SHINE Program

SHINE Program at Mystic Valley Elder Services

The SHINE (Serving Health Information Needs of Elders) Program is a state health insurance assistance program that provides free health insurance information, counseling, and assistance to Massachusetts residents with Medicare, those approaching Medicare eligibility, and their caregivers.

The SHINE Program is administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs in partnership with elder service agencies, social service and community-based agencies, and Councils on Aging.

People who have Medicare or who are about to become eligible for Medicare can meet with a SHINE Counselor to learn about benefits and options available.

SHINE Counselors are dedicated community volunteers who receive extensive training and become certified by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs in many areas of health insurance, including:

• Medicare
• Medicaid (MassHealth)
• Medigap insurance
• retiree insurance plans
• prescription drug assistance programs
• other health care assistance programs for people with limited resources

SHINE counselors help seniors, and all Medicare beneficiaries understand their rights and benefits under Medicare and their other health insurance coverage. Counselors also review present coverage, provide written benefits comparisons, prevent consumers from buying unnecessary or duplicate coverage, and help prepare health benefit claim forms, appeals, and applications

Tp become a SHINE Counselor, you must participate in certification training, which involves in-person classes, two mornings per week for 8-10 weeks. After your training is complete, you must pass a state certification exam which is an open book but taken individually. We will then pair you with an experienced SHINE Counselor to shadow and mentor until you feel fully confident and ready to conduct SHINE counseling on your own. Additionally, all new SHINE Counselors are required to use email and be flexible on where they serve in their assignments. To meet the needs of our communities, you may be asked to serve in different outreach sites or in an area other than where you live.

Time commitment: approximately 2-4 hours per week