SHINE for elders

Editor’s Note: This continues our Celebrate Community series on nonprofit organizations that improve Santa Rosa County residents’ quality of life.

MILTON — Medicare can present challenges to its members. Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders offers guidance to seniors on the program.

SHINE is a private non-profit agency sponsored by the federal government designated by the Department of Elder Affairs. The award-winning program provides free Medicare counseling as well as other health insurance counseling by trained counselors both over the phone and at counseling centers in Santa Rosa, Escambia, Walton and Okaloosa Counties. All counselors are non paid volunteers.  

“Things get very complicated for seniors once they get on Medicare,” Marti Hearn, SHINE liaison for the Northwest Florida division, said.  “That is what SHINE is for, to help people navigate the Medicare system. The program is totally free, unbiased counseling.  We are not sales people and we are not affiliated with any insurance company.”

Seniors on Medicare should know that in April Medicare began mailing out new Medicare cards to members, according to Hearn.

“This new card has a unique number,” she said.  “Old cards had the member’s social security number, which put them at a higher risk of fraud.”

Hearn said that Florida was not on the first wave of cards being mailed out. Members should be looking for them in the mail. The new cards will be paper. Upon receiving the new ones, Hearn advised destroying the old card immediately.

Seniors can call 494-7101 to speak with a SHINE representative for more information.

Hearn said SHINE also needs volunteers. Anyone interested in being a counselor can call 494-7100 or visit www.FloridaSHINE.org. Volunteers may learn new skills, meet new people, and gain knowledge about Medicare.

View Hearn’s full interview at www.srpressgazette.com   

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LISTEN: From the Newsroom of the SRPG

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: SHINE for elders