat & Learn - Spring Fitness Challenge


Samish Elders will learn about increasing their daily movement activity.

Dates: 10 – 10 Apr, 2025

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Drumming Group (Summit Park)

Anacortes, WA

Learn Coast Salish singing and drumming, taught by Chairman Tom Wooten.

Dates: 10 – 10 Apr, 2025

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Wool Skirt Class (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Learn to loom weave a Coast Salish wool skirt, taught by Leslie Eastwood.

Dates: 12 – 12 Apr, 2025

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Samish Youthfest

Anacortes, WA

Samish is excited to host its first Youth Fair on April 19, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Fidalgo Bay Event Center!

Dates: 19 – 19 Apr, 2025

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Community Dinner (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Come to gather over a shared community dinner.

Dates: 24 – 24 Apr, 2025

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Drumming Group (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Learn Coast Salish singing and drumming, taught by Chairman Tom Wooten.

Dates: 24 – 24 Apr, 2025

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Samish Elders Virtual & In-Person Bingo Fun!


Samish Elders are invited to Bingo Fun!

Dates: 25 – 25 Apr, 2025

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Samish Elders Chat & Learn - Grief and Self-care


Samish Elders will learn about grief support resources and how to practice self-care.

Dates: 08 – 08 May, 2025

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Drumming Group (Summit Park)

Anacortes, WA

Learn Coast Salish singing and drumming, taught by Chairman Tom Wooten.

Dates: 08 – 08 May, 2025

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Community Dinner (Summit Park)

Anacortes, WA

Come to gather over a shared community dinner.

Dates: 22 – 22 May, 2025

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Drumming Group (Summit Park)

Anacortes, WA

Learn Coast Salish singing and drumming, taught by Chairman Tom Wooten.

Dates: 22 – 22 May, 2025

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Ribbon Skirt Class (Summit Park)

Anacortes, WA

Learn to sew a ribbon skirt.

Dates: 24 – 24 May, 2025

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Annual Elders Luncheon


Samish Elders and intertribal Elders are invited!

Dates: 27 – 27 Jun, 2025

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June Culture Day (Summit Park)

Anacortes, WA

Join us at Samish’s Summit Park campus for craft classes, carving, cultural activities, and more.

Dates: 28 – 28 Jun, 2025

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Salish Sea Háwe7 (Anacortes)

Anacortes, WA

Explore the Samish homelands by water with Island Adventures.

Dates: 28 – 28 Jun, 2025

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Camp Samish (Samish Island)

Bow, WA

Save the date for Camp Samish 2025!

Dates: 29 Aug – 01 Sep, 2025

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Fall Cultural Gathering (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Save the date for the annual Fall Cultural Gathering at Fidalgo Bay Resort.

Dates: 20 – 20 Sep, 2025

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Harvest Fest (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Save the date for the annual Samish Harvest Fest at Fidalgo Bay Resort.

Dates: 01 – 01 Nov, 2025

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Christmas Party (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Save the date for the annual Samish Christmas Party at Fidalgo Bay Resort.

Dates: 06 – 06 Dec, 2025

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Virtual Christmas Party (online)


Save the date for the annual Virtual Samish Christmas Party.

Dates: 12 – 12 Dec, 2025

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