How to access help with Medicare
- Costs vary depending on the services and drugs you use. The best way to find which plan is best for you and your particular situation is to use Medicare’s online Plan Finder, which allows you to factor in your health conditions and the medications you take and compare costs. Go to Medicare.gov and choose the “Find Health and Drug Plans” button.
- Florida’s Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders (SHINE) volunteer counselors provide free, unbiased guidance to seniors and their caretakers. To find your local counseling sites, visit floridashine.org or call 1-800-963-5337. It’s helpful to have a list of all your doctors, medications, dosages and monthly usage before meeting with a SHINE counselor.
- You can also get help directly from Medicare by calling toll-free 1-800-633-4227, or visit online at Medicare.gov. The government workers there generally have less time to spend with you than the SHINE volunteers do. The Medicare Support Hotline is available 24/7, except for some federal holidays, and can provide help in English and Spanish.
- The Medicare Rights Center works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities. Call 800-333-4114 or visit medicarerights.org.
- Details on Medicare Open Enrollment are available online in the U.S. Government Medicare handbook: https://www.medicare.gov/pubs/pdf/10050-Medicare-and-You.pdf
Local SHINE Offices
To make an appointment with a SHINE counselor in Orange, Seminole, Osceola or Brevard counties call 407-450-7234.
To make an appointment with a SHINE counselor in Lake and Sumter counties call 1-800-96-ELDER or 1-800-262-2243.
To make an appointment with a SHINE counselor in Volusia County call 904-391-6644.
To make an appointment with a SHINE counselor in Polk County call 1-800-336-2226.
