Learn to Understand Your Medicare Benefits for FREE in Collier County

NAPLES, Fla. - Oct. 3, 2018 - PRLog -- The Medicare Open Enrollment Period begins on October 15, and future and current Medicare beneficiaries are invited to attend free presentations about the ins and outs of Medicare in Collier County.  The presentations will feature professionally trained counselors of the SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) program.  SHINE is a Medicare counseling program offered locally through the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida (AAASWFL).
"Understanding Medicare and Medicare Changes" will be offered six times in October at the following dates and locations (advance registration not requied):

Oct 11 - 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.The Arlington of Naples (7900 Arlington Cir., Naples Fla. 34112)
Oct. 11 - 4:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.Juniper Village (1155 Encore Way, Naples Fla. 34110)
Oct. 17 - 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.Marco Island Lutheran Church (525 N. Collier Blvd., Marco Island Fla. 34145)
Oct. 23 - 11:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.Trilogy Memory Care of Naples (2626 Goodlette Frank Rd. N., Naples, Fla. 34103)
Oct. 23 - 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.Parkinson's Association of Southwest Florida (5926 Premier Way, Ste. 114, Naples, Fla. 34109)
Oct. 24. - 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.Trilogy Arden Court (6125 Rattlesnake Hammock, Naples, Fla. 34113)
 
The "Understanding Medicare and Medicare Changes" presentation covers the basics of Medicare for those soon to be eligible as well as those currently on Medicare.  Participants will learn the basics of Medicare Parts A, B, C and D, and learn about the upcoming changes to Medicare for 2019. Presenters will also discuss the new Medicare cards which have begun distribution to Florida residents. SHINE counselors will be available to answer questions after the presentation.

SHINE is a program of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and is operated locally through AAASWFL. Specially-trained SHINE counselors help educate and empower Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to understand their health care options so they can make the best decisions for their individual needs. The SHINE mission is to provide free and unbiased information about Medicare and Medicaid for beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers. SHINE also educates beneficiaries to protect, detect, and report potential errors, fraud, and abuse with their Medicare coverage.

To receive help from SHINE, individuals may call to schedule appointments at designated SHINE counseling sites, attend enrollment events in their local communities, or arrange to speak with a trained SHINE counselor by calling the AAASWFL Elder Helpline 1-866-41-ELDER (1-866-413-5337). For a listing of SHINE counseling sites and enrollment events, please visit http://www.floridashine.org.

The Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida (http://www.aaaswfl.org) is a nonprofit organization serving Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Lee, and Sarasota Counties.  AAASWFL is the state's designated Aging and Disability Resource Center for Southwest Florida.  The organization is committed to connecting older adults and adults with disabilities to resources and assistance for living safely with independence and dignity.  More information is available at www.aaaswfl.org or by calling the toll-free Helpline at 866-413-5337 (866-41-ELDER).