Clearwater seniors navigating Medicare enrollment, billing disputes or plan comparisons can get free help from trained volunteers through the SHINE program at Countryside Library.

The next session is scheduled for Monday, July 20, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at 2642 Sabal Springs Drive. Registration was required by Friday, July 17, so residents should call the library at 727-562-4970 or the SHINE helpline at 800-963-5337 to check whether spots remain or ask about upcoming sessions.

Volunteers provide one-on-one Medicare counseling

SHINE — Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders — is run by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas. The program places trained volunteers at libraries and community centers to provide one-on-one counseling on Medicare Parts A, B and D, Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement plans, claims problems, appeals and financial assistance programs that can reduce out-of-pocket costs. The service is free and confidential, and counselors do not sell insurance products, according to the Area Agency on Aging.

Program manager Geralyn Fortney oversees SHINE counseling across Pasco and Pinellas counties. The program has operated since 1993 and helps beneficiaries compare plans and identify assistance programs they may qualify for, according to the Senior Connection Center, a SHINE partner organization.

Program serves growing older population

The need is significant locally. Pinellas County's 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment found that 16.4% of adults ages 19 to 64 lack health insurance, and the county has been designated a Health Professional Shortage Area for primary care, mental health and dental care. More than one in five Pinellas County residents are 65 or older, above both the state and national averages, according to All4HealthFL data.

SHINE sessions at Countryside Library are recurring. A previous session was held Saturday, June 20, and additional dates appear on the Clearwater Public Library System's online calendar at myclearwaterlibrary.librarymarket.com. Residents who need help before the next library session can call the SHINE helpline at 800-963-5337 or 727-217-8111.

How to reach SHINE

SHINE helpline: 800-963-5337 or 727-217-8111

Countryside Library: 727-562-4970

Library hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Program manager: Geralyn Fortney, 727-570-9696, ext. 234