SHINE – Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders
SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) counselors help seniors, their families and caregivers navigate Medicare and make informed decisions about coverage. SHINE offers free, personalized, unbiased, and confidential Medicare counseling. SHINE counselors are not affiliated with any insurance companies or agencies. They neither sell nor recommend insurance of any type.
We are your free and unbiased source for all things Medicare!
Offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, in partnership with Elder Options, specially trained volunteers are available year-round to answer questions about:
- Medicare Options
- Medicare Supplement Plans
- Medicare Advantage Plans
- Prescription Drug Coverage
- Financial Assistance Programs
- Appeals, Claims, and Billing Issues
- Scams, Fraud, and Abuse
- Military and Employer Transition Questions
- Long Term Care Planning
Phone
SHINE Checklist–How to prepare for your visit with SHINE
To learn more about Medicare, visit:
One on One Counseling is available at
In-Person Sites throughout the state:
State Map of Counseling http://floridashine.org/Counseling-Sites.aspx
SHINE Outreach Events:
- Visit our Event Page
- Check out the State Map for Events Close to you: http://floridashine.org/Community-Events.aspx
Invite a SHINE team member to your event:
Email:
Phone
Medicare Improvements for Patients & Providers Act (MIPPA)
Paying for Medicare can be costly, but it doesn’t have to be. The Medicare Improvements for Patients & Providers Act (MIPPA) Program may be able to help you. Benefits are available for qualified Medicare beneficiaries to help them save money on the following:
- Monthly Part D drug plan premiums
- Co-pays for prescriptions
- Monthly Medicare Part B premiums
- Co-pays for Medicare services and visits
- Medicare deductibles
Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
SHINE is also part of the national Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program https://www.smpresource.org SMP is a federally funded program devoted to assisting Medicare beneficiaries. SMP educates beneficiaries on how to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse via education at outreach events, or one-on-one counseling. SMP also assists beneficiaries protecting their medical identity once a victim of a Medicare scam/fraud.
Become a SHINE Volunteer
Trained by the Department of Elder Affairs
Join the Team by visiting: https://floridashine.org/Join-the-Team.aspx and
complete the Orientation and Application to get started.
