SHINE Medicare Counseling Funding at Risk

Help Us to Save This Critical Program.

NOW is a critical time to tell your members of Congress to reject this proposed cut and make needed investments in SHIP (SHINE).

SHINE, Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone, provides free health insurance information, counseling, and assistance regarding Medicare to Massachusetts residents and their caregivers. SHINE is administered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs in coordination with local agencies.

SHINE Volunteers provide counseling throughout the Commonwealth at a variety of locations, including hospitals, Councils on Aging and Elder Service Agencies such as SeniorCare.

SeniorCare’s front desk and Information & Referral Department field calls regularly from people confused by the complexity of the Medicare choices they must make. The number of calls coming into the agency increase significantly each autumn during Medicare’s Open Enrollment period. SHINE Counselors meet and provide advice to first time enrollees and to those needing to review and possibly adjust their plans.

SHINE Program at Risk

Last week, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approved the FY17 Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations bill with a nearly unanimous vote of 29-1.

While there were some increases in aging services,the Committee proposed that the Medicare State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP, known as SHINE in Massachusetts) lose all of its $52.1 million in funding, effectively eliminating the program.

Now is a critical time to tell your members of Congress to reject this proposed cut and make needed investments in SHIP (SHINE).

More Information

How to Contact Your Representatives

Senator Ed Markey
www.markey.senate.gov

Senator Elizabeth Warren
www.warren.senate.gov

Congressman Seth Moulton
www.moulton.house.gov