Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida HELPLINE: 866-413-5337
SHINE Medicare Counseling
Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders
If you’ve ever needed to choose a health insurance plan, you understand what a complicated process it can be. SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) counselors help seniors navigate Medicare and make informed decisions about coverage. SHINE offers free, personalized, unbiased, and confidential Medicare counseling for Florida’s Medicare beneficiaries, as well as their families and caregivers.
SHINE counselors are not affiliated with any insurance companies or agencies. They neither sell nor recommend insurance of any type.
The Area Agency on Aging’s network of trained SHINE volunteers are available year-round. These counselors can:
In Southwest Florida, nearly 9,500 seniors took advantage of SHINE assistance last year. SHINE counselors are also available to make educational presentations and participate in community events. SHINE is part of the federal SHIP (State Health Insurance Program) network.
SHINE is also part of the national Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program. The SMP is another federal program devoted to assisting Medicare beneficiaries by helping them to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education.
If you suspect Medicare fraud, contact a SHINE counselor through the Elder Helpline.
The AAASWFL Elder Helpline can provide you with more information about SHINE events in your area or assist you with counseling appointments. You can reach the Helpline by calling 866-413-5337.
Thank you, Volunteers!
Our SHINE volunteers assisted nearly 9,500 Southwest Floridians in 2018.
“Every problem that the country faces is being solved in some community by some group or some individual. The question is how to get connected so that the whole nation can solve problems. A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens – citizens in the fullest sense; partners in civilization.”
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SHINE Medicare Counseling
Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders
SHINE counselors are not affiliated with any insurance companies or agencies. They neither sell nor recommend insurance of any type.
The Area Agency on Aging’s network of trained SHINE volunteers are available year-round. These counselors can:
In Southwest Florida, nearly 9,500 seniors took advantage of SHINE assistance last year. SHINE counselors are also available to make educational presentations and participate in community events. SHINE is part of the federal SHIP (State Health Insurance Program) network.
Did you know that the Medicare and You handbook is now available in a paperless version? Sign up today to get your digital version of Medicare and You.
Senior Medicare Patrol
SHINE is also part of the national Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program. The SMP is another federal program devoted to assisting Medicare beneficiaries by helping them to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education.
If you suspect Medicare fraud, contact a SHINE counselor through the Elder Helpline.
Find a SHINE Event
Check our events calendar for a SHINE event near you, or visit the Florida SHINE website to find a SHINE counseling site
SHINE is a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and administered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs
Helpline Assistance
The AAASWFL Elder Helpline can provide you with more information about SHINE events in your area or assist you with counseling appointments. You can reach the Helpline by calling 866-413-5337.
Thank you, Volunteers!
Our SHINE volunteers assisted nearly 9,500 Southwest Floridians in 2018.
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