Learn to Understand Your Medicare Benefits for FREE in Collier County

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. - Sept. 24, 2019 - PRLog -- The Medicare Open Enrollment Period begins on October 15, and future and current Medicare beneficiaries are invited to attend a free presentation about the ins and outs of Medicare in Collier County.  The presentation 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).

SHINE Counselors will offer Medicare 101 at Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church on Friday, Sept 27 at 10:00 a.m.  Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church is located at 1225 Piper Blvd. in Naples.

Medicare 101 is a well-rounded presentation that teaches the basics of Medicare Parts A, B, C and D.  SHINE counselors will also discuss how to prepare for the Open Enrollment Period and explain the new online Medicare Plan Finder. Counselors will be available to answer questions after the presentations.

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.

Additionally, counselors can educate beneficiaries about the benefits of their Medicare programs, like preventive services. SHINE counselors can also assist low-income Medicare beneficiaries in applying for cost saving.   As part of the national Senior Medicare Patrol program, SHINE counselors also educate 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 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 https://www.aaaswfl.org or by calling the toll-free Helpline at 866-413-5337 (866-41-ELDER).