ORLANDO – Senior Resource Alliance, Central Florida’s Area Agency on Aging, is seeking volunteers to help local seniors navigate their health insurance needs this enrollment season.
A statewide, volunteer-run program, Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders (SHINE) utilizes trained volunteers to provide seniors, adults with disabilities and caregivers free, unbiased counseling on Medicare, prescription drugs and other health insurance matters. The program is seeking volunteers in Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Brevard counties to join their team ahead of Medicare Open Enrollment, which begins Oct. 15.
“Volunteers are the backbone of the SHINE program,” said Karla Radka, President and CEO of the Senior Resource Alliance. “Without them, seniors in our community are at risk of falling victim to health insurance scams or missing enrollment altogether. We need volunteers to ensure that every senior in our community is empowered to make informed decisions about their health insurance.”
New SHINE volunteers will shadow and support current volunteers to learn more about the program and support the current team during open enrollment. All new volunteers will have the opportunity to undergo a professional training course by the Department of Elder Affairs in February 2024 to learn how to help Medicare beneficiaries make the best decisions for their needs. After receiving training, volunteers are well-positioned to serve their communities by educating others about health insurance choices to benefit themselves and their loved ones.
SHINE offers a variety of different volunteer positions, each offering unique responsibilities and time commitments. To learn more about becoming a SHINE volunteer, please visit www.seniorresourcealliance.org/shine-volunteer/.
Those seeking health insurance assistance through the SHINE program can call the ELDER Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 or visit www.seniorresourcealliance.org/medicare-counseling/.
