Medicare Consults / SHINE

Medicare Consults / SHINE

Palm Harbor Library – Every 1st Tuesday

A SHINE Volunteer will be available to answer Medicare questions at the library located at 2330 Nebraska Ave., Palm Harbor, FL 34683.

Call 727-784-3332 and choose the option for Reference Services to make an appointment.

SHINE Out Reach Programs

SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) is a Free program offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco & Pinellas. Specially trained volunteers can assist you with your Medicare, Medicaid, and Health insurance questions by providing one-on-one counseling and information.

Specially trained volunteers can assist you with your Medicare, Medicaid, and Health insurance questions by providing one-on-one counseling and information.

SHINE services are free, unbiased, and confidential.

SHINE Counselors can be reached by calling 1-800-963-5337 or 727-217-8111.

SHINE does not sell anything is a Free program offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco & Pinellas as  an educational opportunity for you to learn more about Medicare and how to go about changing you plan.

Join us on one of our events listed below.  If you would like to meet with someone in person, please go to this link to find a counseling site. https://www.agingcarefl.org/medicare-and-health-insurance.html

May Webinars

  • Medicare Part C Advantage Plans with SHINE Zoom on Wednesday, May 1st at 10:00 am

        (Provides an overview of Medicare Advantage Plan options available in Florida).
               When: May 1, 2024, 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
               Register in advance for this meeting:
               After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

  • Medicare Financial Assistance with SHINE Zoom on Wednesday, May 1st at 12:00 pm -Lunch and Learn

(Designed to provide an overview of Medicare options and how SHINE can help).
When: May 1, 2024, 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

  • Saturday Morning Medicare Basics with SHINE Zoom on Saturday, May 4th at 10:00 am 

(Provides an overview of the different parts of Medicare including Parts A, B, C, D, Medigap, and available financial assistance).
When: May 4, 2024, 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

  • Medicare Long Term Care with SHINE Zoom on Tuesday, May 7th at 10:00 am 

(Provides an overview of some of the issues regarding Long-Term Care Planning in Florida).
        When: May 7, 2024, 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
               Register in advance for this meeting:
               After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

  • Medicare Part D with SHINE Zoom on Wednesday, May 8th at 10:00 am 

(Provides an overview of Medicare Part D plan options).
When: May 8, 2024, 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

  •   Medicare Part C Advantage Plans with SHINE Zoom on Wednesday, May 8th at 12:00 pm -Lunch & Learn

        (Provides an overview of Medicare Advantage Plan options available in Florida).
               When: May 8, 2024, 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
               Register in advance for this meeting:
               After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

  • Medicare Basics with SHINE Zoom on Wednesday, May 15th at 10:00 am

        (Provides an overview of Medicare Advantage Plan options available in Florida).
               When: May 15, 2024, 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
               Register in advance for this meeting:
               After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

  • Medicare Part D with SHINE Zoom on Wednesday, May 15th at 12:00 pm 

(Provides an overview of Medicare Part D plan options).
When: May 15, 2024, 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
 

  • Medicare Part C Advantage Plans with SHINE Zoom on Wednesday, May 22nd at 10:00 am

(Provides an overview of Medicare Advantage Plan options available in Florida).
              When: May 22, 2024, 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
              Register in advance for this meeting:
              After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
 

  • Medicare Basics with SHINE Zoom on Wednesday, May 22nd at 12:00 pm -Lunch & Learn  

(Provides an overview of the different parts of Medicare including Parts A, B, C, D, Medigap, and available financial assistance).
When: May 22, 2024, 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

  • Medicare Part C Advantage Plans with SHINE Zoom on Wednesday, May 29th at 10:00 am

        (Provides an overview of Medicare Advantage Plan options available in Florida).
               When: May 29, 2024, 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
               Register in advance for this meeting:
               After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
 

  • Medicare Basics with SHINE Zoom on Wednesday, May 29th at 12:00 pm -Lunch & Learn 

     

(Provides an overview of the different parts of Medicare including Parts A, B, C, D, Medigap, and available financial assistance).
When: May 29, 2024, 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
 

Did you know you can apply for Medicare online even if you are not ready to start your retirement benefits? 

Knowing when to apply for Medicare is very important. You have a limited initial enrollment period to apply.  If you miss the initial enrollment period, you may have to pay a higher monthly premium.  If you’re eligible for Medicare at age 65, your initial enrollment period begins three months before your 65th birthday and ends three months after that birthday.

Many people find themselves uncertain about their Medicare options and the process for enrolling. The Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders (SHINE) Program is a program of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and is operated locally through the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas. Specially trained volunteers can assist you with your Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance questions by providing one-on-one counseling and information. Senior Medicare Patrols (SMPs) empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report heath care fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education. To receive help from SHINE, individuals may schedule appointments at designated SHINE counseling sites, attend enrollment events in their local communities, or arrange to speak with a trained SHINE counselor at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337). For a listing of SHINE counseling sites and enrollment events, please visit www.floridashine.org.

Here in Pinellas County, where many residents are age 60 or older, SHINE is a vital resource. Each year SHINE serves seniors, retirees, the disabled, and other Medicare beneficiaries by providing free, unbiased information and an opportunity to speak one-on-one with a trained Medicare counselor.

To find out more about Medicare Special Enrollment periods and how to change your plan call SHINE at 727-217-8111.

Geralyn Fortney
SHINE Program Manager
Geralyn.Fortney@aaapp.org
Area Agency on Aging Pasco-Pinellas
Phone 727-570-9696 ext. 234
Web www.agingcarefl.org
Web www.FloridaShine.org