SHINE Counselor

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SHINE Program

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 (including Mystic Valley Elder Services), social service and community-based agencies, and Councils on Aging. The program is partially funded by the federal agency Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 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.

Volunteering as a SHINE Counselor

SHINE Counselors are committed volunteers who receive extensive training and become certified by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs in many areas of health insurance, including Medicare Part A, Part B, and Part D; Medigap insurance; Medicare HMOs; retiree insurance plans; prescription drug assistance programs; Medicaid (MassHealth); and other programs for people with limited resources.

To become a SHINE Counselor, you must participate in 8-10 full days of training. After your training is complete, you must pass a state certification exam composed of 100 questions. We will then pair you with an experienced SHINE Counselor to shadow and mentor for about 4 weeks, so you are fully trained 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.

SHINE Counselors volunteer for approximately 2-4 hours each week and a two-year minimum commitment is required.